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Flu Shot Shortage
Many people count on a yearly shot to keep them flu-free.
This year, however, experts predict a shortage in the vaccine,
and are scrambling for ways to make sure that high-risk groups
stay healthy.
The shortage of the vaccine this year is due to several
reasons. Each year, a new flu vaccine must be created to combat
the different flu strains that go around. One of the flu strains
required for this year's vaccine proved to be difficult to grow
in the lab. Also, the FDA informed two of the country's four
vaccine production companies that they would have to make
improvements in their factories. This caused a delay in
production of the vaccine.
Those who are at the greatest risk of dying of the flu are
the elderly and people who have chronic heart or lung diseases,
or who have diabetes, kidney disease, or a weakened immune
system. In order to ensure that these people receive first
priority in getting the flu shot, the Centers for Disease
Control is recommending that annual "flu shot drives"
be postponed, as these usually attract younger, healthier
people.
The National
Institutes of Health is also conducting studies to
determine whether a half-dose of the flu shot can effectively
prevent healthy young adults from getting the flu. The study
will involve 840 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and
49. Information is available on their website.
Study Compares Heart Medications
Congestive heart failure is a growing epidemic in the United States, but
developments in medications offer hope to those at risk of death
from this problem. People with Type 2 diabetes are especially at
risk for CHF. A recent study suggests that one medication
in particular is the most effective in treating heart failure.
The study was conducted at the Cattedra di Cardiologia,
University of Brescia, in Italy, and is published in Circulation
(Circulation 2000 Aug 1; v. 102(5): pgs. 546-51). Researchers compared heart performance of people
taking carvedilol (Coreg) with those taking metoprolol. After an average
of 23 months had passed, researchers compared the two groups'
left ventricular ejection fraction values. This is a measurement
of how well the heart is pumping. Those who were taking
carvedilol had higher ejection fraction values, meaning
healthier hearts and a decreased risk for heart failure.
Coreg
has both a beta blocker action, as well as a vasodilating
action. It also lessens growth of vascular smooth muscle cells,
which are often found to be thickened around blood vessels in
diabetes. As with any drug, there are side effects associated with
Coreg that should be closely monitored. For more information,
visit Jon's
Coreg and Beta-blocker Site. People with
diabetes should continue to monitor their blood sugars, and
report changes to their doctor.
Inter-Species Transplants Now
Possible
One of the main problems involved with transplanting tissues
or organs is that there are simply not enough donors to supply
the need. A new study shows that the answer may lie in the
transplantation of tissues from other species.
Doctors at Hammersmith Hospital in London recently published
the results of their study in the journal Nature Immunology
(volume 1, pages 163-168, 2000). Their research involved the
successful transplantation of pig pancreas cells into mice,
without causing the mice T cells to attack the pig cells.
This was accomplished by immunizing the T cells in the mice
before the transplant occurred, causing the T cells to ignore
the pig cells that were subsequently introduced. This is
important because the entire immune system did not have to be
suppressed, which is a common trade-off in the strong
anti-rejection drugs commonly used.
While more research must be conducted, doctors are hopeful
that animal-to-human transplants may soon be possible. This may
solve the problem of the shortage of available tissue for
transplants, although there may be a risk of contracting
diseases from other species as well.
Drug Therapy For Obesity And Type 2
One of the side effects that is sometimes involved in drug
regimens for Type 2 diabetes is that of weight gain. For people
who already struggle with obesity, this is a dangerous
situation. A new study may provide an alternative.
The study was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology,
Metabolism and Pathobiochemistry at Eberhard-Karls-Universitat
in Tubingen, Germany. Thirteen obese people with Type 2 diabetes
were included in the study. The participants were divided into
two groups. Each group received either metformin or a placebo
for ten weeks, then waited two weeks, and then received the
opposite treatment for an additional ten weeks.
Results shows that HbA1c levels and fasting glucose levels
were comparable in people receiving the placebo or the metformin.
However, when people took the metformin, total exogenous insulin
requirements decreased. Researchers also found that glycemia was
improved with the addition of metformin to intensive insulin
therapy required by people with Type 2 who are also obese. Also
significant is the fact that the metformin treatment was not
associated with any weight gain.
Exercise vs. Heart Disease And Type 2
Many studies have indicated that exercise is vitally
important in maintaining health and preventing diseases. A
recent study set out to explain why this is so.
The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine
(volume 160, pages 2108-2116) spanned 17 years. It included
5,159 men in England between the ages of 40 and 59. None of the
participants had any history of coronary heart disease, Type 2
diabetes, or stroke. The researchers found that physical
activity was inversely related to the rate of coronary heart
disease. Also, the risk for Type 2 diabetes decreased with
increasing levels of physical activity.
The researchers associated physical activity with improved
insulin levels in the blood. Physical activity also improved
heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of "good"
cholesterol. These factors seem to explain why physical activity
decreases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. However, more research is
needed to explain the inverse relationship between exercise and
coronary heart disease.
Study Eyes Cataract Removal
One of the more devastating side effects of diabetes can be
the development of potentially blinding cataracts. Surgical
advances are providing hope, though, and a recent study shows
the viability of one particular method of surgery.
The study, conducted at the Eye Institute of the Medical
College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, is published in the Archives of
Ophthalmology (volume 118, pages 912-917). It involved the
examination of 150 eyes of 119 people with diabetes who had all
undergone phacoemulsification surgery. This surgery involves a
small incision in the eye through which an ultrasound instrument
may be inserted. The ultrasound breaks up the cataract, which
can then be extracted.
Results of the study showed that vision improved in those
who'd undergone phacoemulsification surgery at about the same
rate as those who'd undergone other types of surgery. The study
also showed that when the surgery was performed by more
experienced doctors, visual improvements were more common.
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