Obesity and diabetes were the focus of the pathologists from the University of Cincinnati. They have recognized a new molecular target that may help researchers develop drugs to decrease fat transport to fat cells. This will prevent these evil twins from developing. This, I've got to know!
The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports the findings about a specific cell receptor that will supply significant clues regarding the mechanisms that regulate the transport of fat in the body. Wouldn't everyone like to know this to avoid both obesity and diabetes?
David Hui, PhD, et al showed that "knocking out" the LRP1 in the fat cells of mice that were genetically altered directly influenced the number of fats and fat-like substances transported to the fat cells. The mice put on less weight, piled up less fat, showed better glucose tolerance and had more energy than the control group because of improved muscle activity.
Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Hui said that the results of the study showed the impact of the molecule to the rate of transport of fat. As the corresponding author of this research, Hui said that further study could target new drugs that could control getting fat and developing the condition that is linked to it. Oh, no, drugs again!
Two independent groups of LPR1-knockout mice were used for this study. Hui et al studied one group while the other group was monitored by Joachin Herz, PhD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Herz is the co-author of this research that may add knowledge on how to prevent diabetes. .
Researchers found out that if the LRP1 receptor was active, more fat was absorbed and this made the body increase storage of fat. Both groups of mice were fed the same low-fat diet, yet one group stored more fat. Which one stored less fat? The LRP1 knockout mice stored less fat and therefore gained less weight than their counterpart.
The above discovery made the researchers conclude that LRP1 is a significant regulator of lipid absorption in fat cells. Pathology research instructor at UC, Susanna Hofmann said that a functional disturbance led to fewer fat absorption into the cells. This prevented the onset of obesity and diabetes.
Hui added that perhaps the smaller fat stores in the genetically altered mice that provide heat, made the mice increase their muscular activity to raise body temperature. This may have led to lack of weight gain. Naturally when intake is more than the energy expenditure, extra calories are stored as fat and this makes people gain weight. Dietary factors like eating triglyceride-rich foods such as fried foods can lead to obesity and diabetes .
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Growth Hormone Helps Heal Diabetes Wound
One complication of diabetes is slow healing process in the wounds so a research group led by Doctor Juan Manuel Bellon and Doctor Julia Bujan worked to develop a model that releases growth hormone directly over the wound. They did this in a controlled and gradual way. What did they find? They found the healing process improves.
This type of therapy was successfully tested with the use of diabetic lab rats. They published their findings in the Journal of Biomedical Materials. They found that applying the growth hormone directly over the wound helps in the regeneration of tissues and skin.
They said that after an average of 15 days, the healing of a sample wound in normal rats is complete. When this was done to diabetic rats, the healing was complete after 30 days. The team that investigated this is composed of histologists, surgeons, chemists, biologists and pharmacists from the Surgery Department. The groups dedicated itself for more than twenty years in investigating tissue repair.
Scientists found that protein could help restore the tissues that are starved of oxygen. This way the wounds are healed. They tried to find this so they could lay out a strategy to treat the tissues like those damaged by diabetes. They tried to generate the production of blood vessels that are healthy but found the capillaries leaky.
Then the researchers tried it again with mice that are genetically engineered. This time the capillaries in the skin of the mice increased to almost 7o%. There was no swelling or inflammation and more significantly there was no leakage.
I don’t know where they are going with this and I tried to follow them up but I didn’t find any. I was surprised because they were so excited with the result of their research and of course I was awaiting what they will do for the diabetics who have problem with wounds and their diabetic foot ulcer.
This type of therapy was successfully tested with the use of diabetic lab rats. They published their findings in the Journal of Biomedical Materials. They found that applying the growth hormone directly over the wound helps in the regeneration of tissues and skin.
They said that after an average of 15 days, the healing of a sample wound in normal rats is complete. When this was done to diabetic rats, the healing was complete after 30 days. The team that investigated this is composed of histologists, surgeons, chemists, biologists and pharmacists from the Surgery Department. The groups dedicated itself for more than twenty years in investigating tissue repair.
Scientists found that protein could help restore the tissues that are starved of oxygen. This way the wounds are healed. They tried to find this so they could lay out a strategy to treat the tissues like those damaged by diabetes. They tried to generate the production of blood vessels that are healthy but found the capillaries leaky.
Then the researchers tried it again with mice that are genetically engineered. This time the capillaries in the skin of the mice increased to almost 7o%. There was no swelling or inflammation and more significantly there was no leakage.
