Articles tagged with Starvation
A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem examines Israel's philanthropic food-aid network, highlighting gaps in data and disparities in distribution. The researchers found significant limitations in evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of charitable aid systems.
Researchers found that the gut responds to protein deficiency by activating a fast neural circuit and a slower hormonal signal, which selectively changes dietary priorities. The study reveals a previously unknown gut-brain signaling system that rapidly alters feeding behavior in animals.
A new Cochrane review suggests that intermittent fasting may not be an effective strategy for weight loss in overweight or obese adults. The study found no meaningful difference in weight loss between intermittent fasting and traditional dietary advice or doing nothing, highlighting the need for more research into this area.
The Binghamton University Food Justice Working Group developed the Broome County Food Access Plan, enhancing nutrition resources and community education. The group also created a story map illustrating food insecurity in Broome County.
A new Cochrane review found that free or subsidized school meals slightly improve math achievement and enrolment rates in low- and middle-income countries. School feeding programs also likely contribute to small gains in physical growth indicators, but evidence from high-income countries is limited.
Researchers developed nanomachines that can function stably within living organisms, enabling starvation therapy to treat refractory pancreatic cancer. This approach improved treatment outcomes by depleting essential nutrients for cancer cell growth.
A new study reveals that different prey within a single species can provide vastly different levels of nutrition for marine predators. This variation can lead to predators consuming more prey than necessary, highlighting the importance of understanding prey quality in maintaining ecosystem balance.
A new study published in PLOS One identifies unexpected 'danger zones' when the risk of going hungry is highest among Utah refugees, highlighting the need for timely interventions and improved information to reduce food insecurity. Researchers propose increasing access to gardens and empowering refugees with resources to thrive.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a mechanism that resets the molecular cycle involved in the fight-or-flight response to stress and starvation. The study used imaging, structural, and biochemical techniques to uncover how this cycle completes and the system resets itself.
Researchers found that obesity causes a disruption in the liver's ability to adapt to starvation, specifically in the temporal coordination of molecules. This suggests that obesity makes the body more vulnerable to the negative effects of starvation, despite no significant structural disruptions in the molecular network.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys discovered novel fragments of future drugs that selectively inhibit the enzyme VHR, which plays a role in controlling the immune system's response to danger. The findings may lead to the development of new therapies for sepsis and septic shock.
A recent study by Indian Institute of Science found that tropical lizards, such as rock agamas, prioritize variable food sources over constant ones when hungry. This flexible approach helps them thrive in unpredictable conditions.
Scientists discovered a unique way in which yeast cells adapt to starvation by coating their mitochondria with massive molecular complexes called ribosomes. This adaptation has potential implications for cancer treatment as it may help overcome the challenges faced by cancer cells when they are starved of nutrients.
A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Ken Natsuga found that cell-cell adhesion governs pattern formation in keratinocytes. Starvation also plays a crucial role in the formation of these patterns, which are influenced by cell proliferation and differentiation.
Yanomami children face the most severe nutritional deficit in Indigenous communities in the Americas, with 52.2% undernourished and 570 starved to death in four years. Malnutrition during infancy can have lifelong effects on health, increasing disease risk and mortality rates.
A team of researchers discovered a group of neurons in the brain associated with compulsive eating and food craving. The discovery found that activation of these cells triggered vigorous foraging behavior in mice, even when they were already full.
Researchers have identified a gene responsible for the development of starvation-induced fatty liver in cavefish, which are able to protect their liver due to reduced fat accumulation. This genetic basis has implications for understanding and addressing liver conditions in humans, including Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
A recent study found that polar bears, closely observed by scientists, struggled to maintain weight when their preferred seal prey was out of reach during longer ice-free seasons. Despite trying various strategies, including resting and foraging, nearly all the bears lost weight rapidly, highlighting their vulnerability to climate change.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that poverty, low health literacy, cultural beliefs, lack of infrastructure, and political issues hinder diabetes self-management for Haitian migrants. The researchers suggest targeted interventions, such as community gardens and healthcare education through local priests.
Experts warn that fungal disease in crops could lead to unprecedented challenges in food production, causing losses equivalent to enough food for millions of people. The increasing prevalence of fungal infections is due to rising temperatures and the development of resistance to antifungals.
