https://www.selleckchem.com/products/fasoracetam-ns-105.html BACKGROUND Dystrophin deficiency sensitizes skeletal muscle of mice to eccentric contraction (ECC)-induced strength loss. ECC protocols distinguish dystrophin-deficient from healthy, wild type muscle, and test the efficacy of therapeutics for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, given the large lab-to-lab variability in ECC-induced strength loss of dystrophin-deficient mouse skeletal muscle (10-95%), mechanical factors of the contraction likely impact the degree of loss. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which mechanical variables impact sensitivity of dystrophin-deficient mouse skeletal muscle to ECC. METHODS We completed ex vivo and in vivo muscle preparations of the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse and designed ECC protocols within physiological ranges of contractile parameters (length change, velocity, contraction duration, and stimulation frequencies). To determine whether these contractile parameters affected known factors associated with ECC-induced strength loss, contraction and that mdx muscle is insensitive to ECC at submaximal stimulation frequencies. Rigorous design of ECC protocols is critical for effective use of strength loss as a readout in evaluating potential therapeutics for muscular dystrophy.BACKGROUND South Africa's maternal mortality ratio remains high although it has substantially declined in the past few years. Numerous studies undertaken in South Africa on maternal mortality have not paid much attention to how the causes are distributed in different socio-demographic groups. This study assesses and analyses the causes of maternal mortality according to sociodemographic factors in South Africa. METHODS The causes of maternal deaths were assessed with respect to age, province, place of death, occupation, education and marital status. Data were obtained from the vital registration database of Statistics South Africa. About 14,892 maternal deaths