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    Category Health/Medical

    Some Aging Rx’s have Opposite Effects on Males and Females

    February 18, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    John Tower and his colleagues found that treating flies with a steroid hormone decreased egg production in females while increasing longevity. Credit: USC Photo/Gus Ruelas

    John Tower and his colleagues found that treating flies with a steroid hormone decreased egg production in females while increasing longevity. Credit: USC Photo/Gus Ruelas

    Research in flies, mice supports theory that sexes age differently. What helps her live longer might be harmful to him, according to a new study that may shed light on how and why organisms age. Analyzing years of previous research on dietary and pharmaceutical tests on flies and mice, researchers showed that aging interventions can have opposite effects on mortality rates in males versus females. The findings appear consistent with data gathered on humans as well, says John Tower of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC Davis School of Gerontology.

    Treating flies with steroid hormone mifespr...

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    Compound in Green Tea found to Block Rheumatoid Arthritis

    February 17, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Researchers at Washington State University have identified a potential new approach to combating the joint pain, inflammation and tissue damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

    RA is a debilitating autoimmune disorder that mostly affects the small joints of the hands and feet. It causes painful swelling that progresses into cartilage damage, bone erosion and joint deformity. “Existing drugs for rheumatoid arthritis are expensive, immunosuppressive and sometimes unsuitable for long-term use,” said Salah-uddin Ahmed, the lead WSU researcher.

    TAK1

    TAK1

    His team evaluated phytochemical epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with anti-inflammatory properties found in green tea...

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    New Links between Heart Hormones, Obesity, and Diabetes

    February 17, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    Summary of NP action in the skeletal muscle in healthy individuals (A) and obese individuals with diabetes (B). NPs circulate in reduced concentrations in obese individuals with diabetes compared with the levels in healthy individuals. Furthermore, expression of NPRA, which binds NPs and activates intracellular signaling events, is reduced, while expression of NPRC, which clears NPs in tissues, is increased in obesity and T2D. In healthy individuals, generation of cGMP from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by the guanylyl cyclase activity of NPRA activates a signaling pathway resulting in the phosphorylation (P) and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and the increased transcription of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor coactivator γ-1α (PGC1α). This is associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidation of lipids, including the lipotoxic diacylglycerols (DAGs) and ceramides. In obese individuals, NP signaling from NPRA is attenuated, predisposing to DAG and ceramide accumulation in the muscle and thus IR, characterized by inhibition of insulin signaling via Akt and impaired glucose disposal.

    Summary of NP action in the skeletal muscle in healthy individuals (A) and obese individuals with diabetes (B). NPs circulate in reduced concentrations in obese individuals with diabetes compared with the levels in healthy individuals. Furthermore, expression of NPRA, which binds NPs and activates intracellular signaling events, is reduced, while expression of NPRC, which clears NPs in tissues, is increased in obesity and T2D. In healthy individuals, generation of cGMP from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) by the guanylyl cyclase activity of NPRA activates a signaling pathway resulting in the phosphorylation (P) and activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and the increased transcription of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor coactivator γ-1α (PGC1α)...

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    New RNA letter regulates Gene Expression

    February 17, 2016, Categories  Health/Medical, Biology/Biotechnology

    m1A occurs in GC-rich sequence contexts and in genes with structured 5′ UTRs.

    m1A occurs in GC-rich sequence contexts and in genes with structured 5′ UTRs.

    Discovery brings RNA to the fore of epigenetics. A new study finds that RNA, DNA template for protein translation, often appears with an extra letter – and this letter is the regulatory key for control of gene expression. The discovery offers insight into different RNA functions in cellular processes and contributions to the development of disease.

    “Epigenetics, the regulation of gene expression beyond the primary information encoded by DNA, was thought until recently to be mediated by modifications of proteins and DNA,” said Prof. Gidi Rechavi. “The new findings bring RNA to a central position in epigenetics.”

    The number of modified nucleotides (letters) in RNA is 10X larger than that of the letters found in D...

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