RxPG News : Endocrinology

Suspected cause of type 1 diabetes caught 'red-handed' for the first time

Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 PST

May 8, 2008 -- Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis working with diabetic mice have examined in unprecedented detail the immune cells long thought to be responsible for type 1 diabetes.

Harmful blood glucose levels linked to defective gene

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:00:00 PST

A genetic mutation that can raise the amount of glucose in a person's blood to harmful levels is identified today in a study in the journal Science.

Researchers uncover new genetic links to psoriasis

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

In the first comprehensive study of the genetic basis of psoriasis, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered seven new sites of common DNA variation that increase the risk of the troublesome skin condition. They also found that variations in one genetic region link psoriasis and a related joint disorder, psoriatic arthritis, to four autoimmune diseases: type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

How diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:12:00 PST

Researchers have discovered how diabetes, by driving inflammation and slowing blood flow, dramatically accelerates atherosclerosis, according to research to be published in the March 14 edition of the journal Circulation Research.

CRTC2 inhibitors may be needed for maintaining sugar levels

Sun, 09 Mar 2008 06:57:23 PST

Continually revved up insulin production, the kind that results from overeating and obesity, slowly dulls the body’s response to insulin. As a result, blood sugar levels start to creep up, setting the stage for diabetes-associated complications such as blindness, stroke and renal failure. To make matters even worse, chronically elevated blood sugar concentrations exacerbate insulin resistance.

A focus on the ADVANCE and RISC studies in the Diabetes UK conference March 2008

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 07:22:07 PST

In the recent Annual Professional Conference held in Glasgow(March 5-7, 2008) an interesting talk was on the late breaking trials. There was a focus on the ADVANCE trial (presented by Dr Neil Poulter, London) and the RISC trial (presented by Dr Mark Walker, Newcastle). Here is a brief overview of the studies and the thoughts of the speakers and audience.

Type 2 diabetes may be caused by intestinal dysfunction

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (March 5, 2008) -- Growing evidence shows that surgery may effectively cure Type 2 diabetes -- an approach that not only may change the way the disease is treated, but that introduces a new way of thinking about diabetes.

Protein target for diabetes drug regulates blood pressure

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

University of Iowa researchers have identified a molecular pathway in blood vessels that controls blood pressure and vascular function and may help explain why certain drugs for type II diabetes also appear to lower patients' blood pressure. The study is published in the March 5 issue of Cell Metabolism.

Rare syndrome provides clues on obesity, blood pressure

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

University of Iowa researchers have found a clue about how resistance to the hormone leptin might disrupt the brain signals that tell the body when to stop eating. The research, which focused on the rare genetic disorder Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), also found an association between leptin resistance and high blood pressure.

Study: highly involved patients don't always see better health outcomes

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Patients who prefer to be highly involved in their treatment don't necessarily have better luck managing chronic health conditions, a new study suggests.

Intensive blood sugar treatment in trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease changed

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:40:00 PST

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped one treatment within a large, ongoing North American clinical trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 18 months early due to safety concerns after review of available data, although the study will continue.

Insulin inhibits resistin expression and secretion

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:07:29 PST

Does resistin play a role in insulin resistance? Is insulin the major regulator of resistin? A research article to be published on January 7, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology (volume 14, issue 1) addresses these questions.

Overweight people may not know when they've had enough

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have found new clues to why some people overeat and gain weight while others don't. Examining how the human brain responds to satiety messages delivered when the stomach is in various stages of fullness, the scientists have identified brain circuits that motivate the desire to overeat. Treatments that target these circuits may prove useful in controlling chronic overeating, according to the authors. The study is published online and will appear in the February 15, 2008 issue of NeuroImage.

Oral anti diabetic substance discovered

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

Research in the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science and Science Education of the University of Haifa has discovered a substance that may become an oral treatment for diabetes and its complications. The substance, which is derived from yeast, is called Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). The research is now at the stage where the substance has been successfully tested on diabetic rats and was found to reduce sugar and lipids in the blood of the treated animals. The next stage of the research is to evaluate GTF efficacy in humans, said Dr. Nitsa Mirsky, who is conducting the research.

