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Barraza-Flores P, Bukovec KE, Dagda M, Conner BW, Oliveira-Santos A, Grange RW, Burkin DJ. Laminin-111 protein therapy after disease onset slows muscle disease in a mouse model of laminin-α2 related congenital muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:2162-2170. [PMID: 32472139 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Laminin-α2 related congenital muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-CMD) is a fatal muscle disease caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene. Laminin-α2 is critical for the formation of laminin-211 and -221 heterotrimers in the muscle basal lamina. LAMA2-CMD patients exhibit hypotonia from birth and progressive muscle loss that results in developmental delay, confinement to a wheelchair, respiratory insufficiency and premature death. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for LAMA2-CMD. Several studies have shown laminin-111 can serve as an effective protein-replacement therapy for LAMA2-CMD. Studies have demonstrated early treatment with laminin-111 protein results in an increase in life expectancy and improvements in muscle pathology and function. Since LAMA2-CMD patients are often diagnosed after advanced disease, it is unclear if laminin-111 protein therapy at an advanced stage of the disease can have beneficial outcomes. In this study, we tested the efficacy of laminin-111 protein therapy after disease onset in a mouse model of LAMA2-CMD. Our results showed laminin-111 treatment after muscle disease onset increased life expectancy, promoted muscle growth and increased muscle stiffness. Together these studies indicate laminin-111 protein therapy either early or late in the disease process could serve as an effective protein replacement therapy for LAMA2-CMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Barraza-Flores
- Department of Pharmacology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Katherine E Bukovec
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Marisela Dagda
- Department of Pharmacology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Brandon W Conner
- Department of Pharmacology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Ariany Oliveira-Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Robert W Grange
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Dean J Burkin
- Department of Pharmacology, Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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Conner BW, Weller KG, Biondi MV, Allen AR, Rescigno MK, Resnik JL, Laughton SC, Warner KM, Hierholzer AE, Kim EY, Hagen MM, McFarland AA, Danko RP. High school health education: The impact of medical student led instruction in northern Nevada high schools. Prev Med Rep 2021; 24:101512. [PMID: 34401221 PMCID: PMC8353355 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical students teach effective school-based intervention classes. Program increases likelihood of discussing sensitive topics with providers. Substance abuse classes had the largest mean % increase in student response. Personal relationships as well as exercise classes improved student response. Stress reduction classes had the least impact on high school students.
Health education is an important topic in high school given its lasting effect on learners. Medical students are in a unique position to deliver this curriculum as they can provide information from a relatable standpoint. Ten medical students created a health education program, The Healthier Nevada Project (HNVP), designed for high school students using four modules focused on adolescent public health concerns: substance use and addiction, exercise, personal relationships, and stress and mental health. The curriculum was administered to over 700 health class students at three schools in Reno, Nevada, U.S.A., from August 2019–March 2020. This cross-sectional study measured whether the modules increased students’ comfort level, familiarity, and likelihood of discussing each topic with a healthcare provider. The method of evaluation was pre- and post-Likert scale surveys with 7–10 questions regarding students’ understanding of each topic, knowledge of related resources, and likelihood of future discussions with healthcare providers. Linear regression analysis showed significant increases in mean scores (in all cases p < 0.0001) for all four modules after the training. The modules were adjusted for the cluster effect of School and showed no significant two-way interaction between pre- and post-survey, although overall differences between schools were present. These findings indicate that HNVP significantly increased students’ knowledge, comfort, and likelihood of discussing each topic with a healthcare professional following module administration. Future efforts will aim to evaluate the long-term impact of HNVP on student behavior and evaluate if presenter type influences program success among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon W Conner
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Katherine G Weller
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Matt V Biondi
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Alexa R Allen
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Megan K Rescigno
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Justine L Resnik
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Sydney C Laughton
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Kendal M Warner
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Ariel E Hierholzer
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Erica Y Kim
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Molly M Hagen
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA.,University of Nevada, Reno School of Community Health Sciences, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Amy A McFarland
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Reka P Danko
- University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, 1664 N Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557, USA
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