First United Nations World Diabetes Day Unites Global Diabetes Community to Fight the Epidemic

November 14, 2007

November 14, 2007 (PRNewswire) - On the first United Nations World Diabetes Day, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) calls on governments to develop national policies for the prevention, care and treatment of diabetes and calls on donors worldwide to consider the need for a diabetes global fund to tackle the growing diabetes epidemic.

Speaking at the World Diabetes Day press conference, Dr Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation, explained that policy change and increased funding will be required to curb the growth of diabetes. "Diabetes is now seen as a serious threat to global health. It is one of the most devastating epidemics the world has seen," said Dr Silink, "yet diabetes funding is dismally insufficient in comparison to other diseases."

November 14 marks the first observance of the existing World Diabetes Day by the United Nations. At the end of last year, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 61/225. The resolution establishes November 14 as an officially observed UN world day from this year, making diabetes only the second disease after HIV/AIDS to have an official UN day.

The World Diabetes Day resolution describes diabetes as "a threat to families, member states and the entire world." For the first time a non-infectious disease is seen as posing as serious a threat to global health as the infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. IDF and WHO figures indicate that over 246 million people now have diabetes worldwide. This number is set to reach 380 million by 2025 if significant action is not taken.(i)

Speaking at today's press conference held in New York City to mark the first United Nations World Diabetes Day, IDF President-Elect Jean-Claude Mbanya explained why widespread apathy in the face of the growing diabetes threat has contributed to the diabetes epidemic: "Diabetes was long dismissed as 'nothing serious' a 'touch of sugar', or a 'disease of the elderly and the rich'. For years the growing threat of diabetes went largely ignored. Successive generations failed to act decisively. Diabetes slipped in under the radar unnoticed to become a global health catastrophe." According to Dr Mbanya, the time is right to take action to address the diabetes threat: "The political momentum generated by the World Diabetes Day Resolution, the coordinated advocacy of a strong diabetes community and the availability of cheap medication have created the opportunity for governments to implement policies to prevent diabetes and its complications."

Diabetes affects 6% of the global adult population. It is a leading cause of blindness, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and amputation. Every year, over 3.8 million deaths are due to diabetes, making diabetes a more significant global killer than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes. In that same 10 seconds, two people develop the disease.
Diabetes is an expensive condition, with wide-ranging costs for individuals, for families and for healthcare systems. It threatens to undermine economic growth, particularly in developing countries, which currently shoulder most of the diabetes burden.

Current spending to treat and prevent diabetes is estimated at more than US$232 billion each year. This will balloon to more than US$302 billion each year within 20 years. More than 80% of this investment is made in the world's most developed countries. The majority of all people with diabetes (70% of the total), however, are found in the developing countries.

Despite the size and seriousness of the diabetes epidemic, it has not attracted significant funding from donors. Overseas Development Aid to the health sector, for example, reached US$2.9 billion in 2002. Most of that US$2.9 billion went to support infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS. Of the global total, only 0.1% was available to fund all non-communicable chronic diseases including diabetes.

While the passage of the Resolution has created great political momentum, significant financial resources will be required to address the diabetes epidemic meaningfully. Recognizing this need, the International Diabetes Federation is exploring the possibility of establishing a global financing facility for diabetes, based on an analysis of existing global health financing mechanisms and consultations with a diverse group of stakeholders.

Wrapping up the press conference, Dr Silink emphasized that: "A fully implemented national plan to treat and prevent diabetes should be a right for everyone. It is time," continued the IDF President "to make a significant difference for the 246 million people living with diabetes and to introduce effective strategies for the prevention of diabetes itself."

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries, representing almost 250 million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of the IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and exchange of information. IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations' Department of Public Information. For more information, please visit http://www.idf.org.

Introduced by IDF and the World Health Organization in 1991, World Diabetes Day has been celebrated by diabetes representative organizations worldwide ever since. The date of 14 November was chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin. UN Resolution 61/225 establishes November 14 as a United Nations observed day from 2007.

Visit http://www.worlddiabetesday.org for further information about the campaign and for a full list of landmarks that will light up.

Posted by dlifenews at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)

Discovery Health Travels the World to Present the Groundbreaking Documentary - Diabetes: A Global Epidemic

November 13, 2007

November 13, 2007 (PRNewswire) -- Nearly every society on earth is affected by diabetes -- one of the most pressing health crises facing humanity today. Currently, more than 246 million people worldwide are living with the disease, a number that is expected to explode to 380 million within 20 years. Despite recent advancements -- including new medications, monitoring devices and measurements -- the fight against diabetes continues to be an uphill battle. In an effort to raise awareness and uncover new clues for combating the disease, Discovery Health, with support from an unrestricted educational grant from Novo Nordisk, presents DIABETES: A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC -- the definitive look at how diabetes affects the global community.

Featuring narration from five-time Oscar nominee Glenn Close, DIABETES: A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC takes viewers across six continents to gain greater knowledge of the disease and how it affects different communities. In a television first, Discovery Health travels around the world to investigate diabetes' escalating human and economic toll across differing cultures and health care systems. The documentary's premiere comes on the heels of a historic milestone -- the first United Nations World Diabetes Day, which will be observed on November 14, 2007. With generous support from Novo Nordisk, the one-hour documentary will be presented commercial-free in the United States.

"This groundbreaking documentary shows diabetes for what it is: the silent epidemic of the 21st century, which doesn't discriminate between culture, continent or civilization," says Lise Kingo, executive vice president at Novo Nordisk. "The film also captures the care, professionalism and determination of all those who live with, treat and seek new treatments for diabetes around the world and who are working toward consigning diabetes to medical history."

