Scientists have been trying to understand the mechanisms that control the action of leptin, the appetite-regulation hormone that was discovered in 1994.
It was known that leptin was made by fat cells, reduced appetite and interacted with insulin, but the precise molecular details of its function -details that might enable the creation of a new treatment for obesity – remained elusive.
The human body has the ability to ward off viruses by activating a naturally occurring protein at the cellular level, setting off a chain reaction that disrupts the levels of cholesterol required in cell membranes to enable viruses to enter cells, a new study has found.
The findings, discovered by researchers in molecular microbiology and immunology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, hold promise for the development of therapies to fight a variety of viral infections.
Washington, April 18 (ANI): A new study has highlighted the importance of zebrafish as a model organism for human disease research.
Researchers demonstrated that 70 per cent of protein-coding human genes are related to genes found in the zebrafish and that 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart.
A new study has highlighted the importance of zebrafish as a model organism for human disease research.
Researchers demonstrated that 70 per cent of protein-coding human genes are related to genes found in the zebrafish and that 84 per cent of genes known to be associated with human disease have a zebrafish counterpart.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have reported discovery of a specific gene that regulates the heart`s ability to regenerate after injuries.
Scientists led by Dr. Hesham Sadek have demonstrated that the gene Meis1 regulates the regenerative capability of newborn hearts.
The function of the gene, called Meis1, in the heart was not known previously.
Hair strands contain valuable information about stress levels in senior citizens, which can be used to determine an individual`s cardiovascular disease risk, a new study has found.
Unlike a blood test that captures a snapshot of stress hormone levels at a single point in time, a scalp hair analysis can be used to view trends in levels of the stress hormone cortisol over the course of several months.
This approach allows researchers to have a better sense of the variability in cortisol levels.
Scientists have come up with a new technique to detect autism in children based on their brain activity, says a study.
Neuroscientists from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and the University of Toronto have developed an efficient and reliable method of analysing brain activity to detect autism in children. Their findings have appeared Thursday in the online journal PLOS ONE.
What is Haemophilia?
Haemophilia is a congenital lifelong bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting properly, leading to internal bleeding; mostly in the joints, muscles and vital organs like the brain. In many cases, the disease leads to permanent disability.
There are two major types of haemophilia, labelled type A and type B. Haemophilia A occurs in about 1 out of every 5000 live male births. Whereas Haemoplilia B occurs in about 1 out of 20-34,000 live male births.
Fatigue or tiredness, lethargy, etc., can be caused by overexertion, both mental and physical, sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression, illness or overall health condition.
For most people, a busy and stressful lifestyle is the main culprit that drains away our energy. A spell of rest can do you good but if you can make changes in your lifestyle like getting regular exercise, adequate sleep, managing stress and adopting healthy diet, your fitness and mental alertness will be altered in the long run.
If we are to make any progress in tackling the obesity crisis, we have to look again at what really makes us fat, an expert has claimed.
Gary Taubes, co-founder of the Nutrition Science Initiative, argued that our understanding of the cause of obesity may be incorrect, and that rectifying this misconception is “absolutely critical” to future progress.
“What we want to know,” he said, “is what causes us to gain weight, not whether weight loss can be induced under different conditions of semi-starvation.”
A “nanosponge” invented by engineers at the University of California, San Diego can safely remove a broad class of dangerous toxins from the bloodstream – including toxins produced by MRSA, E. coli, poisonous snakes and bees.
These nanosponges, which thus far have been studied in mice, can neutralize “pore-forming toxins,” which destroy cells by poking holes in their cell membranes.
A new study of adults in Britain suggest that adherence to a “Western-style” diet (fried and sweet food, processed and red meat, refined grains, and high-fat dairy products) lead people to age poorly and die earlier.
“The impact of diet on specific age-related diseases has been studied extensively, but few investigations have adopted a more holistic approach to determine the association of diet with overall health at older ages,” lead investigator Tasnime Akbaraly, PhD, Inserm, Montpellier, France said.
A new study from researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology has found surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design.
