Articles tagged with Metabolism
Climate change research needs to focus on how changing population structures will affect future human wellbeing. Global scenarios already include demographic data, but this is not being fully utilized. A new conceptual model, 'demographic metabolism,' can account for the replacement of generations and their impact on vulnerability.
Researchers found that cancer cells rely on metabolic processes, specifically the use of intermediates for energy production, to drive growth and division. A specific variant of STAT5, which cannot detect a marker indicating a full energy supply, prevents sustained activation necessary for leukemia development.
A pilot study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, has shown that consuming grapes twice a day for six months can prevent metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain. Participants who followed a grape-enriched diet demonstrated improved attention and memory performance compared to those on a placebo diet.
A recent study found that metformin treatment inhibits abnormal mitochondrial metabolism and activates anti-proliferation signaling in individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This inhibition leads to lower rates of tumor formation and increased survival time, suggesting metformin as a potential strategy for cancer prevention.
Researchers found a 'cross-talk' between the immune system, gut bacteria, and glucose metabolism, with implications for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The gut bacteria Akkermansia muciniphila plays a critical role in regulating glucose metabolism.
Researchers found a link between necrotizing enterocolitis and mitochondrial metabolism, which generates energy for cells. The study suggests a genetic deficiency may trigger the disease, which affects up to 10% of premature infants and is fatal 25-35% of the time.
Researchers have found that impaired insulin metabolism affects neighboring cells involved in wound healing, leading to slow and incomplete healing. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating wounds in diabetics, with local treatment targeting insulin metabolism.
Researchers discovered a metabolic enzyme that acts as a gatekeeper for the innate immune system, triggering strong inflammatory responses against harmful bacteria. This finding may help explain why obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease are often accompanied by inflammation.
A new therapy has been developed to replace essential steroids in the body, which could help people with conditions like Addison's disease and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The treatment uses corticosterone instead of cortisol, resulting in fewer side effects on fat cells.
Researchers at TUM discovered that brain cells, specifically astrocytes, regulate sugar intake and adjust metabolism in response to hormones like insulin and leptin. This paradigm shift could lead to new treatments for diabetes and obesity by targeting multiple cell types involved in metabolic processes.
Researchers created a liver on a chip that accurately replicates the metabolic variations found throughout the organ. The microfluidic device allows for fine control over liver cell metabolism, enabling the study of the effects of toxins and new drugs on the liver.
Researchers developed an index to predict bone loss in women during menopause by considering both bone formation and breakdown. The Bone Balance Index was found to be a stronger predictor of bone loss than a measurement of bone breakdown alone.
A study found that a cellular sorting protein called SORLA disrupts fat metabolism by recycling molecular receptors for insulin. This causes fat cells to become overly sensitive to insulin, leading to excessive fat deposits and obesity. The researchers discovered this link in human samples, mouse models, and cell cultures.
Research by Thomas Willnow found that SORLA regulates insulin signaling, leading to increased fat accumulation and obesity in mice. Reducing SORLA levels protected against diet-induced obesity.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified CD38 as the key enzyme responsible for decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels during aging. This decline is associated with age-related metabolic decline and conditions like obesity and diabetes. Increasing NAD levels may be achieved by inhibiting CD38 function.
A review of physical employment standards aims to improve age- and sex-neutrality and address nutritional health, hydration, protective clothing, and load carriage. The special issue consolidates international perspectives on best practices in employment standards.
A new study finds that EU-15 citizens increasingly identify as European, with the proportion rising to 61% in 2013. The study also shows that younger cohorts are more likely to have multiple identities, which will continue to increase as they replace older generations.
Researchers discovered that a protein called methylation controlled J (MCJ) can be altered to boost the immune system's response to the flu. MCJ acts as a braking system in mitochondria, slowing down energy production and preventing overactive cells from killing healthy ones.
A study published in mSystems found that Burkholderia multivorans bacteria evolve and adapt in bursts to survive in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. The bacteria target adherence, metabolism, and changes to the cell envelope to evade antibiotics and persist in the host.
A new study found that bright light exposure increases insulin resistance compared to dim light exposure in both the morning and evening. This could lead to excess blood glucose, weight gain, and a higher risk of diabetes over time. The study suggests that lighting impacts health outcomes.
Researchers have identified six newly discovered proteins that may help prevent diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and other age-related illnesses. The tiny proteins are produced in the mitochondria of cells and play a significant role in metabolism and cell survival.
