Briefly Speaking

Published on:

23 Aug 2015, 12:00 am

exercise hormone irisin is real

A recently discovered hormone called irisin that’s produced during exercise is not just a myth, according to a new study that traced circulation in the blood at nanogram levels. Not only is it present, it increases during exercise, says the research team from Harvard Medical School in response to two recent studies that questioned the methods they had used to identify the hormone in 2012. Since its discovery, irisin has been linked with boosting the metabolism, reprograming the body’s white fat cells into the ‘good’ brown kind that burn energy rather than hoarding it, and promoting healthy aging. The confusion is about how the hormone is produced by the skeletal muscle cells and to prove their point, the researchers employed state-of-the-art quantitative mass spectrometry techniques to demonstrate the process from start to finish. With this equipment the research team developed a technique for measuring post-exercise increases in irisin that does not rely on antibodies, according to the study.

Scientists create super-clever mice

Scientists have genetically modified mice to be super-intelligent and found they are also less anxious, a discovery that may help the search for treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers from Britain and Canada found that altering a single gene to block the phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) enzyme, which is found in many organs, including the brain, made mice cleverer and at the same time less fearful. “Our work using mice has identified phosphodiesterase-4B as a promising target for potential new treatments,” said Steve Clapcote, a lecturer in pharmacology at Britain’s leeds University, who led the study.

diaper that sends SMS when soiled

For elderly and bedridden patients, diapers could soon come with a sensor that alerts caregivers by SMS when they are soiled. Researchers from Singapore have developed an “intelligent continence management system” comprising a thin disposable sensor strip, a compact wireless transmitter, a receiver and software. “lying in soiled diapers for prolonged periods is not only uncomfortable and unhygienic, but may also cause skin rashes and infection for the wearer,” said lead researcher Jackie Ying, executive director, Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) at The Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore (A*STAR). The new sensor can be easily integrated into the adult diapers currently available in the market to facilitate timely diaper change.