Push-button, Drive-through, Remote-control Society Leads To Obesity

Health experts warn that the nation's passion for avoiding physical activity has spiraled out of control. Our epidemic of inactivity contributes to 250,000 deaths a year, according to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Sedentary living and junk-food diets have combined to cause an alarming increase in obesity, even among children, many of whom are developing chronic illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol once seen only in adults. Inactivity-associated ailments, such as high blood pressure and osteoporosis, are also on the rise as the population ages.

Despite the much publicized fitness movement, fewer than one of every four adults exercises regularly. Compared to strenuous goals in the past, today the message is simpler. Research shows that moderate activity can yield major health benefits. The Surgeon General's Report summarized the scientific evidence of exercise's wide-ranging benefits and offered this simple exercise prescription: Burn 150 calories per day through physical activity such as a 30-minute walk, 15-minute run, or 45 minutes of washing and waxing a car.

The health benefits of moderate activity are substantial, the report notes. They include a reduced risk of numerous chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and colon cancer and improved mental health and enhanced physical functioning. Most sedentary people who add 30 minutes of moderate activity to their days will lose some body fat and experience improvements in blood pressure, blood glucose and blood cholesterol.

To achieve fitness in addition to health benefits, participate in a balanced, more strenuous program that includes three forms of exercise: cardiovascular (aerobic) activities that strengthen the heart and lungs and help control weight; resistance exercise that strengthens muscles and bones; and stretching to maintain flexibility. There is no single "best way" to get fit. Those who like going to a health club (and can afford membership) can work out at a gym, people who like fitness classes can enroll in a YMCA, recreation department or university-based program, or you can get fit at home.

People can consult the Physical Activity Pyramid to illustrate what they can do to achieve their health and fitness goals. The base of the pyramid represents the accumulated 30 minutes of moderate activity per day needed to gain health benefits. Such activities include walking the dog or raking the leaves. Aerobic and active sports: People who want to improve body shape or increase endurance need to move up the pyramid to more vigorous activities for at least 20 minutes three times a week. Flexibility and muscle strength: To gain from flexibility exercises, they should be done three to seven days a week. Muscle strengthening exercises only need to be done two to three days a week. Rest: Inactivity tops the pyramid. Long periods of lounging should be limited.

How to get started adding 30 minutes of moderate activity per day to your life. Here's a starter list: Balance on one foot while brushing your teeth. Balance on the other foot while combing your hair. Hide your TV remote. Never use valet parking. Never take an elevator fewer than three flights. Get rid of multiple phones at home; use only one phone you have to walk to. Get rid of your electric can opener. Turn your coffee break into a walk break. Walk to a distant vending machine, cafeteria or coffee shop for a healthful snack. Stretch or walk while you're talking on the (cordless) phone, preferably with a headset. Set an "activity" timer or program your computer to remind you to take periodic walking and/or stretching breaks. Wait actively. If you're forced to wait for an airplane, hairdresser, dentist, doctor, restaurant table, etc., take a walk. Take a minute to stretch your arms, legs, back, shoulders and neck whenever you get up from sitting or lying down. Sweep your floors, patio and/or front walk every day. During TV commercials, get up and walk or get down and stretch. Socialize actively. Instead of sitting and talking, go for a walk with family and/or friends. Play with a baby on the floor or take the baby to the park and see-saw and push the swing. Keep your pots and pans up high or down low so you must stretch to get them. Clean your own home or part of it. Avoid drive throughs. Park your car and walk in.

Diabetes Prevention Study Needs Volunteers At Risk For Type 1

A report in the March issue of Diabetes Forecast presents the Diabetes Prevention Trial Type 1 (DPT-1) which will determine whether Type 1 diabetes (most commonly found in children and often termed Juvenile Diabetes) can be prevented or delayed by using oral or injected insulin before diabetes occurs. Volunteers ages 3 to 45 including siblings of people with Type 1 diabetes and children whose parents have Type 1 diabetes are being recruited to participate in the program. These people run a greater risk for developing Type 1 than the general public

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that doesn't happen overnight. As many as 10 years may elapse between the immune system's initial attack and the development of full-blown diabetes. With a series of blood tests, DPT-1 researchers can predict a person's risk of developing diabetes within five years. The DPT-1 has two studies--one using oral insulin and one using injected. In one experiment, half the participants are randomly assigned to swallow capsules of crystallized insulin. The other half will take a placebo. Within the next five years, researchers will count how many people in each group develop diabetes. If far fewer of the people who got the real insulin develop diabetes, that will be evidence that oral insulin works.