DIABETES: A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC follows Francine Kaufman, MD, former American Diabetes Association president and head of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, as she tours the world. Over a six-month period, Dr. Kaufman journeys from Los Angeles to Cape Town, South Africa; Chennai, India; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne and Perth, Australia; and Helsinki, Finland, in her quest to increase focus on the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes. In her travels, Dr. Kaufman meets with physicians and diabetes thought leaders to discuss the challenges of combating the disease, as well as their success stories of treatment and prevention. In addition, she spends time with diabetes patients of all ages who share their personal stories and offer a unique insight into the realities of living with the disease.

"During my travels, I realized that while diabetes is a worldwide issue, it often affects different cultures in different ways," said Kaufman. "It became clear to me that in order to effectively address the disease globally, we need to apply culturally sensitive solutions locally."

DIABETES: A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC gives audiences an in-depth understanding of the impact the westernization of the world has had on the incidence and prevalence of diabetes, and how differing cultures add unique dynamics to the problem at local levels.

We learn how South Africans don't want to be thin because of the stigma of AIDS. In India, when people become financially secure their eating increases- to be large in size symbolizes wealth and success. Australians talk about their country becoming a nation of sports watchers instead of sports players. All these factors are prompting leading experts to urgently join forces in the common goal of defeating this enemy, which can lead to blindness, heart disease and renal failure.

Medical professionals are eligible to receive CME credits for viewing DIABETES: A GLOBAL EPIDEMIC. More information is available at DiscoveryHealthCME.com.

About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 84-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In addition to diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 25,000 employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For global information, visit novonordisk.com; for United States information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

About Discovery Health Media Enterprises
Discovery Health Media Enterprises includes the Discovery Health and FitTV television networks and online assets including http://www.discoveryhealth.com, as well as its Continuing Medical Education (CME) business and Discovery's first stand-alone VOD service, Discovery Health On-Call. Discovery Health Media Enterprises is part of Discovery Communications, the number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery's 100-plus worldwide networks are led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, The Science Channel, Discovery Health and HD Theater, with digital media properties including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Co. , Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information please visit http://www.discoverycommunications.com/.

Posted by dlifenews at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)

Screening for Pre-Diabetes Cost-Effective

November 02, 2007

November 2, 2007 (Newswise) — Screening overweight and obese adults for pre-diabetes is cost-effective, according to a study by researchers at RTI International, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Michigan, MedStar Research Institute, and Indiana University.

The study, published in the November issue of Diabetes Care, was funded by the CDC. The study found that screening overweight and obese adults aged 45-74 for signs of pre-diabetes and treating those who have the condition with the Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention would improve quality of life and be cost-effective.

Previously, the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program demonstrated that the lifestyle intervention could delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

"The U.S. is currently facing an epidemic of diabetes that is closely related to the country's rising rate of obesity," said Thomas Hoerger, Ph.D., senior fellow and director of the RTI-UNC Center for Excellence in Health Promotion Economics and the paper's lead author. "With nearly two-thirds of adults overweight or obese, many Americans are at risk for developing diabetes. Our results indicate that it would be cost-effective to actively screen overweight and obese adults for pre-diabetes, and provide interventions to those who are found to have pre-diabetes."

The researchers looked at prescreening strategies that provided intervention treatment to people with either impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose or people who had both conditions. Impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose are warning signs of progression to diabetes.

The results showed that providing screening and the intervention to patients who had both impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose had a cost-effectiveness ratio of $8,181 per quality-adjusted life-year. The ratio indicates that it would cost the health care system $8,181 to gain one quality-adjusted life-year among participants in the screening program. Providing the intervention to patients that exhibited either impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose had a slightly higher cost-effectiveness ratio of $9,511 per quality-adjusted life-year.

Both cost-effectiveness ratios are attractive relative to a commonly used benchmark for cost-effectiveness studies ($50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year).

Other authors of the study include Katherine Hicks of RTI; Stephen Sorensen, Ping Zhang, and Michael Engelgau from the CDC; William Herman from the University of Michigan; Robert Ratner from the MedStar Research Institute; and Ronald Ackermann from Indiana University.

About RTI International

RTI International is one of the world's leading research institutes, dedicated to improving the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. With projects in more than 40 countries and a staff of more than 2,600, RTI offers innovative research and technical solutions to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, education and training, surveys and statistics, advanced technology, democratic governance, economic and social development, energy, and the environment. For more information, visit http://www.rti.org.

Posted by dlifenews at 09:47 AM | Comments (0)

Caring for the Sick Now a Public Health Priority for Developing Countries

May 11, 2007

May 11, 2007 (EurkeAlert) - Of the 57 million people dying worldwide each year, 6 million deaths are caused by cancer and 3 million from HIV/AIDS, with the majority of both occurring in developing countries. These figures indicate the large number of people experiencing incapacitation and pain through shortness of breath, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea as well as distress, depression and anxiety.

New research published in the Journal of Public Health Policy, prepared by research staff at The George Institute for International Health, the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and the Department of Palliative Medicine at Calvary Hospital, highlights that a potential 100 million people in these poorer nations could benefit from palliative care services, including family members and close companions.

Lead author of the paper Dr Ruth Webster, a Research Fellow at The George Institute, says that "The scale of this epidemic of death and dying requires acknowledgement and priority as a public health issue, with more than just an emphasis on prevention of these diseases and their cure. Around 100 countries around the world have palliative care services, however only 6% are located in Asia and Africa, where the highest demand for the services is".

