New player in commitment to life as a fat cell
...in early events that commit fat cell precursors to becoming full-blown fat, according to a report in the February issue of the journal Cell Metabolism, published by Cell Press. Drugs that block some activities of the enzyme, known as xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), might therefore offer a novel antiobesity the...World's oldest rocks show how Earth may have dodged frozen fate of Mars
...new study helps explain how Earth may have avoided becoming frozen solid early in its history, when astrophysicists believe the sun was 25 percent fainter than today. Previous studies had shown liquid water existed at Earth's surface even though the weak sun should have been unable to warm the planet above f...Risk of preterm birth appears to vary by season
...w that inflammation plays a role. It could be that becoming pregnant when the immune system is primed by viral and bacterial exposures may be a factor weeks down the road." "There have been studies in Africa of preterm birth in famine or non-famine seasons, but this is perhaps the most rigorous look at pret...Climate change only one symptom of a stressed planet Earth
... climate models have started down the road towards becoming Earth System models, because some of the models used in the AR4 projections now include dynamic carbon cycling. Over the next few years these models will include, for example, ever more complex dynamic land use change. As that happens, aspects of hu...Lipid plays big role in embryonic development
...ys a role in some cells losing their direction and becoming cancerous. "There are conditions where a lot of cells die by what we call apoptosis and, in these cases, it could be that ceramide is elevated and that causes good cells to die," says Dr. Bieberich. Ultraviolet radiation, says Mr. Krishnamurthy, is...New role in asthma for old drug
...rgic Th2 cell response. Second, it blocked the DCs becoming activated enough to stimulate an allergic Th2 cell response. This study therefore indicates that targeting DCs in the lungs can suppress allergic asthma in mice and might lead to studies determining whether such targeting by iloprost can provide a ne...JCI table of contents: Feb. 1, 2007
...rgic Th2 cell response. Second, it blocked the DCs becoming activated enough to stimulate an allergic Th2 cell...TOR functions are crucial for preventing mice from becoming obese and suggests that 4E-BP1 and 4E-BP2 might provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of obe...Researchers probe health and safety impacts of nanotechnology
...the UF Nanotoxicology Group, whose work is rapidly becoming more timely as manufacturers increasingly turn to the super-small tubes, cylinders and other nanoparticles at the heart of nanotechnology. There are already more than 400 companies worldwide that tap nanoparticles and other forms of nanotechnology,...Weight-loss supplement shows good and bad traits
... said. "We think that's what kept the animals from becoming resistant to insulin. "While this is an interesting finding, it doesn't mean that someone taking CLA should also take an anti-diabetic drug," she continued. "It's too soon to tell if that would be the case in humans." In the rat study, Belury and......um recovery, and food engineering. Moreover, it is becoming apparent that such materials represent a unique class of soft matter, providing a useful subject for theoretical consideration/numerical simulation; many features of their behavior mimicking on a basic level processes occurring in biological systems....West Australian women: Drinking before, and during, pregnancy
...ported drinking alcohol in the three months before becoming pregnant. Nearly half of the women (46.7%) survey...ported drinking alcohol in the three months before becoming pregnant. "Of those 3,860 women consuming alcohol in the three months before pregnancy," said Col...JCI table of contents: January 25, 2006
...helps clear away apoptotic cells Although it is becoming clear that inflammation induced by obesity is an important factor linking obesity to type 2 diabetes, the effects of one of the most abundant soluble factors known to have both anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects (adiponectin) remain to be co......ty and smoking can skyrocket a person's chances of becoming ill with a smoking-related cancer. Also participating in the study were Dalia Elinger of the Biological Chemistry Department, Dr. Akiva Vexler of Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Profs. Adi Shani and Alain Berrebi of Kaplan Medical Center, and Dr. M...ACS News Service Weekly PressPac -- Jan. 17, 2007
...nd colleagues note that such in silico research is becoming increasingly effective in identifying promising compounds that could be candidates for drug development. In silico ("in silicon") means research done on computers or via computer simulation and has joined the in vivo and in vitro experiments traditio...Mind over matter: SH2B1 in the brain regulates obesity
...rain of mice lacking SH2B1 prevented the mice from becoming obese. It also prevented the mice from developing obesity after being fed a high-fat diet, indicating that SH2B1 in the brain is required to regulate body weight and fat content. This study therefore implicates SH2B1 in the brain as a potential targe...JCI table of contents: Jan. 18, 2007
...rain of mice lacking SH2B1 prevented the mice from becoming obese. It also prevented the mice from developing obesity after being fed a high-fat diet, indicating that SH2B1 in the brain is required to regulate body weight and fat content. This study therefore implicates SH2B1 in the brain as a potential targe...New antibacterials being developed to tackle MRSA superbug
...lt to treat. "The so-called superbug MRSA is fast becoming untreatable with the currently available antibiotics," says Dr Ted Bianco, Director of Technology Transfer at the Wellcome Trust. "We urgently need a new generation of antibacterial medicines to stop its spread through hospitals, nursing homes and th...Scientists sequence genome of parasite responsible for common sexually transmitted infection
...ted with trichomoniasis become more susceptible to becoming infected by HIV and other STIs. In generating the genetic blueprint for the parasite, researchers were surprised to find such a large and highly repetitive genome comprising nearly 26,000 predicted genes as determined by computer models and previou...TIGR researchers reveal tricks of common sexually transmitted infection
...that causes the disease, Trichomonas vaginalis, is becoming increasingly resistant to this drug, making development of new medicines a high priority. Infected men frequently have no symptoms, and sometimes women are symptom-free as well. Thus diagnosis and treatment can be difficult. Symptoms include a frot......al dysfunction difficulty with desire, difficulty becoming aroused, difficulty achieving orgasm, and bodily pain during intimacy are often firmly rooted in the psyche; Why so many American women of all ages and orientation are willing to settle for mediocre sex; How a woman's attitude toward motherhood ca...