Obesity and metabolic disorders are increasingly significant global public health issues. In a novel study, a team of dermatologists has evaluated the effect of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on appetite and weight regulation. They found that UV exposure raises norepinephrine levels, decreases leptin levels, and induces the browning of subcutaneous fat, thereby increasing energy expenditure. These results potentially pave the way for new approaches to prevent and treat obesity and metabolic disorders. Their findings appear in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic and St. Louis-based Mercy have formed a partnership in which the two organizations will de-identify patient data as they search for new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent disease. They'll do so through Mayo Clinic Platform Connect, a distributed data network that provides secure access to de-identified clinical data. Previously, Mercy and Mayo