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Your arteries on Wonder Bread

A new study from Tel Aviv University shows that high glycemic index foods, such as cornflakes and white bread, can cause sudden expansion of artery walls, leading to reduced elasticity and increased heart disease risk. The research provides a new mechanism for understanding how these foods affect the progression of heart disease.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJun 25, 2009

LSUHSC public health researcher finds reason for weight gain

A study by LSUHSC public health researcher Liwei Chen found that reducing liquid calorie intake, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages, is significantly associated with weight loss. The study's findings suggest that policy recommendations and public health efforts to reduce liquid calorie intake can help combat obesity.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateApr 22, 2009

Enzyme with a sugar antenna

Researchers achieve semisynthesis of homogeneous glycoproteins, a complex task in biomedical studies. They used a novel strategy to synthesize ribonuclease C, a glycosylated bovine pancreatic enzyme with a unique sugar component.

SourceWiley·DateJan 30, 2009

Displacing petroleum-derived butanol with plants

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a way to produce higher concentrations of butanol using microorganisms. The mutant strain can use five or six carbon sugars, making it more versatile and efficient. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a second-generation strain with targeted genetic alterations.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateJan 8, 2009

Drink brewed tea to avoid tooth erosion

A study published in the Academy of General Dentistry journal found that brewed tea has a lower erosive effect on teeth compared to soft drinks and acidic juices. The study suggests that drinking brewed tea can help prevent tooth erosion, which can wear away the enamel and lead to irreversible damage.

SourceAcademy of General Dentistry·JournalEuropean Journal of General Dentistry·DateNov 25, 2008

Johns Hopkins researchers detect sweet cacophony while listening to cellular cross-talk

Researchers have discovered a key role of sugar molecules in regulating cellular processes, potentially leading to new treatments for diseases like diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer. The findings suggest that sugar molecules can influence protein function and interactions, providing a new target for manipulation by drugs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 20, 2008

Tracking down the cause of mad cow disease

Researchers at TU Munich and ETH Zurich develop a new method to synthesize anchored proteins, enabling in-depth studies of prions and their influence on conversion to pathogenic forms. The team successfully produces a synthetic GPI-anchored protein, which attaches to cell membranes, helping to track down the infectious form of the prion.

SourceWiley·DateOct 8, 2008

Variety of foods -- the key for child nutrition

New research by Sugar Nutrition UK reveals that most children have sufficient levels of essential vitamins and minerals in their diets. The study found that even though children consume more added sugars than recommended, they still get the required amounts of most nutrients.

SourceSugar Nutrition UK·JournalBritish Journal Of Nutrition·DateSep 24, 2008

Sugar-coated antibiotics

Researchers have elucidated the structure and function of an enzyme decorating antibiotics with sugar molecules, which can help overcome antibiotic resistance. By understanding how these sugars are made, they aim to develop unnatural sugars with different properties.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalChemBioChem·DateMay 28, 2008

Turning fungus into fuel

A team of researchers has decoded the genetic sequence of Tricoderma reesei, a fungus that can break down plant fibers into simple sugars. This finding could unlock possibilities for industrial processes that convert corn, switchgrass, and cellulose-based waste into ethanol.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateMay 4, 2008