A new study published in Cerebral Cortex found that brain metabolism is a significant predictor of fluid intelligence in young adults. The research used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure concentrations of the molecule N-acetyl aspartate in different regions of the brain, revealing a link between NAA levels and fluid intelligence.
A recent study suggests that decreased dietary diversity leads to reduced gut microbiota richness, which is associated with various metabolic disorders. The researchers emphasize the importance of dietary diversity for maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal microbiome.
Researchers developed a new laboratory method to study the function of GABA in brain processes controlling appetite and metabolism. The study found that mice lacking GABA in their hypothalamus, a key brain area regulating appetite, experienced significant weight loss and improved glucose tolerance.
A new study led by TSRI scientists has found that oxygen sensing in the brain plays a role in metabolism and internal state sensing. The research discovered a connection between oxygen levels and fat reserves in animal models, suggesting a possible mechanism for regulating metabolism in humans.
Vitamin B6 plays a crucial role in nitrogen metabolism, informing plants of their ammonium content and helping regulate its use. This discovery could lead to the development of new methods to prevent overuse of nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which harm the environment.
A recent study published in Cell reveals how eggs store fuel for embryo development by accumulating sugars during the final stages of maturation. Insulin signaling is inactivated, leading to reduced mitochondrial activity and sugar buildup.
Researchers designed synthetic microbes to learn what drives the bacterial circadian clock and how it might be manipulated. The findings indicate that the cyanobacteria's clock can synchronize to metabolism outside of photosynthesis, suggesting potential applications in engineered microbes.
Researchers link flibanserin-induced decreases in female brain metabolism to increased pair bonding and grooming behavior in common marmosets. The study provides insight into how the drug may work in women's brains, but highlights room for improvement in treatment and safety.
Researchers at the Buck Institute discover that dysfunctional mitochondria induce a unique type of senescence, characterized by a distinct secretory phenotype. This finding provides an alternative explanation for the free-radical theory of aging and highlights a new role for mitochondria in affecting physiology.
Research reveals that dietary restriction enhances the expression of circadian clock genes in fruit flies, improving fat metabolism and extending lifespan. The study suggests a potential target for drug development to promote healthy aging.
Researchers from Tohoku University created a modified DNA sequence that increases sucrose levels in tomatoes without limiting growth. The technology also affects amino acid metabolism, resulting in higher levels of several key compounds.
Researchers found that well-trained seniors can expend as much energy as elite athletes during maximal physical exertion. The study, conducted by the University of Copenhagen, revealed that seniors can perform at near-maximum rates for longer periods than expected.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a process to track the movement of lycopene, a cancer-fighting compound found in tomatoes, in the human body. The study used plant biofactories to produce heavier versions of lycopene, which can be easily tracked in the body.
A Kansas State University researcher is gathering large-scale biological information on rivers across the US and Mongolia. The study aims to understand how climate change affects river systems, including oxygen production and consumption from bacteria, algae, plants, and animals.
A team of researchers from Caltech analyzed eggshells from sauropod dinosaurs, bird-like oviraptorid dinosaurs, and Titanosaurs to determine their body temperatures. The results showed that smaller dinosaurs had lower basal metabolisms, while larger ones maintained warm temperatures similar to modern mammals.
Researchers at Osaka University found that smoking habits change the levels of α-klotho and FGF-21 in blood serum, which are linked to aging. These changes suggest a metabolic disorder and may contribute to accelerated aging in smokers.
Researchers have developed a sticky gel that helps stem cells adhere to and restore their metabolism in rat hearts, improving cardiac function after simulated heart attacks. The gel, which combines serum and hyaluronic acid, has been shown to retain up to 73% of transplanted cells in the heart.
Early-career cell biologists Clifford Brangwynne, Ahmet Yildiz, and Meng Wang have won the ASCB-Gibco Emerging Leaders Prizes for their groundbreaking research in cell biology. Their work has launched new research fields at the interface of biology and physics.
A University of Missouri study found that female mice exposed to endocrine disruptors like BPA and EE showed decreased physical activity in their daughters, which can predispose them to obesity and other metabolic disorders. The chemicals can affect metabolism, energy expenditure, and voluntary exercise patterns.
