Boston Children's Hospital

About: Boston Children's Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 165409 authors who have published 215589 publications receiving 6885627 citations.

Diagnosis and management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, part 2: implementation of multidisciplinary care

Abstract: Optimum management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) requires a multidisciplinary approach that focuses on anticipatory and preventive measures as well as active interventions to address the primary and secondary aspects of the disorder. Implementing comprehensive management strategies can favourably alter the natural history of the disease and improve function, quality of life, and longevity. Standardised care can also facilitate planning for multicentre trials and help with the identification of areas in which care can be improved. Here, we present a comprehensive set of DMD care recommendations for management of rehabilitation, orthopaedic, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastroenterology/nutrition, and pain issues, as well as general surgical and emergency-room precautions. Together with part 1 of this Review, which focuses on diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and psychosocial care, these recommendations allow diagnosis and management to occur in a coordinated multidisciplinary fashion.

Regulators of angiogenesis.

Abstract: Proliferation of blood vessels is a process necessary for the nonnal growth and development of tissue (36). In the adult, angiogenesis occurs infrequently. Exceptions are found in the female reproductive system, where angiogenesis occurs in the follicle during its development, in the corpus luteum during ovulation, and in the placenta after pregnancy. These periods of angiogenesis are relatively brief and tightly regulated. Nonnal angiogenesis also occurs as part of the body's repair processes, e.g. in the healing of wounds and fractures. By contrast, uncontrolled angiogenesis can often be pathological. For example, the growth of solid tumors depends on vascularization (37), and in diabetic retinopathy vascularization of the retina often leads to blindness. Given the physiologic and pathological importance of angiogenesis, much effort in the last twenty years has been devoted to the isolation, characteriza­ tion, and purification of factors that can either stimulate or inhibit an­ giogenesis. Several bioassays have been developed to measure angiogenesis. The most common ones are endothelial cell migration (47) and proliferation (38) in vitro, and capillary growth in vivo in the developing chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) (4) and the cornea (45). The goal of this review is to describe those stimulators and inhibitors of angiogenesis that have been best-characterized.

Isolation of candidate cDNAs for portions of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene

Abstract: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and the less severe Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are human X-linked muscle-wasting disorders that have been localized to the band Xp21 by genetic linkage analysis1–9 and cytologically detectable abnormalities10–12. A cloned DNA segment, DXS164 (or pERT87), has been shown to detect deletions in the DNA of unrelated DMD and BMD males13–15. Here we present the nucleotide sequence of two highly conserved DNA fragments from the DXS164 locus and their homologous sequences from the mouse X chromosome. One of the human conserved segments hybridized to a large transcript in RNA isolated from human fetal skeletal muscle and was used to isolate cDNA clones which cover approximately 10% of this transcript. The cDNA clones map to Xp21 and hybridize with a minimum of eight small regions that span 130 kilobases (kb) of the DXS164 locus. These expressed sequences are candidates for portions of the gene responsible for both DMD and BMD.

Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells.

Abstract: The unprecedented public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been met with an equally unprecedented scientific response. Much of this response has focused, appropriately, on the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells, and in particular the binding of the spike (S) protein to its receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and subsequent membrane fusion. This Review provides the structural and cellular foundations for understanding the multistep SARS-CoV-2 entry process, including S protein synthesis, S protein structure, conformational transitions necessary for association of the S protein with ACE2, engagement of the receptor-binding domain of the S protein with ACE2, proteolytic activation of the S protein, endocytosis and membrane fusion. We define the roles of furin-like proteases, transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsin L in these processes, and delineate the features of ACE2 orthologues in reservoir animal species and S protein adaptations that facilitate efficient human transmission. We also examine the utility of vaccines, antibodies and other potential therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2 entry mechanisms. Finally, we present key outstanding questions associated with this critical process.