Category: 8. Health

Two new studies by University of Utah researchers provide clues on how to unlock these hibernating abilities, opening the door to someday developing treatments that could reverse neurodegeneration and diabetes.

A gene cluster called the fat mass and obesity (FTO) locus plays an important role in hibernators’ abilities. Intriguingly, humans have these genes too.

“What’s striking about this region is that it is the strongest genetic risk factor for human obesity,” said University of Utah’s Professor Chris Gregg, senior author on both studies.

“But hibernators seem able to use genes in the FTO locus in new ways to their advantage.”

Professor Gregg and his colleagues identified hibernator-specific DNA regions that are near the FTO locus and that regulate the activity of neighboring genes, tuning them up or down.

They speculate that adjusting the activity of neighboring genes, including those in or near the FTO locus, allows hibernators to pack on the pounds before settling in for the winter, then slowly use their fat reserves for energy throughout hibernation.

Indeed, the hibernator-specific regulatory regions outside of the FTO locus seem crucial for tweaking metabolism.

When the researchers mutated those hibernator-specific regions in mice, they saw changes in the mice’s weight and metabolism.

Some mutations sped up or slowed down weight gain under specific dietary conditions; others affected the ability to recover body temperature after a hibernation-like state or tuned overall metabolic rate up or down.

Intriguingly, the hibernator-specific DNA regions the researchers identified weren’t genes themselves.

Instead, the regions were DNA sequences that contact nearby genes and turn their expression up or down, like an orchestra conductor fine-tuning the volume of many musicians.

“This means that mutating a single hibernator-specific region has wide-ranging effects extending far beyond the FTO locus,” said University of Utah’s Dr. Susan Steinwand, first author on the first study.

“When you knock out one of these elements — this one tiny, seemingly insignificant DNA region — the activity of hundreds of genes changes. It’s pretty amazing.”

Understanding hibernators’ metabolic flexibility could lead to better treatments for human metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes.

“If we could regulate our genes a bit more like hibernators, maybe we could overcome type 2 diabetes the same way that a hibernator returns from hibernation back to a normal metabolic state,” said University of Utah’s Dr. Elliott Ferris, first author on the second study.

Finding the genetic regions that may enable hibernation is a problem akin to excavating needles from a massive DNA haystack.

To narrow down the regions involved, the scientists used multiple independent whole-genome technologies to ask which regions might be relevant for hibernation.

Then, they started looking for overlap between the results from each technique.

First, they looked for sequences of DNA that most mammals share but that had recently changed in hibernators.

“If a region doesn’t change much from species to species for over 100 million years but then changes rapidly and dramatically in two hibernating mammals, then we think it points us to something that is important for hibernation, specifically,” Dr. Ferris said.

To understand the biological processes that underlie hibernation, the researchers tested for and identified genes that turn up or down during fasting in mice, which triggers metabolic changes similar to hibernation.

Next, they found the genes that act as central coordinators, or hubs, of these fasting-induced changes to gene activity.

Many of the DNA regions that had recently changed in hibernators also appeared to interact with these central coordinating hub genes.

Because of this, the authors expect that the evolution of hibernation requires specific changes to the controls of the hub genes.

These controls comprise a shortlist of DNA elements that are avenues for future investigation.

Most of the hibernator-associated changes in the genome appeared to break the function of specific pieces of DNA, rather than confer a new function.

This hints that hibernators may have lost constraints that would otherwise prevent extreme flexibility in the ability to control metabolism.

In other words, it’s possible that the human thermostat is locked to a narrow range of continuous energy consumption. For hibernators, that lock may be gone.

Hibernators can reverse neurodegeneration, avoid muscle atrophy, stay healthy despite massive weight fluctuations, and show improved aging and longevity.

The researchers think their findings show that humans may already have the needed genetic code to have similar hibernator-like superpowers — if we can bypass some of our metabolic switches.

“Humans already have the genetic framework,” Dr. Steinwand said.

“We just need to identify the control switches for these hibernator traits.”

“By learning how, researchers could help confer similar resilience to humans.”

