A new study finds that blocking the muscle growth-limiting hormone myostatin can decrease body fat and promote resistance to atherosclerosis in mice. The results show significant reductions in obesity-related biomarkers, including fasting blood sugar, insulin levels, and cholesterol levels.
Researchers found that nicotine promotes insulin resistance, raising blood sugar levels higher than normal. This condition increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in smokers.
Researchers found that nicotine induces prediabetes in mice, which may contribute to the high prevalence of heart disease among smokers. The study suggests that reducing tissue glucocorticoid levels or decreasing insulin resistance may help reduce heart disease risk.
Conventional body fat measurements overestimate obesity in African-Americans compared to Caucasians of the same age and weight. The study suggests that muscle mass may be higher in Blacks, which could explain the discrepancy.
A new study found that hormone therapy combined with physical activity significantly reduces belly fat and body fat percentage in postmenopausal women. The research, which included 34 healthy women, showed that active women had lower waist measurements and better cholesterol levels after 4 months of hormone replacement therapy.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that bariatric surgery may be associated with an increased risk of fractures, particularly in the hands and feet. The study, which analyzed nearly 100 surgical cases over a 21-year period, showed that 21 individuals experienced 31 fractures within seven years after surgery.
Researchers found that BPA exposure during pregnancy leads to a permanent change in the DNA of offspring, affecting uterine development and fertility. The study's findings suggest that pregnant women should avoid BPA exposure to minimize potential harm to their unborn children.
Researchers found cocaine and heroin increase antipyrine transfer across human placental tissue, compromising barrier function. This may lead to harm from more toxic substances crossing the placenta and affecting fetal health.
Researchers found that a combination of insulin and vitamin C stopped blood vessel damage caused by Type 1 diabetes in patients with poor glucose control. The therapy's effectiveness was proven in humans for the first time, offering hope for diabetic patients to avoid complications.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a key molecular pathway that regulates replication of pancreatic beta cells. Knocking out two cell cycle proteins leads to robust beta cell replication in mouse experiments.
Researchers found that routine diabetes screenings can lead to significant cost savings for healthcare systems. The study suggests that screening and preventive management can be a cost-effective approach to managing the disease.
Researchers from USC's Keck School of Medicine presented new findings on the role of exercise in preventing post-exercise hypoglycemia and ways to modulate pancreatic beta cell mass to prevent type 2 diabetes. The studies aim to improve diabetes treatment guidelines, including medication timing and exercise recommendations.
Scientists discover that restoring leptin sensitivity to a specific area of POMC neurons in the brain's hypothalamus can cure severe diabetes and increase activity levels in mice. The findings suggest a new therapeutic pathway for treating insulin-resistant diabetes, potentially stimulating exercise willpower.
Researchers found elevated aldosterone levels in overweight male teens, associated with early signs of heart damage and thickened heart walls. Early intervention could prevent cardiovascular disease in these young people.
A new study found that longer breastfeeding duration and higher-quality weaning diets can shape a child's body composition. Children who were breastfed for longer periods had lower fat mass, while those with higher quality weaning diets had greater lean mass at four years of age.
The NeuroFAST project will investigate the neural mechanisms underlying food intake and addiction, with a focus on the hypothalamus. The research team, led by Professor Suzanne Dickson at Sahlgrenska Academy, aims to create a comprehensive picture of obesity and its causes.
A new vaginal ring has been designed to prevent both HIV transmission and unintended pregnancy, offering a non-hormonal alternative to existing methods. The device combines multiple antiviral drugs and compounds that arrest sperm motility, making it a promising solution for empowering women to protect themselves.
A new survey reveals that post-menopausal women are reluctant to discuss vaginal dryness and pain due to embarrassment, affecting up to 47% who prefer discussing symptoms with a female physician. Despite this, 67% of those treated experience improvements in quality of life and sexual activity.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that injecting testosterone undecanoate monthly can effectively prevent pregnancy. After thirty months, the cumulative contraceptive failure rate was 1.1 per 100 men.
A study of ICU patients found that 45% were deficient in vitamin D, with lower levels associated with greater disease severity. Researchers believe that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to disease complications and suggest that raising vitamin D levels may be beneficial for critically ill patients.