"Palliative care is not on the health agenda of governments as a public health problem, which is extremely detrimental to the populations that most need these services. WHO has recommended that all countries have a policy to implement these types of services, but despite this, one only African country, has made this a priority, Uganda. South Africa has recently included palliative care in their new health policies." added Dr Webster.

The review found three specific barriers to implementing palliative care in developing countries - government commitment, opioid availability and education. While pain management is only part of the picture, the availability of opioids and morphine is extremely difficult for developing countries. Webster says that policy makers and health professionals need to understand that lifting unnecessary regulations is vital for the large number of ill people needing care.

The authors recommend training and education as a key part to developing palliative care programs. "Experience shows that training programs for health professionals is an essential and rewarding step to build capacity in developing countries. Educating family members and utilising volunteer caregivers, in conjunction with publicly raising the profile of palliative care services, is essential so that people know what options are available and what is the best option for a particular illness."

Dr Webster adds "Palliative care needs to be appropriate to each particular country’s culture, resources and existing health problems. Local healers for example can play a key role in symptom relief. We acknowledge care of this kind is difficult to establish in poorer countries, but urgent steps must be taken to deliver these services."

Posted by dlifenews at 09:52 AM | Comments (0)

Summer's Coming and People with Diabetes Need More than Sunglasses to Protect Their Eyes

April 09, 2007

April 9, 2007 (Joslin) -- The crack of the bat on Opening Day at Fenway Park is a sure sign that summer is on its way. From the Green Monster seats to the dunes of Cape Cod, summer means bright sun, ultraviolet rays and of course, sunglasses. But did you know that people with diabetes need more than sunglasses to protect their eyes?
Diabetes puts people at risk for cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss. But in the majority of cases, vision can be preserved if the disease is caught early and treated.
The experts at Joslin Diabetes Center's Beetham Eye Institute offer these quick reminders to keep your eyes in great shape not only in the summer but also all through the year:

• Diabetic eye disease can be painless until it reaches very advanced stages, and the earlier you can catch it, the more likely you can preserve your sight.
• You can have perfect vision and still have diabetic eye disease.
• An annual dilated eye exam can identify eye complications early on.
• If your doctor finds early signs of diabetic eye disease, a number of treatments may be recommended, including laser eye surgery, contact lenses, glasses and medications.
• Keeping your A1C (average monthly blood glucose levels) on target, controlling blood pressure and quitting smoking also can help preserve vision and prevent vision loss.

Joslin Diabetes Center has been on the cutting edge of diabetes-related eye disease prevention and care since its inception and has set standards across the world for the treatment and care of people with diabetes. With more than 360,000 people in Massachusetts diagnosed with diabetes, and thousands more having the disease and not knowing it, there is great risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. Comprehensive eye exams on an annual basis, proper management and care of your health, and of course, your favorite pair of sunglasses are all key to seeing your eyes in a new light. For an appointment at Joslin's Beetham Eye Institute, call (617) 732-2552. For more information on Joslin, visit http://www.joslin.org/.

Posted by dlifenews at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)

World Decision-Makers Confront Diabetes Pandemic at Novo Nordisk Global Changing Diabetes Leadership Forum

March 13, 2007

March 13, 2007 (Newswire) -- Former President Bill Clinton joined global diabetes leaders today in New York City to discuss ways to break the curve of the diabetes pandemic at a forum hosted by Novo Nordisk and supported by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

At the first meeting of policymakers, patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and media since the United Nations passed a resolution to address diabetes in December 2006, the discussion explored ways to make diabetes a global health priority and ultimately, improve the way the disease is treated.

Today, 20.8 million Americans -- or seven percent of the population -- have diabetes, at least 10 million of whom are not in control of the condition. It is estimated that one in three American children born in 2000 and beyond will develop type 2 diabetes. Worldwide, an estimated 246 million people have diabetes, a number that is expected to grow to 380 million within the next 20 years if no urgent action is taken. Diabetes accounts for 3.8 million deaths per year globally, similar in magnitude to HIV/AIDS.

The Global Changing Diabetes Leadership Forum hopes to redefine healthcare around the needs of people with diabetes.

"Recognizing that there is not a single answer to the diabetes pandemic, Novo Nordisk hopes to provide a forum for identifying multiple actions at all stages to combat diabetes -- from prevention to the treatment of serious complications," said Lars Rebien Sorensen, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk. "Only by placing the person with diabetes at the center of care and changing how healthcare systems around the world approach the disease can this silent killer be defeated."

Martin Silink, president of the IDF, emphasized that "the reality is that there will not be an automatic increase in funds for diabetes for either prevention or treatment in the short term. In developing countries, which bear 70% of the global burden of diabetes, the solutions will involve increasing access to proven but low-cost therapies."

During the two day Forum, attendees from around the world will participate in a series of workshops and dialogues designed to evoke a provocative debate about how to chart a course for changing diabetes management globally.

Posted by dlife at 05:16 PM | Comments (0)

Diabetes Risk Factors Develop Earlier in Women Than Men

February 20, 2007

February 20, 2007 (EurekAlert) - The “diabetes clock” may start ticking in women years in advance of a medical diagnosis of the disease, new research has shown.

Epidemiologists at the University at Buffalo have found that newly identified risk factors for diabetes found in the blood, such as markers of endothelial dysfunction, chronic sub-acute inflammation and blood clotting factors, are present early on in women who eventually progress from normal glucose status to the pre-diabetic condition.

Pre-diabetes is diagnosed when blood sugar levels are higher than normal (between 100-125 mg/deciliter of blood), but not high enough to indicate full-blown diabetes (over 125 mg/deciliter of blood). The markers weren’t associated with progression from normal to pre-diabetic status in men.
Results of the study appear in the February 2007 issue of Diabetes Care.

