Published Scientists 3D-print hair follicles in lab-grown skin
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have 3D-printed hair follicles in human skin tissue cultured in the lab. This marks the first time researchers have used the technology to generate hair follicles, which play an important role in skin healing and function. When it comes to engineering human skin, hair may at first seem superfluous. However, hair follicles are quite important: They produce sweat, helping regulate body temperature, and they contain stem cells that help skin heal. The finding has potential applications in regenerative medicine and drug testing, though engineering skin grafts that grow hair are still several years away.
Published Shortening sleep time increases diabetes risk in women
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study in women found that shortening sleep by just 90 minutes for a few weeks increased insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Published Researchers reveal link between Alzheimer's and sex hormones
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Researchers have shown female sex hormones play a significant role in how Alzheimer's manifests in the brain. The study also highlights the importance of developing therapeutic strategies focused on these hormonal connections. The research indicates a need to better understand the role of estradiol -- a form of the female sex hormone estrogen, used therapeutically to mitigate menopause symptoms -- in Alzheimer's disease.
Published Women living in more walkable neighborhoods have lower rates of obesity-related cancers
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Residing in a more walkable neighborhood protects against the risk of overall obesity-related cancers in women, specifically postmenopausal breast cancer, but also ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and multiple myeloma, according to a new study. Obesity has been linked to increased risk for 13 types of cancer in women, and physical activity, independent of body size, lowers risk for some of these cancers. Until now long-term studies of neighborhood walkability and risk for obesity-related cancer were limited.
Published Is a longer reproductive lifespan good for your brain?
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source People with a higher cumulative estrogen exposure throughout their life may have a lower risk of cerebral small vessel disease, according to a new study.
Published Women given new insight into blood clot risk
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source New research shows an increased risk of blood clots in women who have any combination of a particular gene mutation, estrogen use, or common medical conditions -- specifically: obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and kidney disease.
Published Women with PCOS on keto diet may see improvements in fertility
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The ketogenic (keto) diet may lower testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a new article.
Published Review of over 70 years of menopause science highlights research gaps and calls for individualized treatment
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Although about half of people go through menopause, less than 15% of them receive effective treatment for their symptoms. Treatment options for people experiencing irritating or severe menopause symptoms are often under researched, and some have questionable efficacy, or cause harmful side effects. Menopause experts now summarize what we know about menopause, call for more research into the timeline and treatment of menopause, and encourage individualized, holistic treatment that addresses both menopausal symptoms and other systemic changes happening in the body.
Published Why men, wealthy people and maritime residents are more likely to develop skin cancer
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study examines why people living in Atlantic regions are more at-risk for developing melanoma than other Canadians, providing lessons on skin cancer prevention for the whole country. To find out why, the researchers compared UV exposure and behaviours among different groups in Atlantic Canada based on income, education, and gender, among other factors.
Published Why does skin get 'leathery' after too much sun? Bioengineers examine cellular breakdown
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A study explores how ultraviolet radiation can alter the microstructure of human skin. Particularly affected is collagen, the fibrous protein that binds together tissue, tendon, cartilage and bone throughout our bodies.
Published Birth-control pills affect the body's ability to regulate stress, study suggests
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source A new study suggests that birth-control pills negatively impact women's stress response.
Published Research challenges current thinking on the genetic causes of very early menopause
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The genetic causes of very early menopause will have to be reconsidered after researchers found that nearly all women who carried variations thought to cause the condition in fact had their menopause at an older age.
Published New study links contraceptive pills and depression
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Women who used combined contraceptive pills were at greater risk of developing depression than women who did not, according to a new study. Contraceptive pills increased women's risk by 73 per cent during the first two years of use.
Published Osteoporosis treatments may benefit from discovery of key driver of low bone density
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Scientists have pinpointed a key driver of low bone density, a discovery that may lead to improved treatments with fewer side effects for women with osteoporosis. The findings reveal that loss of an epigenetic modulator, KDM5C, preserves bone mass in mice. KDM5C works by altering epigenetic 'marks,' which are akin to 'on' and 'off' switches that ensure the instructions written in DNA are used at the right time and in the right place.
Published Early menopause, later start to hormone therapy may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD), with women making up two-thirds of the population living with AD. A new study sheds light on the relationship between the risk of Alzheimer's disease and age of menopause and use of hormone therapy (HT).
Published Boosting the body's anti-viral immune response may eliminate aging cells
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Aging cells express a protein that is produced by human cytomegalovirus and is targeted by certain immune cells in the body. Harnessing the immune response to this protein could have multiple health benefits during aging.
Published Scientists see anti-aging potential in an invasive weed
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source The fruit of the cocklebur plant, which grows worldwide and is often considered a noxious weed, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory components that could make it useful as a skin protectant, according to new research.
Published Getting a good night's sleep could boost your response to vaccination
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source We all know how important sleep is for mental health, but a meta-analysis found that getting good shut-eye also helps our immune systems respond to vaccination. The authors found that people who slept less than six hours per night produced significantly fewer antibodies than people who slept seven hours or more, and the deficit was equivalent to two months of antibody waning.
Published Migraines during menstruation: Low estrogen levels paired with higher CGRP levels may jump start migraine
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source As estrogen levels fluctuate, a new study has found for female participants with migraine, their levels of the protein calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that plays a key role in starting the migraine process also fluctuate.
Published Air pollution speeds bone loss from osteoporosis
(via sciencedaily.com) Original source Elevated levels of air pollutants are associated with bone damage among postmenopausal women, according to new research. The effects were most evident on the lumbar spine, with nitrous oxides twice as damaging to the area than seen with normal aging.