A LSUHSC student has developed a groundbreaking treatment for diabetes using ACE2 gene therapy, which improves pancreatic beta cell function and restores glucose stability in diabetic mice. The award recognizes the student's outstanding research contributions to the field of endocrinology and metabolism.
A new study suggests that balancing two types of estrogen and a hormone in the placenta can signal labor. Researchers found that when estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) are in balance, there is no drive to labor, but an imbalance leads to the onset of labor.
A new study found that babies born with lower weight are more likely to develop chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes later in life due to increased inflammation. Researchers followed over 5,600 children from birth to adulthood, finding a link between early growth and adult inflammation.
Professor Juliet Compston has received the IBMS John G. Haddad, Jr. Award for her significant contributions to clinical research in bone and mineral metabolism. Her work focuses on metabolic bone disease, osteoporosis, and the effects of glucocorticoids on bone health.
Genes from fireflies and jellyfish are used to light up cells expressing prolactin, a hormone linked to over 300 biological functions, including autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The technique helps scientists track prolactin production in real-time, shedding light on its role in the body.
A UK study found South Asians with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy, leading to early vision loss. The study also revealed that South Asian patients were significantly younger when diagnosed with diabetes and developed retinopathy about seven years earlier than White Europeans.
A study published in Human Reproduction found that single embryo transfer (eSET) is more effective and cheaper than double embryo transfer. eSET reduces multiple pregnancies by half and saves patients an average of €19,889 per live birth at term.
The Nancy Lurie Marks Clinical and Research Fellowship Program in Autism will support HMS faculty and students interested in autism research over six years. The program will fund basic and clinical research in various fields, including genetics and neuroscience.
Dr. Roger Zebazé's project will investigate the structural causes of childhood fractures, aiming to understand bone fragility and devise preventative measures. The IOF-Servier Young Investigator Research Grant provides €40,000 support for innovative osteoporosis research.
A study by Dr Tom Barber and colleagues found a genetic link between the FTO gene and PCOS susceptibility. The researchers analyzed 463 PCOS patients and 1336 female population controls, discovering that variants of the FTO gene influence fat mass and PCOS-susceptibility.
New research suggests kisspeptin can activate release of sex hormones in women with infertility, leading to increased luteinising hormone production. The study found a 48-fold increase in LH and 16-fold increase in FSH in women treated with kisspeptin compared to controls.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have made a significant discovery in the fight against type 1 diabetes, using adult stem cells to induce liver cells to produce insulin. The study found that a specific gene called neurogenin3 is critical for this process.
A new four-year grant will support research on brain and pituitary hormones in sea lampreys to better understand their reproductive systems. The project aims to identify common functional features between these ancient vertebrates and later-evolved species.
A new study finds that obesity is biologically associated with an unsatisfying sex life, which can be reversed through weight loss via gastric bypass surgery. Researchers measured reproductive hormone levels and quality of life ratings in obese men before and after surgery.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that pre-diabetic adults with post-challenge hyperglycemia have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease due to increased glucose and insulin levels, triglycerides, inflammation, and impaired blood vessel function. Routine glucose screening and preventi...
Researchers at the Salk Institute found a protein called CREB that promotes insulin resistance in obese mice. Blocking CREB's activity improved insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for type II diabetes. The study provides hope for new treatments that don't require weight loss.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that obese women have detrimental changes in their ovaries, leading to poorer reproductive outcomes. Alterations in egg development and increased inflammation may contribute to infertility, the researchers suggest.
A major international diabetes study of over 52,000 patients from eight countries found that using biphasic BIAsp 30 insulin resulted in significant clinical improvements and greater patient satisfaction. The study showed a 53% reduction in blood glucose levels below seven percent, with major hypoglycaemia incidents falling by 94%.
A University of Illinois study has found that a hormone present in fat tissue plays a key role in regulating the immune system and aiding recovery from hypoxia. Leptin triggers an increase in anti-inflammatory molecules, leading to faster recovery times in obese mice.