“This is one of the first reports to show that otherwise healthy women are more likely than men to show elevated levels of endothelial factors and other markers of progression to pre-diabetes,” said lead author Richard Donahue, Ph.D., professor of social and preventive medicine and associate dean for research in UB’s School of Public Health and Health Professions.

“Because these pre-diabetic markers are not routinely assessed, and because diabetes is strongly linked with coronary heart disease, the study may help explain why the decline in death rates for heart disease in diabetic women lags behind that of diabetic men,” he said.

“Previous research had shown that hypertension and cholesterol were elevated among women who later developed diabetes. However, current findings that these novel risk factors [markers of endothelial dysfunction, chronic sub-acute inflammation and blood clotting factors] are elevated among women even earlier than previously recognized does suggest that the ‘diabetes clock’ starts ticking sooner for women than for men.” The study involved 1,455 healthy participants originally enrolled in the Western New York Study, a case-control investigation of patterns of alcohol consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease conducted from 1996-2001. In the current study all participants were free of pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease. They received a physical examination when they entered the study and again for this six-year follow-up.

Standard measures -- height, weight, waist girth, blood pressure -- were taken, plus blood samples to determine concentrations of fasting glucose and insulin, specific proinflammatory markers, C-reactive protein and markers of dysfunction in the endothelial tissue, the tissue lining blood vessels.

Results showed that 52 women and 39 men had progressed from normal blood glucose levels to pre-diabetic status during the previous six years.

Donahue said the question of what explains the sex difference remains to be determined, and he plans to study this in the future. Meanwhile, he suggested that women whose blood glucose increases over time, even if it doesn’t reach diabetic levels, should be screened more intensively for cardiovascular disease.

Posted by dlife at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)

US Health System Getting Worse, Says Expert

February 16, 2007

February 16, 2007 (EurekAlert) - The United States is the only major industrialised nation without universal health insurance, writes Karen Davis, President of the Commonwealth Fund. Coverage varies widely between states and has deteriorated in recent years. The number of uninsured people has increased from 40 million in 2000 to nearly 47 million in 2005.

Gaps in coverage lead to inequalities in access to care, poor quality care, lost economic productivity, and avoidable deaths.

The Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 lives are lost annually as a consequence of gaps in coverage. It calculates the annual cost of achieving full coverage at $34bn - $69bn, which is less than the loss in economic productivity from existing coverage ($65bn - $130bn annually).

Furthermore, expanding coverage would disproportionately help people on low incomes, who make up two thirds of the uninsured, thus increasing equity in access to health care and health outcomes, says Davis.

Several states have enacted plans to make cover affordable for all uninsured residents, using state programmes to subsidise care for the poor and creating an insurance pool for small businesses and the self employed.

Although these efforts are encouraging, most are taking place in states with relatively small uninsured populations, and there is little prospect that the federal government will legislate to make insurance affordable and mandatory for all.

What is clear is that the problem is getting worse, not diminishing, she warns. The fragmented, uncoordinated healthcare system is plagued by high administrative costs and missed opportunities to control chronic conditions and prevent life threatening conditions.

If the US hopes to achieve a high performance health system that is value for money, it will have to tackle the perplexing problems of access, quality, and cost, and overcome considerable political and economic obstacles, as well as institutional resistance to change, she concludes.

Posted by dlife at 08:50 AM | Comments (0)

New Diabetes Research: Half of Americans Have Gene That Affects How Body Burns Sugar

January 29, 2007

January 29, 2007 (EurekAlert) -- A recent study by a Saint Louis University researcher confirms findings that about half of the U.S. population has a version of a gene that causes them to metabolize food differently, putting them at greater risk of developing diabetes.

Edward Weiss, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University, looked at a relatively common version of a gene called FABP2, which is involved in the absorption of fat from food.

Those people with the variant gene processed fat differently than those who don't have it. They burned more fat, which may have hindered their ability to remove sugar from the blood stream and burn it. Diabetes is characterized by too much sugar in the blood.

"This study adds to what was previously known about this gene variant by showing that after consuming a very rich milkshake, people with the variant gene process the fat from the drink differently than other people," Weiss says.

That is not to say that half of U.S. residents are destined to get diabetes, he adds.

"While the variation of the gene appears to contribute to the diabetes risk, it does not cause diabetes by itself," Weiss says.

"Many other genes, some known and some unknown, are involved in a person's overall risk of developing diabetes. Those are things a person can't control. But there are risk factors for diabetes that a person can change -- lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise."

Posted by dlife at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)

Job Burnout May Make People More Prone to Developing Diabetes

November 20, 2006

November 20, 2006 (Newswise) — An Israeli study suggests that people who suffer from job burnout may be prone to developing a form of diabetes.

The research, apparently the first of its kind, doesn’t definitively confirm a link between workplace stress and diabetes. But it does suggest that burnout could boost the risk of illness by a “magnitude similar to other risk factors, such as high body mass index, smoking and lack of physical exercise,” said study lead author Samuel Melamed, an associate professor at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Melamed and colleagues looked at the experiences of 677 Israeli workers who were followed from 1998 to 2003. Nearly 77 percent of the workers were men, and their average age was about 43 years.

The study findings appear in the November/December issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Of the workers, 17 developed type 2 diabetes during the study period. The researchers found that people who experienced job burnout were 1.84 times more likely to become diabetic, even when factors like age, sex and obesity were taken into account.

The researchers looked at a smaller sample — 507 workers — and tried to statistically eliminate the possible effect of blood pressure levels. The result: The burned-out workers were then 4.32 times more likely to get type 2 diabetes.

The job burnout may be only part of the picture, Melamed said. “It is possible that these people are prone to diabetes because they can’t handle stress very well,” he said. “Their coping resources may have been depleted not only due to job stress but also life stresses, such as stressful life events and daily hassles.”

Indeed, stress can disrupt the body’s ability to process glucose, especially in people whose genetics make them vulnerable, said Richard Surwit, chief of the Division of Medical Psychology at Duke University Medical Center.

Surwit said the study results should be replicated in a much larger group of subjects. He said the study author “needs to look at hundreds of thousands of people to see if he gets the same thing.”

Posted by dlife at 04:32 PM | Comments (1)

Shorter Nightly Sleep in Childhood May Help Explain Obesity Epidemic

October 20, 2006

October 20, 2006 (Newswise) — Soaring levels of obesity might be linked to children sleeping fewer hours at night than they used to, claims a researcher in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Dr Shahrad Taheri of the University of Bristol, blames the increasing availability of computers, mobile phones, TVs and other gadgets on the diminishing nightly quota of sleep, and suggests they should be banned from children’s bedrooms.

Dr Taheri cites the emerging body of research on the impacts on the body of a fall in the nightly quota of sleep, which reflects circumstances in real life, rather than sustained sleep deprivation, which tends to be more extreme.

This research shows that shorter sleep duration disturbs normal metabolism, which may contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Even two to three nights of shortened sleep can have profound effects, the laboratory data suggest.

One study indicated that insufficient sleep at the age of 30 months was associated with obesity at the age of 7, suggesting that this could programme the part of the brain regulating appetite and energy expenditure, says Dr Taheri.

But it is also a problem for teenagers in whom the need for sleep increases during this critical developmental period, he says.

Another piece of research shows that levels of leptin, a hormone produced by fat tissue when energy stores are low, were more than 15% lower in those sleeping five hours compared with those clocking up 8.
Similarly, ghrelin, a hormone released by the stomach to signal hunger was almost 15% higher in those with a five hour sleep quota.

Sleep loss also disturbs other hormones, including insulin, cortisol (stress hormone), and growth hormone, says Dr Taheri, who adds that hormonal changes could boost the desire for carlorie rich foods.

And poor sleep sets up a vicious cycle. It leads to fatigue, which leads to reduced levels of physical activity….which leads to lower energy expenditure…..which leads to obesity, which itself leads to poor sleep, he adds.

Dr Taheri acknowledges that the mechanisms behind obesity are likely to be complex. “Sleep is probably not the only answer to the obesity pandemic, but its effect should be taken seriously, as even small changes in energy balance are beneficial,” he says.

“Good sleep could be promoted by removal of gadget distractions from bedrooms and restricting their use,” he suggests.

Posted by dlife at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

Global Online Petition Demands UN Resolution on Diabetes

October 18, 2006

Diabetes activists seek action to halt epidemic.

Brussels, Belgium, October 18, 2006 - The ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation, has launched an online petition to rally global support for a United Nations Resolution on diabetes at http://www.unitefordiabetes.org. Diabetes is now one of the world’s most significant causes of healthcare expenditure, mortality, disability and lost economic growth. ‘Unite for Diabetes’ is a campaign to raise awareness of diabetes and the need for a Resolution to tackle the disease.

The support of a majority of the member states will be required to pass a United Nations Resolution on diabetes. The global petition is a way to engage diabetes activists worldwide to alert their national governments to the serious nature of diabetes and encourage support for a UN Resolution to help tackle the epidemic.

President-Elect of the International Diabetes Federation Professor Martin Silink leads the campaign. He urged people to sign the online petition and pass the diabetes pin in the name of all those living with diabetes. “Together we can slow down the advance of diabetes and even reverse the current trends. A United Nations Resolution on diabetes will help bring this silent killer out of the shadows.”

About the campaign
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is the lead sponsor for the Resolution on diabetes. The Resolution encourages UN Member States to develop national policies for the treatment, care and prevention of diabetes within the sustainable development of their healthcare systems and asks for a UN-observed World Diabetes Day on 14 November starting in 2007. The ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign asks all nations to support the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and vote in favour of a UN Resolution on diabetes.

The campaign encourages everyone to show support for the Resolution by signing a global petition and by forwarding a virtual diabetes pin to friends and family, and in turn inviting them to show the same support. The diabetes pin takes the form of a blue circle in the colour of the UN flag. It is the logo for the ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign and is a tribute to the millions of people living with diabetes worldwide.

About diabetes
Diabetes is devastating communities around the world. More than 230 million people now live with a disease that kills over 3.5 million people each year. Despite the growing numbers and threat to life, many remain ignorant. Each year 7 million people get diabetes, joining the more than 230 million people now living with the disease. Diabetes kills more people each year than HIV/AIDS and impacts all nations, rich and poor.

Bangladesh is expected to be among the top 10 countries with the largest number of people with diabetes. Today 3.8 million people live with diabetes in the country. This is expected to rise to 7.4 million by 2025. Bangladesh is not the only country to face such an overwhelming increase in the number of people with diabetes. The disease is expected to affect more than 350 million people globally within the next two decades if nothing is done.

The world needs a UN Resolution on diabetes. While the problem is global, its full dimension and impact remain unrecognized, particularly in the world’s low- and middle-income nations. For these countries, cheap life-saving treatments are available and would be easy to distribute, but are rarely used. At the same time, much can be done to prevent diabetes in those at risk. The unified voice of the whole United Nations is needed to impress these facts upon the world.