Melatonin could hurt memory formation at night

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:51:41 PST

In a study with zebrafish (Danio rerio), Gregg W. Roman, assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston, has found that melatonin directly inhibits memory formation at night.

Stanford researchers shed light on black box of gestational diabetes

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - A protein in the pancreas is giving researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine their first chance at cracking the code that determines how diabetes develops during pregnancy, a finding that could lead to new treatments for all forms of diabetes.

'Knocking out' cell receptor may help block fat deposits in tissues, prevent weight gain

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

CINCINNATI�University of Cincinnati (UC) pathologists have identified a new molecular target that one day may help scientists develop drugs to reduce fat transport to adipocytes (fat cells) in the body and prevent obesity and related disorders, like diabetes.

'Twinkle after effect' can help retinal patients detect vision loss quickly and cheaply

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MA�Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have discovered a simple and inexpensive way for patients with retinal and other eye disease to keep track of changes in their vision loss. In a study published in this week�s PLoS One (October 24, 2007) they demonstrate that a compelling visual illusion known as the induced twinkle after-effect (TAE) can accurately identify the location and breadth of actual blind spots in people with retinal disease. The twinkle after-effect is a �twinkling� that people can see in a blind spot when they stare at a blank screen after staring at a noisy visual target such as a detuned television screen.

Exercise improves thinking, reduces diabetes risk in overweight children

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Just three months of daily, vigorous physical activity in overweight children improves their thinking and reduces their diabetes risk, researchers say.

Cross-species transplant in rhesus macaques is step toward diabetes cure for humans

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Oct. 18, 2007 � With an eye on curing diabetes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have successfully transplanted embryonic pig pancreatic cells destined to produce insulin into diabetic macaque monkeys � all without the need for risky immune suppression drugs that prevent rejection.

Sex hormone signature indicates gender rather than just chromosomes

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Help with assigning gender could one day be at hand for intersex individuals whose genital phenotypes and sex chromosomes don't match, thanks to the discovery of a stable sex hormone signature in our cells.

Insulin's brain impact links drugs and diabetes

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Insulin, long known as an important regulator of blood glucose levels, now has a newly appreciated role in the brain.

Low doses of a red wine ingredient fight diabetes in mice

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Even relatively low doses of resveratrol�a chemical found in the skins of red grapes and in red wine�can improve the sensitivity of mice to the hormone insulin, according to a report in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. As insulin resistance is often characterized as the most critical factor contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes, the findings �provide a potential new therapeutic approach for preventing or treating� both conditions, the researchers said.

Genetic 'roadblock' hoped to inspire future type 2 diabetes research

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Toronto, ON (October 2, 2007) � A team of Mount Sinai Hospital researchers has found that a �genetic roadblock� identified in a recent study could pave the way toward novel treatments for type 2 diabetes.

Botched production of insulin molecule may lead to diabetes

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich. � Picture a pretzel factory production line, with conveyer belts carrying the dough, formed into unbaked pretzels, down to the oven to be cooked.

Depression, aging, and proteins made by a virus may all play role in heart disease

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio � Researchers here have linked an increase in two immune system proteins essential for inflammation to a latent viral infection and proposed a chain of events that might accelerate cardiovascular disease.

Joslin researchers uncover potential role of leptin in diabetes

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON�October 1, 2007�A new Joslin-led study has shown that leptin, a hormone known mainly for regulating appetite control and energy metabolism, plays a major role in islet cell growth and insulin secretion. This finding opens up new avenues for studying leptin and its role in islet cell biology, which may lead to new treatments for diabetes. This study appears in the October 2007 issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

'Bad carbs' not the enemy, University of Virginia professor finds

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The latest common wisdom on carbohydrates claims that eating so-called �bad� carbohydrates will make you fat, but University of Virginia professor Glenn Gaesser says, �that�s just nonsense.� Eating sandwiches with white bread, or an occasional doughnut, isn't going to kill you, or necessarily even lead to obesity, he said.

