Poly A RNA status and expression of milli (m) and micro (μ) calpains in skeletal muscle of duchenne muscular dystrophy patients

Poly A RNA status and itsin vitro translation in a rabbit reticulolysate cell free system, were assessed in the skeletal muscle of young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Compared to normals there is a significant 48% increase in poly A RNA content of dystrophic muscle and its translatability was increased by 56% based on³⁵S methionine incorporation into total protein systhesised. Immunoprecipitation of the translated products with monospecific antibodies showed that there is a 2.6 fold and a 2 fold increase in m and μ calpains respectively. This underlines the importance of both synthetic and degenerative activities in the early pathology in DMD muscle.     

Baby carriage: infants walking with loads

Maintaining balance is a central problem for new walkers. To examine how infants cope with the additional balance control problems induced by load carriage, 14-month-olds were loaded with 15% of their body weight in shoulder-packs. Both symmetrical and asymmetrical loads disrupted alternating gait patterns and caused less mature footfall patterns. Walking was most severely compromised by back loads. Infants with less walking experience, lower levels of walking proficiency, and chubbier body proportions were more adversely affected. In addition, infants displayed a unique postural response to asymmetrical loads. In contrast to older children and adults, infants leaned with loads rather than in the opposite direction to the loads. Findings are discussed in terms of development from accommodation to compensatory strategies.     

Analysis of Bcl I and Xba I polymorphism in factor VIII gene to detect carriers of haemophilia a in Andhra Pradesh

The efficacy of two intragenic polymorphic markers of factor VIII gene has been examined in Andhra Pradesh population with a view to confirm/revise the strategy for carrier detection that would be precise and economical. The haemophilia A carrier was detected using Bcl I and Xba I polymorphic sites in intron 18 and 22 respectively. The cumulative efficiency of these two sites for detection of carriers is 100% since all 15 families tested were informative for one of these polymorphisms, thus confirming their usefulness for factor VIII gene mutations found in Andhra Pradesh.