{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "0a1bc06aed8944028dbc6a1adb526828", "timestamp": "2026-07-22T13:22:27.744Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/0a1bc06aed8944028dbc6a1adb526828.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/0a1bc06aed8944028dbc6a1adb526828"}}, "title": "Skeletal Muscle Microbiopsies in Children and Adults-Tolerability, Sample Yield, and Analyzability.", "authors": [{"family": "H\u00f6gelin", "given": "Emil Rydell", "initials": "ER", "orcid": "0000-0002-0155-6655", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/a797176a0ef44f38b35727870aa42099.json"}}, {"family": "Edman", "given": "Sebastian", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Jannig", "given": "Paulo R", "initials": "PR"}, {"family": "L\u00f6fgren", "given": "Axel", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Thulin", "given": "Kajsa", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Michno", "given": "Piotr", "initials": "P"}, {"family": "Norrbom", "given": "Jessica", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Alkner", "given": "Bj\u00f6rn A", "initials": "BA"}, {"family": "von Walden", "given": "Ferdinand", "initials": "F", "orcid": "0000-0003-1134-2252", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/903e0b7523da4a49960e677009942f67.json"}}, {"family": "Fornander", "given": "Lotta", "initials": "L", "orcid": "0000-0003-2077-8445", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/1bceecb024cd4adeb8032e41449c7a36.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2026-01-30", "journal": {"title": "Muscle Nerve", "issn": "1097-4598", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "Traditional methods of sampling skeletal muscle tissue are invasive. This study aimed to evaluate a sub-millimeter core-biopsy (microbiopsy) as a potentially more tolerable method, with further regard to tissue yield and analyzability of RNA expression.\n\nChildren (9-13 years, n = 11) and adults (18-50 years, n = 16) were recruited. Microbiopsy and venipuncture were performed, with prior application of local anesthesia cream. Additionally, adults underwent a Bergstr\u00f6m muscle biopsy, with infiltrative local anesthesia. Pain was rated using the visual analog scale (VAS), reported as medians (95% CI). Microbiopsy samples were freeze-dried and weighed. To evaluate RNA sequencing performance at low tissue sample weights, a six-step incremental tissue ladder (10-500 \u03bcg) was analyzed.\n\nChildren rated venipunctures and microbiopsies low, at VAS = 0.1 (0.0-0.6) and 1.6 (0.9-3.9), respectively. Microbiopsy pain ratings were slightly higher than venipuncture, p < 0.001. Pain ratings in adults were 0.0 (0.0-0.5), 1.8 (1.3-2.4), 2.9 (2.4-3.8), and 2.7 (2.2-3.8) for venipuncture, microbiopsy, Bergstr\u00f6m biopsy, and infiltrative local anesthesia, respectively. Microbiopsy was rated less painful than Bergstr\u00f6m biopsy and local anesthesia (p < 0.05). Children did not rate microbiopsy more painful than adults (p = 0.82). Microbiopsies yielded on average 303 (SD 121.8) \u03bcg. RNA sequencing detected similar transcriptomic signatures across the tissue ladder.\n\nThe generally low pain ratings for the microbiopsy procedure support its use as a tolerable method of acquiring skeletal muscle samples in both children and adults. It represents a less painful alternative to Bergstr\u00f6m biopsies while still rendering adequate material for RNA sequencing.", "doi": "10.1002/mus.70161", "pmid": "41618578", "labels": {"National Genomics Infrastructure": "Service", "NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production)": "Service", "NGI Short read": "Service"}, "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-02-09T12:51:02.135Z", "modified": "2026-02-09T12:51:03.068Z"}