“There’s potentially an opportunity — by understanding these hibernation-linked mechanisms in the genome — to find strategies to intervene and help with age-related diseases,” Professor Gregg said.

“If that’s hidden in the genome that we’ve already got, we could learn from hibernators to improve our own health.”

The results appear in two paper in the journal Science.

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Susan Steinwand et al. 2025. Conserved noncoding cis elements associated with hibernation modulate metabolic and behavioral adaptations in mice. Science 389 (6759): 501-507; doi: 10.1126/science.adp4701

Elliott Ferris et al. 2025. Genomic convergence in hibernating mammals elucidates the genetics of metabolic regulation in the hypothalamus. Science 389 (6759): 494-500; doi: 10.1126/science.adp4025

Comparative analysis of basic data between the HBC and control groups

The clinical characteristics of the patients are presented in Table 1. Comparisons were made between 33 patients in the control group and 46 patients with HBC. Compared with patients in the control group, patients in the HBC group presented significantly lower white blood cell counts; hemoglobin, platelet, and albumin levels; and cholinesterase and prothrombin times. Conversely, thrombin times; international normalized ratios; and glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, bile acid, and D-dimer levels were significantly elevated in the HBC group.

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota between the HBC and control groups

The total length of the sequences read by both forward and reverse double-end sequencing was 500 bp, after which 24 bp molecular markers were subtracted, for a total of 476 bp. Sequences with double-end reads that were correctly spliced and between 382 bp and 442 bp in length were determined to be valid sequences. The average fragment length of all the samples was 410.68 bp.

The species accumulation curves flattened or reached a plateau, suggesting the sequencing depth basically covered all the species in the sample, and no additional OTUs could be identified by increasing the sequencing data (Fig. 1A). The Shannon‒Wiener curves appeared to plateau, suggesting that the amount of sequencing data was large enough to reflect information about the vast majority of the microbial species in the sample (Fig. 1B).

In total, 17 phyla, 24 classes, 46 orders, 85 families, and 315 genera were identified. The entire sample contained 2,842 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 1,892 were shared between the two groups. A total of 609 and 341 unique OTUs were identified in the control and HBC groups, respectively (Fig. 2A). The α diversity indices included the Ace, Chao1, Shannon and Simpson indices. The ACE and Chao1 indices are commonly used to assess species richness, and the Shannon and Simpson indices are used to measure species diversity. Analysis of α diversity revealed significantly reduced species richness in the experimental group, evidenced by decreased ACE (p < 0.05), and Chao1 (p < 0.05), indices compared with those in the control group. In contrast, the Simpson and Shannon diversity indices showed no statistically significant intergroup differences (p > 0.05) (Fig. 2B). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the β diversity (Fig. 2C) revealed differences in the composition of the gut microbiota between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Compared with the HBC group, the HBC group presented significantly more Bacilli Lactobacillus, Prevotellaceae and Streptococcus and fewer Verrucomicrobiales, Bacteroides and Akkermansia (Table 2).

We used the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) model to identify microbiota with differential abundances between the groups (Fig. 3). In the control group, Eggerthellaceae, Aeromonadaceae, Bacillaceae, Acidaminococcaceae and Bacteroidaceae were more abundant. Conversely, in the HBC group, Bacilli, Lactobacillales, Streptococcaceae, Veillonellaceae, Micrococcales, Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Micrococcaceae, Gammaproteobacteria and Aeromonadales presented relatively high relative abundances.

Comparative analysis of basic data between the BA-N and BA-H groups

Bile acid (BA) metabolism is also a key mediator of the liver‒gut axis [6]. We further divided the HBC group into two subgroups on the basis of BA: the BA-N group (n = 24) and the BA-H group (n = 22). The results revealed that as BA levels increased, the Child‒Pugh scores of patients also increased. The duration of antiviral therapy and viral load status were not significantly different between the two groups. Comparative analysis revealed that elevated BA levels were correlated with increased Child‒Pugh scores. Furthermore, progressive BA elevation was associated with increasing levels of WBC, RBC, CHE, ALB and PT%, alongside decreasing levels of ALP, DBIL, BA, PT, APTT, D-DI and INR, indicating progressive disease severity in HBC with BA elevation (Table 3).