Discovery supports theory of Alzheimer's disease as form of diabetes

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Insulin, it turns out, may be as important for the mind as it is for the body. Research in the last few years has raised the possibility that Alzheimer�s memory loss could be due to a novel third form of diabetes.

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids associated with decreased risk of type 1 diabetes

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Preliminary research suggests that in children at increased risk for type 1 diabetes, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic islet autoimmunity, which is linked to the development of diabetes, according to an article in the Sept. 26 issue of JAMA.

Breath analysis offers potential for noninvasive blood sugar monitoring in diabetes

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Irvine, Calif. � Breath-analysis testing may prove to be an effective, non-invasive method for monitoring blood sugar levels in diabetes, according to a University of California, Irvine study.

Brain system serves as 'remote control' for fat metabolism

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CINCINNATI�A system in the brain already known to regulate food intake also serves as a direct �remote control� for the way fat is stored and metabolized in the body, say University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers.

Cedars-Sinai hormone expert outlines causes and treatments for breast growth in men in NEJM

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

LOS ANGELES (September 14, 2007) Gynecomastia, the benign enlargement of male breast tissue, is a common occurrence in adolescents as well as in middle-aged and older men. While there are several reasons why men develop breast tissue, it is usually not a health concern, often resolves on its own, and is generally treatable, according to a clinical practice article appearing in the September 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Both aerobic and resistance exercise improved blood sugar control in people with diabetes

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

In a new randomized controlled trial, both aerobic and resistance exercise improved glycemic/blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. The greatest improvements came from combined aerobic and resistance training.

Immune police recognize good and bad guys in the body

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Immune system police are as good at recognizing bad guys, such as bacteria and viruses, as they are our own tissue, researchers say.

Long-term use of diabetes drug increases heart attack risk by more than 40 percent

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. � An analysis of four studies involving more than 14,000 patients found that long-term use of the diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia�) increased the risk of heart attack by 42 percent and doubled the risk of heart failure, according to a new report from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. There was no effect on death from cardiovascular causes.

Children who learn heart healthy eating habits lower heart disease risk

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study in a mid-August edition of Circulation: Journal of the America Heart Association confirms that when young children learn about heart healthy eating habits, it can strongly influence their heart disease risk later in life.

Scientists learn role of oxidative stress in estrogen-related bone loss

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have discovered new information about an immune pathway in mice that explains how oxidative stress that results from acute estrogen deficiency leads to the loss of bone. The finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help in identifying a new drug target for preventing postmenopausal bone loss.

Mutations in the insulin gene can cause neonatal diabetes

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Mutations in the insulin gene can cause permanent neonatal diabetes, an unusual form of diabetes that affects very young children and results in lifelong dependence on insulin injections, report researchers from the University of Chicago and Peninsula University (Exeter, UK) in Sept. 18, 2007, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, published early online.

Low vitamin D during pregnancy linked to pre-eclampsia

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 � Vitamin D deficiency early in pregnancy is associated with a five-fold increased risk of preeclampsia, according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences reported this week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Drug could improve pregnancy outcomes in wider range of women with insulin resistance

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Sept. 6, 2007 � Women who are obese, have type 2 diabetes or a family history of type 2 diabetes could one day have more successful pregnancies because of a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Sugary drinks, not fruit juice, may be linked to insulin

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON (Sept. 5, 2007) � Steady increases in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages over the last several decades, as well as rates of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, led nutritional epidemiologists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University and colleagues to explore the relationship between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes. Their findings suggest that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks, but not 100 percent fruit juice, may be associated with insulin resistance, even in otherwise healthy adults.

Environmental stress probed in cardiovascular disease, diabetes

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

How environmental stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.

How insulin TORC2 blood sugar levels: glowing mice light the way

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

La Jolla, CA � With the help of genetically engineered mice whose livers turned into glowing light bulbs, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have illuminated the underpinnings of an insidious and growing health concern� type II diabetes.

