Category Health/Medical

Duke scientists have discovered a new class of inexpensive and long-lived molecular tags that enhance MRI signals by 10,000-fold. To activate the tags, the researchers mix them with a newly developed catalyst (center) and a special form of hydrogen (gray), converting them into long-lived magnetic resonance ‘lightbulbs’ that might be used to track disease metabolism in real time. Credit: Thomas Theis, Duke University

Discovery could enable cheaper, more versatile bioimaging. Duke University researchers have taken a major step towards realizing a new form of MRI that could record biochemical reactions in the body as they happen. A new class of molecular tags enhance MRI signals by 10,000-fold and generate detectable signals that last over an hour...

Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid, LA),

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that high serum omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations are linked to a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It has been speculated that a high intake of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may increase the risk of several chronic diseases, as these fatty acids have been suggested to promote low-grade inflammation, among other things. However, studies conducted on humans have not established a link between even a high intake of omega-6 fatty acids and inflammation. Furthermore, omega-6 fatty acids have beneficial effects on, for example, glucose metabolism...

Heat inducible expression of pdgf-b mRNA in transgenic PD-1 L. sericata. a Schematic of heat-inducible pdgf-b gene construct in a piggyBac transformation vector with a ZsGreen marker gene. b Genomic DNA sequence adjacent to the 5′ pBac end in the PD-1 transgenic line. The TTAA insertion site is underlined. c RT-PCR amplification of pdgf-b on total RNA obtained from first instar PD-1 larvae that had been given a heat shock (+HS) or no heat shock (-HS)

Genetically engineered green bottle fly larvae (Lucilia sericata) can produce and secrete a human growth factor – a molecule that helps promote cell growth and wound healing...

Man unable to sleep (stock image). Acute sleep loss in humans is associated with increased appetite and insulin insensitivity, while chronically sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to develop obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Credit: © Focus Pocus LTD / Fotolia

A new study is the first to identify that a conserved gene – translin – works as a modulator of sleep in response to metabolic changes. The sleep habits of fruit flies are remarkably similar to humans. They get most of their sleep at night, certain drugs and stimulants like caffeine can negatively affect their sleep, and if they get a lousy night’s sleep it can even affect their memory performance.

When fruit flies are hungry, they sleep less because they will sacrifice sleep for their...