Atrophy
hideAtrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself. Hormonal and nerve inputs that maintain an organ or body part are referred to as trophic.
Atrophy is a general physiological process of reabsorption and breakdown of tissues, involving apoptosis on a cellular level. When it occurs as a result of disease or loss of trophic support due to other disease, it is termed pathological atrophy, although it can be a part of normal body development and homeostasis as well.
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News tagged with atrophy
Analyzing structural brain changes in Alzheimer's disease
Nov 16, 2009 |
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In a study that promises to improve diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease, scientists at the University of California, San Diego have developed a fast and accurate method for quantifying subtle, ...
Researchers identify drug candidate for treating spinal muscular atrophy
Nov 04, 2009 |
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A chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. This is the finding of ...
Is duodenal biopsy necessary in celiac disease diagnosis for children and adults?
Oct 23, 2009 |
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Duodenal biopsy remains the gold standard for celiac disease (CD) diagnosis. However, it has several pitfalls and requires an invasive procedure in children. In the past few years, a more prominent role for a definitive diagnosis ...
Study finds increased risk of death for patients with celiac disease-related disorders
Sep 15, 2009 |
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New research indicates that patients with lesser degrees of celiac disease-related symptoms, such as intestinal inflammation or latent celiac disease, have a modestly increased risk of death, according to a study in the September ...
Healthy older brains not significantly smaller than younger brains, new imaging study shows
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Sep 08, 2009 |
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The belief that healthy older brains are substantially smaller than younger brains may stem from studies that did not screen out people whose undetected, slowly developing brain disease was killing off cells in key areas, ...
Mighty mice: Treatment targeted to muscle improves motor neuron disease
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
Aug 12, 2009 |
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New research with transgenic mice reveals that a therapy directed at the muscle significantly improves disease symptoms of a genetic disorder characterized by destruction of the neurons that control movement. The study, published ...
Mutation responsible for cystic fibrosis also involved in muscle atrophy
Jul 31, 2009 |
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Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) usually experience significant muscle loss, a symptom traditionally considered to be a secondary complication of the devastating genetic disease. However, a recent study by Dr. Basil Petrof ...
Researchers find possible treatment for spinal muscular atrophy
Jul 27, 2009 |
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Spinal Muscular Atrophy is the second-leading cause of infant mortality in the world.
Study using structural MRI may help accurately diagnose dementia patients
Jul 11, 2009 |
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A new Mayo Clinic study may help physicians differentially diagnose three common neurodegenerative disorders in the future. The study will be presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's ...
Reduced diet thwarts aging, disease in monkeys
Jul 09, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The bottom-line message from a decades-long study of monkeys on a restricted diet is simple: Consuming fewer calories leads to a longer, healthier life.
A natural hormone may protect muscle from atrophy
Jun 11, 2009 |
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Researchers have found a potential new treatment for the common problem of muscle atrophy.
Muscle atrophy through thick but not thin
Jun 08, 2009 |
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During desperate times, such as fasting, or muscle wasting that afflicts cancer or AIDS patients, the body cannibalizes itself, atrophying and breaking down skeletal muscle proteins to liberate amino acids. In a new study ...
Vaccine slows progression of skeletal muscle disorder
Medicine & Health / Neuroscience
May 13, 2009 |
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A potential vaccine for Alzheimer's disease also has been shown in mice to slow the weakening of muscles associated with inclusion body myositis, a disorder that affects the elderly.
Rare window on spinal muscular atrophy genetics
Apr 07, 2009 |
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Caused by a mutation of the SMN gene, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an infantile and juvenile neurodegenerative disorder where motor neuron loss causes progressive paralysis. A new study published in the open access journal ...
MRI shows brain atrophy pattern that predicts Alzheimer's
Feb 10, 2009 |
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Using special MRI methods, researchers have identified a pattern of regional brain atrophy in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that indicates a greater likelihood of progression to Alzheimer's disease. The findings ...
