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.

Obesity could increase severity of influenza study shows

A new study has revealed that those who are obese or overweight tend to get more severe bouts of influenza than those who are a healthy weight. The reason behind this could be the altered immune system of those who are obese. The study outlining this finding is published in the latest issue of the journal mBio from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The study was titled, "Obesity-Related Microenvironment Promotes Emergence of Virulent Influenza Virus Strains."

3 Mar 2020

Tailored mesoporous silica particles could be used to treat obesity, diabetes

Engineered ingestible molecular traps created from mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) introduced to the gut can have an effect on food efficiency and metabolic risk factors. The results from studies on mice, published in Nanomedicine, demonstrate the potential to reduce the energy uptake into the body and could lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes.

14 Jan 2020

Blood proteins could help provide a comprehensive 'liquid health check' in future

Proteins in our blood could in future help provide a comprehensive 'liquid health check', assessing our health and predicting the likelihood that we will we will develop a range of diseases, according to research published today in Nature Medicine.

2 Dec 2019

“Liquid health check” could predict disease risk in the future

Measuring proteins in the blood could serve as a “liquid health check” that could predict people’s risk of developing diseases.

2 Dec 2019

Hops compounds may combat metabolic syndrome by changing the gut microbiome

Compounds from hops may combat metabolic syndrome by changing the gut microbiome and altering the metabolism of acids produced in the liver, new research at Oregon State University suggests.

26 Nov 2019

Obese teenagers at risk for brain damage, suggests new study

A new study being presented at the yearly conference of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) reports that MRI scanning of the brain shows signs of brain damage in obese adolescents – and that these signs could be the result of brain inflammation.

25 Nov 2019

MRI reveals signs of brain damage among obese adolescents

Biomedical imaging of obese adolescents' brains has revealed signs of damage that may be related to inflammation.

25 Nov 2019

Intermittent fasting – not just a fad for cardiac patients

A new study suggests patients with cardiac catheterization have a longer lifespan if they carry out intermittent fasting.

20 Nov 2019

Study: Regular exercise reduces cholesterol, protects the cardiovascular system

Regular exercise protects the cardiovascular system by reducing risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure. "But we believe there are certain risk factors for cardiovascular disease that are not fully understood," says Matthias Nahrendorf, MD, PhD, of the Center for Systems Biology at MGH.

7 Nov 2019

Researchers make new discovery about how exercise protects against cardiovascular disease

A study has identified a molecular link between exercise and inflammation that help to treat cardiovascular disease.

7 Nov 2019

Cancer risk reduces to half with over 20% weight loss in post- bariatric surgery patients

Patients with severe obesity who had bariatric or weight-loss surgery and lost more than 20% of their total weight were 50% less likely to develop cancer compared to patients who did not have as much weight loss after surgery, according to a new study presented today by Oregon Health & Science University researchers at the 36th American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting at ObesityWeek 2019.

5 Nov 2019

Research forum to present results of novel anti-obesity medications

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals and Novartis will present findings from the latest stages of clinical evaluation of new anti-obesity medications during a special late-breaking research forum titled "Emerging Pharmacological Anti-obesity Therapies."

31 Oct 2019

New discovery paves way for better treatment of diabetes

Insulin, a hormone essential for regulating blood sugar and lipids, is normally produced by pancreatic β cells. In many people with diabetes, however, pancreatic cells are not (or no longer) functional, causing a chronic and potentially fatal insulin deficiency that can only be controlled through daily insulin injections.

16 Oct 2019

Experts discuss sex-specific sensitivity to key blood pressure hormone

Aldosterone is a steroid hormone important to the regulation of salt, fluid and potassium in the body.

4 Oct 2019

Researchers identify new genetic signals for regulation of infant growth

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway have identified new genetic signals for the regulation of how infants grow. This may be a crucial step in the fight against growth-related diseases.

1 Oct 2019

Johns Hopkins researchers identify new way to lower blood pressure in obese patients

There's no question that as body weight increases, so too does blood pressure. Now, in a study of mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have revealed exactly which molecules are likely responsible for the link between obesity and blood pressure.

From Johns Hopkins Medicine 26 Sep 2019

Physiologists, researchers to discuss factors underlying cardiovascular disease at APS conference

International physiologists and researchers studying the kidney, high blood pressure and related medical conditions will convene next week at the American Physiological Society (APS) Aldosterone and ENaC in Health and Disease: The Kidney and Beyond Conference in Estes Park, Colo.

25 Sep 2019

'Weight cycling' may provide metabolic health benefits

Repeatedly losing and regaining weight may lead to improved insulin levels and lower body fat percentages in the long term, even during weight regain phases.

10 Sep 2019

Fatty food changes the brain to affect homeostasis and metabolism

While we all know that eating fatty food pushes up our body weight, a new study now shows it also affects the way the brain keeps track of and corrects all metabolic irregularities in the body. Soon after tucking into a high-fat, high-carb meal – as soon as three days later – the hypothalamus shows inflammation.

10 Sep 2019