Comparative analysis of the gut microbiota between the BA-N and BA-H groups

In the HBC group, 2,233 OTUs were identified, of which 1,805 were shared between the two groups. A total of 260 and 168 unique OTUs were identified in the BA-N and BA-H groups, respectively (Fig. 4A). The α diversity indices ACE (p > 0.05), Chao1 (p > 0.05), Shannon (p < 0.05) and Simpson (p < 0.05) suggested significant differences in the microbial species diversity of the α diversity between the two groups (Fig. 4B). PCA-based β diversity analysis (p < 0.05) revealed significant differences in the microbial community composition (Fig. 4C).

Compared with the BA-N group, the BA-H group presented increased Bacilli, Lactobacillales, Streptococcus, Veillonella and Enterobacteriaceae and decreased Clostridiales. Akkermansiaceae had a decrease in mean relative abundance, although this reduction did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05) (Table 4).

Using the LEfSe model, we identified microbiota with differential abundances between the BA-N and BA-H groups (Fig. 5). Clostridia and Clostridiales were more abundant in the BA-N group, whereas Aeromonadaceae, Enterobacteriales, Streptococcaceae, Bacilli and Lactobacillales were more abundant in the BA-H group.

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are present in adults with other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but the overall prevalence varies depending on the specific NCD studied, according to a study published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine.¹

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and occupational lung diseases are among some of the most common CRDs.² Around 2 billion people are exposed to toxic biomass fuels, while another 1 billion are impacted by outdoor air pollution. An additional 1 billion smokers expose a similar number of people to harmful secondhand smoke, contributing to the roughly 4 million premature deaths from CRDs each year.

Oftentimes, CRDs occur in combination with other NCDs because of shared factors like socioeconomic disadvantage, noxious respiratory exposures, and aging.¹ It is predicted that the most prevalent NCD will lead to global economic losses totaling $47 trillion by 2030.

“This review aims to identify the prevalence of CRD and/or abnormal spirometry results identified through case-finding tools in adults with NCD living in LMIC,” study authors stated.

After an initial screening of 8939 studies, researchers narrowed their focus to 13 for a more detailed review. Of those, 9 were ultimately excluded for various reasons, including 5 that lacked sufficient data, 2 that had inadequate outcome measurements, 2 that were conducted in developing countries, and 1 that included patients who had already been diagnosed with COPD.

Only 3 studies met the inclusion criteria, with 1 from India and 2 from Brazil. There were 2 of these studies that used convenience sampling, including 255 people, while the third recruited 1162 participants from the general population at Basic Health Units. Spirometry was the primary diagnostic tool in 2 studies, while the third used a combination of case-finding tools.

Researchers in the review analyzed a study of 1162 adults with hypertension in Brazil and found that 12 also had undiagnosed asthma (95% CI, 0.59-1.9), 19 had asthma-COPD overlap (95% CI, 1.0-2.5), and 60 had undiagnosed COPD (95% CI, 4.0-6.6). The average age of the participants was 62.3 years, and about a third were men (32.5%).

In a study from the review, researchers performed spirometry on 50 patients with end-stage kidney disease at a tertiary hospital. The average age of the participants was 45.8 years, and 64% were men. The results showed that 41 people had restrictive spirometry (95% CI, 69.2-90.2), and 3 had obstructive or mixed spirometry (95% CI, 2.0-16.2).

In a separate study of 205 patients being evaluated for coronary artery disease, 23 met the criteria for COPD (95% CI, 7.5-16.2), and 35 showed impaired spirometry (95% CI, 12.5-22.8) with a preserved ratio. The majority of participants were men (55%), but the average age was not reported.

