Pancreas News and Research

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The pancreas is a gland organ in the digestive and endocrine system of vertebrates. It is both an endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, as well as an exocrine gland, secreting pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that pass to the small intestine. These enzymes help in the further breakdown of the carbohydrates, protein, and fat in the chyme.

Two-thirds of world's population are vitamin D-insufficient or deficient

Vitamin D surfaces as a news topic every few months. How much daily vitamin D should a person get? Is it possible to have too much of it? Is exposure to the sun, which is the body's natural way of producing vitamin D, the best option? Or do supplements suffice?

16 Jul 2010

VCU Medical Center ranked in 2010-2011 Best Hospitals

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center on Thursday was ranked in the 2010-2011 Best Hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report, making it one of 152 medical centers nationwide selected out of nearly 2,000 eligible institutions.

16 Jul 2010

Study: Disruption of genes that control circadian rhythms may lead to diabetes

Disruption of two genes that control circadian rhythms can lead to diabetes, a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center has found in an animal study. Mice with defective copies of the genes, called CLOCK and BMAL1, develop abnormalities in pancreatic cells that eventually render the cells unable to release sufficient amounts of insulin.

14 Jul 2010

Stanford University, OHSU receive grants to study VIAject for treating patients with diabetes

Biodel Inc. announced today the award of two research grants by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to Stanford University and Oregon Health & Science University to evaluate the use of VIAject (ultra-rapid-acting injectable human insulin) in the treatment of diabetes.

12 Jul 2010

Study results show no improvement in overall survival for combination of gemcitabine and Amplimexon

AmpliMed Corporation, a cancer therapeutics company, today announced results from AMP-019, a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II screening trial designed to determine if a Phase III trial was warranted for the combination of gemcitabine (Gemzar, Eli Lilly) plus Amplimexon (AmpliMed Corporation) in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

12 Jul 2010

Study finds EUS associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer

A new study has found that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer, possibly due to the detection of earlier cancers and improved stage-appropriate management, including more selective performance of curative intent surgery. This is the first study to analyze a large population-based cancer registry and demonstrate that EUS evaluation is associated with improved pancreatic cancer survival.

9 Jul 2010

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

New findings reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said.

8 Jul 2010

First Australian intestinal transplant

Mr. Brendan Cole, 32 became the first recipient of a successful intestinal transplant in Australia. Last Friday he had his intestines and organs removed from his abdomen that followed a 12 hour operation at Austin Health.

4 Jul 2010

Transplanted beta cells protect themselves by adapting to their new homes

For transplanted beta cells, life is tough. Not only are the insulin-producing cells in a stranger's body, tucked into the liver rather than the pancreas, they are a bit short on oxygen and blood, and they are often exposed to raised levels of glucose.

3 Jul 2010

Researchers report no increased rate of heart attack in patients taking rosiglitazone

The diabetes drug rosiglitazone has been under intense scrutiny since a 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at more than 40 clinical trials and linked the drug's use with increased risk of heart attack and death from heart disease.

1 Jul 2010

Medtronic's sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy provides superior glucose control, confirms STAR 3 study

In the longest and largest randomized, controlled study of sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy in type 1 diabetes, adult and pediatric patients using the Medtronic MiniMed Paradigm® REAL-Time System achieved better glucose control without an increase in hypoglycemia compared to multiple daily insulin injections (MDI), the most common approach to care today.

30 Jun 2010

Metabolex, Sanofi-Aventis sign global license deal to develop GPR119 for type 2 diabetes treatment

Metabolex and Sanofi-Aventis announced today that they have entered into a global license and development agreement for the research, development, manufacture and commercialization of small molecules that modulate the G-protein coupled receptor 119 (GPR119), a receptor in the gut and pancreas that interacts with bioactive lipids to stimulate glucose-dependent incretin and insulin secretion.