I don’t know where they are going with this and I tried to follow them up but I didn’t find any. I was surprised because they were so excited with the result of their research and of course I was awaiting what they will do for the diabetics who have problem with wounds and their diabetic foot ulcer.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Metabolic Syndrome and Some Treatment Options
The Methodist Hospital and the University of Houston are doing a joint research on the use of a portable tool to check metabolism to fight obesity and the related complications. John Miller, Physics professor at the University of Houston received a three-year grant to the amount of $623,425.00 from the National Institutes of Health to explore biosensors for obesity and energy balance.
Miller is particularly focusing on metabolic syndrome, a destructive obesity complication that affects 20% of obese people. This increases the likelihood for these people to develop heart disease, obesity and cancer. He wants to develop technologies to sense metabolic activity.
There are drug treatments for this condition but the cost is exorbitant. There is therefore a need to acquire technologies that can help with early diagnosis. This will make the treatment more cost-effective. I am keeping a close eye on the result of this research but I have not seen any report yet.
So meantime it is good to know what are the available treatment options. The first line of defense is lifestyle change. This means to lose weigh when needed and so will involve a diet of healthy food and increased and regular physical exercise.
The next line of treatment are the medicines. The different conditions that comprise the metabolic syndrome are treated differently. But they are all used to control the high blood pressure, blood glucose and triglyceride levels. Sometimes aspirin is recommended in order to avoid blood clots.
To reduce the risk for cardiovascular events is the main purpose of treating the metabolic syndrome. If diabetes has not developed yet, the other purpose of treatment is to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. This way the diabetes complications can be avoided.
Some of the risk factors can easily be controlled like being overweight, inactivity and eating the wrong kinds of food. Well, perhaps not easily but with determination, it can be done. And when compared to dealing with complications, give me these controllable risk factors anytime and I will be more than glad to deal with them. They can even be fun like dancing and eating different kinds of food.
Miller is particularly focusing on metabolic syndrome, a destructive obesity complication that affects 20% of obese people. This increases the likelihood for these people to develop heart disease, obesity and cancer. He wants to develop technologies to sense metabolic activity.
There are drug treatments for this condition but the cost is exorbitant. There is therefore a need to acquire technologies that can help with early diagnosis. This will make the treatment more cost-effective. I am keeping a close eye on the result of this research but I have not seen any report yet.
So meantime it is good to know what are the available treatment options. The first line of defense is lifestyle change. This means to lose weigh when needed and so will involve a diet of healthy food and increased and regular physical exercise.
The next line of treatment are the medicines. The different conditions that comprise the metabolic syndrome are treated differently. But they are all used to control the high blood pressure, blood glucose and triglyceride levels. Sometimes aspirin is recommended in order to avoid blood clots.
To reduce the risk for cardiovascular events is the main purpose of treating the metabolic syndrome. If diabetes has not developed yet, the other purpose of treatment is to delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. This way the diabetes complications can be avoided.
Some of the risk factors can easily be controlled like being overweight, inactivity and eating the wrong kinds of food. Well, perhaps not easily but with determination, it can be done. And when compared to dealing with complications, give me these controllable risk factors anytime and I will be more than glad to deal with them. They can even be fun like dancing and eating different kinds of food.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
European Medicine Agency Assessment of Avandia
A professional group of doctors (The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) says that the warning label on Avandia should mention that a vegan diet that is low in fat is safer than the drug itself and so should be touted as a more effective way to lower the blood glucose level.
The same diet they say is also good to lower the cholesterol and blood pressure levels. On top of these other benefits, the diet can be beneficial for weight loss and in preventing and even stopping heart disease. This fact should also be made clear to Avandia users.
This request came when the FDA decided to make Avandia show a warning to alert the users about the risk of increasing heart attacks. They say there were 13,000 cases of heart failure and heart attack that can be attributed to the use of the Avandia which is the brand name of rosiglitazone used to keep the blood sugar under control.
EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has just completed its assessment of Thiazolidinediones (TZD). They have reached the conclusion that the benefits derived from these drugs outweigh the risks. Dr. Alaistair Benbow, European Medical Director and Vice-president of GSK, said it is important in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
GlascoSmithKline is a research based health care and pharmaceutical company which commits itself to improve the life by making people able to do more and live longer. They said they will continue working with physicians to provide the best treatment for patients.
Rosiglitazone is of the same class of drugs that help improve blood glucose control in Type 2 diabetes. Some patients cannot take metformin and so may have to take this alone or in combination with sulphonylurea or with metformin or with both.
