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Laser-welded sugar: Sweet way to 3D-print blood vessels

Researchers at Rice University have successfully created complex blood vessel networks using laser-welded sugar templates, paving the way for the creation of large tissue models. The technique enables the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells throughout the body, making it a promising approach for future therapeutic applications.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJun 29, 2020

Engineered immune cells recognize, attack human and mouse solid-tumor cancer cells

Researchers have successfully engineered T-cells to target a variety of solid-tumor cancer cells in humans and mice using CAR-T therapy. The new approach broadens the potential targets by recognizing proteins with short sugar chains attached, which are often mutated in cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2020

Direct control of dendritic cells for tracking and immune modulation

Dendritic cells can be labeled using an engineered sugar molecule that is taken up by the cells and displayed on their surfaces, allowing them to track DCs in vivo. The researchers also developed a system to modulate the behavior of DCs via click chemistry, which has great promise for treating cancer and other diseases.

Not so sweet

Researchers found that cool temperatures reduce the appeal of sweetness by activating other sensory cells via protein rhodopsin 6, which is typically associated with light detection. This suppresses communication between sweet-sensing taste neurons and the brain, leading to reduced feeding behavior in fruit flies.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 23, 2020

Subtle flavors

A team of scientists at UC Santa Barbara has discovered that multiple opsin proteins function as taste receptors, enabling the detection of subtle chemical signals. This finding raises questions about the original role of opsin proteins in ancient organisms and may extend to mammals, including humans.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 2, 2020

Sugar tax has more public support than expected

A survey of over 1,000 German consumers found broad support for nutritional policy action, despite initial concerns about social acceptance. Key findings indicate that people's opinions on food policies are not tied to individual dietary struggles, with those who eat a healthy diet also being in favor of regulation.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNutrients·DateMar 11, 2020

Confusing standards lead to extra sugar in kids' breakfast cereals

A new study found that breakfast cereals marketed to children often contain more sugar per ounce than intended due to inadequate industry guidelines. Many companies participating in self-regulation programs like CFBAI fail to promote lower-sugar options, leading parents to unknowingly consume excessive sugar.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·DateMar 6, 2020

Sugar gets the red light from consumers in new study

A recent study found that sugar content is the most important factor in deciding on healthy food options, overriding fat and salt. The research used the traffic light labelling system and showed that participants preferred products with lower sugar content, even if they had higher levels of other nutrients.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics·DateFeb 28, 2020

Studies gauge effect of soft drink taxation, advertising and labeling laws

Two studies found that soft drink taxation and labeling laws led to a decrease in beverage purchases high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat. In Chile, front-of-packaging warning labels reduced consumption by 22.8mL per capita per day, while the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy increased prices by 31% and resulted in significant reductions...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateFeb 11, 2020

Your gums reveal your diet

A new study suggests that a diet rich in sugar increases the risk of both dental cavities and gum inflammation. Healthy eating habits should be prioritized to avoid expensive treatments.

SourceAarhus University·JournalJournal of Oral Microbiology·DateJan 30, 2020

Low/no calorie sweeteners can make a useful contribution to public health strategies

A new scientific report by Ashwell et al. suggests that low/no calorie sweeteners are safe, have no adverse effect on blood glucose regulation, and can help reduce net calorie intake. The experts agree that these sweeteners can be a useful contribution to public health strategies aimed at reducing obesity and diabetes risk.

SourceInternational Sweeteners Association (ISA)·JournalNutrition Research Reviews·DateJan 23, 2020

Sugar changes the chemistry of your brain

Researchers found that sugar intake alters the brain's dopamine and opioid systems, activating the reward system after just 12 days. This suggests that sugar can be an addictive substance, pushing natural stimuli like social interaction or learning into the background.

SourceAarhus University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 14, 2020

Global diets are converging, with benefits and problems

Research found that South Korea, China, and Taiwan have experienced significant changes in food supply, with increased animal source foods and sugar contributing to obesity issues. In contrast, many Western countries have seen declines in animal source foods and sugar, accompanied by increases in vegetable availability.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalNature Food·DateJan 13, 2020

Climate change unlikely to drive sugar maples north

A recent study published in the Journal of Ecology found that climate change is unlikely to force a northern migration of sugar maples due to soil composition constraints. The research, conducted by Alexis Carteron and colleagues, found that boreal forest soil negatively affects sugar maple survival rates and growth.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalJournal of Ecology·DateJan 12, 2020

Diet has rapid effects on sperm quality

A new study by researchers at Linköping University found that a diet rich in sugar can rapidly affect sperm motility and quality. After two weeks of consumption, the sperm motility of all participants became normal, suggesting a close link between diet and fertility.

SourceLinköping University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateDec 27, 2019

Hastings Center Report, November-December 2019

The Hastings Center Report highlights concerns over GoFundMe's role in facilitating unproven medical treatments, which can harm donors and recipients. The report also explores the doctor burnout crisis, advocating for legal interventions to safeguard healthcare workers' safety and well-being.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateDec 10, 2019

Sugar delivered to Earth from space

Researchers found ribose and other essential sugars in meteorites, indicating an extraterrestrial origin. The discovery suggests that these sugars could have contributed to the formation of primordial RNA on Earth.

SourceTohoku University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 21, 2019

Unhealthy habits can start young: Infants, toddlers, and added sugars

A new study found that nearly two-thirds of infants and almost all toddlers consumed added sugars in their daily diets, primarily in flavored yogurts and fruit drinks. The widespread intake points to a serious problem, as early eating patterns can lead to negative health conditions such as cavities, obesity, and elevated blood pressure.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateNov 14, 2019

What and how much we eat might change our internal clocks and hormone responses

A high-caloric diet alters the time-of-day dependent metabolic cycle in mice, suggesting lean and obese patients may respond differently to steroid therapy. The study also highlights the biological function of daily hormone secretion cycles and their impact on sugar and fat storage or release by the liver.

Sugar-coating proteins can help understand brain disease

Scientists at the University of Dundee have created a method to permanently attach a small sugar molecule called O-GlcNAc to proteins in human cells. This allows them to investigate its role in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which are thought to be linked to O-GlcNAc disruption.

SourceUniversity of Dundee·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateNov 7, 2019

Minimizing post-harvest food losses

Researchers from Graz University of Technology develop biological methods to improve storage of apples and sugar beet, reducing losses due to spoilage. The combined use of hot water treatment and biocontrol organisms significantly increases shelf life and reduces post-harvest pathogens.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateNov 7, 2019