   
Arsenic In Tap Water Linked To DiabetesIt is commonly known that arsenic is an extremely toxic substance that can kill people if given in a strong enough dose. However, researchers are now trying to publicize the health risks associated with the low, but dangerous levels of arsenic that is common in tap water. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to low concentrations of arsenic over many years can lead to diabetes, anemia, reproductive disorders, and cancers of the skin, bladder, lungs, and prostate. The current congressional standard for the presence of arsenic in water is limited to no more than 50 parts per billion. However, the EPA hopes to lower this standard to no more than 5 parts per billion. In the meantime, the EPA encourages people to become aware of the arsenic levels in their drinking water. People who get their water from city municipal or privately owned drinking water supplies have access to the annually published Consumer Confidence Reports, which list average arsenic levels for the year as well as highs and lows. For those who get their water from private well-water systems, arsenic levels can be tested by certified laboratories, such as the Environmental Quality Institute. If people discover high levels of arsenic in their tap water, one solution may be a filtration system. Filters that work for arsenic include reverse osmosis, distillation, and anion exchange filters. People can contact NSF International, which is a nonprofit testing and certification group, to find out which filtration systems are best. This information is particularly timely in light of recent research into the correlation between arsenic intake and the development of diabetes in populations in Argentina, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Thailand, and Taiwan. Studies published in a variety of journals, such as the American Journal of Epidemiology (volume 148, number 2, pages 198-203, July 1998), the Environmental Health Perspective (volume 108, number 9, pages 847-851, September 2000), and the Review of Environmental Health (volume 14, number 4, pages 211-229, October-December 1999) have all indicated that there is a direct correlation between exposure to arsenic and the risk for developing diabetes. While it is not clear exactly how arsenic effects the immune system, researchers encourage people to become aware of the presence of arsenic, and to decrease their consumption as much as possible.
Stem-Cell Decision DelayedThe use of stem-cells in the treatment of degenerative diseases has been the center of a controversy surrounding medical research for several years. Unfortunately, for those waiting for progress on beta cell transplants, the controversy will not end any time soon. Congress has decided to postpone its decision about stem cell use until next year. Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into any kind of cell in the body, and therefore their possibilities are endless. Researchers hope to one day be able to control the development of the stem cells to treat diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other diseases which could be treated by replacing diseased cells with new, healthy cells. The issue has become quite political, especially since the best source of stem cells comes from embryonic tissue. The federal government currently won't fund research into embryonic stem cells because of the congressional ban on research that destroys human embryos. A bill proposed by Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) would remove these restrictions, and allow women to donate leftover embryos from in-vitro fertilization to federally funded researchers. Opponents of this bill believe stem cells should be obtained from adults only, although researchers say that this is a far more difficult task, as the stem cells in adults are limited and do not grow as well. The National Institutes of Health has proposed that the government provide funding for research on embryonic stem cells, but not permit research on the embryo itself. The bill will not get a congressional hearing until early next year.
Drug Therapy For Gestational DiabetesA relatively common complication during pregnancy is that of gestational diabetes, which can affect the health of mothers and their babies. Until now, women who developed the complication were forced to control it through daily insulin injections. A new study indicates that taking a pill twice a day may treat the problem just as well. Doctors at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City led a study in which women with gestational diabetes were treated with the insulin pill glyburide instead of giving themselves multiple daily injections of insulin. The study included 404 women who were divided into two groups: half were given glyburide, and half were given insulin injections. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine (October 19, 2000). Researchers found that results of the two treatments were similar. Insulin controlled blood sugar in 88% of the women, and glyburide controlled blood sugar in 82% of the women. Babies in both groups weighed the same and had the same blood sugar levels. Glyburide could not be detected in the fetuses from mothers receiving that treatment. This new treatment is good news for women who would otherwise have to give themselves multiple injections of insulin. The babies also benefit. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can result in oversized babies who weigh over 8.8 pounds, and who are at a higher risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. More extreme complications include cognitive delays and even stillbirth. It is unclear what causes gestational diabetes, but it is more common in women who are obese, have a familial history of diabetes, and who are over the age of 25. For now, it is up to the doctors who treat women with gestational diabetes as to whether or not they will prescribe glyburide or insulin. If the drug manufacturers choose to promote the drug in this treatment, they will have to obtain FDA approval first.
Vitamin Supplements May Stop StrokesDoctors often promote taking vitamins as a supplement to a healthy diet. However, a new study suggests that vitamins may actually decrease the risk of stroke. The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and is published in the Archives of Neurology (volume 57, pages 1503-1509, October 2000). The participants in the study included 30,000 men between the ages of 50 and 69 who smoked. The men were divided into four groups. One group received vitamin E supplements, another group received beta-carotene supplements, the third group took both supplements, and the last group received a placebo. All participants completed a health questionnaire and were given a general medical examination at the beginning of the study. The men were re-examined three times a year throughout the study. Study results indicated that men who took vitamin E and did not have high blood pressure had no difference in their risk for stroke. However, those who had high blood pressure experienced a decreased risk of stroke. There was also no increased risk for bleeding in the brain for those who had diabetes. Those who took the beta-carotene supplement did not have consistent changes in their risk for stroke, except in men who drank alcohol. These men had a decrease in their risk for ischemic stroke, which occurs when blood-flow to the brain is interrupted, causing tissue to die. These men also had an increase in the risk for hemorrhagic stroke, which is bleeding in the brain.
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