One injection could keep osteoarthritis drugs working for weeks - Science Daily

Osteoarthritis, where the cartilage in a joint gradually erodes away and leads to the painful friction of bone-on-bone, is the leading cause of disability for older adults worldwide. Until now, it's also been considered a consequence of mechanical wear and tear. Researchers led by a team from Chonnam National University in South Korea have come up with an alternative hypothesis: What if high blood pressure (hypertension) could also be contributing to the breakdown of cartilage tissue? In a new study in Science, the researchers make the connection between the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP), which is more abundant in people with hypertension, and its receptor AVPR1A – essentially a lock on the surface of cells that enables AVP to trigger a chemical reaction. While AVPR1A is barely present in healthy cartilage, it begins to appear more as we get older or after an injury. That essentially primes the cartilage for AVP interactions, the researchers suggest, which then triggers chemical reactions that degrade the tissue.

An experimental injection that causes fat cells to destroy themselves has shown promising results in early human trials, significantly reducing dangerous fat hidden deep inside the abdomen. Researchers believe the treatment could eventually offer a new way to combat obesity and potentially help people maintain weight loss after stopping popular weight loss medications. The drug, known as CBL-514, was highlighted at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy. Research indicates that it can reduce both subcutaneous fat, which sits directly beneath the skin, and visceral fat, which surrounds internal organs.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researcher Isaiah Santistevan led the development of three-dimensional simulations exploring how a nuclear device could deflect or disrupt an asteroid threatening Earth. Credit: Blaise Douros/LLNL Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers are developing three-dimensional simulations to examine how a nuclear device could be used to deflect or potentially disrupt an asteroid threatening Earth.