Cancer cells are sneaky. They find ways to survive and grow, even when the body tries to stop them. Recent research shows that cancer cells steal fat from the blood. This fat helps them build strong walls and protects them from dying. Cancer cells use special sugar chains to grab fat molecules. These chains act like fishing lines, pulling in fat-packed molecules cal...
The human body is a complex machine, and scientists are always finding new ways it works. Recently, they discovered that fats, or lipids, can change how certain immune cells behave. These cells, called T cells, are like tiny soldiers in our body. They fight off infections and keep us healthy. But sometimes, they get tired and can't do their job well. This is called e...
Sitting for long periods in front of screens is a common habit in today's world. But did you know it could affect your heart health? This is something that has not been studied much. Researchers wanted to find out if screen time is linked to cholesterol levels and heart disease. They looked at different types of cholesterol. These include total cholester...
Oxidative stress is a common occurrence in both healthy and diseased cells. It leads to the formation of oxidized truncated phospholipids, which can mess up the cell membrane and potentially cause cell death. But how exactly do these oxidized lipids do this? And does the environment around the cell, like the pH level, play a role? To figure this out, scienti...
Kids need certain vitamins and minerals as part of their diet to grow up strong and healthy. When babies and young children do not get enough vitamin B12, a serious problem can come up. Those early signs of a vitamin B 12 shortfall include tremors, developmental delays and anemia. Some children may also experience skin discoloration. This condition can cause nervou...
Do you know that muscles can store fat? Inside muscle cells, there's intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and outside, it's called extramyocellular lipid (EMCL). Then, there's fat between muscles, known as intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT). Scientists think these fats play a role in energy production in our muscles. But does muscle oxidative capacity, which affects energy...
Paraoxonase-1, or PON1, is a key protein that plays a vital role in heart health. It’s often linked with HDL, the “good cholesterol, ” and is known for its abilities to fight off harmful substances and reduce inflammation. Low PON1 activity has been connected to heart diseases. Lysophospholipids, or LysoPLs, are critical for cell functions and immune responses. These...
Ever heard of α-synuclein (α-syn)? It's a protein that loves to gather synaptic vesicles (SVs) into neat little clusters. Researchers have discovered that a natural tweak called N-acetylation can supercharge α-syn's clumping abilities. This tiny change makes α-syn stickier, helping it latch onto LPC-loaded membranes and link up with other proteins more efficiently. B...
Did you know that blood fats might be linked to colon cancer? Scientists wanted to find out if there's a real connection. They used a method called Mendelian randomization to see if high blood lipids or certain cholesterol-lowering drugs could raise your risk of getting colon cancer. The results were interesting: they found that some blood fats might actually lower y...
Imagine tiny helpers in our bodies that decide how and when drugs should pass through barriers. Scientists recently found special lipids called bolalipids that can twist and turn, making certain barriers more stable or flexible. These lipids look like two natural phospholipids connected by a tiny bridge, making a unique shape called a bola. When they gather in water,...