Endocrinology News and Research

Latest Endocrinology News and Research

Pros and cons of weight loss surgery in men and women

Women who underwent gastric band surgery to lose weight reported significant improvements in urinary function and quality of life after the operation, according to research published in the January issue of the urology journal BJUI.

6 Jan 2011

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

Scientists at Inserm and Institut Pasteur have performed biomarker discovery on patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C infection. Their work, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrates that the plasma levels of the protein IP-10 predict, prior to treatment initiation, the efficacy of treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

6 Jan 2011

Regular eye exams are critical to prevent glaucoma

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, may strike without symptoms, is not preventable, but it is treatable. During National Glaucoma Awareness Month, The Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA) urges regular eye exams because early detection and treatment is critical to maintain healthy vision and protect the eyes from the effects of glaucoma and other potentially blinding diseases.

6 Jan 2011

Positive topline results from ZGN-433 Phase 1b study in obesity patients

Zafgen, a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel obesity therapeutics to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state by targeting imbalances in fat metabolism, today announced positive topline results from its Phase 1b study of ZGN-433, a methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitor, for the treatment of severe obesity.

6 Jan 2011

DARA BioSciences provides additional details of DB959 Phase I study for Type 2 Diabetes

DARA BioSciences, provided additional details from the recently completed Phase I clinical study for DB959, its PPAR delta/gamma agonist, an oral drug in development for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes.

6 Jan 2011

University of Michigan lab takes top honours in worldwide protein prediction competition

The University of Michigan Health System took top honors in the Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction, a biennial scientific competition to test protein structure and function prediction methods developed by laboratories all over the world.

5 Jan 2011

American Heart Association partners in global effort to prepare for UN non-communicable diseases summit

The American Heart Association is participating in an international effort to prepare for a United Nations (UN) high-level summit next year on non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These diseases — mainly cardiovascular illnesses including stroke, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions — were estimated to cause more than 60 percent of deaths worldwide in 2005.

5 Jan 2011

Predictive value of plasma galectin-3 levels in heart failure patients: Study

BG Medicine, a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostics, today announced the publication of a study exploring the predictive value of plasma galectin-3 levels in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.

5 Jan 2011

Study shows adolescents who were breastfed at birth have stronger leg muscles

Breast feeding new born babies has lots of advantages in the short and in the long-term for babies. A study has confirmed the recently discovered benefits, which had not been researched until now. Adolescents who are breast fed at birth have stronger leg muscles than those who received artificial milk.

5 Jan 2011

GLUMETZA tablets are now available to wholesalers and physicians

Santarus, and Depomed, today announced that supply of GLUMETZA® 500 mg to wholesalers and retailers has resumed. GLUMETZA is a once-daily, extended release formulation of metformin and is approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

5 Jan 2011

P. gingivalis infection accelerates inflammation and atherosclerosis in the innominate artery

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death in the developed world. While a number of risk factors for atherosclerosis have been defined, scientists continue to study other possible risk factors for this disease. Recent epidemiological and experimental studies link infectious agents with the development of inflammatory atherosclerosis. A hallmark of chronic infection with the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is the induction of a chronic inflammatory response.

5 Jan 2011

CDS introduces new Diabetes DIC in the college curriculum

The College of Direct Support, an internet-based college for Direct Support Professionals and managed in partnership by Elsevier I MC Strategies and the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center, has introduced its newest Disability Intensive Course into the CDS Curriculum - Diabetes.

5 Jan 2011

New mouse model with deficiency of lipoprotein lipase in neurons

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have created a new and exciting mouse model to study how lipid sensing and metabolism in the brain relate to the regulation of energy balance and body weight. The research team, led by Hong Wang, PhD, created mice with a deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in neurons, and observed two important reactions.

5 Jan 2011

Polsa Pura Bracelet is an effective tool for healthy weight loss

The Polsa Pura Bracelet is a new entry into the health and weight loss market, and is proving to be the secret weapon that many dieters need to develop healthy eating habits and lose weight for good.

5 Jan 2011

Qualcomm's wireless Internet of Everything Module integrated into Telcare 3GM blood glucose meter

Qualcomm Incorporated and Telcare Incorporated today announced plans to integrate Qualcomm's wireless Internet of Everything Module (IEM) into the Telcare 3GM™ blood glucose meter being developed by Telcare. Telcare 3GM, currently in prototype phase, is designed to transfer blood glucose readings to a patient's family members or physician with each test.

5 Jan 2011

Diet low in micronutrients can contribute to metabolic syndrome

Results of an epidemiological study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Corporacion Ecuatoriana de Biotecnologia showed that the metabolic syndrome, a condition that increases a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, was prevalent in a low-income urban community in Ecuador and that a poor diet low in micronutrients appeared to contribute.

5 Jan 2011

TRPM2 in pancreatic beta-cells may control insulin secretion levels

The research group led by professor Makoto Tominaga and Dr. Kunitoshi Uchida, National institute for Physiological Sciences, found TRPM2 ion channel in pancreatic beta-cells is important for insulin secretion stimulated by glucose and gastrointestinal hormone secreted after food intake. Their finding was reported in Diabetes.

4 Jan 2011

New program may help reduce hospital readmission rates for high-risk seniors

SCAN Health Plan and Lakewood IPA have partnered with Dovetail Health in a program designed to reduce readmission rates for high-risk seniors following discharge from hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.

4 Jan 2011

Take control of your healthcare

Medical decisions are too important to leave in the hands of doctors. That is why Dr. Steven Z. Kussin recently launched a campaign, www.MedicalAdvocate.com, to teach Americans how to take control of their healthcare by becoming their own patient advocate.

4 Jan 2011

Mediterranean diet appears to slow cognitive decline in older adults

The Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fish, and olive oil and moderate in wine and alcohol, is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline in older adults, according to researchers at Rush University Medical Center.

4 Jan 2011