“Diabetes is an enormous problem with devastating consequences worldwide. It likely affects someone you know and love. It is a leading cause of blindness, amputation, heart attack, stroke and often a premature death. Yet it is too often dismissed as something trivial: a touch of sugar. Diabetes is not trivial; there is no such thing as mild diabetes.” said Professor Silink. “We owe it to future generations to spare them from the severe humanitarian, social and economic burden of diabetes.”

Posted by dlife at 08:34 AM | Comments (1)

Dental Infection Linked to Diabetes During Pregnancy

October 10, 2006

October 10, 200 (Newswise) — Nearly one out of two women with gestational diabetes also have periodontal disease, according to research released this month by Tulane University researchers. In contrast, just over one in ten pregnant women without gestational diabetes have periodontal disease. The study, available in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the first to demonstrate a link between poor oral health and diabetes during pregnancy.

Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of the gums and mouth. Gestational diabetes is an inability to process dietary sugars normally during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes puts women and their babies at increased risk of injury and illness.

The team of researchers analyzed health data from 256 pregnant women who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study III. Based on their analysis, the researchers recommend that dental care during pregnancy should be considered as a way to help prevent gestational diabetes.

Study authors are Tulane obstetrician Gabriella Pridjian; Tulane epidemiologists Xiong Xu and Pierre Buekens; and Louisiana State University dental health researcher Sotirios Vastardis.

Posted by dlife at 05:31 PM | Comments (0)

One-Third of U.S. Youth Not Physically Fit

October 03, 2006

October 3, 2006 CHICAGO - Approximately one-third of boys and girls age 12 to 19 in the United States do not meet standards for physical fitness, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

The more physically fit a young person, the less likely he or she is to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels or a number of other risk factors for chronic diseases, according to background information in the article. Between the 1950s and the 1980s, regular surveys of youth physical fitness were conducted in the United States. An increasing proportion of children have become obese since the 1980s, which may be explained by a decrease in physical activity. If so, it is likely that average physical fitness has also declined among youth in the same time period, since the last national survey.

Russell R. Pate, Ph.D., Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, and colleagues assessed the physical fitness of 3,287 individuals age 12 to 19 who participated in the government-conducted National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2002. The participants were interviewed in their home and then visited a mobile examination center, where they performed a treadmill exercise test consisting of a two-minute warm-up, two three-minute periods of exercise and a two-minute cool-down. During the test, researchers measured blood pressure, heart rate and rate of perceived exertion, determined by asking participants to rate how hard they feel their bodies are working. Heart rate readings during the three-minute periods of exercise were used to estimate maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), the amount of oxygen consumed by the body during maximum exertion; the higher the VO2max, the better the individual's fitness level.

Estimated VO2max, and therefore physical fitness levels, were higher on average in males than in females and in youth of normal weight compared with overweight youth but were no different across racial or ethnic groups. Older males were more physically fit than younger males, while the opposite was true for females. Participants who reported more sedentary behavior, such as watching television or playing video games, and those who spent less time being physically active were more likely not to be physically fit.

Based on standards developed by experts and used by schools and school districts nationally, about 65 percent of youth met criteria for being physically fit. "This represents a significant public health problem because low physical fitness during adolescence tends to track into adulthood, and low-fit adults are at substantially increased risk for chronic disease morbidity [illness] and mortality [death]," the authors write. Because active youth tend to be more physically fit, experts recommend that physicians counsel children and parents about guidelines for physical activity, they conclude.

Posted by dlife at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)

Walgreens and Joslin Diabetes Center Form Broad Alliance to Improve Diabetes Outcomes

September 21, 2006

Program to Feature Access to First-in-Class Pharmacy-Based Resources for People With Diabetes and Those at Risk for Diabetes and Related Conditions

DEERFIELD, IL, and BOSTON, MA, Sept. 21, 2006 - Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, and Joslin Diabetes Center, the global leader in diabetes research, care and education, have formed a sweeping alliance to improve health outcomes for Americans with diabetes. Over the next five years, Walgreens and Joslin, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, will develop and deliver awareness, wellness, prevention and education programs nationally to reach the estimated 21 million Americans with diabetes and the additional 41 million Americans at risk for the disease. Walgreens also will open a specialty pharmacy on the Joslin campus under a separate lease arrangement.

"Diabetes in America continues to grow at epidemic proportions, and there are too few endocrinologists to handle that many patients," said Ron Weinert, vice president of patient services for Walgreens Health Services, the managed care division of Walgreen Co. "The burden of care is falling to primary care physicians and ultimately the patients, many of whom are our customers. We know the Joslin approach to education, outreach and disease management improves outcomes for people with diabetes, and our alliance is specifically designed to increase access to Joslin's model for everyone we reach."

The alliance will leverage all of Joslin's expertise in diabetes awareness, prevention and management. This expertise will be applied across Walgreens consumer channels, including its nationwide network of pharmacies, Walgreens.com and Walgreens Health Initiatives (a pharmacy benefit manager).

"This alliance represents a new model of care, powered by Joslin's deep research and extensive clinical knowledge, and distributed 'from bench to bedside' to the community through Walgreens pharmacies," said C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., President of Joslin and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "The incomparable reach of Walgreens and its deep commitment to the health of its customers make it our ideal alliance partner as Joslin strives to deliver our model of patient empowerment and the aggressive identification and prevention of complications across the country."

Pharmacy-Based Resources for People with Diabetes

A cornerstone of the program will be the creation of pharmacy-based resources for diabetes prevention and care. Working together, Walgreens and Joslin will design and build enhanced training curricula, continuing education programs, and practical support tools that pharmacists can use to address the most important needs of patients, from managing medication regimens to understanding key individual health measures like blood pressure and A1C scores.