Rosiglitazone cannot be taken in combination with insulin. Remember also that Rosiglitazone is not good for patients with cardiac failure. It may lead to fluid retention. If you suddenly experience a rapid weight increase, shortness of breath and increasing edema, please consult your doctor. Patients with liver problem should not be taking rosiglitazone. They should undergo blood tests to rule out liver problems before taking it.
The same diet they say is also good to lower the cholesterol and blood pressure levels. On top of these other benefits, the diet can be beneficial for weight loss and in preventing and even stopping heart disease. This fact should also be made clear to Avandia users.
This request came when the FDA decided to make Avandia show a warning to alert the users about the risk of increasing heart attacks. They say there were 13,000 cases of heart failure and heart attack that can be attributed to the use of the Avandia which is the brand name of rosiglitazone used to keep the blood sugar under control.
EMEA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has just completed its assessment of Thiazolidinediones (TZD). They have reached the conclusion that the benefits derived from these drugs outweigh the risks. Dr. Alaistair Benbow, European Medical Director and Vice-president of GSK, said it is important in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
GlascoSmithKline is a research based health care and pharmaceutical company which commits itself to improve the life by making people able to do more and live longer. They said they will continue working with physicians to provide the best treatment for patients.
Rosiglitazone is of the same class of drugs that help improve blood glucose control in Type 2 diabetes. Some patients cannot take metformin and so may have to take this alone or in combination with sulphonylurea or with metformin or with both.
Rosiglitazone cannot be taken in combination with insulin. Remember also that Rosiglitazone is not good for patients with cardiac failure. It may lead to fluid retention. If you suddenly experience a rapid weight increase, shortness of breath and increasing edema, please consult your doctor. Patients with liver problem should not be taking rosiglitazone. They should undergo blood tests to rule out liver problems before taking it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Obesity and Related Genes Found
Obesityand genes related to it have been found in old experiments conducted by Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital and the School of Medicine at the Stanford University. This result brings promise of information that is useful for many medical conditions.
Dr. Atul Butte, a PhD pediatrician at Packard Children‘s Hospital said they developed an easy way to turn the old data into possible genes for more study. Dr. Butte who is also the director of the hospital’s Center for Pediatric Bioinformatics said that when they put the data together, not only did they confirm the facts already identified, but they also discovered some new forecasts.
It is difficult to identify new genes responsible for complex diseases like diabetes, autism and obesity because these conditions are due to environmental aspects and interacting genes so this is quite a challenge.
Butte, also an assistant professor of pediatrics and medicine and his collaborator, Sangeeta English, a PhD analyzed the data from 49 researches whose only common element is that they conducted to search for genes that are significant to the storage of fat or body size.
What Butte and English did was to match pairs of the researches. They thought that if the gene is weak in one research it may have just been rejected but if the same gene is identified to be strong in two or more other researches, then it has become stronger.
When they analyzed the data further, they identified 16 genes that were positive in other researches like in six or more. Three were identified as positive in eight researches. Among the three, one gene was a well known obesity gene. The other two can be sent to the lab to find out what they do.
This just came on time because it has been claimed that this problem could lead to NHS Bankruptcy.
Dr. Colin Waine warned that the problem could lead to bankruptcy of NHS. He is chairman of the National Obesity Forum (NOF). He spoke at the fifth annual conference of the forum in London to discuss the challenge and what to do to overcome it. He said that despite the funding they get, the problem is escalating so fast that it will lead to type 2 diabetes.
The Foresight Tackling Obesities conducted a new research revealing that within 25 years, half of the population will be obese if the current trends continue. The director of Care at Diabetes, UK, Simon O'Neill, agreed with Dr. Waine and said further that the problem does not affect only adults but children as well.
The estimate is that there are about 1000 children in the UK with type 2 diabetes and all of them are obese. It is clear that there is an age group of obese children who face possible heart disease, amputations and blindness.
It is time to take action like Finland did.
Finland has a prevention programme based on research that with the change in diet and exercise, new cases of type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 58%. If the children would eat healthier and exercise more, the chance of developing the condition is reduced but the one to be addressed first is obesity.
Dr. Atul Butte, a PhD pediatrician at Packard Children‘s Hospital said they developed an easy way to turn the old data into possible genes for more study. Dr. Butte who is also the director of the hospital’s Center for Pediatric Bioinformatics said that when they put the data together, not only did they confirm the facts already identified, but they also discovered some new forecasts.
It is difficult to identify new genes responsible for complex diseases like diabetes, autism and obesity because these conditions are due to environmental aspects and interacting genes so this is quite a challenge.
