Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

MGH researchers find how metformin drug prevents progression of pancreatic cancer

Massachusetts General Hospital investigators may have uncovered a novel mechanism behind the ability of the diabetes drug metformin to inhibit the progression of pancreatic cancer.

17 Jan 2016

Help beat the blues this Monday with a B12 Boost

Boost your mood and energy levels this Blue Monday (18 January) by topping up your vitamin B12, say natural health pioneers BetterYou.

From BetterYou Ltd 14 Jan 2016

New discovery may help researchers tackle mitochondrial diseases and age-related diseases

Buck Institute faculty Judith Campisi, PhD, says age researchers need to stop thinking of cellular senescence, now accepted as an important driver of aging, as a single phenotype that stems from genotoxic stress. Research from her lab reveals that cellular senescence, a process whereby cells permanently lose the ability to divide, is also induced by signaling from dysfunctional mitochondria - and that the arrested cells secrete a distinctly different "stew" of biologically active factors in a process unrelated to the damaging free radicals that are created in mitochondria as part of oxygen metabolism.

13 Jan 2016

CPMC study discovers six genes that affect sleep duration

The Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, a research initiative exploring the utility of genetic information in the clinical setting, has published a study and identified six noteworthy genes that affect human sleep duration.

13 Jan 2016

NIH-funded analysis identifies three genes that contribute to most common form of glaucoma

An analysis funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has identified three genes that contribute to the most common type of glaucoma. The study increases the total number of such genes to 15.

12 Jan 2016

Study opens new door on the causes of vision issues in astronauts

Just when you think you've seen it all, our eyes look to be victims of a low-gravity environments, too. According to new research published in the January 2016 issue of The FASEB Journal, two significant genetic differences in enzymes that direct the one-carbon pathway of metabolism can affect astronaut vision.

12 Jan 2016

Excess folic acid intake causes lowered immune function in aged mice

Previous studies have shown an association between high folic acid intake and a reduction in the immune system defenses needed to fight viral infections and cancer. In a new study in mice published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University set out to determine if excess folic acid intake caused adverse changes in the immune system.

12 Jan 2016

UTA researchers map out chemical mechanism of key enzyme found in autism, Alzheimer's and Down syndrome

Biochemists at The University of Texas at Arlington are mapping the catalytic processes of sulfur-oxidizing enzymes to improve understanding of the chemical imbalances found in patients with autism, Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome.

11 Jan 2016

Research shows link between lead exposure and ADHD symptoms in children with HFE C282Y gene mutation

Exposure to small amounts of lead may contribute to ADHD symptoms in children who have a particular gene mutation, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

8 Jan 2016

Oxygen sensor PHD1 identified as potential target for treatment of ischemic stroke

Scientists at VIB and KU Leuven have identified the oxygen sensor PHD1 as a potential target for the treatment of brain infarction (ischemic stroke). Despite (minor) improvements in stroke treatment, stroke remains the fourth leading cause of death and the most common reason of severe disability.

8 Jan 2016

Eliminating the 'bad seeds' of liver cancer

Researchers have found the 'bad seeds' of liver cancer and believe they could one day reprogram them to remain responsive to cancer treatment, a new study has found.

7 Jan 2016

Common antibiotics can promote C. diff infections by killing off bile acid-altering microbes

New research from North Carolina State University and the University of Michigan finds that bile acids which are altered by bacteria normally living in the large intestine inhibit the growth of Clostridium difficile, or C. diff. C. diff is a harmful bacterium that can cause painful and sometimes fatal infections.

7 Jan 2016

UF researchers reveal link between chronic stress and fat metabolism

In cell and mouse model experiments, University of Florida Health researchers have discovered that chronic stress stimulates production of betatrophin, a protein that then goes on to inhibit an enzyme involved in fat metabolism.

7 Jan 2016

Researchers identify mechanism that allows cancer cells to grow rapidly when blood sugar levels rise

Researchers have identified a mechanism that allows cancer cells to respond and grow rapidly when levels of sugar in the blood rise. This may help to explain why people who develop conditions in which they have chronically high sugar levels in their blood, such as obesity, also have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.

6 Jan 2016

Using antidepressant drug during first trimester of pregnancy may increase risk of birth defects

Using paroxetine--a medication prescribed to treat conditions including depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder--during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase newborns' risk of congenital malformations and cardiac malformations. That's the conclusion of a recent analysis published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

6 Jan 2016

Drug-microbe interactions may contribute to adverse effects, lessen effectiveness of NSAID

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) changed the composition and diversity of gut microbes, which in turn shaped how the drug is broken down and ultimately, cut its effectiveness, according to an animal study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

5 Jan 2016

Researchers to undertake long-term clinical trial of artificial pancreas system for type 1 diabetes patients

Researchers will soon undertake one of the largest-ever long-term clinical trials of a system designed to help regulate blood sugar levels of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus. If the so-called artificial pancreas system performs in patients as hoped, it could lead to commercial trials and eventual regulatory approval in the United States and abroad.

5 Jan 2016

Nestlé Health Science recognizes Christelle Leiker with OPTIFAST "INSPIRE" award

Nestlé Health Science today recognized Christelle Leiker, Certified Nurse Practitioner, for her unwavering commitment to promoting the health and well-being of her patients. Christelle practices at the Texas Center for Obesity and General Surgery, where she runs the nonsurgical weight management program.

31 Dec 2015

New model provides images of single cell with micrometer resolution

Thermal properties of cells regulate their ability to store, transport or exchange heat with their environment. So gaining control of these properties is of great interest for optimizing cryopreservation -- the process of freezing and storing blood or tissues, which is also used when transporting organs for transplants.

30 Dec 2015

Newly discovered molecular mechanism may provide alternative explanation for antibiotic resistance

The bacterium B. cereus had so far been considered to be exclusively endospore-forming. In response to harsh conditions, the bacteria form protective endospores enabling them to remain dormant for extended periods. When conditions are more favourable, the endospores reactivate to become fully functioning bacteria.

28 Dec 2015

Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

MGH researchers find how metformin drug prevents progression of pancreatic cancer

Help beat the blues this Monday with a B12 Boost

New discovery may help researchers tackle mitochondrial diseases and age-related diseases

CPMC study discovers six genes that affect sleep duration

NIH-funded analysis identifies three genes that contribute to most common form of glaucoma

Study opens new door on the causes of vision issues in astronauts

Excess folic acid intake causes lowered immune function in aged mice

UTA researchers map out chemical mechanism of key enzyme found in autism, Alzheimer's and Down syndrome

Research shows link between lead exposure and ADHD symptoms in children with HFE C282Y gene mutation

Oxygen sensor PHD1 identified as potential target for treatment of ischemic stroke

Eliminating the 'bad seeds' of liver cancer

Common antibiotics can promote C. diff infections by killing off bile acid-altering microbes

UF researchers reveal link between chronic stress and fat metabolism

Researchers identify mechanism that allows cancer cells to grow rapidly when blood sugar levels rise

Using antidepressant drug during first trimester of pregnancy may increase risk of birth defects

Drug-microbe interactions may contribute to adverse effects, lessen effectiveness of NSAID

Researchers to undertake long-term clinical trial of artificial pancreas system for type 1 diabetes patients

Nestlé Health Science recognizes Christelle Leiker with OPTIFAST "INSPIRE" award

New model provides images of single cell with micrometer resolution

Newly discovered molecular mechanism may provide alternative explanation for antibiotic resistance

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications