 |
|
Hormone may hold key to helping elderly men live longer
May 27, 2008Elderly men with higher activity of the hormone IGF-1-or insulin-growth factor 1-appear to have greater life expectancy and reduced cardiovascular risk, according to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).
IGF-1 is a hormone similar in molecular structure to insulin. It is released from the liver and plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults.
In this study, researchers evaluated 376 healthy elderly men between the ages of 73 and 94 years. A serum sample was taken from each subject at the beginning of the study and researchers were contacted about the status of the participants over a period of eight years.
Subjects with the lowest IGF-1 function had a significantly higher mortality rate than subjects with the highest IGF-1 bioactivity. These results were especially significant in individuals who have a high risk to die from cardiovascular complications.
These new findings come as a result of a new form of testing for IGF-bioactivity. Researchers in this study used a new method, a bioassay, to measure the function of IGF-1 in the blood. Compared to commonly used methods to measure IGF-1, the IGF-1 bioassay gives more information about the actual function (bioactivity) of circulating IGF-1 in the body.
"The bioassay allowed us to more clearly see the association between high circulating IGF-1 bioactivity and extended survival," said Michael Brugts, MD, of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and lead author of the study. "Interestingly, we could not find such a relationship when IGF-1 in blood was measured with the more commonly used methods."
Immunoassays, commonly used previously to determine IGF-1 circulation levels, remove certain proteins that interfere with accurate measurements. Recent studies however have found that these proteins are important modulators of IGF-1 bioactivity. The bioassay used in this study does not disregard or remove this protein, thus enabling researchers to have a more accurate understanding of IGF-1 function.
Determination of IGF-1 function using the bioassay opens the possibility to gather new insights about the functions of IGF-1 in the body, said Brugts.
The Endocrine Society
Subjects with the lowest IGF-1 function had a significantly higher mortality rate than subjects with the highest IGF-1 bioactivity. These results were especially significant in individuals who have a high risk to die from cardiovascular complications.
These new findings come as a result of a new form of testing for IGF-bioactivity. Researchers in this study used a new method, a bioassay, to measure the function of IGF-1 in the blood. Compared to commonly used methods to measure IGF-1, the IGF-1 bioassay gives more information about the actual function (bioactivity) of circulating IGF-1 in the body.
"The bioassay allowed us to more clearly see the association between high circulating IGF-1 bioactivity and extended survival," said Michael Brugts, MD, of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and lead author of the study. "Interestingly, we could not find such a relationship when IGF-1 in blood was measured with the more commonly used methods."
Immunoassays, commonly used previously to determine IGF-1 circulation levels, remove certain proteins that interfere with accurate measurements. Recent studies however have found that these proteins are important modulators of IGF-1 bioactivity. The bioassay used in this study does not disregard or remove this protein, thus enabling researchers to have a more accurate understanding of IGF-1 function.
Determination of IGF-1 function using the bioassay opens the possibility to gather new insights about the functions of IGF-1 in the body, said Brugts.
The Endocrine Society
Bioactivity Current Events and Bioactivity News RSSYale undergrads' Amazon trip yields a treasure trove of diversity
A group of Yale undergraduates have discovered dozens of potentially beneficial bioactive microorganisms within plants they collected in the Amazon rain forest, including several so genetically distinct that they may be the first members of new taxonomical genera.
Fugitive cancer cells can be blocked by stopping blood cells that aid them
Cancer cells get a helping hand from platelets, specialized blood cells involved in clotting. Platelets shelter and feed tumor cells that stray into the bloodstream, making it easier for cancer to spread, or metastasize.
Native fruits bear sweet antioxidants
Twelve native Australian fruits that are exceptional sources of antioxidants have been identified in research published in the journal Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies.
Research shows NPD1 protects a key component of vision
Two papers to be published in the Early Edition online of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the week of July 30-August 3, 2007 report findings that demonstrate that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) protects against damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and identifies an important trigger for its production and novel molecular mechanisms that support vision.
How does soy promote weight loss? University of Illinois scientist finds another clue
Research shows that when soy consumption goes up, weight goes down. A new University of Illinois study may help scientists understand exactly how that weight loss happens.
