More Than Just an Engine

More than just an engine: the heart regulates body weight.

Arecent study published in Cell may represent a paradigm shift in the way we look at cardiac metabolism: The study identifies the heart as an endocrine organ that regulates body weight. It raises two important questions: What would be the “slimming factor” released by the heart that regulates fuel homeostasis in distant organs? What are the possible mechanisms directing metabolic energy to eith...

Periostin: more than just an adhesion molecule.

The form and function of the heart is determined by the dynamic interaction of both intra and extracellular signals. During normal growth of the neonatal heart myocytes undergo hypertrophy in response to variety of signals including changes in blood pressure1–3. The number of fibroblasts also increase and the collagenous connective tissue is formed.4,7,8 The coordination of these postnatal sign...

Scabies: more than just an irritation.

Human scabies, caused by skin infestation with the arthropod mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, typically results in a papular, intensely pruritic eruption involving the interdigital spaces, and flexure creases. Recent research has led to a reassessment of the morbidity attributable to this parasite in endemic communities, particularly resulting from secondary skin sepsis and postinfective complications ...

Glycosylphosphatidylinositols: More than just an anchor?

There is increasing interest in the role of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors that attach some proteins to cell membranes. Far from being biologically inert, GPIs influence the targeting, intracellular trafficking and function of the attached protein. Our recent paper demonstrated the role of sialic acid on the GPI of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)). The "prion diseases" arise foll...

Much more than just an interview.