Nutrition
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Oxidative stress contributes to myonecrosis in the dystrophin-deficient fibers of mdx mice and in Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. We examined the effects of ascorbic acid (AA), an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, on the dystrophic diaphragm muscle. ⋯ The present results suggest that AA plays a protective role in dystrophic muscle degeneration, possibly by decreasing reactive oxygen species, and support further investigations of AA as a potential therapy for dystrophinopathies.
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To investigate the effects of diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia on skin development during in utero life at 15, 17 & 19 days old. ⋯ These findings showed that maternal diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia increased average deformation of hair follicles, vacuolation, and degeneration of epidermal cell layers. The observed findings resulted from altered protein expression and increased DNA fragmentation, which, in turn, disrupt epidermal cell differentiation.