Category Health/Medical

Eosinophils stimulate β3 adrenoreceptors through the release of soluble factors.

Immune cells which are reduced in number by obesity could be a new target to treat diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension that affect overweight people, according to a collaborative study between The University of Manchester, Lund University and the University of Salford. In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, reseachers investigated eosinophils. Eosinophils are present in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which surrounds blood vessels and helps to maintain normal blood vessel function by reducing artery contraction.

The current research found that eosinophils were considerably reduced in the PVAT in obesity in mice, and that the PVAT function was severely impaired, contributing ...

Folinic acid

People with certain forms of early-onset Parkinson’s disease could potentially benefit from taking a medication used to treat certain forms of cancer, according to new research by University of Leicester scientists and funded by the Medical Research Council. The study suggests that folinic acid, used in medications to treat bowel cancer, can also protect neurons associated with Parkinson’s disease in fruit flies.

Dr Miguel Martins, MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Leicester explained: “Parkinson’s disease is a disabling disorder for which no cure is yet available; further, after dopaminergic neurons are lost, only a few palliative treatment options for Parkinson’s symptoms are available...

Illustration of folate-dependent one-carbon metabolism and transsulfuration pathways. Genetic and environmental effects that increase ASD predisposition are shown in red whereas those that decrease ASD liability are shown in blue. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005385.g001

Scientists have developed a new, highly accurate method that analyzes metabolic biomarkers to assess whether a child is on the autism spectrum Autism spectrum disorder affects about 1.5% of all children, but its exact cause remains unknown, and diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary team of doctors. Previous research has revealed certain differences in metabolic processes between children on the autism spectrum and neurotypical children...

This diagram shows the new model at work: By taking into account a number of factors, including water-use patterns and water chemistry, engineers can predict where lead particles will dislodge and end up in the drinking water supply during a partial lead service line (LSL) replacement. Courtesy: Biswas Lab

While lead pipes were banned decades ago, they still supply millions of American households daily with drinking water amid risks of corrosion and leaching that can cause developmental and neurological effects in young children. One common abatement: Dig up old lead lines and replace a portion of them with another metal, such as copper. However, this technique can dislodge lead particulates and release them into the water supply...