Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2019

The causes of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are unclear; however, a general consensus exists that T1DM is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the selective destruction of insulin-secreting β-cells. Now, two imaging mass cytometry studies of human pancreatic tissue illuminate new biology in the pathogenesis of T1DM.

The quality of carbohydrate-rich foods rather than quantity has the strongest effect on major health outcomes. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of prospective studies report lower mortality and reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer in people who habitually consume diets rich in fibre and whole grain.

Jae-Wook Jeong and colleagues report that histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is downregulated in the endometrium of women with endometriosis. In addition, they show that the loss of HDAC3 is associated with aberrant hormonal signalling and increased fibrosis in the endometrium and impaired endometrial receptivity.

In this Review, the authors explore the role of gut microbial metabolites derived from carbohydrate fermentation and protein fermentation in body weight control, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In obesity management, the prevention of weight regain after weight loss is a major challenge. In this Review, the authors discuss mechanisms associated with adipose tissue that are connected to weight regain, including cellular stress, extracellular matrix remodelling and inflammation.

The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide in the past ~50 years, reaching pandemic levels. Remarkable regional differences exist in obesity prevalence and trends, which might help to identify societal causes of obesity and provide guidance for the most promising intervention strategies.

Overgrowth syndromes are a heterogeneous group of rare disorders characterized by generalized or segmental excessive growth. This Review discusses the clinical and molecular diagnosis, tumour risk and recommendations for tumour screening for the most prevalent generalized and segmental overgrowth syndromes.