Health Insurance Claims News
Study reveals effects of myotonic muscular dystrophy
Accident and Injury Claims news25th January 2010
Scientists have improved their understanding of the molecular and physiological effects of myotonic muscular dystrophy.The findings, published in the latest issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, may affect health claims relating to the condition as well as insurance rights in areas like accident protection.
Myotonic dystrophy involves difficulty relaxing muscles (myotonia) and, as in other muscular dystrophies, progressive muscle weakness and wasting.
Research focussed on the genetic defect that causes the condition, revealing that the loss of the Mbnl1 and Mbnl2 proteins results in most of the molecular abnormalities associated with the disease. It noted a cascading sequence of molecular events in which the mutation and subsequent protein loss ends up affecting hundreds of other genes.
Manuel Ares, co-author of the study at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said: "This is a genetic disease in which there isn't just one gene that is affected. Our hope is that by chasing down more of the affected genes we might be able to figure out how to address more of the symptoms."
Research published earlier this month in the journal Science also revealed the discovery of a new type of chemical modification on the muscle protein dystroglycan which has improved scientific understanding of certain muscular dystrophies.
To find out more about how Brian Barr Solicitors can help your insurance claim,
call 0161 720 6700 or e-mail now for a free claim consultation.