"Our joint vision is for the Walgreens pharmacist to be a true partner for customers with diabetes and their physicians, and to enable them to work together toward demonstrable and measurable changes in behavior and health outcomes," said Alan M. Jacobson, M.D., Senior Vice President, Joslin Strategic Initiatives Division. "Joslin will design approaches and then assess and report on their impact on Walgreens customers, and we will continually enhance and add to the program over time."

In the first months of the alliance, Walgreens and Joslin will launch initial patient education campaigns delivered through the Walgreens pharmacy that carefully target critical aspects of day-to-day diabetes management and the prevention of complications. The campaigns will include education handouts, tips and tools tailored to specific patient audiences, including the elderly and different ethnic groups disproportionately affected by diabetes. Aspects of the campaign will be visible on pharmacy prescription inserts, Walgreens.com, Walgreens Diabetes &You Magazine, and other communication vehicles.

Joslin and Walgreens are also jointly committed to developing breakthrough approaches over the long term that increase access to innovative health services for people with diabetes. The alliance will explore the possibility of installing the Joslin Vision Network TM (JVN) in select locations across the Walgreens chain. The JVN is the most thoroughly validated diagnostic retinal imaging service offering patients a pain-free and non-dilated diabetic eye evaluation that facilitates further examination by eye care specialists to treat diabetic retinopathy and other pathologies. The JVN is already in use at more than 50 clinical sites in 15 states.

"Diabetes is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among working age adults in the United States, and yet most patients do not receive recommended care," continued Jacobson, who also directs Joslin's Behavioral Research Program and Clinic and is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "Our Walgreens alliance may allow us to bring Joslin's proven techniques in managing eye disease to the millions of Americans across the country at risk of losing their vision from diabetic retinopathy."

New Flagship Pharmacy on Joslin Campus in Boston

Walgreens also intends to open, on the Joslin Campus in Boston's Longwood Medical Area, a specialty pharmacy designed to meet the needs of people with diabetes. "We see this pharmacy as the flagship of our presence in the Harvard medical community," said Weinert. "We expect the pharmacy to open in the first quarter of 2007.

Posted by dlife at 10:15 AM | Comments (2)

Disetronic Medical Systems Inc Announces a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Disetronic D-TRONplus Power Packs used in D-TRONplus Insulin Pumps

July 13, 2006

Fishers, Indiana, July 13, 2006 (FDA) - Disetronic Medical Systems Inc. (Disetronic) of Fishers, IN announced today a voluntary nationwide recall of the Disetronic D-TRONplus Power Packs, that power the D-TRONplus Insulin Pump. There is the real potential that the power pack could shut down the D-TRONplus Insulin Pump without any warning. If a shut down occurs, insulin delivery is interrupted. An interruption in insulin delivery may lead to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, resulting in hyperglycemia, which may lead to serious patient injury and/or death. This is an Urgent Device Correction notification to health care professionals and their patients not requiring product removal at this time.

The abrupt shutdown of the D-TRONplus insulin pump is due to a change in the battery design by its manufacturer. As a result, the pump does not have enough time to recognize a decrease in the power supply, which causes the pump to shut down before the audible and vibrating low power alarms are triggered.

Until further notice all pump users must put a new power pack into their insulin pump every two weeks to prevent their pump from turning off without any warning. It is important this two week period not be extended. Disetronic and their distributors will supply power packs free of charge by UPS next day shipment to all D-TRONplus users until corrective actions have been implemented. Every user will receive a power pack together with detailed instructions.

Disetronic and their distributors will also provide every user with a new power pack every two weeks. Distribution of these power packs will begin on Thursday, July 13, 2006.

This is a temporary fix to the power pack problem until adequate supplies of the corrected battery can be obtained. We will update all users when the problem is resolved. Disetronic has tested the replacement design being shipped and we have data to verify a two week use period in the pumps without failure.

If you are a physician or a patient who has experienced a problem with any Disetronic D-TRONplus Power Packs, please notify Disetronic at 1-800-688-4578.

An interruption in insulin delivery may lead to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, resulting in hyperglycemia, which can lead to serious patient injury and/or death. The symptoms of hyperglycemia may include nausea/vomiting, blurred vision, excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, fatigue/tiredness/sleepiness, headache, fruity acetone breath, abdominal pain, and coma. Patients experiencing these symptoms are advised to check their blood glucose level to ensure that they are within acceptable ranges as defined by their healthcare team. Patients are advised to contact their health care provider if they have questions. Users of the D-TRONplus pumps should monitor pumps closely to ensure adequate delivery of insulin. Clinicians should exercise maximum vigilance in monitoring patients, in the event of any of the aforementioned signs or symptoms.

Disetronic D-TRONplus Power Packs are available by prescription only for diabetes patients who use insulin pump therapy. Disetronic is notifying by direct mail affected customers, healthcare providers and its distributors of this action.

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.

Any adverse reactions or adverse events experienced with the use of this product, and/or quality problems should also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by Fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Posted by dlife at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)

Short Legs Linked to Diabetes?

July 12, 2006

Low Leg-to-Height Ratio May Indicate Diabetes Risk, Study Shows

July 12, 2006 (WebMD) - Type 2 diabetes, the most frequent kind, may be slightly more common among adults with disproportionately short legs than in their leggier peers.

So says a study in the July edition of Diabetes Care.

The researchers, who included Keiko Asao, M.D., MPH, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, aren’t quite sure how to explain their findings. Hormones or nutrition before birth or in childhood may affect both development and diabetes risk, they suggest.