Mice stressed in simulated weightlessness show organ atrophy

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

New Brunswick, N.J. � A ground-based, experimental model used to simulate astronaut weightlessness in space has provided Rutgers scientists an opportunity to study the effects of stress on immune organs.

Combination drug therapy for blood pressure may reduce cardiovascular outcomes for diabetes patients

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

By 2030, an estimated 350 million people will be living with diabetes worldwide. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes including heart attack, stroke, and microvascular outcomes such as degenerative eye disease. Current guidelines recommend the lowering of blood pressure for people with type 2 diabetes to reduce the risk of such events, though a strategy to reduce blood pressure regardless of baseline blood pressure (ie, including people with diabetes who do not have raised blood pressure) has not been proven in randomised trials to date.

Treating diabetes during pregnancy can break link to childhood obesity

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

August 28, 2007 (Oakland, Calif) -- Treating diabetes during pregnancy can break the link between gestational diabetes and childhood obesity, according to a Kaiser Permanente study featured in the September issue of Diabetes Care.

Novel method enables genomic screening of blood vessels from patient tissue

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio � Scientists have developed a new method of capturing a complete genome-wide screening of blood vessel cells in their actual disease state, advancing the potential for genetic research on the tissue responsible for delivering nourishment that can accelerate the growth of both a cancer tumor or wound healing.

Focus on families aims to curb diabetes spread

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Family lifestyles and their impact on the health of individual family members will be the focus of a new approach to preventing diabetes.

New Joslin research identifies sirtuin protein instrumental in fat production and metabolism

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON--August 15, 2007--A new Joslin Diabetes Center-led study has identified a protein found in fat cells that may play a major role in how fat is produced and stored, offering a new target for treatments to prevent obesity and reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. This latest research appears in the August 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism.

Diabetes appears to increase risk of death for patients with acute coronary syndromes

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Individuals with diabetes and acute coronary syndromes (ACS) such as a heart attack or unstable angina have an increased risk of death at 30 days and one year after ACS, compared with ACS patients without diabetes, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA.

UCLA researchers identify markers that may predict diabetes in still-healthy people

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

In the first large scale, multiethnic study of its kind, researchers at UCLA have confirmed the role played by three particular molecules known as cytokines as a cause of Type 2 diabetes, and further, have identified these molecules as early biological markers that may be used to more accurately predict future incidences of diabetes among apparently healthy individuals.

Penn researchers find diabetes drug kills some cancer cells

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that a commonly prescribed diabetes drug kills tumor cells that lack a key regulatory gene called p53. Results from current studies in mice may result in new therapies for a subset of human cancers that tend to be aggressive and resistant to existing treatments. Additionally, the findings open up a new avenue for targeting cancers whose hallmark is the absence of this regulatory gene.

Adverse housing conditions contribute to diabetes risk

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

INDIANAPOLIS Fair or poor housing conditions are associated with the risk of developing diabetes in urban, middle-aged African-Americans according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology by a team of investigators from Indiana University School of Medicine, the Regenstrief Institute, Washington University in St. Louis and other institutions.

RAND finds cases of undiagnosed diabetes drop sharply

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

The number of men in the United States with undiagnosed diabetes has declined sharply over the past 25 years, with Hispanics and African-Americans no longer more likely than whites to unknowingly have the disease, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Adverse housing conditions contribute to diabetes risk

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Studying people in their homes and neighborhoods, investigators have found that poor housing conditions contribute to the risk for diabetes in urban, middle-aged African-Americans.

Researchers find vitamin B1 deficiency key to vascular problems for diabetic patients

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, have discovered that deficiency of thiamine Vitamin B1 - may be key to a range of vascular problems for people with diabetes. They have also solved the mystery as to why thiamine deficiency in diabetes had remained hidden until now.

Green tea holds promise as new treatment for inflammatory skin diseases

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Green tea could hold promise as a new treatment for skin disorders such as psoriasis and dandruff, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.