Synthetic production of potential pharmaceuticals dramatically simplified by Scripps research team
Chemists are currently able to synthetically produce almost any compound, but they must typically resort to expensive, complex processes that can require dozens of individual steps.
Dually porous glass shows promise in helping damaged bone regenerate
Victims of osteoporosis and broken bones may get a boost from a new type of biocompatible glass that shows promise in helping damaged and diseased bone to regenerate, says an international team of researchers.
New cocoa evidence on why plant foods are beneficial to cardiovascular health
While a growing number of studies has shown a link between flavanol-rich cocoa and cardiovascular health, scientists have now substantiated a causal relationship between specific compounds present in cocoa and cardiovascular health.
High tech implants to aid facial reconstruction to be developed at Loughborough University
Loughborough University researchers have been awarded more than £200,000 to develop state-of-the-art tailor made implants for people requiring facial reconstructive surgery.
Pea and whey in the control of high blood pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in western society. It is estimated that 20% of the world's adult population suffers from hypertension. Recently, some functional foods have received considerable attention for their effectiveness in both the prevention and the treatment of hypertension. This is among others due to the presence of food derived bioactive peptides with potential antihypertensive properties. Compared to antihypertensive drugs, these peptides, as part of a (functional) food or as nutraceutical, have no side effects and are less expensive. Moreover, as
More Bioactivity Current Events and Bioactivity News Articles
| Bioactivity of alkamides isolated from Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench.: An article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology by L.J. Clifford, M.G. Nair, J. Rana, D.L. Dewitt This digital document is an article from Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, published by Urban & Fischer Verlag on April 1, 2002. The length of the article is 3016 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You... | |
| Bioactivity-guided fractionation for anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and constituents of Xanthium strumarium L.(Report): An article from: Phytomedicine: ... Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology by T. Han, H.-L. Li, Q.-Y. Zhang, P. Han, H.-C. Zheng, K. Rahman, L.-P. Qin This digital document is an article from Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, published by Thomson Gale on December 1, 2007. The length of the article is 3240 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view... | |
 | N-Terminal Fragment of Proopiomelanocortin: Structural Polymorphism & Structure-Bioactivity Characterization (Acta Biomedica Lovaniensia, 269) by Jie Lu |
| Methods in Plant Biochemistry: Assays for Bioactivity (Methods in Plant Biochemistry) | |
| Nanosize Fibers Are Found to Have Unusual Bioactivity.: An article from: Nanoparticle News This digital document is an article from Nanoparticle News, published by Business Communications Company, Inc. on October 1, 2001. The length of the article is 401 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web... | |
 | Thermal Biosensors/Bioactivity/Bioaffinity (Advances in Biochemical Engineering / Biotechnology) |
| Bioactivity of crude extracts and some constituents of Blutaparon portulacoides (Amaranthaceae).: An article from: Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology by M.J. Salvador, E.O. Ferreira, E.M.F. Pral, S.C. Alfieri, S. Albuquerque, I.Y. Ito, D.A. Dias This digital document is an article from Phytomedicine: International Journal of Phytotherapy & Phytopharmacology, published by Urban & Fischer Verlag on September 1, 2002. The length of the article is 4171 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase.... | |
 | Brassinosteroids: Bioactivity and Crop Productivity This book provides a comprehensive and up to date account of the brassinosteroids, incorporating both theoretical and practical aspects. The contributors to this book are experts of international repute. Each chapter presents a review of the available literature and provides insight into current thinking by pointing out the limitations and gaps in the present knowledge and directing the way... |
| Medicinal plants, their bioactivity, screening and evaluation: Proceedings of the International Workshop, Lucknow, India, December 2-5, 1997 Papers presented at the International Workshop on Medicinal Plants, their Bio-activity, Screening and... | |
 | Molecular Modeling and Prediction of Bioactivity The book covers highly important topics in the challenging process from lead finding to drug candidates. Focus is upon the potential usefulness of methods for design of lead discovery libraries, lead optimisation, computational chemistry methods for the calculation of energetics of protein-ligand interaction, and computer simulations of biological activities. Important topics include new ... |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |