News by Subject Medicine & Health

Good cholesterol, which is transported in HDLs (high-density lipoproteins), plays a key part in the prevention of atherosclerosis and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, according to a new paper co-authored by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in the journal Circulation, the anti-inflammatory properties of HDLs could be an even better biomarker for future cardiovascular events.

Researchers at Osaka University have shown that SLPI, a secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, coordinates the mutually contradictory actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on bone. They revealed the genetic mechanisms and molecular pathways whereby SLPI promotes osteoblast activity to augment bone mass and showed how osteoblasts interact with osteoclasts to subdue bone resorption. This knowledge will inform clinical usage of anabolic PTH in osteoporosis as well as promote development of innovative drugs.

Obesity is linked to heavier periods and may be caused by delayed repair of the womb lining, according to a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology. Using a combined approach, assessing both women and mice, the study suggests an association between higher body weight and greater menstrual blood loss that may result from increased inflammation in the womb lining, delaying its repair.

Exposure to phthalates, a class of chemicals widely used in packaging and consumer products, is known to interfere with normal hormone function and development. Now researchers have found evidence linking pregnant women's exposure to phthalates to altered cognitive outcomes in their infants.

A University of Tsukuba study created a mathematical model to justify the cost-effectiveness of dietician-led behavior modification interventions for treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). As such interventions have little economic incentive for general physicians under the current guidelines, they seldom occur. The researchers started with a proven-effective CKD intervention and successfully formulated a way to accommodate its cost. This could incentivize doctors and improve quality of life for CKD patients.

In addition to smoothing out wrinkles, researchers have found that the drug Botox can reveal the inner workings of the brain. A new study used it to show that feedback from individual nerve cells controls the release of dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in motivation, memory, and movement.

Study conducted at Children's Hospital Los Angeles shows that diet and exercise led to reduced risk of remaining cancer cells after one month of chemotherapy.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may influence hormonal shifts during pregnancy as well as contribute to postpartum depression, according to a small study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Menopause typically signals the end of a woman's ability to become pregnant. However, in a small new study, a novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).