The high prevalence of NCDs in LMICs places a heavy burden on already struggling economies, often pushing families and communities into poverty.³ Preventing these diseases requires a comprehensive approach, including policies that acknowledge their devastating societal effects. Public health experts must build alliances with diverse sectors and work with policymakers to ensure these policies are implemented. Still, proposing large-scale policy changes remains difficult without carefully considering their potential impact on affected populations and the specific policy environment.

The review has several limitations, starting with its small sample size.¹ The researchers were only able to include 3 studies, all from a limited geographical area, which restricts the findings from being generalized to other LMICs. Additionally, the original articles did not include 95% confidence intervals for prevalence estimates, so these had to be calculated from the provided data. The review also excluded unpublished “grey literature” and studies that were not available in full text. Finally, the use of artificial intelligence models was an unexpected part of the study’s process and was not included in the initial registration.

“Future research should aim to expand geographical coverage and methodological quality, while further exploring the interplay between NCDs and CRDs to inform targeted screening and early intervention strategies in LMIC,” study authors concluded.

References

1. Petrolini-Mateus A, Araujo GHG, Schafauser-Segundo NS, et al. Prevalence of chronic respiratory disease using case-finding tools in adults living with noncommunicable disease in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMC Pulm Med. 2025;25(1). doi:10.1186/s12890-025-03697-8
2. Soriano JB, Kendrick PJ, Paulson KR, et al. Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8(6):585-596. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30105-3
3. Ndubuisi NE. Noncommunicable diseases prevention in low- and middle-income countries: an overview of health in all policies (HiAP). Inquiry. 2021;58:46958020927885. doi:10.1177/0046958020927885

Most UTIs, or urinary tract infections, are anything but subtle. When you’ve got one, you constantly feel like you need to pee even if you just went, it burns when you go and your urine looks suspiciously cloudy. UTIs are also quite common: More than 50% of women will deal with at least one in their lifetime, and what’s worse is that these infections can come back in a matter of months. Treating them has also become trickier. That’s because there’s a growing number of antibiotic-resistant UTIs, meaning the drugs commonly used to kill the bacteria behind the infection no longer work as well.

“Not only are these infections painful and unpleasant, they are becoming more difficult to treat,” says Dr. Cynthia DeTata, an ob-gyn at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and a clinical assistant professor in maternal-fetal medicine at Stanford Medicine, tells Yahoo. She explains that the most common cause of antibiotic resistance is taking the medications improperly, such as not finishing the entire course of pills as prescribed. “Partially treating an infection allows rebound growth of bacteria that are now resistant to that antibiotic,” she explains.

Experts say there’s an increasing need for new treatments to get UTIs back under control. The challenge? “The last time a new antibiotic was approved for an uncomplicated UTI was 30 years ago. Our treatments have remained unchanged, while bacteria have continued to evolve,” Dr. Gil Weiss, an ob-gyn at the Association for Women’s Health Care and assistant professor of clinical medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, tells Yahoo.

Now for some good news: There’s a new antibiotic on the market called gepotidacin (sold under the brand name Blujepa) that gives doctors a new way to fight pesky UTIs. It’s the first new class of antibiotics since the 1990s, and experts say it can help treat UTIs with a lower risk of resistance.

The problem: While there are effective drugs for UTIs, antibiotic-resistant infections are making them harder to treat.

By the numbers: UTIs affect up to 16 million women in the U.S. annually, and for 30 to 44% of them, the infection will come back in a matter of months. Studies suggest that 92% of bacteria behind UTIs are resistant to at least one antibiotic, and nearly 80% don’t respond to at least two antibiotics.

The solution: In March 2025, the Food and Drug Administration approved gepotidacin to treat uncomplicated UTIs. (Drugs Pivya and Orlynvah were approved in 2024 to treat UTIs, but they fall into existing antibiotic classes.) “Gepotidacin is part of a new class of antibiotics called triazaacenaphthylenes,” DeTata says. “This class is so new that currently, gepotidacin is the only one in it.”

