Archive for July 15th, 2012

Newly Isolated ‘Beige Fat’ Cells Could Help Fight Obesity

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have isolated a new type of energy-burning fat cell in adult humans which they say may have therapeutic potential for treating obesity. Called “beige fat,” the cells are found in scattered pea-sized deposits beneath the skin near the collarbone and along the spine in adult humans. Because this type of [...]

Discovery Opens Door To Attacking Biofilms That Cause Chronic Infections

A clever new imaging technique discovered at the University of California, Berkeley, reveals a possible plan of attack for many bacterial diseases, such as cholera, lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients and even chronic sinusitis, that form biofilms that make them resistant to antibiotics. By devising a new fluorescent labeling strategy and employing super-resolution light [...]

Chemical Discovered That Affects Biological Clock May Offer New Way To Treat Diabetes

Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered a chemical that offers a completely new and promising direction for the development of drugs to treat metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes – a major public health concern in the United States due to the current obesity epidemic. Their discovery, detailed in a paper published July [...]

Obesity Not Found To Be A Cause Of Poorer Educational Performance

Obesity is not to blame for poor educational performance, according to early findings from research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). In a study that combines statistical methods with genetic information, researchers dispel the false idea that being overweight has damaging educational consequences. Previous studies have shown that children who are heavier [...]

Trauma Early In A Girl’s Life Linked To Smoking In Adulthood

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can stay with us for life. New research published in BioMed Central’s open access journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy explains how these events can be tied up with adult smoking patterns, especially for women, and suggests that treatment and strategies to stop smoking need to take into account the [...]