 Diabetes News - Dec. 3, 2000 Big Kids May Be At Risk For Type 1    
Big Kids May Be At Risk For Type 1While it is a well-known fact that obesity leads to an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, a new study shows that kids who are heavier and taller than their peers may also be at an increased risk for developing Type 1 diabetes. Doctors at the University of Tampere in Finland recently conducted a study of the medical records of over 1,000 children, and they've published the results of that study in the journal Diabetes Care (volume 23, pages 1755-1760, December 2000). The researchers studied the records of 586 children aged 15 or younger who had been diagnosed with diabetes, and compared these to the records of 571 children without diabetes. The results of the study indicate that obese children over the age of three were twice as likely to develop Type 1 diabetes than thinner children. Taller children were also more likely to develop the disease than children of average height.
Ovarian Syndrome And Hardened ArteriesWomen who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are familiar with a variety of complications of their hormonal disorder, including ovarian cysts and an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and male attributes. However, a new study indicates that PCOS is also linked to an increased risk of hardened arteries. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is published in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (volume 20, page 2414, November 2000). Over 270 women participated in the study, all of whom were over the age of 30, and half of whom had been diagnosed with PCOS. Researchers measured the build-up of fatty plaque on the artery walls of the participants by using ultrasound. They found that over 7% of the women with PCOS had a significant build-up of arterial plaque, as compared with the 0.7% of the women without the disorder. The differences also widened with increased age of the participants, particularly when they were 45 or older. The researchers aren't clear on exactly why there is an increased risk of arterial plaque in women with PCOS. One explanation could be that these women have a tendency toward obesity. However, there may also be another aspect of the disorder that leads to hardened arteries.
Competition For Viagra?Viagra is effective for erectile dysfunction in many cases, but it has side effects. According to the data coming from a new drug study, a recently developed drug is also effective, and may even cause fewer negative side effects than Viagra. The drug is called Cialis, and is being developed by the biotech firm ICOS Corp. and the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Co. The drug was recently tested in a study involving 212 men with mild erectile dysfunction, as well as men with a severe inability to achieve and maintain erections due to diabetes complications or because of surgery for prostate cancer. Men involved in the eight-week study were divided into five groups: some received a placebo, while the other groups received Cialis in doses of 2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, or 25 mg. Study leaders found that about 88% of the men taking Cialis reported improvement in their overall erectile function, including 75-85% of the men with severe erectile dysfunction. The effectiveness of the drug increased with increased dosage. Side effects of the drug also appeared to be minimal. Only 3% of the participants taking Cialis reported blue/green color distortions or facial flushing, as compared to 10% of study participants taking Viagra in another clinical trial. However, the two drugs have not been directly compared, so it is not possible to say with certainty which drug has fewer side effects. Manufacturers of the drug will conduct further trials, and then expect to seek FDA approval by the second quarter of 2001. If approval is achieved, Cialis will not be introduced on the market until at least 2002. |
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