Review
Plant Sciences
Murray R. Badger, Robert E. Sharwood
Summary: This article discusses the challenges and solutions in the evolution of Rubisco as a CO2-fixing enzyme, highlighting the importance of its catalytic mechanism and kinetic properties. Despite the incomplete understanding of Rubisco, it and its partners have achieved remarkable success in high O-2, low CO2, and variable climatic conditions.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jasmine A. Luzum, Natasha Petry, Annette K. Taylor, Sara L. Van Driest, Henry M. Dunnenberger, Larisa H. Cavallari
Summary: The evidence for pharmacogenetics is growing rapidly, but the strength of evidence required for clinical implementation is debated. This review summarizes different perspectives on the evidence needed for clinical implementation, including patient cases, resources, types of evidence, limitations, implementers, clinicians, and patients' perspectives, as well as future perspectives and the need for education. Standardization efforts are underway, with recognition of the value of pharmacogenetic testing from the patient perspective, and the need for consideration of multiple stakeholder perspectives, particularly that of the patient.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Gretchen A. Youssef
Summary: The article highlights Gretchen Youssef's extensive experience and research achievements in the field of diabetes care, emphasizing the importance of diabetes management and prevention, as well as her commitment to improving the quality of life for diabetes patients.
Editorial Material
Clinical Neurology
Heidi G. Sutherland, Lyn R. Griffiths
Summary: Life on earth follows daily and seasonal rhythms, with organisms evolving behaviors and functions that respond to predicted light-dark cycles. These cycles are driven by a & SIM;24-hour rhythmic expression of core clock genes/proteins, regulated by external cues such as light and temperature. Clock proteins then control gene transcription networks, impacting circadian behavior and physiology. In mammals, the central pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, in the hypothalamus synchronizes the clock and integrates zeitgeber signals with neuroendocrine functions for body homeostasis.
Article
Economics
David Deller, Monica Giulietti, Graham Loomes, Catherine Waddams Price, Anna Moniche, Joo Young Jeon
Summary: Many consumers are not taking advantage of lower energy prices in liberalized retail markets. Factors inhibiting switching were identified and the expectation of high switching rates in unregulated markets may be unrealistic. The findings have implications for energy market design and regulation, including the imposition of price caps on default retail tariffs in the UK and parts of Australia in 2019.
Article
Development Studies
Charlotte Wiederkehr, Tobias Ide, Ralf Seppelt, Kathleen Hermans
Summary: Researchers and policy makers have expressed concerns about the relationship between migration and conflicts over renewable resources in destination areas, but there is currently no conclusive evidence to support this link. This study combines qualitative and quantitative data from 20 cases in rural Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa to investigate resource-related conflicts in areas hosting migrants. The findings suggest that resource conflicts involving migrants in destination areas occur when there is a high reliance on natural resources and negative perceptions of migrants' resource use, or when government policies support certain migrant groups but restrict resource access due to conservation efforts or industrial activities. The study highlights the role of grievances related to resource access and the influence of government actions on local migrant-host dynamics.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Patrick Schenk, Joerg Roessel, Sebastian Weingartner
Summary: The distinctiveness of broader lifestyles is found to be a significant determinant of fair trade consumption, while modernity is only correlated with a subset of aspects. These effects remain robust even when ethical and political orientations and resource endowment are taken into account.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brita Kilburg-Basnyat
Summary: The student stated that they don't think industry is a good fit because they are not motivated by money. As an industry scientist, this surprised me. I was attending a conference event to help graduate students and postdocs explore career options and connect with professionals from various fields. Most attendees were eager to learn about their options and some were seriously considering industry. I was glad to assist them in figuring out if it was the right path for them and how to get there. The dismissive comment from the student caught me off-guard, however, I suspect others may have felt the same way. After a brief pause, I shared my own journey.