30 Jun 2010

Amylin presents improved indices of beta-cell function after three years of BYETTA(R) therapy

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced results from a study comparing the effect of long-term treatment with either BYETTA® (exenatide) injection or Lantus® (insulin glargine) on overall beta-cell function. (Beta cells are cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.) Three years of BYETTA therapy improved indices of beta-cell function assessed four weeks after discontinuing therapy. These findings were presented at the 70th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Orlando, Fla.

30 Jun 2010

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Researchers funded by JDRF have discovered that the hormone, serotonin, may be involved in the increase of insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy.

29 Jun 2010

Artificial pancreas holds promise for treating Type 1 diabetes

Shawna Wood would like nothing better than to go back to bed for another 24 hours of perfect blood sugar control. The 50-year old Wilsonville, Ore. woman has Type 1 diabetes, and she recently took part in a clinical trial of an automated replacement for her pancreas, which stopped producing insulin 9 years ago.

29 Jun 2010

AFREZZA provides long-term glucose control in Type 2 diabetics: Study

AFREZZA (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder, a well-tolerated, investigational ultra rapid acting mealtime insulin, as part of a diabetes treatment regimen, provides long-term glucose control comparable to usual insulin therapy but with a significantly reduced incidence of hypoglycemia and less weight gain in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to a two-year study presented today at the American Diabetes Association's 70th Scientific Sessions.

29 Jun 2010

UCSB, Sansum achieve milestone in JDRF funded Artificial Pancreas Project

The University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute (Sansum) announced today the achievement of a milestone in the Artificial Pancreas Project funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

28 Jun 2010

Medtronic initiates enrollment in ASPIRE study of MiniMed Paradigm x54 Low Glucose Suspend integrated system

Demonstrating its dedication to close the loop for diabetes management, Medtronic, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been enrolled as part of the ASPIRE study of the MiniMed Paradigm x54 System featuring Low Glucose Suspend automation. Low Glucose Suspend works by automatically suspending insulin delivery temporarily if blood glucose levels become too low as defined by the patient and his or her healthcare provider and is a feature available commercially in Medtronic's Paradigm® Veo™ System in more than 35 countries outside of United States.

28 Jun 2010

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy, according to new findings of an international team led by researchers at UCSF.

28 Jun 2010

Researchers evaluate outcomes of SD and PD in patients with GISTs

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the digestive tract. However, the duodenal location is less common. Nowadays, surgery is still the only curative approach for GIST. Numerous procedures can be performed to remove duodenal GIST. Some of these operations are extensive and require difficult reconstruction (like pancreaticoduodenectomy; PD). One of the options is a more limited intervention: segmental duodenectomy.

25 Jun 2010

Pancreas News and Research

Further Reading

Two-thirds of world's population are vitamin D-insufficient or deficient

VCU Medical Center ranked in 2010-2011 Best Hospitals

Study: Disruption of genes that control circadian rhythms may lead to diabetes

Stanford University, OHSU receive grants to study VIAject for treating patients with diabetes

Study results show no improvement in overall survival for combination of gemcitabine and Amplimexon

Study finds EUS associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

First Australian intestinal transplant

Transplanted beta cells protect themselves by adapting to their new homes

Researchers report no increased rate of heart attack in patients taking rosiglitazone

Medtronic's sensor-augmented insulin pump therapy provides superior glucose control, confirms STAR 3 study

Metabolex, Sanofi-Aventis sign global license deal to develop GPR119 for type 2 diabetes treatment

Amylin presents improved indices of beta-cell function after three years of BYETTA(R) therapy

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Artificial pancreas holds promise for treating Type 1 diabetes

AFREZZA provides long-term glucose control in Type 2 diabetics: Study

UCSB, Sansum achieve milestone in JDRF funded Artificial Pancreas Project

Medtronic initiates enrollment in ASPIRE study of MiniMed Paradigm x54 Low Glucose Suspend integrated system

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

Researchers evaluate outcomes of SD and PD in patients with GISTs

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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