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Natural appetite suppressant found
US researchers have discovered a natural appetite suppressant that's released into the bloodstream after eating fatty food. Rats and mice injected with a synthetic version of the chemical, Nape, either into their abdomen, where it's normally released, or in smaller quantities into their brain, ate less and, after five days, began losing weight. The Yale University team found that levels of Nape, which humans also produce naturally, rose significantly after rodents ate fatty food, but not after proteins or carbohydrates. 'This may be a new pathway ... to treat obesity,' says team leader Gerald Shulman. The researchers have now begun human trials, Reuters reports.
Advances in cure for heart failure
Researchers from two US biotechnology companies have found a way to turn off a genetic trigger in mice that plays a key role in heart failure, suggesting a way to prevent cardiac disease and even cure it. The joint venture found that diseased hearts contain three to five times more strands of a micro-ribonucleic acid called miR-21 than healthy ones. Congestive heart failure affects 23 million people worldwide and kills about 600,000 each year. Blocking miR-21 in mice bred to develop the disease prevented heart failure. As well, those with heart failure that were later given a blocking compound improved significantly, Reuters reports.
Boss haters risk heart disease
People who think their bosses are unfair, arbitrary, inconsiderate and poor managers are at significantly greater risk of developing heart disease, say Swedish researchers based on studies of more than 3,000 male workers between 1992 and 1995. By contrast, the more competent they rated their bosses, the lower their risk of serious heart problems, WebMD reports. Even workers who thought their bosses were simply bad at communicating, rather than actively negative, were at greater risk, the Karolinska Institute team concluded.
Researchers trigger natural painkiller
US researchers have found a way to trigger a natural painkiller that's also activated by marijuana. In tests on mice, the Scripps Research Institute team blocked an enzyme that normally deactivates a cannabinoid receptor, 2-arachidonoylgylcerol (2-AG); if left to activate, 2-AG can significantly ease pain. The body's complex cannabinoid system may be extremely powerful in controlling chronic pain, and possibly even in treating anxiety, depression and obesity, AFP reports. Two drawbacks: boosting 2-AG levels lowers body temperature and reduces movement.
Yoga compulsory at Indian schools
India's health minister plans to make yoga compulsory for all schoolchildren from next year, in the hope of reducing the growing prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and other diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. India is one of the worst afflicted nations for diabetes, with 70 million expected to be affected by 2025. Anbumani Ramadoss made his pledge to a diabetes conference in Chennai, Reuters reports.
Lengthy study has French on top
French men say they need the biggest condoms of all Europeans while Greeks seem to believe that size isn't everything. The study of 10,500 men in 25 countries over eight months by a German prophylactic consultancy was done on an honour system, asking those surveyed to measure themselves. The French average was 15.48cm, topping the poll; the average Greek came in about 3cm shorter, Reuters reports. The consultancy's director, Jan Vinzenz Krause, previously promoted an aerosol spray that would create a perfectly fitting condom, but the idea didn't get beyond a prototype.