Article
Nursing
Gabriella Michl, Catherine Paterson, Kasia Bail
Summary: This study aims to understand how nurses discuss documentation audit in relation to their professional role. The research findings indicate that nurses have concerns and reflections about the process of documentation audit and raise questions about its effectiveness. The study suggests that documentation audit has unintended negative consequences on patients, nurses, and workflows.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wouter T'Jonck, Calum C. Bain
Summary: Macrophages are important for maintaining tissue homeostasis and defending against pathogens. In mucosal barrier tissues like the lung and gut, monocytes can differentiate into macrophages. However, the role of monocyte-derived macrophages in infection, injury, and inflammation is still debated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vance G. Nielsen, Michael T. Wagner
Summary: This review presents the latest findings on the molecular mechanisms responsible for pain after envenomation. It highlights the importance of understanding the location-dependent nature of pain and calls for further molecular and epidemiologic investigations to develop targeted treatments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Westyn Branch-Elliman, Nasia Safdar, Richard Nelson
Summary: Outbreaks and emergence of novel pathogens pose challenges in economic evaluations, requiring cost-effectiveness investigations and analyses for outbreak planning and containment in infection emergency preparedness response.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Bianca Kreuzinger-Janik, Birgit Gansfort, Walter Traunspurger, Christoph Ptatscheck
Summary: Dispersal ability determines the distribution and abundance of species, and is influenced by environmental factors such as density, food availability, and predation. Food availability plays a central role in the spatial structuring of nematode communities.
Article
Communication
Jordan Foster
Summary: The research suggests that attractive influencers dominate the Instagram platform. However, there is a growing call for diversity and inclusion, raising important questions about how industry personnel and influencers understand diversity and appearance ideals. The study finds that hegemonic ideals surrounding appearance continue to shape online visibility, but both influencers and industry personnel believe that change is happening.
SOCIAL MEDIA + SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Graziele Grilo, Lisa P. Lagasse, Joanna E. Cohen, Meghan B. Moran, Luz Myriam Reynales-Shigematsu, Katherine C. Smith
Summary: The study found that bold, contrasting colors and elements communicating flavor and promotion increase the appeal of cigarette packs and stimulate the desire to try. Participants generally perceived packs with these features to be designed for and used by youth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kevin D. Hall, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Jeffery M. Friedman, Samuel Klein, Ruth J. F. Loos, David J. Mangelsdorf, Stephen O'Rahilly, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman, Donna H. Ryan, John R. Speakman, Deirdre K. Tobias
Summary: This article discusses two models of obesity, the carbohydrate-insulin model and the energy balance model. The article points out that the carbohydrate-insulin model better reflects the biology of weight control, while the energy balance model does not consider the biological mechanisms that promote weight gain. The article also provides an accurate description of the energy balance model, stating that the brain is the primary organ responsible for body weight regulation.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
I. Sadaf Farooqi
Summary: Neuronal circuits in the hypothalamus play a crucial role in the regulation of body weight and innate behaviors. Genetic disorders that disrupt these circuits can lead to hyperphagia, obesity, and maladaptive behaviors like anxiety and autism. Understanding these mechanisms is important for studying and treating clinical disorders.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
L. M. Goff, K. Davies, W. M. Zelek, E. Kodosaki, O. Hakim, S. Lockhart, S. O'Rahilly, B. P. Morgan
Summary: Poor metabolic health and obesity in Black African populations contribute to increased susceptibility to disease, including COVID-19. Complement dysregulation has been linked to metabolic health and implicated as a driver of pathology; however, ethnic differences in complement have not been explored.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Spyros Vernardis, Vadim Demichev, Oliver Lemke, Nana-Maria Gruening, Christoph Messner, Matt White, Maik Pietzner, Alina Peluso, Tinh-Hai Collet, Elana Henning, Christoph Gille, Archie Campbell, Caroline Hayward, David J. Porteous, Riccardo E. Marioni, Michael Muelleder, Aleksej Zelezniak, Nicholas J. Wareham, Claudia Langenberg, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Markus Ralser