Butte, also an assistant professor of pediatrics and medicine and his collaborator, Sangeeta English, a PhD analyzed the data from 49 researches whose only common element is that they conducted to search for genes that are significant to the storage of fat or body size.
What Butte and English did was to match pairs of the researches. They thought that if the gene is weak in one research it may have just been rejected but if the same gene is identified to be strong in two or more other researches, then it has become stronger.
When they analyzed the data further, they identified 16 genes that were positive in other researches like in six or more. Three were identified as positive in eight researches. Among the three, one gene was a well known obesity gene. The other two can be sent to the lab to find out what they do.
This just came on time because it has been claimed that this problem could lead to NHS Bankruptcy.
Dr. Colin Waine warned that the problem could lead to bankruptcy of NHS. He is chairman of the National Obesity Forum (NOF). He spoke at the fifth annual conference of the forum in London to discuss the challenge and what to do to overcome it. He said that despite the funding they get, the problem is escalating so fast that it will lead to type 2 diabetes.
The Foresight Tackling Obesities conducted a new research revealing that within 25 years, half of the population will be obese if the current trends continue. The director of Care at Diabetes, UK, Simon O'Neill, agreed with Dr. Waine and said further that the problem does not affect only adults but children as well.
The estimate is that there are about 1000 children in the UK with type 2 diabetes and all of them are obese. It is clear that there is an age group of obese children who face possible heart disease, amputations and blindness.
It is time to take action like Finland did.
Finland has a prevention programme based on research that with the change in diet and exercise, new cases of type 2 diabetes can be reduced by 58%. If the children would eat healthier and exercise more, the chance of developing the condition is reduced but the one to be addressed first is obesity.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Double Diabetes Increase in UK
January 21, 2009
Obesity is linked to the double diabetes increase in the UK, so did an article in New Scientist magazine warn. Doctors are seeing more and more diabetes cases with mixed symptoms. This makes it hard for them to diagnose the specific type of diabetes and to give the right treatment for the type of condition.
The Director of Care of Diabetes, UK, Simon O’Neill, said that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are two different conditions. Some aspects may be similar but the treatment can be different. There are people who do not know the type of diabetes they have and this is harmful because they may not be getting the best care or treatment.
New researches are most welcome in fitting all the missing pieces together. What is most important now is to give the appropriate treatment for the diabetics in order for them to get help in avoiding the complications. All kinds of help in preventing the rise of this condition should be in place.
Then a year later there was a report on October 21, 2008 where a leading health charity Diabetes UK issued a warning that the number of those diagnosed with diabetes has risen by 167,000 when compared with last year's data. This brings the total of those afflicted with diabetes to a staggering 2.5 million people.
The increase is more than double for the period of the preceding year of 83,000. For the first time in England the statistics has broken the two million mark for the first time. This increase is 6.4% whereas the increase in Northern Ireland and Wales is 6.8%. The biggest increase is in Scotland which comes in as 16.9% due mainly to improved recording.
Approximately 90% of diabetics have type 2 which is linked to being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. There are now five million people who are registered obese in the UK with Scotland again registering the biggest increase.
The chief executive of Diabetes UK, Douglas Smallwood finds the figures quite alarming. He did say though that the large increase is due to improved recording, screening procedures and the fact that people are more aware of the factors that make one at high risk to develop this condition. But the truth of the matter is, just like in the rest of the world, the increase is linked to obesity.
Clearly this is a big challenge in the UK as well as in the rest of the world. With diabetes causing heart disease, amputation, blindness, stroke and kidney failure, the health cost is astronomical. The only way to go about this is to raise awareness on the seriousness of diabetes and to have preventive measures in place like adopting a healthy lifestyle and where better to start than in schools so the children will be able to prevent obesity.
Obesity is linked to the double diabetes increase in the UK, so did an article in New Scientist magazine warn. Doctors are seeing more and more diabetes cases with mixed symptoms. This makes it hard for them to diagnose the specific type of diabetes and to give the right treatment for the type of condition.
The Director of Care of Diabetes, UK, Simon O’Neill, said that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are two different conditions. Some aspects may be similar but the treatment can be different. There are people who do not know the type of diabetes they have and this is harmful because they may not be getting the best care or treatment.
New researches are most welcome in fitting all the missing pieces together. What is most important now is to give the appropriate treatment for the diabetics in order for them to get help in avoiding the complications. All kinds of help in preventing the rise of this condition should be in place.