A mathematical calculation platform predicts how patients respond to modified diets depending on their gut microbiome composition. The study reveals that individuals with low-diversity gut microbiomes experience improved blood chemistry when following a weight loss diet.
A study published in JAMA Neurology found insulin resistance associated with reduced global and regional brain glucose metabolism in late middle-age adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Lower glucose metabolism was linked to poorer performance in immediate memory tasks.
A new special issue in ecancermedicalscience explores the complex relationship between diet, metabolism, and cancer. Researchers investigate the role of antioxidants, obesity, and biomarkers in cancer development and prevention.
Researchers have found that altered cholesterol metabolism in certain immune cells may help some people with HIV naturally control disease progression. This discovery was made possible by using 30 years of data and biologic specimens collected through the NIH-funded Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.
Research found that enhanced cholesterol metabolism in certain immune cells may help explain why some HIV-infected people naturally control disease progression. The study analyzed gene expression data from immune cells and found higher levels of cholesterol-related genes associated with defective viral transmission.
A new study by MD Anderson researchers found that protein 14-3-3 sigma opposes and reverses tumor-promoting metabolic programs in breast cancer. The study revealed that 14-3-3 sigma suppresses cancer glycosis, preventing tumors from converting glucose into pyruvate.
A study led by Harvard Medical School geneticists reveals that blind cavefish have mutations in the MC4R gene, which is also mutated in certain obese people. The findings provide insights into how vertebrates evolved different metabolisms and could inform the search for genes influencing human metabolism and obesity.
The study provides a powerful tool for guiding strain design and protocol optimization, facilitating the development of next-generation biofuels. It elucidates the complex system-level orchestration of metabolic reactions, gene regulation, and environmental cues during clostridial ABE fermentation.
A new NIH study reveals that people with certain physiologies lose less weight when limiting calories. Those with a 'thrifty' metabolism, characterized by decreased energy expenditure during fasting, tend to lose less weight during calorie-reduced periods.
A comprehensive survey of resources used and removed in the world's largest metropolitan areas reveals that megacities consume significantly more energy and produce more solid waste than other regions. Despite having a relatively small percentage of the global population, megacities generate a substantial proportion of global GDP.
A fruit-based micronutrient and fiber-dense supplement bar improved metabolism, reduced chronic inflammation, and initiated weight loss in overweight/obese individuals. The CHORI-bar's composition is complex and required years of clinical trials to develop.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered a new switch that regulates plant photosynthesis, allowing for improved efficiency and resilience to environmental stresses. This discovery may aid in developing plants with enhanced productivity and stability, addressing the increasing demand for food and fuel as climate changes.
Researchers at Kyoto University discovered how nerve cells adjust to low energy environments during brain growth, shedding light on neurodegenerative disorders. They found two protein molecules that produce enzymes to allocate energy molecules for cellular survival in areas with low ATP energy concentrations.
A study by UNSW medical researchers found that maternal exercise during pregnancy reduced offspring's body weight, insulin and blood glucose levels in male rats. Female offspring showed only modest improvements, highlighting the sex-specific effects of maternal exercise on metabolism.
Scientists investigate how cheese affects gut health and cholesterol levels, finding a link between high cheese consumption and reduced 'bad' cholesterol. Recent studies have cast doubt on the notion that saturated fats are harmful, and this research further supports a role for dairy products in maintaining heart health.
A new University of Montana study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that eating fast food after a workout can provide the same potential for muscle glycogen recovery as traditional sports supplements. The study, led by Brent Ruby, analyzed muscle biopsies and blood samples from male...
A single metabolic protein called estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) controls the flow of blood and nutrients throughout the body. It turns on fat-burning pathways in muscles and sugar-burning pathways in the brain.
Glioblastoma's aggressive nature is fueled by mTOR-induced pathways, but mTOR inhibitors have shown limited effectiveness. Compensatory glutamine metabolism plays a crucial role in mTOR inhibitor resistance, as evidenced by increased glutaminase and glutamine levels in GBM cells and tumor xenografts.
A study found that high-vitamin maternal diets impact brain development and food preference in male Wistar rat offspring, reducing preference for sweetness. The findings suggest that excessive vitamin intake during pregnancy may affect offspring's dietary choices and potentially other behaviors.
Research suggests that obese females with high disinhibition scores have impaired metabolism and poorer outcomes due to poor insulin signaling. These women require weight loss treatment more urgently than those with low disinhibition scores.