Researchers found that the molecular clock helps cells maintain normal physiology during and after prolonged starvation, enabling them to adapt more efficiently. The study suggests that a functional circadian clock is crucial for cellular recovery after glucose deprivation.
Researchers discovered that starvation causes changes in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structure in human cells, leading to impaired mitochondrial function and severe energy deficiency. This mechanism is crucial for understanding the progression of X-linked centronuclear myopathy.
In a surprising twist, researchers found that starving Argentine ants exercise caution when foraging in high-risk environments, unlike expectations. This counterintuitive strategy may contribute to their success as an invasive species and agricultural pest.
The Great Salt Lake is losing freshwater input to agriculture and urban growth, causing salt concentrations to spike. Like Iran's Lake Urmia, it's reaching levels stressful for brine shrimp and brine flies, which are essential for migratory birds.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have identified a protein called Ait1 that regulates cell growth in yeasts. This discovery presents new targets for developing antifungal drugs that can attack disease-causing yeasts while sparing human immune cells.
A new FAU seagrass nursery aims to restore the Indian River Lagoon's seagrass beds, which have declined by 58% since 2011 due to reduced light and intense phytoplankton blooms. The nursery uses optimized conditions to boost seagrass productivity and promote genetic diversity for future restoration efforts.
Researchers found that females who consumed less food for their entire lives lived longer but didn't reproduce as well as better-fed counterparts. However, those who switched to unlimited food after early life restriction started mating and reproducing more, producing three times more offspring than restricted diet flies.
Researchers have found that prehistoric Pacific Coast people employed various dietary solutions to balance their diet and avoid 'salmon starvation'. They offset stored salmon protein with acorns, root crops like camas, and fat-heavy fish, and traded or processed bone marrow from caribou and elk.
Researchers at Kumamoto University found that ketogenesis maintains mitochondrial function, preventing excessive acetylation and fatty liver development. This discovery may lead to future therapies for protecting mitochondria and organs in newborns and individuals with nutritional deficiencies.
Genetically identical cells can still behave differently after starvation, and researchers have identified key biomarkers that predict which cells will take quiescent or senescent paths. The findings could lead to more predictable responses to pharmaceutical treatments.
A study analyzing 21 years of data on Darwin's finches found that environmental perturbations can strongly bias the adult sex ratio, particularly among females. Females that changed mates gained a clear fitness advantage in terms of numbers of offspring that survived to the following year.
A recent study published in Nature found that stress caused by starvation before sexual maturation can prevent normal changes in the wiring patterns of key neuronal circuits in male worms. As a result, adult male worms act immaturely during behaviors controlled by these circuits. The study suggests that environmental stress can permane...
A University of Guelph study found that human encroachment is the leading cause of death among Ontario's at-risk birds of prey, with trauma and starvation being the top causes. The study analyzed over 1,500 bird deaths from 1991 to 2014 and highlighted the need for public awareness and habitat preservation to protect raptor populations.
Rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels drive tree mortality in the tropics, with nearly all factors contributing to the decline. Trees face two main phenomena: carbon starvation from lack of food and hydraulic failure due to water scarcity.
Scientists have identified two key enzymes, PAH1 and PAH2, crucial for plant growth under nitrogen starvation conditions. These findings build on previous research showing that these enzymes are involved in lipid biosynthesis and membrane remodeling during phosphate depletion.
Researchers found that droughts cause tree death by disrupting water transport (hydraulic failure) and limiting carbon supply (carbon starvation). This discovery will enhance regional-scale predictions of drought impacts on forests.
Researchers have characterized the unusual cell death process triggered by starvation, where the endoplasmic reticulum plays a key role. This discovery may shed new light on tumor progression and ischemia-related cell death in cancer and other diseases.
Rats that experience past episodes of limited food resources develop physiological adaptations to conserve energy and survive prolonged starvation. Researchers found that starved rats have lower body temperatures and blood sugar levels than fed controls, allowing them to hold onto stored fat for energy.
A new study by Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research has identified an ancient cellular response that underlies the spread of melanoma. The findings show that punishing conditions within the tumor prompt a subset of tumor cells to become invasive, and suggest novel strategies for treating this form of skin cancer.
