Researchers have uncovered a regulator of body weight that could lead to new treatments for metabolic disorders
Yale scientists uncover key regulator of body weight. Yale scientists have discovered that a protein known as augmentor-alpha regulates body weight in mice, an insight that could lead to new treatments for metabolic disorders. The findings were published April 11 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research team decided to take […]
What Triggers a Shingles Outbreak?
What is shingles? Shingles is a viral infection that causes painful rashes on the body. Shingles is triggered by a weakened or compromised immune system. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a virus infection that causes painful rashes on the body, usually on one side of your torso. It is caused by the varicella-zoster […]
Sulfur enhances carbon storage in the Black Sea: Study finds new explanation for the accumulation of organic compounds in oxygen-depleted marine areas
The Black Sea is an unusual body of water: below a depth of 150 metres the dissolved oxygen concentration sinks to around zero, meaning that higher life forms such as plants and animals cannot exist in these areas. At the same time, this semi-enclosed sea stores comparatively large amounts of organic carbon. A team of […]
What Happens When You Have Mononucleosis? Mono Symptoms, Treatment
Once infected with mononucleosis, the virus may remain dormant in the throat and body fluids for the rest of your life. Mononucleosis is a contagious viral infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It typically affects adolescents and young adults and is characterized by symptoms such as fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and […]
Researchers create personalized organoid models for rare spinal cancer: Chordoma currently has few therapeutic options
A new study adds to a growing body of evidence that organoids — lab-grown collections of cells that mimic a patient’s tumor — are a promising avenue for drug discovery to improve outcomes in patients with cancer, particularly rare cancers for which clinical data on drug effectiveness is often lacking. Organoids are grown in a […]
Boosting the immune defense: Interleukin-2 promotes fate decisions in CD8 T cells for long- or short-term immune protection
The immune system is a complex network of cells and proteins with a simple job. Defend the body against infection. To do that, the cells must recognize and destroy infecting viruses or bacteria. In addition, the system also has to keep a record of each pathogen it has defeated, so it can quickly remobilize if […]
Men with high levels of body fat may be at risk for osteoporosis
Men with high levels of body fat have lower bone density and may be more likely to break a bone than those with normal levels of body fat, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Most studies have shown positive or neutral effects of body fat […]
New research bites holes into theories about Megalodons: Extinct shark’s shape swims back out of focus
A new study leaves large tooth marks in previous conclusions about the body shape of the Megalodon, one of the largest sharks that ever lived. The study, which makes use of a pioneering technique for analyzing sharks, has now been published in the international journal Historical Biology. Megalodons swam the Earth roughly 15 to 3.6-million […]
Haunted-house experience scares up interesting insights on the body’s reaction to threats
The so-called fight-or-flight response is evolution’s way of preparing the body to defend itself or flee from a real or perceived threat, like a lion in the tall grass or — in modern times — an overdue performance review. Scientists have struggled to study the effects of genuine threats on people’s mental and physical state […]
PSA: You Probably Don’t Need To Be Weighed At The Doctor’s Office
For many struggling with body image, heading to the doctor for a specific health issue or even just a routine checkup is more stressful than it needs to be. Weigh-ins are a standard practice before you see your doctor, but if you’ve experienced an eating disorder or are self-conscious about your weight, jumping on a […]