Physiology News and Research

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Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems. Most aspects of human physiology are closely homologous to corresponding aspects of animal physiology, and animal experimentation has provided much of the foundation of physiological knowledge. Anatomy and physiology are closely related fields of study: anatomy, the study of form, and physiology, the study of function, are intrinsically tied and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

Fat-controlling hormones increase metabolism in both exercise and cold

Sad but true, we don't all respond equally to exercise. Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have uncovered a new kind of clue to this variable response--a hormone whose levels in the bloodstream rise sharply in exercise as well as in cold.

2 May 2018

Circadian rhythm discovery may lead to improved light-therapy treatments

A new study has highlighted how body clock processes within the body are influenced by night-time light.

30 Apr 2018

Researchers target and kill disease-causing bacteria using cocktail of viruses

Imagine that you have become ill because you have eaten some food that contained pathogenic bacteria. You keep running to the toilet and you may also throw up. You go to the doctor and are prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, which - in addition to killing the bad bacteria in your intestinal flora - carpet bomb the complex community of commensal bacteria forming a healthy intestinal flora.

26 Apr 2018

Nonsurgical technique enables people with spinal cord injuries to regain use of hands

The ability to perform simple daily tasks can make a big difference in people's lives, especially for those with spinal cord injuries.

26 Apr 2018

Drinking kefir may have positive effect on blood pressure by promoting brain-gut communication

Drinking kefir may have a positive effect on blood pressure by promoting communication between the gut and brain. Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk beverage known to help maintain the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.

26 Apr 2018

New study finds increase in stress hormones during summer

A new study in medical students finds that summer, not winter, is the season when people are most likely to have higher levels of circulating stress hormones.

26 Apr 2018

New shape of DNA found in human cells

DNA double helix discovery is one of the major breakthroughs in human scientific history. Now in a new research, scientists have found that there may be another new shape in the DNA machinery within the cells of humans.

25 Apr 2018

Regular soaking in hot tub improves health outlook in obese women with PCOS

According to new research, obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome may be able to improve their health outlook with a particularly enjoyable form of therapy: regular sessions in a hot tub.

25 Apr 2018

Preantral zinc deficiency may affect fertility months

An estimated 10 percent of couples in the U.S. struggle with infertility. While a variety of factors can make it difficult for some people to get pregnant, ovulation disorders are a leading cause of female infertility.

24 Apr 2018

Low mental energy may affect older adults' walking ability more than physical fatigue

Low "mental energy" may affect walking patterns in older adults more than physical fatigue. New research about the relationship between walking ability and self-reported mood will be presented today at the American Physiological Society annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego.

24 Apr 2018

Researchers identify novel pathway in development of AML with poor prognosis

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that comprises 1% of all new cancer cases and almost 2% of cancer deaths in the U.S. The five-year survival rate for the disease is less than 20%.

24 Apr 2018

Hippo pathway plays essential role in embryonic development of the mouse heart

Using a technology that provides a 'high-resolution view' of the status of individual cells, a team of researchers has gained new insights into the embryonic development of the mouse heart.

24 Apr 2018

Metabolic differences may contribute to postpartum weight retention in black moms

Differences in the way women with obesity burn calories during pregnancy may be a contributor to long-term postpartum weight retention in black moms, according to researchers in Baton Rouge, La.

23 Apr 2018

Study examines how higher-order gene combinations help maintain normal cell physiology

We inherit many traits from our parents including the color of our eyes and hair. Unfortunately, we also inherit risk factors for certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Understanding those genetic connections can help prevention efforts and develop new life-saving treatments to combat these diseases.

20 Apr 2018

Study debunks ‘myth’ that strenuous exercise dampens immunity

New research overturns a myth that has persisted for nearly four decades - that competing in endurance sports, like this weekend's London Marathon, suppresses the body's immune system and makes competitors more susceptible to infections.

20 Apr 2018

Experimental compound reduces destructive inflammation to improve stroke outcome

An experimental compound appears to improve stroke outcome by reducing the destructive inflammation that can continue months after a stroke, scientists report.

20 Apr 2018

Nutraceuticals could play an important role in preventing heart disease

Older adults who take a novel antioxidant that specifically targets cellular powerhouses, or mitochondria, see age-related vascular changes reverse by the equivalent of 15 to 20 years within six weeks, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

20 Apr 2018

Researchers develop new drug-testing platform for epilepsy

For more than a third of children living with epilepsy, the currently approved medications do not stop their seizures. This statistic has not changed for the past five decades, despite the development of many new anti-seizure drugs.

20 Apr 2018

A potential "male pill" without side effects

A new study published today in the journal PLOS ONE details how a compound called EP055 binds to sperm proteins to significantly slow the overall mobility of the sperm without affecting hormones, making EP055 a potential "male pill" without side effects.

20 Apr 2018

Smart-tooth technology shows promise in detecting certain diseases in high-risk patients

An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the School of Engineering & Applied Science is redefining the notion of a wisdom tooth.

19 Apr 2018