Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Study defines HRV reference values for children

Measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful method when assessing the role of the nervous system for heart function. Standard reference values for heart rate variability in adults have existed for a long time already, but similar values have not been available for children until now.

26 Nov 2013

Natural compound coumarins exhibit anti-inflammatory as well as anticoagulant activities

New methods for the laboratory-scale synthesis of coumarin-based drugs were developed in a recent study completed at the University of Eastern Finland. In his doctoral thesis, Lic. Phil. Juri Timonen also developed new analytical methods for the fast identification of natural and non-natural coumarins.

26 Nov 2013

Researchers discover how type 2 diabetes drug metformin actually works

Researchers from St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia, in collaboration with researchers at McMaster University in Canada, are reportedly the first to discover how the type 2 diabetes drug metformin actually works, providing a molecular understanding that could lead to the development of more effective therapies. Mass spectrometry technologies from AB SCIEX, a global leader in analytical technologies, played a critical role in the analysis that led to this breakthrough finding.

25 Nov 2013

U-M study explores exercise-induced iron-deficiency anemia in female runners

When Kaitlyn Patterson's fatigue progressed to hyperventilating even during slow runs, and then forced her to quit high school distance running for the season, she knew something was very wrong. Patterson had exercise-induced iron-deficiency anemia, a common, perplexing problem among elite female athletes, especially endurance runners. Later, as a University of Michigan sophomore, she was so interested in the topic that she applied for an undergraduate research position in the lab of Peter Bodary, U-M clinical assistant professor of movement science and health & fitness.

22 Nov 2013

Targeting single enzyme in the obese could help prevent and treat diabetes

A single overactive enzyme worsens the two core defects of diabetes—impaired insulin sensitivity and overproduction of glucose—suggesting that a drug targeting the enzyme could help correct both at once, according to mouse studies done by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center. The findings were published today in the online edition of Cell Metabolism.

22 Nov 2013

Research paves way towards personalized chronotherapy treatments

Cancer chronotherapy consists in administering treatment at an optimal time. Because the body is governed by precise biological rhythms, the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs can be doubled and their toxicity reduced five-fold depending on the exact timing of their administration.

22 Nov 2013

A High-speed, User-friendly Microplate Reader

An interview with Ville Hasslahti, discussing an advanced microplate reader that can cover a whole plate in 15 seconds or less.

From Hidex Oy 21 Nov 2013

Elsevier launches two new open access journals in cardiology journals series

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of two new open access journals in its cardiology journals series: International Journal of Cardiology-Heart & Vessels and International Journal of Cardiology-Metabolic & Endocrine.

20 Nov 2013

UCP1 protein helps fight against obesity

The uncoupling Protein 1 (UCP1) is found exclusively in brown adipose tissue. Until some years ago it was thought that only babies and hibernating animals had brown adipose tissue, but since then it also has been found in adults, so UCP1 could be useful in the fight against obesity.

20 Nov 2013

Philipp E. Scherer honored with 15th Naomi Berrie Award for Outstanding Research in Diabetes

Columbia University Medical Center has honored Philipp E. Scherer, PhD, with the 15th Naomi Berrie Award for Outstanding Research in Diabetes, for his work that helped usher in a new understanding of fat and its role in diabetes and other metabolic diseases. His discovery of adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat, helped transform the scientific concept of fat as an inert storage depot to one of it as an endocrine "organ" that exerts control over the brain, muscles, and other organs. The award, given annually by CUMC's Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, is Columbia's top honor for excellence in diabetes research.

19 Nov 2013

Study suggests potential new treatment for seizures

A study out today in the journal Nature Medicine suggests a potential new treatment for the seizures that often plague children with genetic metabolic disorders and individuals undergoing liver failure. The discovery hinges on a new understanding of the complex molecular chain reaction that occurs when the brain is exposed to too much ammonia.

17 Nov 2013

Researchers update promising strategies and therapies to restore skeletal muscle health

The progressive loss of skeletal muscle during aging, known as sarcopenia, underlies limitations in physical function and mobility, which in turn lead to falls, loss of independence, institutionalization and even death.