Reducing inflammation plays key role in type 1 diabetes therapy

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON -- Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have found that a triple combination therapy consisting of both tolerance-inducing and anti-inflammatory properties is successful in abolishing adverse autoimmunity against insulin-producing cells in a mouse model of Type 1 diabetes.

New technique to 'see' and protect transplants successful in diabetic animal model

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found a way to overcome a major stumbling block to developing successful insulin-cell transplants for people with type I diabetes.

Genetic finding sheds light on diseases causing blood vessel breakdown

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Twenty-one years after they first described a fatal genetic disorder in Missouri and Arkansas families, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have linked the condition to mutations in a gene known as TREX1.

Some diabetes drugs may increase heart attack risk

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:21:23 PST

London, July 28 - Two drugs commonly prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes double the risk of heart failure, say scientists.

Accuracy of thyroid hormone testing improved with state-of-the-art test

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington, D.C. --Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have developed a fast and accurate way to measure a major hormone released by the thyroid gland--an advance they say may help in the treatment of many women who have overactive or underactive thyroid glands.

Breast cancer and hormone therapy -- A looking-glass mirror?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The medical community has been debating for many years whether, and to what extent, postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) use is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, says Professor Amos Pines, President of the International Menopause Society. Although it is agreed that long-term HT slightly increases that risk, the definition of long-term use is still unclear, particularly in view of data showing that it may vary significantly by type of HT (estrogen-alone vs. estrogenprogestin, brand of progestin, dosage). A new study from the Kaiser Permanente health plan[1] raises the question whether trends in breast cancer incidence and use of HT over the past 25 years may be directly linked.

Older is better -- Top-10 comparison of diabetes drugs give metformin top grade

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A type 2 diabetes drug taken orally and in widespread use for more than a decade has been found to have distinct advantages over nine other, mostly newer medications used to control the chronic disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins.

Reducing insulin signaling in the brain can prolong lifespan

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

One route to a long and healthy life may be establishing the right balance in insulin signaling between the brain and the rest of the body, according to new research from Childrens Hospital Boston. The study, published in the July 20 issue of Science, not only reinforces the value of exercising and eating in moderation, but also helps explain a paradox in longevity research.

Vitamin D deficiency: Common and problematic yet preventable

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MAIn a review article to appear in the July 19th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Michael Holick, an internationally recognized expert in vitamin D, provides an overview of his pioneering work that expounds on the important role vitamin D plays in a wide variety of chronic health conditions, as well as suggesting strategies for the prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.

New review adds more reasons to avoid diabetes drug Avandia

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Little evidence supports using rosiglitazone (Avandia) to improve the quality or length of life among adults with diabetes, according to a systematic review of data by German researchers.

Gene discovered for type 1 diabetes in children

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Pediatrics researchers at The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and McGill University in Montreal have identified a gene variant that raises a childs risk for type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes. As investigators continue to pinpoint genes contributing to diabetes, they have their eyes on providing a scientific basis for designing better treatments and preventive measures for the disease.

Selenium supplements may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Selenium, an antioxidant included in multivitamin tablets thought to have a possible protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes, may actually increase the risk of developing the disease, an analysis by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.

Bak protein sets stressed cells on suicide path, researchers show

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

When a cell is seriously stressed, say by a heart attack, stroke or cancer, a protein called Bak just may set it up for suicide, researchers have found.

Scleroderma outlook improves as survival increases

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Washington, D.C. -- Individuals with scleroderma are living significantly longer today, compared with 30 years ago, and the physicians who treat this rare disease of connective tissue hope the newer drugs now on the market may extend lives even further.

Link between carbohydrate quality and vision loss is strengthened by new data

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON -- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss may be connected to the quality of carbohydrates an individual consumes. In a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Allen Taylor, PhD, director of the Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University, and colleagues confirmed earlier findings linking dietary glycemic index with the risk of developing AMD.

New blood test might offer early warning of deep belly fat

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Measuring levels of a chemical found in blood offers the best indicator yet of the amount of fat surrounding abdominal organs, according to a new study of lean and obese individuals reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. The buildup of such visceral fat is of particular health concern as it has been linked to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease risk.