Researchers at University of Cincinnati discovered that estrogen receptors are present in medulloblastoma, the most common type of pediatric brain tumor. This finding suggests that anti-estrogen drug treatments may be beneficial in limiting tumor progression and improving patient outcomes.
A study by Monell Center researchers found that fructose-sweetened beverages increased triglyceride levels in obese individuals, even when consumed with meals. This effect was most pronounced in insulin-resistant subjects, who already had high triglyceride levels.
A new study found that teenage girls with higher vitamin D levels had improved muscle function, specifically jump speed and power. The research suggests that vitamin D may be a super nutrient beyond its role in keeping bones strong.
A new study found a positive relationship between vitamin D levels and muscle power, force, velocity, and jump height in adolescent girls. The researchers measured serum vitamin D levels in 99 adolescent girls and used jumping mechanography to assess muscle power.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that growth hormone treatment after weight loss surgery reduces lean body mass and skeletal muscle mass losses. Researchers discovered that short-term growth hormone treatment during a standardized diet and exercise program increased l...
The Urban Wildlife Institute aims to mitigate wildlife and human conflicts in Chicago through holistic ecosystem health research. The institute will utilize sound science to create pragmatic solutions for zoonotic disease threats and urban habitat preservation.
A genome-wide association study has identified three genes associated with an increased risk of severe obesity in children and adults. The study, led by McGill scientists, found that these genes contribute to early-onset obesity in kids and morbid obesity in adults.
JDRF-funded researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discovered a protein called cdk6 that regulates human beta cell replication. This finding provides proof-of-principle for stimulating human beta cell production and function.
Researchers followed over 6,000 IVF patients through six cycles, finding live birth rates range from 65-86% for younger women and 23-42% for those aged 40+, with most births being singletons.
A new study published in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with changes in maternal thyroid hormone levels. Smoking-related changes in thyroid function extend to the fetus, potentially leading to impaired neuropsychological development.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have successfully induced human insulin-producing beta cells to replicate in a living animal and in the lab. The discovery could improve models and methods for studying diabetes and lead to techniques for generating new beta cells in patients with diabetes.
Stanford researchers have discovered a connection between two aging pathways, SIRT6 and NF-kB, which could lead to a new understanding of how cells age. The study found that SIRT6 regulates gene expression by modifying histones, making it harder for NF-kB to trigger the expression of genes associated with aging.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that the COUP-TFII protein helps control fat cells and energy metabolism. Breeding mice with only one copy of the gene led to smaller fat cells and increased sensitivity to insulin, making it a potential target for diabetes treatment.
Children's researchers found that ER stress and unfolded-protein response block leptin action in the brain; chemical chaperones can re-sensitize the brain to leptin, leading to significant weight loss. Leptin-sensitizing agents may bring new hope for obesity treatment
Researchers found that pregnant women with vitamin D deficiency were more than twice as likely to undergo a caesarean section compared to those without the deficiency. The study highlights the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy.
A Canada-US study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that insufficient vitamin D can cause higher body mass and shorter stature in girls during puberty. The researchers discovered a significant association between low vitamin D levels and increased abdominal fat, but no link to bone strength.
New research from the University of Manchester has shown that even water-soluble statins can affect placental development, leading to worse pregnancy outcomes. Current guidelines recommend avoiding statins during pregnancy due to their potential risks, and this study supports these recommendations.
Researchers identified a gene involved in the body's response to the day-night cycle strongly linked to high blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes. The melatonin receptor is implicated in conditions like jetlag and sleep disorders, suggesting that disrupted sleep patterns are connected to metabolic health.
Men who survived childhood leukemia treatment into adulthood have lower bone mineral density, increasing their risk of osteoporosis. The study found that male survivors were more likely than female survivors to have weaker bones, and shorter individuals also faced higher risks.
A new study finds that pediatric obesity can alter thyroid function and structure, with a potential link between fat excess and thyroid tissue modification. Thyroid function returns to normal after weight loss, but the persistence of abnormalities in obese children may progress into chronic disease in early adulthood.
A new study found that increasing alkali content in the diet through fruits and vegetables can counteract acid-induced bone loss. The study discovered bicarbonate has a favorable effect on bone resorption and calcium excretion.