The finding runs counter to current scientific understanding of the key cells that need to be induced to develop a successful dengue vaccine.
Irrespective of level of physical fitness, people with high resting heart rates have higher risk of death than those with lower heart rates, a new study has found.
A resting heart rate – the number of heart beats per minute – is determined by an individual`s level of physical fitness, circulating hormones, and the autonomic nervous system.
A rate at rest of between 60 and 100 beats per minute is considered normal.
UC San Francisco scientists have revealed that specific DNA once dismissed as junk plays an important role in brain development and might be involved in several devastating neurological diseases.
Their discovery in mice is likely to further fuel a recent scramble by researchers to identify roles for long-neglected bits of DNA within the genomes of mice and humans alike.
Chinese authorities have confirmed the death of another person from the H7N9 bird-flu virus in the eastern province of Jiangsu, raising the number of deaths to 14.
A total of 63 people have been infected with the new bird-flu strain.
The latest fatality was a 77-year-old woman who died Sunday night in hospital after the emergency treatments given her were ineffective, the official Xinhua news agency said.
Women with raised blood pressure in pregnancy have an increased risk of high blood pressure even 40 years after maternity, which leads in turn to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a recent study has found.
Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg examined 105 women who gave birth in the early 1970s. Half the women had elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, while the other half had a normal pregnancy.
A system of genes that bacteria use to defend themselves against viruses, has been found to be involved in helping some bacteria evade the mammalian immune system.
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have unravelled one of the major toxic mechanisms of Alzheimer`s disease.
The discoveries could lead to a much better understanding of the Alzheimer`s process and how to prevent it.
The findings showed that brain damage in Alzheimer`s disease is linked to the overactivation of an enzyme called AMPK. When the scientists blocked this enzyme in mouse models of the disease, neurons were protected from loss of synapses-neuron-to-neuron connection points-typical of the early phase of Alzheimer`s disease.
Depressed teens are more likely to suffer from serious problems such as mental illness and excessive drinking during their twenties than their non-depressed peers, a new study has found.
However, researchers said teenage depression did not appear to significantly reduce employment status, income, the likelihood of marrying or completing a post-secondary degree during early adulthood.
Aerobic exercise that involves vertical movements of the body such as rope-skipping can curb feelings of hunger and fatty food cravings, a new study has found.
In the study published in the journal Appetite, researchers set to find out whether the “gut disturbance” that happens during exercise that moves the centre of mass up and down would change levels of hormones like ghrelin more than other types of exercise, MyHealthNewsDaily reported.
Ghrelin is a hormone released when we`re hungry.
Advanced brain imaging technologies are helping scientists understand the neurobiology of eating disorders and improve treatments.
Current treatments for anorexia and bulimia nervosa are often limited and ineffective. Patients relapse. They become chronically ill. They face a higher risk of dying.
Washington, April 14 (ANI): Having beautiful nails is all about caring for them correctly, according to dermatologists.
Nails need to be moisturized, especially after removing nail polish, said board-certified dermatologist Phoebe Rich, MD, FAAD, clinical adjunct professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Science University, Portland.
“Always protect your cuticles. Never cut or forcefully push back your cuticles as doing so could lead to an infection. If you must push them back, only do so gently after a shower or bath,” she suggested.
Washington, April 14 (ANI): A new study has shed light on neuroprotective effects of cocoa polyphenols, which may have important implications for prevention of cognitive impairment in elderly and in neurodegenerative diseases in counteracting disease’s progression.
Epidemiological studies have indicated that dietary habits and antioxidants from diet can influence the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer”s and Parkinson”s diseases.
In the recent years, a number of papers have reported on neuroprotective effects of polyphenols in cell and animal models.
Washington, Apr. 13 (ANI): Sexual dysfunction often refers to different symptoms in men and women, yet it can share similar underlying causes.
In women, the problem is often characterized by low sexual desire or various disorders of functions like sexual arousal, orgasm, and sexual pain.
In men, erectile dysfunction (ED) is difficulty in getting or keeping erections sufficient for intercourse.
According to recent studies, prescription medications can cause approximately one in four cases of sexual dysfunction.