18-Aug-2026 Post-meal SPARC level predicts who benefits most from the Mediterranean diet Higher Education Press A new study published in Life Metabolism reports that a single post-meal blood biomarker, 1-hour postprandial SPARC (SPARC-1H), can predict who will benefit most from adopting a Mediterranean diet. The discovery provides one of the clearest examples to date of how precision nutrition can identify individualized dietary responses using a simple blood test rather than complex multi-omics models. Journal Life Metabolism
18-Aug-2026 Molecular characterization of HIV-1 subtypes and primary drug resistance mutations in Bangladesh: Insights from 2019 data Bentham Science Publishers Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been a significant public health concern for over four decades. Globally, more than 75 million individuals have been infected, with an estimated 32.7 million deaths attributed to AIDS-related complications. Even though there are continuous advancements in treatment and prevention, in 2019, about 1.7 million new infections were reported, which represents a 23% decline in new diagnoses compared to 2010, The high frequency of the D121 polymorphism, though not directly linked to treatment failure, reflects underlying genetic variability that may influence future resistance pathways Journal The Open AIDS Journal
18-Aug-2026 Glycine acts as a signal to boost insulin secretion via ER calcium homeostasis Higher Education Press Glycine, a non-essential amino acid derived from serine, plays an increasingly recognized role in metabolic regulation. Epidemiological studies consistently show that reduced circulating glycine levels are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and obesity across diverse populations. However, the molecular mechanism linking glycine to insulin production has remained incompletely understood, limiting therapeutic applications. Journal Life Metabolism
18-Aug-2026 Proline-producing enzyme P5CS identified as a key driver of metabolic fatty liver disease Higher Education Press Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a spectrum of liver conditions ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis, represents a global health epidemic with no approved pharmacotherapies. Journal Life Metabolism
18-Aug-2026 DDAH1 controls hepatic lipid metabolism under fasting Higher Education Press The liver plays a central role in maintaining systemic energy homeostasis during fasting by mobilizing lipid reserves, a process often accompanied by transient hepatic steatosis. Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1), a key enzyme metabolizing asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), has been shown to protect against NAFLD under nutrient-overload conditions. However, its role in the physiological context of fasting remained elusive. Journal Life Metabolism
18-Aug-2026 From brain wiring to stress and metabolism: One gene has a finger on the switch Weizmann Institute of Science A new study from the Weizmann Institute of Science reveals a previously unknown biological link between mental and physiological stress responses: They are orchestrated by a single “mastermind” gene, a kind of master switch that is active in the brain even before birth. The study, published recently in Endocrinology, shows that this gene, called Orthopedia, or Otp – long known to play a key role in building the developing brain – remains active into adulthood, helping regulate key hormonal systems that determine how the brain controls stress, metabolism and even behavior. Journal Endocrinology
18-Aug-2026 miR-378 as a metabolic-state-dependent switch controling liver autophagy and fat accumulation Higher Education Press Emerging evidence reveals that dysregulated autophagy, particularly the selective degradation of lipid droplets (lipophagy), is crucial to maintaining hepatic lipid balance, yet how its activity is regulated under different metabolic conditions has long been an open question. Journal Life Metabolism
17-Aug-2026 Mathematical framework connects biological principles to manufacturable, adaptive materials Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT researchers developed a framework that translates the components of a natural object, such as a pine cone, into building blocks that can be mixed and matched to design new adaptive materials that behave like those in biological systems. Journal Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids Funder MIT Lemelson Engineering Fellowship, Singapore DSO National Laboratories, MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium
17-Aug-2026 Ethics & Human Research, July-August 2026 The Hastings Center Ethics & Human Research, July-August 2026 issue, includes an essay on organ-on-a-chip technology and articles on the All of Us research program and on consent and decisional capacity. Journal Ethics & Human Research
17-Aug-2026 How insects could help detect PFAS contamination Michigan State University Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that neurons in a locust’s brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world’s most common “forever chemicals,” at environmentally relevant concentrations. Journal Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
