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Jul 13, 2024 • 4 min read

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New Bone Strength Hormone:

Researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Davis have identified a hormone, called Maternal Brain Hormone (CCN3), that could enhance bone strength and aid in healing fractures. This discovery, detailed in a study published on July 10 in Nature, reveals that CCN3 increases bone density and strength in mice. The hormone addresses a long-standing mystery of how breastfeeding women maintain robust bone health despite calcium depletion for milk production.
The research highlights the hormone's potential beyond lactation. By increasing CCN3 levels in young and old mice, both male and female, researchers observed significant improvements in bone mass and strength. This includes doubling bone mass in female mice lacking estrogen. The hormone promotes bone growth by stimulating stem cells within bones to produce new bone cells, offering hope for treating osteoporosis and aiding bone recovery in various groups, including breast cancer survivors and older adults.
To test CCN3's healing capabilities, scientists developed a hydrogel patch that releases the hormone directly at fracture sites. This method successfully spurred new bone formation and improved healing in elderly mice. Future studies will explore CCN3's mechanisms and potential applications for various bone-related conditions. The discovery marks a significant advancement in bone health research, with promising implications for broader medical treatments.

Evolve Bank Cyberattack:

Evolve Bank & Trust, a major U.S. banking-as-a-service provider, recently revealed that a cyberattack compromised the personal data of millions of customers. In a filing with Maine’s attorney general, the bank confirmed that at least 7.6 million individuals were affected, including over 20,000 in Maine. The full scope of the breach is still being investigated.
The bank's statement indicated that attackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and contact information of personal banking customers, employees, and customers of its financial technology partners. Among these partners, Affirm and Mercury acknowledged potential compromises of their customers' data. Wise also confirmed that some of its customers' personal information might have been involved.
The breach, traced to a February ransomware attack by the Russia-linked LockBit gang, was identified by Evolve in May. The bank did not pay the ransom, leading to the publication of the stolen data on LockBit's dark web site. Evolve is continuing to investigate the incident and has communicated with affected customers about the steps being taken to address the breach.

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