Volunteers whose blood tests show that they have a greater than 50 percent risk of developing diabetes in the next five years are participating in DPT-1's insulin injection experiment. Half of the participants are randomly assigned to take two injections of Ultralente insulin a day. The other half don't take insulin or a placebo, but are closely monitored for any signs of diabetes. This experimental program is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the American Diabetes Association.

Pancreatic Islet Cell Transplantation Collaboration

Drs. Camillo Ricordi and Luca Inverardi at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), an academic center at the University of Miami School of Medicine, are announcing a collaboration with Desmos, Inc. to develop islet cell proliferation and transplantation. DRI's collaboration with Desmos will address the shortage of functional insulin-producing beta cells for transplantation. The eventual clinical objective of the collaborative research is to produce appropriate insulinproducing cells for transplantation into diabetic patients.

The Desmos Islet Transplantation proprietary technology has succeeded in proliferating primary islet cells on the extracellular matrix protein laminin-5, and then reaggregating them to restore islet functionality. Initial work was accomplished using porcine cells but more recent experiments with expanded human cells have shown encouraging early data.

Desmos, Inc. is a bioenhancement company developing innovative products to treat human disease using proprietary cell adhesion and tissue engineering technology. CONTACT: Mary E. Harper, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Development, of Desmos, Inc., 619-455-3708, fax 619455-3962, Desmos, Inc.; Diabetes Research Institute; University of Miami School of Medicine

HemoTherapies, Inc. Combats Rezulin's Liver Toxicity

Tom Halstead, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development of HemoTherapies Inc., proposed to the FDA's Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee a therapy to combat the liver toxicity of Rezulin. Rezulin (troglitazone) is an oral diabetes drug developed by Warner Lambert. The Committee is reviewing Rezulin's data for the treatment of Type 2, adult-onset diabetes. HemoTherapies Inc. offers the world's only FDA cleared liver assist technology the BioLogic-DT(R) (detoxifier) System, to help physicians ameliorate the risk of using Rezulin.

With the BioLogic-DT System, drug makers such as Warner Lambert will have the ability to support approved drugs and to continue the development of new drugs that would otherwise be limited or precluded from use because of related liver cytotoxicity." Halstead added. "Of the over 3,600 FDA approved drugs, more than 1,100 can potentially damage the liver. The build up of liver enzymes can lead to ammonia toxicity, encephalopathy (confusion), coma and even death. These adverse effects can be immediately and permanently reversed by HemoTherapies' technology."says Halstead.

The BioLogic-DT System clears drug metabolites, and toxins, reducing or eliminating liver damaging side effects. It is a compact, mobile, stand-alone, self-contained device that maintains appropriate blood chemistry concentrations through adding specific electrolytes and glucose to the patient's blood. The BioLogic-DT process is much gentler and simpler to operate than dialysis.

"The BioLogic-DT(R) System is FDA market cleared for use in treating hepatic failure with encephalopathy and liver failure as a result of drug overdose," added Halstead. "Because this device has only recently been available beyond trial centers in the U.S., the Rezulin researchers, community physicians and Rezulin users were not aware of this treatment option for patients developing liver failure after use of Rezulin. Contact: Tom Halstead, Executive Vice President, Clinical Development of HemoTherapies Inc., 619-921-5453; or Linda Seaton, 619455-5500 ext. 133

AgeNet Web Site Provides Aging Americans With Information and Resources

The AgeNet Web site covers a range of topics that are of special concern to older adults and their adult children caregivers including health, geriatric drugs, financial, legal and insurance issues. Issues of most immediate concern are conveniently set in a "Watchful Eye" news format and users can e-mail specific questions about geriatric drugs to a Registered Pharmacist or ask an Occupational Therapist about home safety and adaptive equipment.

