Shanghai Medicilon Inc.

  Scientists report that fruit flies inhibited from producing the protein Sirt4 are short-lived, while flies modified to make extra Sirt4 are live longer. Flies lacking Sirt4 show increased sensitivity to starvation, decreased fertility and activity, and an inability to use energy stores in their bodies, add the researchers, who say their work suggests that increasing Sirt4 activity may be an important approach for treating age-related   metabolic decline and disorders , such as diabetes and obesity.          ❖      Medicilon’s Endocrine & Metabolic Disease Models Services In the field of metabolic diseases, we are proud of our portfolio of stable and effective animal models, especially those for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Though popular recently, they still lack effective drug treatment. Their study (“Sirt4 Is a Mitochondrial Regulator of Metabolism and Lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster”) is published in ...

  The results of studies by researchers at Florida State University College of Medicine suggest that nicotine exposure in men could lead to cognitive deficits in their children and grandchildren. The research found that adding nicotine to the drinking water of male mice led to epigenetic changes in sperm cell genes that might impact on key neurodevelopmental pathways. The immediate offspring of these nicotine-exposed male mice exhibited hyperactivity, attention deficit, and cognitive issues that are typical of those found in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder in humans. The grandchildren of the nicotine-exposed fathers also demonstrated learning deficits, suggesting that at least some of the detrimental nicotine-related effects can be passed down through generations. “Our data raise the possibility that some of the cognitive disabilities found in today’s generation of children and adults may be attributable to adverse environmental insults ...