Lipids News and Research

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Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The main biological functions of lipids include energy storage, as structural components of cell membranes, and as important signaling molecules.

Gene variant may be linked to worse psychiatric symptoms in TBI patients

A variant of the APOE gene may be linked to worse psychiatric symptoms in people who have had a traumatic brain injury, found a Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System study. Study participants with both the gene variant and at least one TBI had more severe symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression than comparison participants.

14 May 2018

New microfluidic device captures tumor-specific EVs to guide cancer diagnosis and treatment

Precision cancer treatment relies on obtaining molecular information about the tumor to guide effective treatment decisions.

8 May 2018

Researchers harness the precision of CRISPR to knock out single genes in yeast

Researchers have used CRISPR-Cas9 to develop a technology that can precisely target any gene in the yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

8 May 2018

Diet may affect brain development in premature babies

The amount of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids consumed by vulnerable premature babies may significantly contribute to increased brain volume and white matter development.

7 May 2018

Researchers study link between early nutrition and brain development in low birthweight preemies

The volume of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and calories consumed by very vulnerable preemies significantly contributes to increased brain volume and white matter development, however additional research is needed to determine specific nutritional approaches that best support these infants' developing brains, according to research to be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies 2018 annual meeting.

7 May 2018

Frequent sauna baths linked to lower stroke risk

Frequent sauna bathing is associated with a reduced risk of stroke, according to a new international study. In a 15-year follow-up study, people taking a sauna 4-7 times a week were 61% less likely to suffer a stroke than those taking a sauna once a week.

4 May 2018

Study provides vital information to develop successful PI5P4K inhibitors for p53-mutant cancers

One major hallmark of cancer cells is their ability to adapt to stressful conditions such as nutrient deprivation. Rapidly growing tumor cells must compete for the ever-diminishing supply of nutrients in the surrounding environment to survive and proliferate. Targeting these adaptive mechanisms represents a promising approach for cancer therapeutics.

3 May 2018

Researchers discover key link between fat, immune cells and heat regulation

Scientists have just made a surprising discovery involving fat and special immune cells that live within it -- it turns out that 'gd T cells' are the key cogs in the biological wheel that regulates our body heat and protects us against cold shock.

24 Apr 2018

Long-term exposure to cold temperatures reduces diabetes and obesity, shows study

A new study in fat cells has revealed a molecular mechanism that controls how lifestyle choices and the external environment affect gene expression.

19 Apr 2018

SLU professor discovers new biomarkers for chlorine gas exposure

As experts sort through questions around recent chemical attacks in Syria, future answers to quickly testing and treating those who may have been exposed to chlorine gas may lie in chlorinated lipids, says a Saint Louis University professor.

19 Apr 2018

Glucose metabolism is key to neural network development, finds study

A new study has found that glucose metabolism is critical for the development of neural networks in the brain.

13 Apr 2018

Biologists discover surprising, additional function for soluble form of SNARE protein

In 2013, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists for their contributions to uncovering the mechanisms governing vesicle transport in cells. Their explanations provided both a conceptual and a mechanistic understanding of basic processes at the most fundamental level.

13 Apr 2018

Dietary fats play varied roles in disease

This month's issue of the Journal of Lipid Research features studies examining how fats in the diet affect health, including whether the ketogenic diet is a reasonable cancer therapy; how the type of unsaturated fats in a mouse's chow affects inflammation; and how cells respond to nutrient signals.

12 Apr 2018

Specific small-bowel microbes regulate digestion and absorption of fats, study shows

Although the vast majority of research on the gut microbiome has focused on bacteria in the large intestine, a new study - one of a few to concentrate on microbes in the upper gastrointestinal tract - shows how the typical calorie-dense western diet can induce expansion of microbes that promote the digestion and absorption of high-fat foods.

11 Apr 2018

Vascular dysfunction associated with severe menopausal symptoms

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women. A study of 138 menopausal women examined the association of mood, symptoms, and quality of life measures with the key markers of vascular aging, a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD)

11 Apr 2018