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Diabetes Drug Reduces HIV Drug's Side
Effects
Some of the most recent developments in HIV research have
yielded powerful drugs which can prolong the lives of those who
test positive for the virus. However, the side effects of these
drugs are often very dangerous. A recent study shows that
combining diabetes drugs with the anti-HIV drugs may reduce
these harmful side effects.
Some of the more commonly-prescribed drug regimens for
fighting HIV are protease inhibitors. While these are often
effective in slowing the progression of the virus, they can also
cause lipodystrophy syndrome. This is a syndrome in which people
develop excess fat on their chest, back, and abdomen, and lose
fat on their face, legs, and arms. Along with this fat
distribution comes the risk of insulin resistance and
cardiovascular disease.
In their search for ways to eliminate lipodystrophy in people
taking anti-HIV drugs, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital
in Boston conducted a study involving 25 participants who were
currently taking protease inhibitors. All of them had early
signs of lipodystrophy and insulin resistance. Fourteen of these
participants were given the diabetes drug metformin twice per
day. The other eleven participants were given a placebo.
The study results, which were published in the July 26th
issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, showed
that those who were taking the metformin lost weight, had a
lower blood pressure, and had a 20% reduction in insulin levels
as compared to their levels at the beginning of the study. In
comparison, those taking the placebo gained weight, had an increase
in blood pressure, and did not experience a decline in insulin
levels.
Doctors are hopeful that this study will lead to further
research into the possibility that diabetes drugs may help in
the fight against HIV.
Drug Companies Work On Type 1
Vaccine
Often, the only way to make progress is through collaboration
and teamwork. Two pharmaceutical companies recently joined
forces in the effort to develop a diabetes drug that they hope
will stop diabetes before it starts.
The drug companies involved are the San Diego based company Neurocrine
Biosciences Inc. and the Japanese company Taisho
Pharmaceutical Co. On July 24, Taisho agreed to finance a $45
million licensing and development deal for Neurocrine's Type 1 diabetes
drug NBI-6024. NBI-6024 is a short protein fragment of the
insulin molecule which has been modified to stimulate regulatory
cells so that the immune system no longer attacks the beta
cells.
If this approach were to prove successful, it could benefit
people identified by their family history or blood tests as
being at risk for Type 1 diabetes. It might also benefit some of
the approximately 8% of those who are often said to have Type 2
diabetes but who carry islet cell antibodies and are slowly
developing Type 1 diabetes. The drug/vaccine appears to cause
little or no side effects in animal studies.
In the deal, Neurocrine retains all rights to the
drug outside of Asia and Europe. Initial testing of the drug in
people with Type 1 diabetes had positive results. Neurocrine
hopes to begin further testing soon in order to get the drug
approved for treatment in diabetes. The company now has the
finances to do so and is planning early human studies.
Keeping Young Hearts Healthy
Heart disease, the number one killer in America, is not just
a concern of those who are elderly or overweight. New research
indicates that heart disease prevention must begin as early as
in childhood.
A new study, conducted by doctors at the Southwest Foundation
for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, shows that arteries can
begin to harden in childhood, and continue to do so through
adolescence unless steps are taken to stop the process. The
study is published in the July 25th issue of Circulation:
Journal of the American Heart Association (volume 102). It
involved the examination of 760 deceased men and women between
the ages of 15 and 34. Doctors found that those who had high
levels of cholesterol were much more likely to have build-up of
plaque in their arteries. Overall, a large number of those who
were studied had high risks of developing coronary heart
disease.
Researchers believe that the study results prove the need for
preventing heart disease early in life by exercising, not
smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Automated Reminder System For
Medication
For those with diabetes or other diseases that require the
adherence to a strict drug regimen, remembering to take each
dose at the correct time can become a stressful ordeal. A new
internet-based system hopes to change all that.
The system is known as MediMOM,
and works by sending reminder messages to a person's pager, cell
phone, or e-mail to tell them when it is time to take
medications, test blood glucose levels, or address other medical
needs. MediMOM costs $9.95 per month, and currently serves
15,000 people.
Restless Legs Bring Sleepless Nights
People with diabetes are often familiar with the syndrome of
"restless legs," which is a tingly feeling in the legs
that make people want to move their legs around to get rid of
the feeling. A new study reveals some interesting aspects of the
syndrome.
The study was conducted by doctors at the University of
Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington. They interviewed
1,803 Kentucky residents aged 18 and older. They found that the
presence of restless legs increased with age, as it occurred in
only 3% of those in the 18-29 year age group, while it occurred
in 19% of those who were 80 and older. Also, those with diabetes
were four times more likely to experience the syndrome than
those who did not have the disease. Those who did not exercise
were three times more likely to have restless legs than those
who exercised at least 3 hours per month. Those who consumed
less than one alcoholic drink per month were less likely to have
the syndrome.
For those who did experience restless legs, they reported a
great difficulty in getting a good night's sleep. Also, they
were twice as likely to report other health problems, and three
times as likely to report mental health problems, than those who
did not experience restless legs. The study shows that having
restless legs can be a serious problem, and can have significant
control over a person's general well-being.
Weight-Loss Program Gains Support
The struggle to lose weight has become an American obsession,
yet few are consistently successful at doing it. However, one
particular program has had remarkable results since its
inception in 1970.
The program, called the Trevose
Behavior Modification Program, is very strict, and does
not promise quick results. Instead, it works by helping people
to lose weight over time through good nutrition, calorie
counting, exercise, weekly weighings, and support groups. Those
who are not committed to the program and do not follow the
regimen are dismissed.
Researchers at Rutgers University and the University of
Pennsylvania recently examined the program, and published their
findings in the July issue of the International Journal of
Obesity. They studied 329 people involved in the Trevose program
beginning in 1992 or 1993. Of these, only 202 actually qualified
to begin the program. The others either changed their minds or
did not meet eligibility requirements. 105 of the 202 completed
the first year, 59 completed two years, and 39 completed five
years.
The study showed that peak weight loss was 30 months after
beginning the program, which is far past the time most diet
plans last. The research indicated that the longer people stayed
in the program, the more weight they would lose. Also, the
participants who lost the most amount of weight in the first
month lost the most amount of weight overall. The more people
weighed at the beginning of the program, the more weight they
tended to lose.
The program offers hope for those people who are obese and
are therefore at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, and
other dangerous diseases.
Link Between Depression And
Strokes?
Besides causing all sorts of emotional and psychological
problems, a new study suggests that depression may lead to
strokes as well.
The study was conducted by the National Center for Health
Statistics, which is a part of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. It is published in the July issue of the
journal Psychosomatic Medicine. The study involved 6,000 people
over a period of 16 years.
Results of the study showed that risks for stroke are skewed
according to gender and ethnicity. Researchers found that white
men with depression have a 68% risk of having a stroke, as
compared to the 52% risk of stroke in white women with
depression. By contrast, African Americans have a 160% risk of
stroke. This may possibly be explained by the increased risk of
African Americans to develop hypertension, which can lead to
stroke. It is still unknown why African Americans have this
increased risk of developing hypertension.
The study showed that 43% of the population may be suffering
with moderate to high levels of depression. This does not mean
that all of these people will have strokes. The researchers
simply hope to make people aware that other health problems
often accompany depression.
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