hormones

Fat hormone influences our motivation to eat

harminka — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:54:12 -0500

As we all know from experience, people eat not only because they are hungry, but also because the food just simply tastes too good to pass up. Now, a new study in the August 6th Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, helps to explain how leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue, influences that motivation to eat.

Gut hormone may lower blood sugar levels

harminka — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:27:37 -0500

A research team led by Dr. Tony Lam at the Toronto General Research Institute and the University of Toronto discovered a novel function of a hormone found in the gut that might potentially lower glucose levels in diabetes.

Hunger Hormone Ghrelin is Activated by Fatty Food

harminka — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:34:52 -0500

New research led by the University of Cincinnati (UC) suggests that the hunger hormone ghrelin is activated by fats from the foods we eat—not those made in the body—in order to optimize nutrient metabolism and promote the storage of body fat.

Lung Cancer Deaths Rise With Hormone Replacement Therapy

Michael Santo — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:45:32 -0500

Doctors once thought that hormone therapy, or HRT, could protect women from chronic diseases, especially heart disease. However, a new study by U.S researchers released on Saturday indicated that the use of hormone-replacement therapy by menopausal women increases their risk of death from lung cancer by 60 percent after five years.

New way to fight cocaine addiction

harminka — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:10:25 -0500

UC Irvine pharmacological researchers have discovered that blocking a hormone related to hunger regulation can limit cocaine cravings. Their findings could herald a new approach to overcoming addiction.

Protein that regulates hormones critical to women's health found in pituitary

harminka — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:40:33 -0600

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have solved the mystery surrounding a "rogue protein" that plays a role in the release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain.

Study sheds light on facial preferences

harminka — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:59:25 -0600

Scientists have long known that women's preferences for masculine men change throughout their menstrual cycles. A new study from Indiana University's Kinsey Institute is the first to demonstrate differences in brain activity as women considered masculinized and feminized male faces and whether the person was a potential sexual partner.

Apelin hormone injections powerfully lower blood sugar

harminka — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:54:13 -0600

By injecting a hormone produced by fat and other tissues into mice, researchers report in the November Cell Metabolism that they significantly lowered blood sugar levels in normal and obese mice. The findings suggest that the hormone known as apelin might be a promising target for managing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Johns Hopkins researchers suppress hunger hormone

harminka — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:46:53 -0500

Johns Hopkins scientists report success in significantly suppressing levels of the "hunger hormone" ghrelin in pigs using a minimally invasive means of chemically vaporizing the main vessel carrying blood to the top section, or fundus, of the stomach.

Hormone that enhances one's memory of happy faces

harminka — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:13:28 -0500

Oxytocin was originally studied as the "milk let-down factor," i.e., a hormone that was necessary for breast-feeding. However, there is increasing evidence that this hormone also plays an important role in social bonding and maternal behaviors.

Scientists find potential protein biomarkers for growth hormone

harminka — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:43:29 -0500

Ohio University scientists have identified several proteins in mice that might act as biomarkers for growth hormone. The research could be the first step to finding a more reliable way to detect recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), which some athletes and teenagers use illegally to boost muscle and reduce fat.

Blood proteins may be future markers for growth hormone doping

harminka — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:36:20 -0500

Researchers have found potential new biomarkers for growth hormone, which they say could help the sports community in detecting growth hormone abuse. The results of the animal study will be presented at The Endocrine Society's 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.