Anti-malarial drug may reduce risk of diabetes for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Preliminary research suggests that use of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine may help reduce the risk of the development of diabetes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study in the July 11 issue of JAMA.

Class of medications may offer alternative option for treating type 2 diabetes

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A review of previous studies indicates that use of a class of medications known as incretin-based therapy, which act via certain pathways that affect glucose metabolism may provide modest effectiveness and favorable weight change outcomes for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and may represent an alternative to other hypoglycemic therapies, according to an article in the July 11 issue of JAMA.

Common rheumatoid arthritis treatment shows potential for diabetes prevention

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, July 10 Far fewer rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) went on to develop diabetes compared to those who never took the drug, according to a 20-plus-year University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-led study reported today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In addition, those using HCQ who did develop diabetes were less likely to take medications to manage their disease after diagnosis.

Nearly 90 percent of babies receive recommended newborn screening tests

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., JULY 11, 2007 Nearly 90 percent of all babies born in the United States more than double the percentage in 2005 live in states that require screening for at least 21 life-threatening disorders, according to the latest March of Dimes Newborn Screening Report Card.

Research suggests fitness reduces inflammation

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Although a number of studies have suggested that regular exercise reduces inflammation a condition that is predictive of cardiovascular and other diseases, such as diabetes it is still not clear whether there is a definitive link. And if such a link exists, the nature of the relationship is by no means fully understood.

Protein's role in lipid absorption may be important to future weight-loss strategies

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

July 5, 2007 -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a protein absorbs lipids in the upper part of the intestine, and they believe its key role in this process may provide a novel approach for obesity treatment in the future.

Chemical in brain acts like a fuel gauge

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

The concept that a drop in blood sugar triggers a craving for food is best understood just before lunchtime.

New research holds promise for protecting cancer patients against infertility

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France: A promising new therapy for protecting the fertility of women with cancer and auto-immune diseases such as lupus was revealed at the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Tuesday 3 July 2007). Dr. Kate Stern, Research Director of the Royal Womens Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, told the conference that her pilot study had shown gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists were likely to be able to protect the ovary in women receiving potentially toxic doses of chemotherapy. We are now hoping to carry out a randomised controlled trial to assess the long term protective effect of this treatment, she said

Acrux announces positive clinical trial resultswith combination contraceptive sprays

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Acrux (ASX: ACR) -- The Australian drug delivery company, today announced positive results from its Phase 1 clinical studies using two unique contraceptive skin sprays, each containing a progestin and an estrogen.

Personalized approach to ovarian stimulation achieves high ART pregnancy rates

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Lyon, France -- An international group of fertility specialists has developed an easy-to use mathematical formula that allows a personalised approach to ovarian stimulation therapy for women seeking fertility treatment. Clinical tests demonstrated that when clinicians used the formula (or algorithm) to calculate the best starting dose for each patient, both the number of oocytes retrieved and pregnancy rates rose.

Early indicator of kidney disease may also predict risk of pre-diabetes

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A blood component called cystatin C, used to test for early-stage kidney impairment, also may be a very early marker for those at risk of developing a condition known as pre-diabetes, a study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown. Pre-diabetes is diagnosed when the amount of glucose in the bloodstream begins to rise and remain above normal, an indication that glucose is not being absorbed properly by cells.

It's not too late to change -- lowering cardiac risk later in life

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Can adopting a healthier lifestyle later in life help -- or is it too late? In a study published in the July 2007 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston found that people 45 to 64 years of age who added healthy lifestyle behaviors could substantially reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reduce their death rate. Once these people achieved 4 healthy behaviors, eating at least 5 fruits and vegetables daily, exercising at least 2.5 hours per week, maintaining their Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 30 kg/m, and not smoking, investigators saw a 35% reduction in CVD incidence and a 40% reduction in mortality compared to people with less healthy lifestyles.

