WEBINAR: Molecular Signals Mediating Increases in Muscle Size and Function
In this webinar, Dr. Bert Blaauw elucidates skeletal muscle regulatory pathways and offers approaches to tackle muscle deficits for therapy.
Step-by-Step: Analyzing Experiments in DMA
This blog will provide a walkthrough of how to analyze an experiment in our Dynamic Muscle Analysis (DMA) LabBook software.
Moving Mountains: Recent Feats in Muscle Physiology
As we March towards the 2024 American Physiology Summit, this month’s publication review covers recent advancements in the realm of muscle physiology, including the development of an improved resistance training method, the long-term musculoskeletal consequences of chemotherapy, and the characterization of crossbridge kinetics in cardiac trabeculae. Taken together, these studies reveal a promising trend of breakthroughs in muscle physiology.
Tackling the Heart of the Issue: Advances in Cardiovascular Research
February notably marks “Heart Month”, aiming to highlight the importance of cardiovascular health and its critical implications on our overall wellbeing. Tackling the heart of the issue, several cardiovascular studies stand out as key players within the preclinical research landscape. The following publication review covers recent advancements in the field, including a promising therapeutic drug candidate for heart failure as well as novel insights into the cardiovascular biology of Marfan syndrome and muscle contraction regulation.
Molecular Deep Dives in Force Production
As we launch full force into 2024, studies exploring the molecular underpinnings of force production in mice have blazed the trail of functional muscular research. From calcium dynamics during muscle contraction, to muscle impairments in myotonic dystrophy, and the effects of running on muscle mass in a dystrophic mouse model, January's novel insights into muscle function and regulation have important implications on our understanding of muscle physiology and health.
Best of 2023: Across Countries and Applications
2023 has proved to be a particularly fruitful year for scientific discovery, with a multitude of pioneering studies spanning continents and disciplines. From the intricate workings of muscle physiology in Switzerland to the nuanced understanding of migraine mechanisms in the USA, the discernment of mosquito olfactory processing in India, and the innovative strides in sustainable materials science in Germany and Austria, this year's research highlights embody the spirit of global collaboration and scientific ingenuity. We hope that, by highlighting the multitude of ways our instruments provide precise and reliable data, future and current researchers can draw inspiration for new and innovative ways to collaborate across borders.
In Vivo Measurement of Hindlimb Dorsiflexor Isometric Torque from Pig
The present protocol describes concise experimental details on the evaluation and interpretation of in vivo torque data obtained via electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve in anesthetized pigs.
Out of This World Research at Brock University: Space Flight’s Impact on Female Mice Reproductive Health
NASA's SpaceX CRS-29 launched on November 9th carrying the Rodent Research-20 (RR-20) payload, the contents of which will be studied by Brock University's Dr. Val Fajardo and his team using Aurora Scientific equipment upon its return.
Renewed Interests: Harnessing Engineered Constructs to Explore Novel Strategies in Regenerative Medicine
Tissue engineering is at the forefront of regenerative medicine, offering immense promise for restoring or enhancing the function of impaired tissues and organs. While tissue constructs remain costly in clinical settings, their use as a research tool holds vast potential for drug discovery, aiding and expediting the screening of drug candidates. In this publication review, we will discuss three recent publications leveraging specialized equipment from Aurora Scientific to advance the innovative field of engineered tissue constructs.
Cancer Cachexia-Induced Muscle Atrophy
Cancer cachexia is a muscle wasting syndrome that is associated with certain cancers, but most commonly with advanced malignancies. This syndrome arises as a result of tumor-induced metabolic changes, causing the body to break down skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in response to nutritional deficiencies. These changes manifest as severe weight loss, anorexia, asthenia, and anemia, impairing the patient's capacity to tolerate infections, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments (Dhanapal et al., 2022). While research characterizing the multifactorial origins of this syndrome is still ongoing, three recent publications featuring our scientific equipment have made notable advances in the current understanding of this muscle wasting disease, and are discussed in this publication review.
Recent Therapeutic Advances in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) Models
The following publication review showcases recent studies focused on therapeutic advances in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) that use Aurora Scientific equipment.
Cut and Paste of Myosin Binding Protein-C in Striated Muscles
Dr. Samantha Harris discusses the development of three new mouse models in her lab, engineered to target and replace specific myosin binding protein-C paralogs in muscle fibers and impact of their mutations on skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases.
Integrating Patient Engagement and Trainee Development in Pre-Clinical Research
Christopher Perry, PhD discusses how his laboratory aims to discover mechanisms by which metabolic dysfunction causes muscle weakness and apply these findings to develop new therapies for muscle disorders. Homira Osman, PhD will provide a particular focus on leveraging scientific findings for practice and policy and linking trainees with patient communities.
Analyzing Cardiac Tissue Function
The following publication review showcases recent studies that use Aurora Scientific equipment to make advances in the field of biomechanics.
The Latest in Biomechanics
The following publication review showcases recent studies that use Aurora Scientific equipment to make advances in the field of biomechanics.
Exercise Science
Aurora Scientific equipment has played important roles in helping researchers understand muscle physiology under a variety of conditions in animal models as highlighted in this publication review.
Neuromuscular Junction and Muscle Pathophysiology
Thanks to Aurora Scientific equipment, numerous groups have been able to further expand our understanding of these pathologies and how we can improve muscle function. This publication review highlights some of the latest pathophysiological research that utilize our line of equipment.
Biophysics
The equipment needed to induce force, mount samples, and capture structural changes are among Aurora Scientific’s line of instrumentation and is highlighted in some recent publications in this review.
Comparative Biology Using Animal Models
Aurora Scientific provides instrumentation to aid in collecting and analyzing data in numerous comparative animal models highlighted in some recent publications in this review.
Designing an in-vivo study in DMC LabBook
This blog will provide a walkthrough of how to design a study in our Dynamic Muscle Control (DMC) LabBook software, specifically for 1300A 3-in-1 Whole Animal System in-vivo experiments.
Unique and Interesting Animal Models
At Aurora Scientific, we provide instrumentation to help assess muscle biomechanics in a variety of animal models from flies to octopuses, and highlight some recent examples in this publication review.
Excellence, Innovation, and Collaboration: Key Research at the MHRC
This past April, we partnered with InsideScientific and the Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC) at York University, a one-of-a-kind facility that fosters an interdisciplinary approach to the study of muscle physiology. We interviewed three keystone researchers who are shaping the future of skeletal muscle health: David Hood, PhD, Peter Backx, PhD, and Ali Abdul-Sater, PhD.
Sensory Encoding by Muscle Spindle Afferents
This publication review highlights Aurora Scientific instruments that can facilitate the study of sensory encoding by muscle spindle afferents.
Excellence, Innovation, and Collaboration: Student Research at the MHRC
This past April, we partnered with InsideScientific and the Muscle Health Research Centre (MHRC) at York University, a one-of-a-kind facility that fosters an interdisciplinary approach to the study of muscle physiology. We had the privilege of interviewing a number of faculty and students to highlight their research, as well as the opportunities provided to them by the MHRC.
Functional Recovery of the Musculoskeletal System Following Injury – Leveraging the Large Animal Model
Watch Dr. Sarah Greising discuss the current pathophysiologic understanding of the skeletal muscle remaining following traumatic musculoskeletal injuries.