Leptin News and Research

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Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone that plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure, including appetite and metabolism. It is one of the most important adipose derived hormones. The ''Ob(Lep)'' gene (Ob for obese, Lep for leptin) is located on chromosome 7 in humans.

Adolescents with good physical condition experience better appetite control, energy expenditure: Study

Adolescents of ages between 12 and 17, with a good physical condition and regular physical activity present increased levels of insulin and leptin, which are hormones involved in the development of diabetes, appetite control and energy expenditure. This was the conclusion drawn from a study recently conducted at the Department of Physiology of the University of Granada. Further, after thorough analysis of a number of scientific studies, they also concluded that physical activity and physical condition are negatively associated to adolescents' body fat.

15 Jul 2010

Hormone leptin reduces food intake by activating hippocampus: Research

Research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, the foremost society for research into all aspects of eating and drinking behavior, finds that the hormone leptin reduces food intake, in part, by activating the hippocampus, an area of the brain that controls learning and memory function. Leptin is a hormone released from fat cells that acts on the brain to inhibit feeding.

13 Jul 2010

Study explores direct role of FTO gene on Alzheimer's and dementia risk in old age

A gene known as FTO, which appears to be correlated with obesity in humans, may also increase risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, according to new research presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 in Honolulu, HI. And when a person has certain variants of both FTO and a recognized Alzheimer's risk gene known as APOE, the risk of Alzheimer's could be doubled.

13 Jul 2010

PI3 kinase boosts body heat, helps burn excess calories

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest that an enzyme in the brain known as PI3 kinase might control the increased generation of body heat that helps burn off excess calories after eating a high-fat meal.

7 Jul 2010

POMC neurons suppress appetite, induce weight loss: Research

A protein found in cells throughout the body must be present in a specific set of neurons in the brain to prevent weight gain after chronic feeding on high-calorie meals, new findings from UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest.

7 Jul 2010

Data on BYETTA and SYMLIN injections, BYDUREON drug candidate to be presented at ADA 2010

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company will present data for its FDA-approved diabetes drugs, BYETTA (exenatide) injection and SYMLIN (pramlintide acetate) injection, and its investigational diabetes drug candidate BYDUREON (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension) at the American Diabetes Association's 70th Annual Scientific Sessions being held in Orlando, FL from June 25 to June 29.

18 Jun 2010

Leptin hormone controls immune’s response to sepsis: Study

The hormone leptin, typically associated with body weight regulation, works within the central nervous system (CNS) to aid the immune system's defense against sepsis, researchers say.

3 May 2010

Majority of patients who appear healthy may be at risk for cardiovascular disease

Three separate studies announced today at the American Society of Hypertension Inc.'s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2010) examined the cardiovascular consequences of relatively healthy patients - those who were asymptomatic and not classified as hypertensive or diabetic - and found that many patients who appear healthy may still be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

3 May 2010

Laughter is truly the best medicine says new research

A new study has shown that laughter may be one of the simplest exercises that has similar effects on the body as pumping iron in the gym. Researchers have named “Laughercise” as significant elevators of mood, stress busters, immunity boosters and blood pressure and cholesterol reducers. It can also stimulate appetite for the malnourished.

28 Apr 2010

Study: Cigarette smoking, fructose consumption can worsen NAFLD

Recent studies suggest that modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking and fructose consumption can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. With NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver of overweight individuals despite drinking little alcohol, causing in some cases liver scarring that can lead to liver failure.

27 Apr 2010

Laughter increases production of antibodies and activates body's protective cells

Laughter is a highly complex process. Joyous or mirthful laughter is considered a positive stress (eustress) that involves complicated brain activities leading to a positive effect on health. Norman Cousins first suggested the idea that humor and the associated laughter can benefit a person's health in the 1970s. His ground-breaking work, as a layperson diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, documented his use of laughter in treating himself—with medical approval and oversight—into remission.

27 Apr 2010

Hormones leptin and insulin work together to affect regulation of blood sugar levels, female fertility

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest that the hormones leptin and insulin work together in specific neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain to affect both the regulation of blood sugar levels in the body and, surprisingly, female fertility.

12 Apr 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals' TLR antagonists exert anti atherogenic effects in preclinical model of atherosclerosis

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today presented data from a preclinical study evaluating the mechanism of action of a Toll-like Receptor (TLR) antagonist in a preclinical model of atherosclerosis. The presentation entitled "A novel antagonist of TLR7 and TLR9 exerts anti atherogenic effects in ApoE-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis" (abstract P259) was made by Idera scientists at the American Heart Association conference "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2010 Scientific Sessions" being held April 8-10 in San Francisco, CA.

9 Apr 2010

New study shows leptin treatment may help reduce type 1 diabetes

Using leptin alone in place of standard insulin therapy shows promise in abating symptoms of type 1 diabetes, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

24 Mar 2010

Study explores incidence of eating disorders among type 1 diabetic patients

Diabetics, under the gun to better manage their disease by controlling their food intake and weight, may find themselves in the sticky wicket of needing treatment that makes them hungry, researchers said.

12 Mar 2010

Obesity - Body's effort to protect organs from lipids' toxic effects

The collection of symptoms that is the metabolic syndrome-insulin resistance, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and a greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke-are all related to obesity, but, according to a review in the March 9th issue of the Cell Press publication Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, not in the way you probably think they are.

9 Mar 2010

$Visceral fat can increase fracture risk in obese teenage girls$

Visceral fat can increase fracture risk in obese teenage girls

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), obese teenage girls with a greater ratio of visceral fat (fat around internal organs) to subcutaneous fat (fat found just beneath the skin) are likely to have lower bone density than peers with a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat.

2 Mar 2010

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceutical to advance pramlintide/metreleptin combination therapy development

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today that the companies have selected the combination treatment of pramlintide, an analog of the natural hormone amylin, and metreleptin, an analog of the natural hormone leptin, for advancement toward Phase 3 development. The decision to advance the program followed encouraging results from a 52-week blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 extension study. The pramlintide/metreleptin combination met the key target criteria of sustained and robust weight loss.

23 Feb 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals presents TLR antagonist preclinical hyperlipidemia data at Keystone Symposia conference

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presented data on the evaluation of a Toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonist in a preclinical hyperlipidemia model today at the Keystone Symposia conference “Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis” being held in Banff, Alberta, Canada. Idera’s proprietary TLR antagonists have dual activity for both TLR7 and TLR9, and present a potentially innovative approach for the treatment of certain autoimmune diseases.

15 Feb 2010

10th Annual Spring Meeting of ESC on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals

Geneva, situated at the heart of Europe, provides a fitting setting for the 10th Annual Spring Meeting of the European Society of Cardiology Council (ESC) on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals (CCNAP), 12 - 13 March 2010, with its special theme: "Uniting to Improve Cardiovascular Practice".

11 Feb 2010