With spicy foods, pain is pleasure. No, really. The concept even comes with a term: benign masochism. “‘Benign masochism’ is when people come to enjoy pain,” explains Paul Rozin, a professor of psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences, whose research focuses on cultural psychology and humans’ relationship with food. “And that pain is...
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How does exercise prompt fat to benefit metabolism?
An international team of scientists has uncovered molecular evidence of how exercise benefits metabolism and health through its effect on fat. The evidence reveals that fat plays an active role in the process. Credit: scmp.com The finding follows earlier work in which the researchers were the first to show that exercise prompts fat tissue to...
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Tumours use a metabolic twist to make lipids
To survive and divide, cancer cells need a constant supply of lipid molecules called monounsaturated fatty acids. Tumours can achieve this by an unsuspected route that harnesses a metabolic pathway also used in hair follicles. Abnormal cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer cells, from alterations in the pathways that use glucose to aberrant activation...
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New ‘Trojan horse’ cancer treatment shows early promise in multiple tumor types
A brand new type of cancer drug that acts as a ‘Trojan horse’ to get inside tumour cells has shown promise in patients with six different cancer types. In patients with advanced, drug-resistant cancers, over a quarter with cervical and bladder tumours, and nearly 15 per cent with ovarian and lung tumours, responded to the...
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Microbiome could be culprit when good drugs do harm
People sometimes suffer toxic side effects from drugs that help many others. Yale scientists have identified a surprising explanation—the gut microbiome. Credit: CC0 Public Domain The research, published Feb. 8 in the journal Science, describes how bacteria in the gut can transform three drugs into harmful compounds. “If we can understand the microbiome’s contributions to...
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Surprise rheumatoid arthritis discovery points to new treatment for joint inflammation
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have identified an unexpected contributor to rheumatoid arthritis that may help explain the painful flare-ups associated with the disease. The discovery points to a potential new treatment for the autoimmune disorder and may also allow the use of a simple blood test to detect people at...
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Hair styles that can lead to hair loss
A Johns Hopkins review of 19 studies has found that many hairstyles can lead to a condition known as traction alopecia. That’s the gradual loss of hairfrom damage to the follicle due to prolonged or repeated tension on the roots. It’s especially common among black women, but can affect anyone. (HealthDay)—Hairstyles are a defining feature...
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The 7 wonders of poop – biological sciences
Although it is not necessarily the most pleasant of topics, we must, at least, respect its ubiquity: poop is everywhere. In this Spotlight, we bring you some fascinating stool-based knowledge. Poop is complex, surprising, and disgusts us Turquoise bathroom Feces unites the entire animal kingdom. It is something we all have in common. On average,...
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Seven things that can affect the heart—and what to do about them
Debby Schrecengast’s blood pressure was “through the roof.” She had gained a lot weight. A history of heart disease ran deep in her immediate family. When she looks back at herself in 2014, the year she suffered a stroke, she sees a “stubborn old donkey” in denial about her health. “I had let my blood...
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How the Body Fights Cancer and Intruders
The human body’s immune system is like a vast team of special agents. Certain cells called T cells each individually specialize in recognizing a particular intruder, such as the influenza virus or salmonella. Determining a given T cell’s target is a critical step in designing personalized treatments for cancers and developing vaccines. Now, a team...