Antibiotics fight bacteria in two main ways: They can kill bacteria (bactericidal) or they can prevent them from multiplying (bacteriostatic), says DeTata. For example, some antibiotics interfere with the formation of bacteria cell walls, causing the wall to burst and killing the bacteria, while others disrupt the synthesis of proteins, which bacteria need to survive. “Gepotidacin works in an entirely new way by acting on enzymes called topoisomerases, leading to breaks in the DNA strands of bacteria,” DeTata says. “So gepotidacin is bactericidal, as these breaks in the DNA strands kill the bacteria.”

The drug’s main side effects in clinical trials were diarrhea (16% of participants) and nausea (9%), both which are common side effects for antibiotics in general. The research also found that gepotidacin performs just as well as (if not better than) nitrofurantoin, which is a frontline treatment for UTIs.

Added bonus: Gepotidacin “has the potential to be used for the treatment of gonorrhea, which has also been difficult to treat due to multi-antibiotic resistance,” says DeTata.

For Weiss and many other doctors, having a new treatment option for UTIs is something to celebrate. “I’m very excited that a new medication has come to market,” he says. “Any new medication for something so common is a win-win situation.”

Imagine spending years with painful cramps, heavy bleeding, fatigue and fertility struggles, all while bouncing from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what’s causing them. That’s the stark reality for the more than 6 million women in the U.S. living with endometriosis.

There’s a reason it often goes underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed for so long: There’s no simple test for it and symptoms can manifest differently for different women or overlap with other health problems. The only way to know for sure that you have it is to go through laparoscopic surgery, which allows doctors to see if there’s endometrial tissue growing where it shouldn’t be. “The gold standard in diagnosis is surgical pathology,” Dr. Christine Greves, an ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Fla., tells Yahoo. But surgery is invasive and time-consuming, and for many women, it isn’t an option they can afford.

But what if there was an easier, less invasive way? Thanks to advancements in technology, that’s becoming an option. Innovative diagnostic tests — some newly developed, others currently in the works — are using menstrual blood to look for biomarkers of endometriosis, as well as other reproductive conditions like uterine fibroids. These tests are as simple as inserting a tampon or putting a smart pad in underwear, allowing women to get answers quickly and painlessly.

While these tests aren’t mainstream just yet, doctors say they hold a lot of promise for the future.

The problem: Women with endometriosis and other reproductive health conditions can spend years in pain and discomfort before finding out what the problem is. Even once these conditions are suspected, surgery may be needed to get a definitive diagnosis.

By the numbers: It can take four to 11 years to get an endometriosis diagnosis. Many see four or five doctors (or more) before their pain is taken seriously, according to Yale Medicine.

The solution: Two newer, cutting-edge products are aiming to take the guesswork and long waits out of diagnosing endometriosis and similar reproductive health conditions.

Qvin’s Q-Pad, which is FDA-cleared and has been dubbed “a pad with a purpose,” features an embedded and removable strip to collect and analyze period blood. Once a sample has been collected, the strip is removed and sent to a lab for testing. The process of using Q-Pad is easy: A doctor orders the test, the patient uses it at home and results are delivered through the Qvin app.

“The Q-Pad is a non-invasive way to get access to endometrial tissue, which comes naturally and regularly,” Dr. Sara Naseri, chief executive officer and cofounder of Qvin, tells Yahoo. “This will enable women to get diagnosed faster and non-invasively. Because the Q-Pad is a modified menstrual pad, women can self-collect in the comfort of their own homes, which also means more women can get access to early diagnosis.”

In a similar vein, the NextGen Jane Smart Tampon, which is not yet cleared by the FDA, is a diagnostic tampon that collects menstrual blood to look for biomarkers of reproductive health conditions. “Our tampon-based system looks at molecular signals in tissue you naturally shed during your period and evaluates whether you might have endometriosis,” Ridhi Tariyal, chief executive officer of NextGen Jane, tells Yahoo. “We are trying to make diagnosis as simple as mailing in your tampon.”

NextGen Jane is still in development and currently has several clinical trials that are open for enrollment. “This product could change how people interact with their health,” Tariyal says. “It is hard to chase down symptoms you are having when you and your doctor are underpowered — meaning we collectively don’t have the tools to answer questions easily.” Tariyal says that women “intuitively know” when their monthly cycles may be a sign that something is off. “We are amplifying that intuition by going deeper and looking for actual molecular signals in a tampon,” she says.

