People with obesity face a significantly increased risk of atherosclerosis, and consequently heart attack and stroke. This elevated risk is largely driven by chronic inflammation in the blood vessels, which is more common in severe obesity. A new study led by Florian Kiefer at the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, MedUni Vienna, has now identified brown adipose tissue (brown fat) as a potential protective factor for vascular health. The findings, published in Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, show for the first time in humans that individuals with obesity and active brown fat exhibit significantly lower arterial inflammation.

Blood tests measuring the aging of certain white blood cells can predict cognitive and mood-related symptoms of depression, rather than physical symptoms. 

The findings, published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, bring researchers closer to identifying a biomarker for detecting the mood disorder, which affects nearly one in five US adults. 

Creatine, a compound often associated with gym-goers and athletes, has long been touted as a performance-enhancing supplement. But beyond the hype, what does science actually reveal about its effects on the body and mind?

For decades, scientists have wondered what triggered the sudden "explosion" of complex animal life on Earth. This new hypothesis suggests that the answer isn't found in shells or legs, but in the evolution of the brain as a response to an increasingly crowded and tiered ocean. By developing the genetic "blueprints" to organize a complex nervous system first, a few lucky lineages were able to recycle those same instructions to build the most diverse and sophisticated bodies in nature.

About The Study: This single-center study demonstrates that uterus transplant can result in a live birth for women with absolute uterine factor infertility. These data support the feasibility of uterus transplant in specialized, multidisciplinary centers capable of integrating transplant surgery, reproductive medicine, and maternal fetal care. Ongoing reporting and data sharing will be essential to refine risk estimates and optimize patient counseling as the uterus transplant field continues to mature.

During early stages of an epidemic, a host’s genetics and sex influence how a virus evolves, according to new  research. Using lab mice, University of Utah biologists found the influenza virus can gain virulence more quickly as it passes through females that generate a stronger immune response.