Summary: Humans exhibit profound responses to changes in diet, making it important to study the nutritional responses in depth. This study used high-throughput mass spectrometry to investigate the impact of caloric restriction and a glucose challenge on the plasma proteome, identifying proteins that correlate with metabolome and endocrine changes. The study highlights the role of APOC1 as a dominant nutritional responder and emphasizes the interdependency between acute nutritional response proteins and the endocrine system.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Imen Becetti, Esther L. Bwenyi, Ivan E. de Araujo, Jamy Ard, John F. Cryan, Ismaa Sadaf Farooqi, Carrie R. Ferrario, Marci E. Gluck, Laura M. Holsen, Paul J. Kenny, Elizabeth A. Lawson, Bradford B. Lowell, Ellen A. Schur, Takara L. Stanley, Ali Tavakkoli, Steven K. Grinspoon, Vibha Singhal
Summary: Obesity is increasing rapidly, and current strategies for its treatment are limited. Understanding the neurobiology of appetite and energy intake can lead to more effective prevention and treatment. Appetite regulation is complex and influenced by genetic, social, and environmental factors, involving endocrine, gastrointestinal, and neural systems. Research is now yielding potentially effective treatment strategies, as highlighted in the findings presented at the Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Katie Duckett, Alice Williamson, John W. R. Kincaid, Kara Rainbow, Laura J. Corbin, Hilary C. Martin, Ruth Y. Eberhardt, Qin Qin Huang, Matthew E. Hurles, Wen He, Raja Brauner, Angela Delaney, Leo Dunkel, Romina P. Grinspon, Janet E. Hall, Joel N. Hirschhorn, Sasha R. Howard, Ana C. Latronico, Alexander A. L. Jorge, Ken McElreavey, Veronica Mericq, Paulina M. Merino, Mark R. Palmert, Lacey Plummer, Rodolfo A. Rey, Raissa C. Rezende, Stephanie B. Seminara, Kathryn Salnikov, Indraneel Banerjee, Brian Y. H. Lam, John R. B. Perry, Nicholas J. Timpson, Peter Clayton, Yee-Ming Chan, Ken K. Ong, Stephen O'Rahilly
Summary: Deleterious variants in MC3R are more frequently found in patients with constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) compared to normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH). However, these variants are not a common cause of CDGP.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Agatha C. van der Klaauw, Emily Horner, Pehuen Pereyra-Gerber, Utkarsh S. Agrawal, William Foster, Sarah Spencer, Bensi Vergese, Miriam Smith, Elana D. Henning, Isobel A. Ramsay, Jack M. Smith, Stephane J. Guillaume, Hayley M. Sharpe, Iain Hay, Sam Thompson, Silvia H. Innocentin, Lucy Booth, Chris Robertson, Colin McCowan, Steven Kerr, Thomas J. Mulroney, Martin P. O'Reilly, Thevinya P. Gurugama, Lihinya A. Gurugama, Maria Rust, Alex Ferreira, Soraya Ebrahimi, Lourdes Ceron-Gutierrez, Jacopo Scotucci, Barbara J. Kronsteiner, Susanna Dunachie, Paul J. Klenerman, Adrian A. Park, Francesco Rubino, Abigail Lamikanra, Hannah Stark, Nathalie Kingston, Lise Estcourt, Heli Harvala, David A. Roberts, Rainer J. Doffinger, Michelle Linterman, Nicholas Matheson, Aziz Sheikh, I. Sadaf Farooqi, James E. D. Thaventhiran
Summary: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection and mortality. COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective in individuals with obesity. A study in Scotland found that vaccinated individuals with severe obesity were more likely to experience hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Another study found that individuals with severe obesity had lower levels of neutralizing antibodies after vaccination compared to individuals with a normal BMI, and the decline in antibody levels was faster in people with severe obesity.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jan-Bernd Funcke, Barbara Moepps, Julian Roos, Julia von Schnurbein, Kenneth Verstraete, Elke Froehlich-Reiterer, Katja Kohlsdorf, Adriana Nunziata, Stephanie Brandt, Alexandra Tsirigotaki, Ann Dansercoer, Elisabeth Suppan, Basma Haris, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Savvas N. Savvides, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Khalid Hussain, Peter Gierschik, Pamela Fischer-Posovszky, Martin Wabitsch