Then a year later there was a report on October 21, 2008 where a leading health charity Diabetes UK issued a warning that the number of those diagnosed with diabetes has risen by 167,000 when compared with last year's data. This brings the total of those afflicted with diabetes to a staggering 2.5 million people.
The increase is more than double for the period of the preceding year of 83,000. For the first time in England the statistics has broken the two million mark for the first time. This increase is 6.4% whereas the increase in Northern Ireland and Wales is 6.8%. The biggest increase is in Scotland which comes in as 16.9% due mainly to improved recording.
Approximately 90% of diabetics have type 2 which is linked to being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating. There are now five million people who are registered obese in the UK with Scotland again registering the biggest increase.
The chief executive of Diabetes UK, Douglas Smallwood finds the figures quite alarming. He did say though that the large increase is due to improved recording, screening procedures and the fact that people are more aware of the factors that make one at high risk to develop this condition. But the truth of the matter is, just like in the rest of the world, the increase is linked to obesity.
Clearly this is a big challenge in the UK as well as in the rest of the world. With diabetes causing heart disease, amputation, blindness, stroke and kidney failure, the health cost is astronomical. The only way to go about this is to raise awareness on the seriousness of diabetes and to have preventive measures in place like adopting a healthy lifestyle and where better to start than in schools so the children will be able to prevent obesity.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Whatever Happened to the TLC Trial to Help Type 2 Diabetics?
Type 2 diabetes I thought had a shot in the arm (no pun intended) last October 11, 2007 because it was announced that Brisbane Type 2 diabetes patients were needed to help with a TLC trial in Australia. I must confess I thought TLC stands for tender loving care so I selected this to report as an alert.
Now I know that TLC stands for Telephone-Linked Care. I was going to stop reporting on it but had a second thought for the simple reason that I think this type of program is essential all over the world. Why? Can you imagine anyone with a question or having trouble with self care being able to call TLC for help? I say that's priceless.
At that time, Professor Mary Courtney of the Queensland University of Technology said that the researchers needed 340 people with type 2 diabetes for this trial that will start in November. I like the TLC system because it is designed to monitor, educate and coach the patients and give them the power to self manage their condition.
It was not the intention of this research to take the place of doctors but it will certainly help type 2 diabetes people supplement the care received from dietitian, endocrinologist and the other members of the health care team. We know that despite the help of these experts, questions could arise.
Those who would call the TLC system were supposed to receive feedback regarding the monitoring of the blood glucose level. They will also get information regarding diet, exercise and taking medications so they will keep themselves healthy.
This will be an important resource for people who do not live near health services like the ones who live in remote areas. They didn’t say whether this was open to people with type 2 diabetes world wide but they did invite people who are interested to email Dominique Bird on TLC Diabetes @coh.uq.edu.au
It will be a good idea to write Dominique and find what happened to the TLC program. One of the members of the team of researchers is the Boston University in USA so I will think the authorities there may know what's going on regarding the progress of this important resource.
At any rate, I hope they will have something like this all over the world so people can receive encouragement and help with their condition, not only with the blood sugar monitoring, nutrition and exercise but the care of the feet as well for those with type 2 diabetes.
Now I know that TLC stands for Telephone-Linked Care. I was going to stop reporting on it but had a second thought for the simple reason that I think this type of program is essential all over the world. Why? Can you imagine anyone with a question or having trouble with self care being able to call TLC for help? I say that's priceless.
At that time, Professor Mary Courtney of the Queensland University of Technology said that the researchers needed 340 people with type 2 diabetes for this trial that will start in November. I like the TLC system because it is designed to monitor, educate and coach the patients and give them the power to self manage their condition.
It was not the intention of this research to take the place of doctors but it will certainly help type 2 diabetes people supplement the care received from dietitian, endocrinologist and the other members of the health care team. We know that despite the help of these experts, questions could arise.
Those who would call the TLC system were supposed to receive feedback regarding the monitoring of the blood glucose level. They will also get information regarding diet, exercise and taking medications so they will keep themselves healthy.
This will be an important resource for people who do not live near health services like the ones who live in remote areas. They didn’t say whether this was open to people with type 2 diabetes world wide but they did invite people who are interested to email Dominique Bird on TLC Diabetes @coh.uq.edu.au
It will be a good idea to write Dominique and find what happened to the TLC program. One of the members of the team of researchers is the Boston University in USA so I will think the authorities there may know what's going on regarding the progress of this important resource.
At any rate, I hope they will have something like this all over the world so people can receive encouragement and help with their condition, not only with the blood sugar monitoring, nutrition and exercise but the care of the feet as well for those with type 2 diabetes.
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