Research says sugar coated proteins seal in a memory of diabetes

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Warwicks Warwick Medical School have uncovered a process that locks the bodys metabolism in a diabetic state after only relatively limited exposure to high glucose levels.

Researchers find gene that spurs development of the epididymis

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Human sperm cells travel up to 6 meters in their transit from testes to penis, and most of that journey occurs in the epididymis, a tightly coiled tube that primes the cells for their ultimate task: fertilization. In a paper released this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of Illinois report that they have discovered a gene and related mechanism essential to the embryonic development of the epididymis.

Among youth in US, whites have highest incidence of diabetes

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Non-Hispanic white youth have the highest rate of diabetes of all racial/ethnic groups for children in the U.S., with type 1 being the predominant kind of diabetes among youth, according to a study in the June 27 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on chronic diseases of children.

Weight management program improves body fat levels, diabetes risk factors for overweight children

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Children who participated in a family-based weight management program designed for inner-city minority children had better outcomes regarding weight gain, body fat, body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity compared to children who received traditional weight counseling in a clinic, according to a study in the June 27 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on chronic diseases of children.

Weight management program cuts diabetes risk, improves BMI in overweight children

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

A family-based weight management program developed by researchers at Yale School of Medicine was more effective at reducing weight, body fat, body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity than traditional clinic-based weight counseling.

Community Oncology explores pitched debate over anemia-fighting drugs

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

The June issue of Elseviers Community Oncology takes an in-depth look at the charge that ESAs, generally considered vital to cancer patients quality of life, are overprescribed for profit. Scientists, oncologists, and critics of oncologists are in a heated debate now over the use of ESAs, or erythropoiesis-stimulating agentsdrugs that fight anemia by boosting levels of oxygen-carrying red blood cells and the protein hemoglobin.

Cord blood may preserve insulin levels in children with type 1 diabetes

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Umbilical cord blood may safely preserve insulin production in children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, according to findings from a small national pilot study presented Monday (June 25) at the American Diabetes Associations 67th Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

Portion-control dishes may help obese diabetics lose weight

Mon, 25 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

A plate and cereal bowl with markers for proper portion sizes appear to help obese patients with diabetes lose weight and decrease their use of glucose-controlling medications, according to a report in the June 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Can blindness be prevented through diet?

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Increasing intake of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, found in popular fish-oil supplements, may protect against blindness resulting from abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye, according to a study published online by the journal Nature Medicine on June 24. The study was done in mice, but a clinical trial at Childrens Hospital Boston will soon begin testing the effects of omega-3 supplementation in premature babies, who are at risk for vision loss.

Type 1 diabetes and heart disease -- Heavier may mean healthier

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO, June 23 -- Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences studying links between an early sign of heart disease called coronary artery calcification and body fat have found that, paradoxically, more fat may have some advantages, at least for people particularly women who have type 1 diabetes. Cardiovascular complications, including heart disease, are a leading cause of death for people with diabetes, who tend to suffer cardiovascular disease decades earlier than non-diabetics.

Pregnancy nausea/vomiting may indicate lower risk of breast cancer

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- It may not seem so at the time, but women who suffer through morning sickness during their pregnancies actually may be fortunate.

Estrogen therapy in younger postmenopausal women linked to less plaque in arteries

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

New results from a substudy of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Estrogen-Alone Trial show that younger postmenopausal women who take estrogen-alone hormone therapy have significantly less buildup of calcium plaque in their arteries compared to their peers who did not take hormone therapy. Coronary artery calcium is considered a marker for future risk of coronary artery disease.

Obese heart attack patients are more likely to survive after treatment than normal weight patients

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Obese and very obese patients have a lower risk of dying after they have been treated for heart attacks than do normal weight patients, according to research published in the European Heart Journal today (Wednesday 20 June). [1]

Women with diabetes left behind in drop in death rates

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA, June 19, 2007 - A new analysis of data from three large national databases finds that in the 29 years between 1971 and 2000, the death rate of men with diabetes has dropped significantly, in line with the overall decline of the death rate for all Americans. But the death rate for women with diabetes did not decline at all.