A recent article identified a role for alkylglycerol (AKG)-type ether lipids in human breast milk in the regulation of the development of fat tissue in nursing babies (Figure 1). Intriguingly, the lipids affected tissue-resident macrophages in the fat tissue, adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), not the adipose cells themselves. Using mice, Yu and colleagaues showed that … Read more
Calorie restriction and intermittent fasting are both associated with improved health and longevity in many animals. Studies with monkeys and humans are consistent with health benefits of both calorie restriction and intermittent fasting, but the studies are difficult to compare due to differences in the diet and feeding patterns in the monkey studies and the … Read more
Some diseases arise because the immune system reacts with normal, healthy cells in the body. In other diseases, lack of an effective immune response contributes to the disease. Cancer cells escape attack by the immune system, in part, by producing a lot of the protein PD-L1 (Gough, 24 May 2017). PD-L1 binds and activates the … Read more
I have known many people, including my own mother, who suffered from heartburn or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Frequently, they complain of pain at night and have wondered why they would have pain at night when they are not eating. The simple answer is that there is a surge of acid production by the stomach … Read more