16 Nov 2013

Patients who undergo gastric bypass less likely to have risk of heart attack and stroke

New research from the Cleveland Clinic shows most patients with diabetes and obesity who undergo gastric bypass not only experience remission of their diabetes and lose significant weight, but they also reduce their risk of having a heart attack by 40 percent and their risk for suffering a stroke by 42 percent, over a 10-year time horizon.

16 Nov 2013

OPKO Health completes patient enrollment in first phase 3 trial of Rayaldy for SHPT treatment

OPKO Health, Inc., has completed patient recruitment in the first phase 3 trial of Rayaldy to treat patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease and vitamin D insufficiency.

16 Nov 2013

Zafgen presents safety, efficacy data from beloranib Phase 2 study at Obesity Week 2013

Zafgen, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical company dedicated to addressing the unmet needs of severely obese patients, today announced final efficacy and safety data from its recently completed Phase 2 study of beloranib, a selective inhibitor of methionine aminopeptidase 2.

15 Nov 2013

Global Genomics Group, Metabolon partner to discover novel targets for cardiovascular diseases

Global Genomics Group and Metabolon today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to investigate biological networks and pathways in order to discover novel biomarkers and pharmaceutical targets for cardiovascular diseases.

15 Nov 2013

Acquired resistance to cancer therapies: an interview with Dr Rajendra Kumari, Chief Scientific Officer at PRECOS

Cancer can be treated by a number of different ways depending on the location, grade and stage of tumour. A patient's age, medical history and lifestyle will also be taken into consideration and a combination of treatments will also be adopted to provide maximum effect.

14 Nov 2013

Artificial trans fatty acids not needed anymore

Artificial trans fatty acids are no longer needed in advanced technological societies, says metabolic disease expert Henry Pownall, Ph.D., a chemist who has been studying fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism for over four decades.

14 Nov 2013

Study reveals how cocaine permanently damages proteins in the body

A new study on cocaine, the notorious white powder illegally snorted, injected or smoked by nearly 2 million Americans, details how it may permanently damage proteins in the body. That information, gleaned from laboratory tests, could be used to potentially detect the drug in biofluids for weeks or months - instead of days - after use, say scientists. The findings, which appear in the ACS journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, could also help explain cocaine's long-term health effects.

14 Nov 2013

immatics, Roche enter into cancer vaccine and immunotherapy deal

immatics biotechnologies GmbH and Roche today announced a strategic research and development collaboration covering multiple cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics.

13 Nov 2013

Metabolism News and Research

Latest Metabolism News and Research

Study defines HRV reference values for children

Natural compound coumarins exhibit anti-inflammatory as well as anticoagulant activities

Researchers discover how type 2 diabetes drug metformin actually works

U-M study explores exercise-induced iron-deficiency anemia in female runners

Targeting single enzyme in the obese could help prevent and treat diabetes

Research paves way towards personalized chronotherapy treatments

A High-speed, User-friendly Microplate Reader

Elsevier launches two new open access journals in cardiology journals series

UCP1 protein helps fight against obesity

Philipp E. Scherer honored with 15th Naomi Berrie Award for Outstanding Research in Diabetes

Study suggests potential new treatment for seizures

Researchers update promising strategies and therapies to restore skeletal muscle health

Patients who undergo gastric bypass less likely to have risk of heart attack and stroke

OPKO Health completes patient enrollment in first phase 3 trial of Rayaldy for SHPT treatment

Zafgen presents safety, efficacy data from beloranib Phase 2 study at Obesity Week 2013

Global Genomics Group, Metabolon partner to discover novel targets for cardiovascular diseases

Acquired resistance to cancer therapies: an interview with Dr Rajendra Kumari, Chief Scientific Officer at PRECOS

Artificial trans fatty acids not needed anymore

Study reveals how cocaine permanently damages proteins in the body

immatics, Roche enter into cancer vaccine and immunotherapy deal

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging