Cell Metabolism News and Research

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Sense of smell may play key role in how the body deals with calories

Our sense of smell is key to the enjoyment of food, so it may be no surprise that in experiments at the University of California, Berkeley, obese mice who lost their sense of smell also lost weight.

5 Jul 2017

Anti-asthma drug shows blood glucose improvement among some patients with type 2 diabetes

After 12 weeks of taking an anti-asthma drug, a subset of patients with type 2 diabetes showed a clinically significant reduction in blood glucose during a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, report University of California San Diego School of Medicine and University of Michigan researchers.

5 Jul 2017

American scientists develop bioorthogonal labeling test to assess sialylated glycans in tumor cells

Glycosylated proteins are often overexpressed in tumor cells and thus could serve as tumor markers, especially those with the interesting molecule sialic acid as their sugar moiety.

28 Jun 2017

New approaches to early detection of Parkinson's disease on the horizon

Detecting Parkinson's disease before non-reversible symptoms occur: New approaches to early detection are meant to ensure just that. They are based on detection of alpha-synuclein in the skin or intestines.

24 Jun 2017

Scientists find lack of experimental evidence detailing biologic roles of leptin in metabolism

Discovered more than two decades ago, the hormone leptin has been widely hailed as the key regulator of leanness. Yet, the pivotal experiments that probe the function of this protein and unravel the precise mechanism of its action as a guardian against obesity are largely missing.

24 Jun 2017

New data reveals increase in rate of deaths from Alzheimer's disease

The rate of death from Alzheimer's disease in the United States increased by more than 50 percent in the past 15 years, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

15 Jun 2017

‘Wholesome’ breads may not necessarily be healthiest choice for everyone, study reveals

Bread occupies a unique place in our diet: it accounts for about one-tenth of the calories many people in the West consume and up to 40 percent of the caloric consumption in some non-Western countries – more than any other food product.

9 Jun 2017

Research reveals link between POMC neurons and release of insulin by the pancreas

The brain is key in the regulation of appetite, body weight and metabolism. Specifically, there is a small group of hypothalamus neurons, called POMC, that detect and integrate signals that inform on the energy state of the organism and activate the appropriate physiological responses.

8 Jun 2017

Gut composition affects whether white or brown bread is healthier, say researchers

Whether or not whole wheat bread is better for you than white bread is not as clear-cut as people generally believe and depends somewhat on an individual’s gut microbiome, say researchers.

7 Jun 2017

Focus on single sex threatens to limit impact of research findings, says Tulane endocrinologist

Over the last decade, many drugs that have been pulled from the market due to toxicity were withdrawn because they affected women more than men.

7 Jun 2017

Scientists reveal 12-hour autonomous biological clock that coordinates bodily functions

Some bodily activities, sleeping, for instance, mostly occur once every 24 hours; they follow a circadian rhythm. Other bodily functions, such as body temperature, cognitive performance and blood pressure, present an additional 12-hour cycle, but little is known about the biological basis of their rhythm.

6 Jun 2017

Scientists locate crucial off-switch for central cell control

As the cell's molecular control center, the mTor kinase regulates cellular metabolism, growth and division. However, in cells affected by pathological change, the regulation goes array.

2 Jun 2017

New study establishes link between prenatal stress and onset of eating disorders

Stress affects the body and can trigger illness -- from psychiatric disorders to heart disease. Humans are exposed to stress at different intensities throughout life -- as children, in adolescence, and in old age. But when is the impact of stress on our systems most powerful? Many researchers maintain that the critical effect occurs prenatally, inside the womb.

1 Jun 2017

Chemicals found in cigarettes harm fetal liver health, study shows

Chemicals found in cigarette smoke have been shown to damage fetal liver cells.

30 May 2017

Some types of cancers are heavily dependent on sugar, study shows

In a new study, scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas have found that some types of cancers have more of a sweet tooth than others.

26 May 2017

Study reveals how enzyme allows brain tumors to grow despite harsh surroundings

All cancer tumors have one thing in common – they must feed themselves to grow and spread, a difficult feat since they are usually in a tumor microenvironment with limited nutrients and oxygen.

26 May 2017

Scientists report promising approach to combat influenza and improve survival

The influenza virus turns infected lung cells into factories that churn out thousands of copies of the virus to spread the infection. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have reported a promising new approach that uses an investigational cancer drug to dial down viral production and dramatically increase survival of flu-infected mice.

23 May 2017

New drug mimics health effects of exercise, say researchers

Scientists have managed to mimic the health effects of exercise in mice, simply by using a pill, according to a study published in Cell Metabolism. The drug activated a genetic pathway that is triggered by running, which led mice to burn off more fat and increase their stamina levels, despite them being sedentary.

4 May 2017

UC San Diego researchers identify pathways that regulate pancreatic beta cell growth

Pancreatic beta cells help maintain normal blood glucose levels by producing the hormone insulin -- the master regulator of energy (glucose). Impairment and the loss of beta cells interrupts insulin production, leading to type 1 and 2 diabetes.

2 May 2017

Study sets stage for potential stool-based test to detect advanced liver fibrosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - a condition that can lead to liver cirrhosis and cancer - isn't typically detected until it's well advanced. Even then, diagnosis requires an invasive liver biopsy.