Insulin News and Research

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Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert glucose, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Insulin allows cells to use glucose for fuel and is secreted by beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. The release of insulin from the pancreas is stimulated by increased blood glucose, vagal nerve stimulation, and other factors. Insulin is obtained from various animals and available in a variety of preparations. Commercial insulin preparations differ in a number of ways, including differences in the animal species from which they are obtained; their purity, concentration, and solubility; and the time of onset and duration of their biologic action. An oral hypoglycemic agent is not a form of insulin therapy.

How an obesity gene influences brain function

A complex condition, obesity is brought on by a confluence of factors including behavior, diet, and heredity. Getting enough food to survive and thrive was a challenge for millennia.

16 Jul 2024

Breakthrough in Understanding Connexin-Drug Interactions

Researchers have gained new knowledge of how drugs bind to connexin molecules. These molecules form channels that allow neighboring cells to send direct messages to one another.

27 Jun 2024

Mapping Gene Targets of HNF4A and HNF1A in Human Pancreatic Beta Cells and Liver Cells

Scientists have generated a comprehensive map of the gene targets regulated by the transcription factors HNF4A and HNF1A in human pancreatic beta cells and liver cells.

26 Jun 2024

Unlocking the Secrets of Aging Brains

Researchers have determined the potential mechanisms through which some long-lived mutants of the Caenorhabditis elegans model system experience cognitive decline and others can retain learning and memory into old age.

26 Jun 2024

Researchers Develop New Way to Simulate Personalized, Microbiome-Mediated Diet Responses

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are beneficial molecules created by the bacteria residing in our gut that are closely tied to improved host metabolism, lower systemic inflammation, better cardiovascular health, lower cancer risk, and more.

25 Jun 2024

Germ Cells Found to Drive Sex-Dependent Lifespan Differences in Vertebrates

Women live longer than men. This isn't unique to humans, either; we see this trend in a wide range of other animals. Biologists have theorized that the discrepancy in life expectancy between sexes might be partly related to reproduction, but how?

13 Jun 2024

LC-MS/MS analysis provides new insights into early childhood health and development

The impact of a hydrolyzed formula dietary intervention on β-cell autoimmunity development.

30 May 2024

Study Reveals How Sweet Taste Receptor Regulates Blood Sugar and Insulin

The rich research portfolio of the Monell Chemical Senses Center on sweet taste goes way back: Monell scientists were one of four teams in 2001 that found and described the mammalian sweet taste receptor – TAS1R2-TAS1R3.

20 May 2024

Understanding Lactate's Role in Energy Metabolism

As a student competing in track and field at his Parlier high school, Robert Leija was obsessed with how to improve his performance and, in particular, prevent the buildup of lactic acid in his muscles during training.

16 May 2024

New Population of Cells in Human Omental Fat Tissue Found to Hinder Adipogenesis

Understanding how fat tissue forms and functions is crucial for addressing obesity and related metabolic diseases. However, adipose tissue, or body fat, behaves differently based on its location in the body.

10 May 2024

Fruit Fly Model Unveils Hidden Mechanisms of Organ Development

A new computational model simulating fruit fly wing development has enabled researchers to identify previously hidden mechanisms behind organ generation.

8 May 2024

Placenta's Role in Gestational Diabetes Revealed

A recent study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute has discovered that a deficiency in placental expression of the gene insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFBP1) and low circulating levels of IGFBP1 are linked to insulin resistance during pregnancy, indicating a potential risk factor for the onset of gestational diabetes.

17 Apr 2024