Researchers discovered a correlation between starvation and shortened telomere lengths in men born after the mass famine of the early 1920s. The team found that these shorter telomeres were stable in ensuing generations, suggesting a potential impact on male lifespan.
Researchers analyzed teeth of 20 Kilkenny Union workhouse residents, finding prolonged nutritional stress due to famine during childhood. The study suggests that incremental dentine collagen isotope analysis may identify periods of physiological stress like famine in adult and juvenile skeletons.
Researchers from Arizona State University discovered that short-term starvation in larval stage makes adult honey bees more resilient to starvation. This finding suggests a predictive adaptive response, similar to solitary organisms, which could help solve the problem of colony collapse disorder.
Research published in Nature found that brief restriction of amino acids can dampen intestinal inflammation in mice, mediated by the GCN2 molecule. Mice fed low protein diets or lacking GCN2 were protected from colitis-like symptoms.
Harvard experts advocate for banning models with low BMI (below 18) from fashion shows and photo shoots to prevent life-threatening starvation and associated health problems. The authors argue that such regulations would be necessary given the prevalence of extreme thinness in the industry.
Researchers from National Research Tomsk State University found that mammoths suffered from skeletal diseases due to chronic mineral hunger, leading to high traumatism and eventual extinction. The study suggests that geochemical stress caused by acidic landscapes may have played a crucial role in the demise of these majestic creatures.
A study on nematode worms found that starvation early in life can affect growth, reproduction and stress resistance in subsequent generations. The worms that survived famine became smaller, less fertile, but their offspring were more resistant to starvation and had improved stress tolerance.
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.
A 1985 mass mortality and a 2012 severe cold snap led to the deaths of nearly one-third of Camargue flamingo population. The study suggests that freezing temperatures increased the birds' energy demands, tipping them into starvation. The researchers found that the 2012 event had a lower death toll due to milder temperatures.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have identified a genetic mechanism that enables worms to pass on the 'memory' of starvation to multiple generations through small RNA molecules. This discovery has potential implications for understanding human physiological responses to starvation and other challenges, such as anorexia nervosa.
A University of Alberta study links rainfall to survival of wild birds in Canada, citing a long-term decline in reproduction for Arctic peregrines. The study found that over one-third of chick deaths were caused by rain, leading to hypothermia and drowning.
Plants perform accurate arithmetic division to adjust their rate of starch consumption, using internal clocks and molecular signals. This calculation helps them prevent starvation and make efficient use of food, with the goal of boosting crop yield.
A University of Colorado Boulder study suggests that a tumor suppressor gene helps cells fend off stress and survive under starvation conditions. The research found that the Rb gene regulates the expression of multiple genes to help organisms survive longer when encountering starvation.
Researchers discovered a brain circuit that mediates loss of appetite in mice, revealing potential therapeutic targets for eating disorders. The study identified interventions that can restore normal appetite and prevent starvation by modulating signals from specific nerve cells.
A new study reveals that cells employ a dual-pump mechanism to maintain optimal nutrient levels, allowing for efficient preparation for starvation and rapid recovery afterwards. This regulatory system enables the cell to deal with fluctuations in nutrient supply, offering crucial survival advantages.
Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics when starved due to the ability of outer layer cells to sense nutrients, producing a protective mechanism against toxic oxygen radicals. Disrupting this function could improve treatment for infections.
A study by George Uetz and Brian Moskalik found that hungry female wolf spiders prefer larger males with large leg tufts. As females age and become more hungry, they increase their receptivity to mate with preferred males.
Biologists at UC San Diego identified molecular mechanisms in fruit flies that enhance the nervous system's response to smell, potentially regulating human appetite. The discovery could lead to new ways to decrease overeating among obese individuals and increase appetites among the infirm.
Researchers found that starvation allows the need for nourishment to push aside the need for sleep in fruit flies. The ability to resist sleep loss was linked to a protein involved in lipid processing.
Fruit fly research found that starvation increases resistance to sleep loss, linked to a protein managing lipid storage. Disabling a specific gene produces effects similar to starvation, creating sleep resistance and preventing cognitive impairments.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center discovered that fasting can trigger the regeneration of fertility in nematode worms, which may have implications for human reproduction. The study found that starvation stops ovulation and kills germline cells, but stem cells can produce new sex cells once normal food conditions resume.