David Williams, one of AgeNet's co-founders, says "AgeNet's primary mission is to help older adults maintain independence, dignity and security. It's an 'umbrella' business designed to consolidate products and services targeted to aging American consumers. Our ever growing Web site uses the Internet's communication power to 'bridge the distance' between aging parents and caregivers -enhancing the quality of life of both."

Williams further says that on the Web site, "We not only provide good edited content, but we also try to provide visitors an opportunity to 'take action' on that content. For example, a visitor to AgeNet may learn about a new drug in our Watchful Eye area and then pose a specific question about that drug in our Ask a Pharmacist area. They may then choose to take an extra step and purchase an online Geriatric Mediation Assessment. Likewise, 'taking action' might also include providing visitors the opportunity to chat with peers, search for a local elder law attorney, learn about the attributes of a specific nursing home or assisted living facility and actually purchase needed products and services directly over the Internet."

The AgeNet Web site is divided into eight areas: Health, Drugs, Legal, Insurance, Financial, Helpful Products, Caregiver Support and Housing Options. Other topics include: Ask a Pharmacist, Drug Reviews, Mourning & Living: Hosted by national best selling author Harriet Sarnoff Schiff, and Celebrity Birthdays.: AgeNet, Madison, David Williams, 608/256-4242 Fax: 608/256-3944

Stem-Cell Research Supported by 73 Scientists

Seventy-three prominent scientists, including 67 Nobel Prize winners, signed a letter supporting plans by the National Institutes of Health to finance research with stem cells that originated from human embryos. The letter published in the journal Science, said that despite the opposition of more than 70 members of Congress, the NIH position on human stem-cell research "is both laudable and forward-thinking." Stem-cell research, the scientists said, could be used to treat heart disease and brain disorders and could "perhaps even cure" diabetes.

Cook With Convenience Foods--Healthy and Fast

You want fast, healthy food for yourself and your family? It sounds too good to be true, but an increase in our health consciousness, along with nutrition-labeling laws, has produced an increase in the number of healthy convenience products. Now, says Nancy Cooper, you can find convenience foods that are as healthful as anything you'd make from scratch. Cooper is a registered dietitian, a diabetesnutrition specialist at the International Diabetes Center and the author of "The Convenience Foods Cookbook: Quick and Healthy Recipes Based On Brand-Name Foods" (IDC Publishing, $12.95). In this book, Cooper explains how to turn brand-name foods into nutritious meals that are fast, tasty and healthy.

To create this cookbook, Cooper received recipes from the manufacturers of many convenience foods. She added a few of her own family favorites to the thousands of recipes they sent, along with some recipes from the center's staff members. Then she chose the recipes that she thought were the healthiest and most appealing. She avoided recipes with complex directions or mile-long lists of ingredients. When she was through, she had nearly 200 recipes. They're printed one-perpage in the easy-to-read softcover cookbook, and they cover every category -from appetizers and snacks to desserts and drinks.

How quick are these recipes? Many of the dishes can be on the table in less than 20-30 minutes. all come with nutritional information, including carbohydrate choices for diabetics and food exchanges for people on weight-control or other special diets.

Avandia and Actos, Type 2 Diabetes Drugs, Seeking FDA Approval

Late in April the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will evaluate two noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) drugs rosiglitazone supplied by SmithKline Beecham (SB; "Avandia") and pioglitazone by Takeda Chemical/Eli Lilly ("Actos"). An application was lodged with FDA last November to approve rosiglitazone and the drug was given priority evaluation status. Pioglitazone was submitted for approval in mid-January. The former is likely to be approved by May; the latter, if a priority status is given, will be granted approval two months later.

SB and Takeda are competing against each other for the No.2 position as NIDDM drug supplier in the U.S., trailing Sankyo which is marketing troglitazone. Rosiglitazone was submitted for FDA approval as both a single therapy and combined therapy coupled with Bristol-Myers Squibb's metformin antidiabetes drug. Rosiglitazone underwent 16 studies in phase-III clinical tests. SB has recently invested $50 mn in construction of a production unit in China since this drug is SB's core drug. Pioglitazone is Takeda's core item heading for world markets and will be its first drug to be marketed in the U.S.

Provided by The Diabetes Mall, (http://www.diabetesnet.com) Books, grams scales, and more: (800) 988-4772 or [011] 1-619-497-0900