Summary: This article describes two novel homozygous leptin variants that caused intense hyperphagia, severe obesity, and high leptin levels in two unrelated children. These variants bind to the leptin receptor but have marginal signaling. In the presence of nonvariant leptin, they act as competitive antagonists. High-dose recombinant leptin treatment was initiated and gradually reduced, resulting in near-normal weight for both patients. Antidrug antibodies developed in the patients, but did not appear to affect efficacy. No severe adverse events were observed.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fleur Talbot, Claire H. Feetham, Jacek Mokrosinski, Katherine Lawler, Julia M. Keogh, Elana Henning, Edson Mendes de Oliveira, Vikram Ayinampudi, Sadia Saeed, Amelie Bonnefond, Mohammed Arslan, Giles S. H. Yeo, Philippe Froguel, David A. Bechtold, Antony Adamson, Neil Humphreys, Ines Barroso, Simon M. Luckman, I. Sadaf Farooqi
Summary: Loss of function variants in the GPR10 gene are found in people with severe obesity, impairing ligand binding and G protein-dependent signaling. Transgenic mice with one of these variants gain excessive weight due to decreased energy expenditure. Targeting GPR10 may be a potential weight-loss therapy.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Francesco Rubino, Rachel L. Batterham, Marta Koch, Geltrude Mingrone, Carel W. le Roux, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, Edward W. Gregg, David E. Cummings
LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sadaf Farooqi
Summary: Genetic disruption of the hypothalamic leptin-melanocortin pathway causes severe obesity, while a lack of leptin leads to increased appetite. Studies on obesity and thinness provide insights into weight regulation mechanisms and molecular targets for weight loss therapy.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Isabella A. T. M. Ferreira, Colin Y. C. Lee, William S. Foster, Adam Abdullahi, Lisa M. Dratva, Zewen Kelvin Tuong, Benjamin J. Stewart, John R. Ferdinand, Stephane M. Guillaume, Martin O. P. Potts, Marianne Perera, Benjamin A. Krishna, Ana Penalver, Mia Cabantous, Steven A. Kemp, Lourdes Ceron-Gutierrez, Paul Lyons, Kenneth G. C. Smith, John Bradley, Dami A. Collier, Laura E. Mccoy, Agatha van der Klaauw, James E. D. Thaventhiran, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Sarah A. Teichmann, Paul A. Macary, Rainer Doffinger, Mark R. Wills, Michelle A. Linterman, Menna R. Clatworthy, Ravindra K. Gupta
Summary: Elderly individuals have suboptimal immune responses to primary vaccination against COVID-19, but there is no significant difference in neutralizing antibody levels between elderly and younger individuals after receiving a booster dose of mRNA vaccine. This study highlights the differential effects of adenoviral and mRNA vaccine formats on the memory B cell response.
Article
Cell Biology
Ruth Hanssen, Chiara Auwerx, Maarja Joeloo, Elana Henning, Julia Keogh, Rebecca Bounds, Miriam Smith, Helen V. Firth, Zoltan Kutalik, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Alexandre Reymond, Katherine Lawler, M. C. Sadler
Summary: People with 16p11.2 BP2-3 deletions have early and complex obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D), suggesting a potential benefit from therapies that enhance leptin and insulin signaling.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sadia Saeed, Roohia Khanam, Qasim M. Janjua, Jaida Manzoor, Lijiao Ning, Sharoon Hanook, Mickael Canouil, Muhammad Ali, Hina Ayesha, Waqas I. Khan, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Giles S. H. Yeo, Stephen O'Rahilly, Amelie Bonnefond, Taeed A. Butt, Muhammad Arslan, Philippe Froguel
Summary: This study investigated the impact of leptin or leptin receptor deficiency on morbidity, early mortality, and educational attainment in a large cohort of affected children. It found that these deficiencies had a severe impact on the affected individuals, with high mortality rates and life-threatening episodes of lung or gastrointestinal infections.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Lena R. Kaisinger, Katherine A. Kentistou, Stasa Stankovic, Eugene J. Gardner, Felix R. Day, Yajie Zhao, Alexander Morseburg, Christopher J. Carnie, Guido Zagnoli-Vieira, Fabio Puddu, Stephen P. Jackson, Stephen O'Rahilly, I. Sadaf Farooqi, Laura Dearden, Lucas C. Pantaleao, Susan E. Ozanne, Ken K. Ong, John R. B. Perry
Summary: Obesity has a significant heritable component, and recent studies have identified genes that have a large effect on adult BMI. By performing sex-stratified associations in the UK Biobank study, researchers discovered several genes that increase adult BMI in women (DIDO1, PTPRG, and SLC12A5) and in men (SLTM) with large effect sizes. Analyses also implicated rare variants in OBSCN and MADD for childhood adiposity. These findings suggest the involvement of neuron death, apoptosis, and DNA damage response mechanisms in obesity susceptibility across the life-course.