Ob-gyns applaud the tests. “I love that people are thinking of ways to diagnose endometriosis and other conditions that don’t require surgery,” Greves says. Women’s health expert Dr. Jennifer Wider, cohost of the Open Wider podcast, tells Yahoo that the tests are a “pretty smart idea.”

“The shedding of the uterine lining provides the chance for people to collect on their own and send it to a lab,” Wider says. “The scientists can then look at cell markers and molecular signals and potentially speed a diagnosis of endometriosis and other diseases.”

There’s no getting around the fact that surgery is invasive, but Greves says the procedure can allow doctors to remove endometrial adhesions that form with endometriosis and ultimately help to reduce pain. “Finding out by tampon or pad will let someone know if they have a condition, but it won’t help with the pain,” she says.

Wider encourages checking in with your health care provider if you’re dealing with pain or other symptoms of endometriosis. They can give you a proper evaluation, as well as next steps to help you get relief.

Naseri urges women to think of their menstrual blood as an important tool. “Women should know that their period isn’t a waste product, but in fact a unique opportunity to get insights about their own health non-invasively and regularly,” she says. “These insights allow women to stay on top of what is going on in their bodies, which will ultimately prevent late-stage disease.”

In recent years, growing awareness around type 2 diabetes has led to new conversations about its management—and in some cases, even reversal. Celebrity nutritionist Ryan Fernando is among the health professionals challenging the belief that diabetes is always a lifelong condition. On Dr. Pal’s podcast, Fernando emphasized that with the right combination of diet, exercise, and consistent routines, reversing type 2 diabetes is possible for many individuals, particularly in its early stages.

Scientific Approach to Blood Sugar Control

Fernando advocates a “carbohydrate flatline” approach, focusing on stabilizing carbohydrate intake across meals. According to him, irregular eating patterns—like switching from traditional Indian breakfasts one day to high-carb meals the next—can lead to insulin overload and poor blood sugar control. He recommends maintaining a consistent carb intake, particularly at breakfast, ideally around 60 grams. This steady approach, he says, helps prevent insulin spikes and supports better long-term glucose regulation.

In his experience, patients who follow this structured meal plan often see significant improvements. His own father, previously dependent on insulin, managed to bring his blood sugar under control and reduce his medication by following a disciplined food routine and exercise regimen.

Resistance Training: More Than Just Fitness

Exercise plays a crucial role in Fernando’s strategy. But instead of only focusing on cardio, he recommends resistance training as a key to improving insulin sensitivity. Increased muscle mass allows the body to use glucose more efficiently. He encourages incorporating strength-based workouts, such as bodyweight exercises or weightlifting, several times a week.

This focus on building lean muscle can help the body absorb more glucose, making it a critical component of diabetes reversal strategies.

While Fernando and others promote lifestyle changes as a powerful tool, many medical professionals stress that not all diabetes cases can be reversed. Experts caution that the term “reversal” might not be accurate in every situation, especially for individuals who have had diabetes for a long time or rely heavily on insulin. Instead, doctors prefer the term “remission” for early-stage patients who can maintain normal blood sugar levels without medication for an extended period.

Spotting the Early Signs

Understanding early symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and management. According to WebMD, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes share common early warning signs. These include:

• Increased thirst and frequent urination
• Fatigue and persistent tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Increased hunger
• Dry mouth and itchy skin
• Unintentional weight loss
• Headaches caused by low blood sugar

In type 1 diabetes, symptoms appear quickly and are often more severe, while type 2 diabetes may develop slowly over time, making it harder to detect in the early stages.

For children, especially those with type 1 diabetes, warning signs might include crankiness, bedwetting, or diaper rash in infants. In children developing type 2 diabetes, symptoms such as skin darkening around the neck and repeated infections are common. Women may also experience more frequent urinary tract or yeast infections.