Endocrinology News and Research

Latest Endocrinology News and Research

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

First US forum gathers doctors and children who no longer need insulin

Twenty-five families who have overcome diabetes caused by a defect in a single gene will gather at "Celebrating the Miracles," a University of Chicago symposium for patients, parents and physicians. The first Monogenic Diabetes Forum is designed to review scientific studies, celebrate treatment successes, stress the importance of a genetic diagnosis for children diagnosed before age one, and exchange tips on how to make the most of a new concept--life without insulin injections.

3 Jul 2010

MabCent finds extraordinary life forms in the Arctic

During its short existence the Centre on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent) in Tromsø has analysed some 70,000 fractions of Arctic marine organisms. Patents on two molecules have been applied for and applications for another 20 will soon follow.

3 Jul 2010

Overweight girls less likely to develop breast cancer in later life

Women who recall carrying excess body fat during childhood and adolescence appear to be less likely to develop breast cancer in later life, a US study reports.

3 Jul 2010

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center's new children's outpatient facility named in honor of Alex Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez joined Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center President and CEO Miguel A. Fuentes, Jr., as well as board members, staff and pediatric patients at a ceremony to dedicate a new children's outpatient center named in his honor on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.

3 Jul 2010

Endo subsidiary successfully completes tender offer for HealthTronics' outstanding common stock

Endo Pharmaceuticals today announced the successful completion of the tender offer by its wholly owned subsidiary, HT Acquisition Corp., for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of HealthTronics, Inc..

3 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: Insurance premium caps; Doc shortage; High-risk pool

The insurer's proposed premium hikes are staggering, but the problem is that medical costs have been growing considerably faster than inflation. AB 2578 would help put a check on unjustified hikes ... The Assembly passed the bill last month, and we urge the Senate to follow suit (7/2).

3 Jul 2010

Studies demonstrate analgesic properties of synthetic cannabinoid

A new compound similar to the active component of marijuana (cannabis) might provide effective pain relief without the mental and physical side effects of cannabis, according to a study in the July issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

2 Jul 2010

Study: ONGLYZA and metformin improve HbA1c levels for adult patients with type 2 diabetes at 76-weeks

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and AstraZeneca today announced results up to 76-weeks from a Phase 3 study of ONGLYZA(TM) (saxagliptin) as initial combination therapy with metformin, which produced long-term glycemic improvement (as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c)) in treatment-naive adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled on diet and exercise compared to treatment with an investigational 10 mg dose of saxagliptin or metformin alone.

2 Jul 2010

Sensor-augmented insulin-pump therapy effective for type 1 diabetes patients

Adding a continuous blood sugar level sensor to an insulin pump helps patients with type 1 diabetes achieve better blood sugar control compared to the common standard of care, multiple daily insulin injections, concludes a study published on-line today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2 Jul 2010

Twelve type 2 diabetes susceptibility loci identified

An international team co-led by scientists from the University of Michigan have discovered 12 more regions on the genome with DNA variants that are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, bringing the number to 38.

2 Jul 2010

Visually impaired people dose accurately with insulin pens: Study

Labels on the popular insulin pen used by people with diabetes warn against visually-impaired people using pens to measure out and administer their insulin dosage.

2 Jul 2010

Compugen's CGEN-15001 recombinant fusion protein abolishes spontaneous relapses in animal model of MS

Compugen Ltd. announced today that administration of CGEN-15001 in an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been shown to completely abolish spontaneous relapses. In addition, administration of this novel molecule prior to disease onset demonstrated a pronounced delay of disease onset and a significant decrease in disease symptoms.

2 Jul 2010

Columbia Laboratories' sale of progesterone related assets to Watson receives stockholder approval

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. announced that in a special meeting of stockholders held this morning, stockholders approved the sale of substantially all of Columbia's progesterone related assets to Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. Stockholders also voted to increase the number of authorized shares of Columbia's common stock, $0.01 par value per share, from 100,000,000 to 150,000,000.

2 Jul 2010

Anti-aging supplement: A fountain of hope for would-be mothers

According to the American Pregnancy Association, six million women a year deal with infertility. Now, a Tel Aviv University study is giving new hope to women who want to conceive ― in the form of a pill they can find on their drugstore shelves right now.

2 Jul 2010

Diabetics need more 'heat awareness'

Hot weather and diabetes can make for a potentially dangerous combination, according to a Mayo Clinic presentation at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Diego, California, June 19-22.

2 Jul 2010

New formula may speed up organ allocation process, improve transplant outcomes

Only a small fraction of transplant centers nationwide are willing to accept and transplant deceased-donor kidneys that they perceive as less than perfect, leading to lengthy, organ-damaging delays as officials use a one-by-one approach to find a willing taker.

2 Jul 2010

Pay-for-performance program may cause inequalities among healthcare providers

Pay-for-performance is an increasingly popular approach to improving health care quality. But the planned nationwide implementation of institutional bonuses mandated under federal health care reform threatens to act as a "reverse Robin Hood," potentially causing hospitals in less-advantaged regions to lose funds to health care facilities in more affluent areas of the country, according to a study published in the academic journal PLoS Medicine.

2 Jul 2010

Vitamin D inadequacy may cause metabolic syndrome among elderly people

A new study adds to the mounting evidence that older adults commonly have low vitamin D levels and that vitamin D inadequacy may be a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome, a condition that affects one in four adults. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

2 Jul 2010

Research shows promising targeted therapies for type 2 diabetes patients

Named for the furballs whose astonishing fecundity made them stars in early Star Trek episodes, the tribbles protein, first identified in fruit flies, aids in regulating many cell processes in humans. Joslin Diabetes Center researchers now have identified mechanisms triggered by a variant of the tribbles gene that cause trouble in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells—and that offer a promising target for therapies for people with type 2 diabetes, even if they don't carry that gene variant.

2 Jul 2010