Heartening News About Alcohol
Although there are many known health risks associated with drinking alcohol,  especially when it is drunk in excess, new studies suggest that moderate drinking may actually be beneficial for the heart.
The study was conducted by doctors at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (volume 285; pages 1965-1977; April 18, 2001). The study included over 1,900 adults who had had heart attacks and been hospitalized.
Researchers found that those who drank seven drinks a week in the year prior to their heart attack had a 32% lower risk of dying as compared with those who abstained from drinking. In addition, those who drank less than seven drinks a week lowered their risk of dying by 21% over four years.
In another study, which was led by doctors at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, a group of 2,200 people around the age of 74 was studied to determine the effects of alcohol on the risk of heart failure. Results of the study indicated that the people who drank at least 1.5 drinks per day had a 47% lower risk of heart failure than those who did not drink at all.
  
New Application For Diabetes Drug?
Occasionally drugs that have been developed and utilized to treat a medical condition in one particular population can also be effective in treating another population. Such appears to be the case with the diabetes drug metformin.
Metformin is currently used to treat adults with Type 2 diabetes, and works by assisting the body to become more responsive to insulin. In a recent study, researchers from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina studied the effects of metformin on obese adolescents who were at risk for developing the disease.
The study included 29 obese adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 who were given 500 milligrams of metformin or a placebo twice a day for six months. Researchers found that those taking the drug reduced their body mass index by 1.3%, their blood glucose by 12%, and their insulin by 38%. In addition, girls taking the drug had a reduction in leptin levels by 5.5%, although there was no difference for boys. Leptin regulates the appetite by transmitting signals to the brain once fat cells are full.
Results, which are found in the online version of the journal Pediatrics (volume 107, page e55, April 2001), indicated marked differences between those taking the placebo and those taking the drug. For those taking the placebo, there was an increase in BMI, blood glucose, and leptin levels, although insulin levels did not change.
Researchers say that the study as it stands is not enough to justify prescribing metformin to obese adolescents to decrease their risk of developing diabetes. A study lasting longer than six months and involving more than 29 adolescents would be needed in order to verify results.
More Metformin/Glucophage News
As indicated in the previous article, it is sometimes possible for drugs that are indicated for one particular use to be used in other capacities as well. Another study involving the Type 2 drug metformin indicates that it may also be used to improve blood vessel function.
This metformin study was conducted by researchers at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, and is published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (volume 37, 1344-1350, April 2001). The study included 44 people who had mild Type 2 diabetes. Participants were given either metformin or a placebo for three months.
Metformin works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
Before and after the study, researchers monitored the participants' blood vessel function by measuring blood flow in the forearm. They found that those who received metformin had great improvements in blood vessel function. Researchers believe that this indicates a link between loss of sensitivity to insulin and blood vessel malfunction. The malfunction prevents the blood vessel lining from expanding and contracting to meet the body's needs.
Researches are hopeful that metformin may be used to prevent blood vessel damage in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Stem Cells Gleaned From Fat Cells
The recent controversy surrounding stem cells, and the threat of removal of federal funding for such research, has prompted scientists to seek alternative sources of stem cells besides embryos. One source recently found is that of fat cells.
A recent collaboration between researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Pittsburgh , yielded encouraging results. The researchers were able to remove stem cells from fat removed by liposuction, and these stem cells were grown into bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat.
The research, which was published in the journal Tissue Engineering (April 9, 2001), provides hope for the possibility of curing numerous diseases through the use of stem cells. The researchers believe that the use of laboratory-engineered tissue may happen within five years.
New Medical Screening Guidelines
In a recent issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health (March 2001), a panel of 546 doctors with expertise in prevention and primary care were surveyed in regards to specific health recommendations.
One of the recommendations issued by the doctors was for younger adults to be screened for lipid abnormalities at age 20 and above if they have specific risk factors for coronary heart disease. These risk factors include diabetes, a family history of heart disease, the use of tobacco, or high blood pressure.
The doctors also call for a lowering of the upper age limit for regular screening for high cholesterol, which can lead to coronary heart disease.
Reporter Wins Pulitzer Investigating Rezulin
A few months ago, there was an enormous amount of press coverage about the controversial diabetes drug Rezulin. The drug was linked to numerous deaths, and was ultimately recalled. This was due in part to the investigative work by Los Angeles Times journalist David Willman. For five years, he worked on investigating government policies regarding FDA approval of drugs that turned out to be harmful or deadly. On April 16, Willman was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism.
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