Osteoarthritis is an incapacitating condition with diverse etiologies, the most recently described of which is metabolic syndrome (MetS). For the first time, researchers from the “Molecular Engineering and Articular Physiopathology” (Cnrs/Université de Lorraine) and “Acute and chronic cardiovascular failure” (Inserm/Université de Lorraine) research laboratories in Nancy, France, have described the spontaneous development of this type […]
POMC (proopiomelanocortin) deficiency obesity is an orphan disease which has been described in 50 patients to date, although it is estimated to affect 100–500 people worldwide. Although there is currently no specific treatment, a publication in NEJM reports promising results from a phase 2 clinical trial that led to considerable weight loss in female […]
A new study published in the journal Blood shows that red blood cells can turn against blood vessels by releasing aggressive fragments that contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. There are approximately 5 million red blood cells in every microlitre of blood. Their stock is constantly renewed, and each one is discreetly removed every […]
House dust mite allergy affects over half of asthma patients. The major allergen, Der p 2, is recognised by nearly 90% of allergic patients. Continuous exposure to this allergen leads to a type of asthma characterised by bronchial constriction and inflammation of the airways, which in the most severe cases can lead to considerable disability […]
The carotid arteries are essential for supplying blood to the brain. In a study published online in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, researchers from Inserm, in collaboration with those involved in the Three Cities Study (3C), have focused on the relationships between atherosclerosis and the risk of dementia in older subjects. Atherosclerosis is characterised by […]
During fasting, in order to cope with nutrient depletion, cells break down their own constituents, a process known as autophagy. Roméo Ricci’s team at the Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (CNRS/Inserm/University of Strasbourg) has shown that, during fasting, the pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for insulin secretion, do not compensate for […]
One of the major challenges for therapeutic science is to optimise the accurate distribution of drugs in the affected organs. Targeted delivery methods are needed to accomplish this. In a new study published in The American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, Olivier Meilhac’s team (Inserm Unit 1148, the “Laboratory for Vascular Translational Science,” […]
Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipose cells, sending the satiety signal to the brain. Sometimes, certain overweight or obese individuals develop resistance to this hormone, which is no longer able to deliver its message. A team led by Vincent Prévot, Inserm Research Director at the Jean Pierre Aubert Research Centre in Lille, has used […]
The measurement of cholesterol levels in an organism during medical analyses has become routine in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In reality, the cholesterol levels are the result of a balance in the human body between “good” (HDL) cholesterol and “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. If this balance is threatened and tilts too far towards “bad cholesterol”, the […]
Salbutamol is a classic asthma treatment. Its administration via inhalation stimulates the beta-2 receptors of the bronchial walls, dilating the bronchiae and thus allowing for greater respiratory capacity. Its use as a doping product is currently under review. An Inserm team headed by Samuel Vergès (Inserm Unit 1042 “Hypoxia and cardiovascular and respiratory physiopathology”) attempted […]
