Diabetes News - Dec. 10, 2000

Stem Cell Study Offers Hope

There has been much research into stem cells in recent years, and scientists still believe that these cells may one day be used to replace damaged cells, tissues, and organs. A recent study of stem cells in mice suggests that the body's own bone marrow may be used to develop into brain cells.

The study is included in a recent issue of Science (volume 290, pages 1779-1782, December 1, 2000), and was conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland. In the study, researchers injected bone marrow from healthy male mice into female mice that were bred to lack immune system cells. Ordinarily, these mice die unless they are given a bone marrow transplant.

After several months, the researchers studied the brain tissue of the female mice. They found that nerve cells and other brain cells originated from the transplanted bone marrow cells, as indicated by the Y chromosome present only in cells of males. In fact, between 5% and 8% of the brain cells in the female mice had the Y chromosome.

The research is especially significant, because it was previously believed that the stem cells of bone marrow were only able to develop into cells of the blood and immune system, and that brain stem cells were the only ones able to develop into nerve cells. The study provides hope that one day, a person's bone marrow may be used to help brain disorders.

Proinsulin May Predict Stroke

Although the risk factors for strokes are widely known, there is currently no way of knowing for sure who will actually have a stroke. A new study attempts to show that one of the major predictors may be levels of proinsulin in the blood.

The study on proinsulin, which is produced by the pancreas and later converted into insulin, was conducted by doctors at Umea University in Sweden. The researchers studied the proinsulin levels and diastolic blood pressure of 94 people who had had a stroke for the first time and 178 people who hadn't had a stroke.

The results, which are published in the journal Stroke 2000 (volume 31, pages 2936-2941, December 2000), indicate that the risk for stroke was doubled in people who had the highest levels of proinsulin. High levels of proinsulin had the biggest impact on women, whose risk of stroke quadrupled. The risk also increased for men with high levels of proinsulin, though not as dramatically.

The researchers believe that high levels of proinsulin are a sign of larger metabolic problems, such as a resistance to insulin, which occurs with Type 2 diabetes. The doctors believe that measuring proinsulin levels may one day be a routine procedure used to determine people's risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. 

CDC Study Will Focus On Kids & Type 2

Recently, there have been more and more children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as "adult-onset" diabetes. Responding to this increase, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has recently announced that it will conduct a study that will help doctors track and control this disease in children.

Researchers will focus on determining the prevalence of the disease, and also study treatment methods, as most diabetes drugs were developed for adults.

Research will be based at various medical centers around the country, including Kaiser Permanente of Southern California; the University of Colorado Health Science Center Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics; Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; and the University of South Carolina. The study will include over 6,000 children who currently have diabetes, as well as about 800 newly-diagnosed children each year for over 5 years.

Combating Obesity In Kids

A growing problem in America is the ever-increasing rate of obesity among young people. Recently, a panel of government agencies presented a report to President Clinton to provide a plan to fight obesity in youth.

The report, which included representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, outlined ideas for promoting exercise. This includes exercise programs in schools, day-cares, and community groups. The panel also emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in promoting exercise for kids.

Mothers May Not Recognize Obesity

Mothers are often the last to see their children as anything less than perfect. A recent study indicates that many mothers don't see their children as having a weight problem, even if the children are overweight or obese.

The study was conducted by doctors at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was recently published in the journal Pediatrics (volume 106, pages1380-1386, December 2000). Over 600 mothers of children aged 23 months to 5 years participated in the study. The children's body mass index values were recorded. BMI measures weight in relation to height. In the study, a BMI of 25 or higher was considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or higher was considered obese.

The researchers found that about 79% of the mothers of overweight children did not see their child as having a weight problem. These mothers did tend to have less formal education than other mothers in the study.

The researchers hope their findings will encourage parents to recognize weight problems in their children, and take action immediately to prevent health conditions associated with obesity.

Does Folate Fortify The Heart?

Doctors almost always recommend eating a balanced diet including green vegetables and grains. A recent study indicates that folate, which is found in these foods, may be essential in preventing heart and blood vessel disease.

Researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Hyattsville, Maryland recently published their study on folate in the Archives of Internal Medicine (volume160, pages 3258-3262, November 27, 2000). The study included 689 adults, 35% of whom had low levels of blood folate (also called folic acid). Those with the lowest levels of folate were more than twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as those with high levels of folate.

The researchers postulate that folate protects the heart and blood vessels by reducing the levels of homocystein, which is a byproduct of metabolic processes that has been connected with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. More research is needed to determine with certainty if and how folate protects the heart.

Flu Drugs May Lessen Need For Antibiotics

There are all sorts of unpleasant symptoms associated with the flu, as well as  medical complications. Antibiotics are prescribed for some of these complications, including respiratory infections like bronchitis and sinusitis. However, a new flu drug may eliminated the need for antibiotics, as it prevents certain complications from occurring.

The drug is called zanamivir, and is manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome. A recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (volume 160, pages 3234-3240, 3243-3247, November 27, 2000) includes research from a series of studies on zanamivir conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville. The studies included 2,500 people who had the flu, some of whom were given zanamivir, and some of whom were given a placebo.

According to the results, 11% of those who were taking zanamivir were prescribed antibiotics, compared to 17% of those taking the placebo. Although it is possible that doctors were inappropriately prescribing the antibiotics, the researchers believe that the flu drug may reduce the need for such antibiotics.

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