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to excess weight.

Leg Link To Diabetes?

In their study, Asao and colleagues checked data from a U.S. health survey given from 1988-1994. Participants included about 3,600 men and 3,800 women aged 40 to 74 years (average age: about 55 years).

The nationally representative survey included physical exams and lab tests. During those checkups, participants' height and leg length were measured.

Being short didn’t affect diabetes risk, after adjusting for other factors. But having a low leg-to-height ratio was associated with a slightly higher risk of type 2 diabetes, based on blood sugar tests given during the checkups, even after weighing other risk factors.

More Established Risk Factors

While the researchers try to figure out the leg length connection, there are plenty of other, more established diabetes risk factors to watch for, including:

Family history of diabetes
Age 45 and older
Being overweight
Sedentary lifestyle
High blood pressure
Abnormal cholesterol levels
History of diabetes during pregnancy
History of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
History of vascular disease, such as stroke
Race or ethnic background (diabetes risk is higher for Hispanics,
blacks, Native Americans, and Asians).
Diabetes Signs

Diabetes often goes undiagnosed. More than 6 million Americans have type 2 diabetes and don’t know it, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

Warning signs include:

Increased thirst
Increased hunger
Fatigue
Increased urination, especially at night
Weight loss
Blurred vision
Sores that do not heal
See your doctor to get screened for diabetes.

Posted by dlife at 12:31 PM | Comments (0)

Mutation in Tumor Suppressor Gene Causes Pancreatic Islet Cells to Reproduce

July 05, 2006

Cancer biology discovery could lead to new diabetes treatments

(Philadelphia, PA) July 5, 2006 (Eurekalert) - Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that the acute loss of a protein called menin can cause the proliferation of pancreatic islet cells, which secrete insulin to regulate blood sugar. The menin gene (Men1) mutation in humans causes an inherited disease called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Not only could this discovery inform basic cancer biology, it also has implications for treating Type 1 diabetes. The researchers report their findings in the latest issue of Cancer Research.

MEN1 patients develop mostly benign tumors or hyperplasia (over proliferation of cells) in several endocrine organs, such as parathyroids and pancreatic islet cells. Normally, the menin protein has a tumor-suppressing or cell-proliferation-suppressing function. Loss of menin can cause proliferation of pancreatic islet cells, but not the adjacent exocrine cells that secrete proteins other than insulin.

The researchers developed an animal model that allowed for precise timing in "cutting" the Men1 gene from the genome of knock-out mice. They showed that within seven days of excising Men1, pancreatic islet cells proliferated in the mice. Previously, other labs could only see proliferating islet cells after months of Men1 excision because they could not precisely time the process. "Our results show an acute effect of Men1 excision and directly link Men1 to repression of pancreatic islet cell proliferation," says senior author Xianxin Hua, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology at Penn's Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute.

The researchers excised Men1, the gene encoding the protein menin, from both islet cells and adjacent exocrine cells in the pancreas, but only in islet cells did they observe cells proliferating. This is important because Men1 mutations largely cause endocrine hyperplasia or tumors, but not exocrine tumors. "Our results showing preferential effects on islet-cell proliferation could at least in part explain that the loss of menin only leads to endocrine tumors," explains Hua.

In type I diabetes, the loss of islet beta cells is the leading reason why a sufficient amount of insulin cannot be produced. "If we could eventually repress menin function to specifically stimulate beta-cell proliferation, this may facilitate devising new strategies to increase insulin-secreting beta cells and treating diabetes," notes Hua.

"We did not expect the connection between a study about a tumor suppressor and a potential new avenue for treating diabetes," he adds. "By taking advantage of studying a genetically well-characterized tumor syndrome, MEN1, we set out to understand how the first step of benign tumor development is precisely controlled. The more we discovered about menin function, the better we understood the precise role of menin in regulating islet cell proliferation. This latest finding about the acute and specific role of menin on repressing islet cells, but not adjacent exocrine cells, led to the realization that manipulating the menin pathway might be a powerful way to stimulate islet cell proliferation to fight type I diabetes, although we are just beginning toward that goal."

Study co-authors are Robert B. Schnepp, Ya-Xiong, Haoren Wang, Tim Cash, Albert Silva, Alan Diehl, and Eric Brown, with participation from the members of Dr. Eric Brown's lab and Dr. Alan Diehl's lab, all from Penn. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Posted by dlife at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)

Higher Levels of Obesity Associated With Greater Health Risks

July 04, 2006

The health risks for women who are extremely obese may be underestimated as a new study indicates they have a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol than women at lower levels of obesity, according to a study in the July 5 issue of JAMA.

July 4, 2006 (Newswise) — The health risks for women who are extremely obese may be underestimated as a new study indicates they have a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol than women at lower levels of obesity, according to a study in the July 5 issue of JAMA.

Obesity diagnosis and treatment are typically based on body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. However, three categories of obesity are defined: obesity 1 (30-34.9); obesity 2 (35-39.9); and extreme obesity (40 and greater). (A 5’4” person would have a BMI of 40 if they weighed 233 lbs). The latter 2 categories, sometimes termed severe obesity, are reported to be increasing especially rapidly in the United States, according to background information in the article. From 1986 to 2000, prevalence of BMI of 30 or higher approximately doubled, while that of BMI of 40 or higher quadrupled and that of BMI of 50 or higher increased 5-fold. In 2000, 2.8 percent of all U.S. women, and 6 percent of black women reported measurements consistent with extreme obesity. Estimates of obesity-related risks in women have generally been based on weight data that preceded the increase in extreme obesity. It has been unclear whether health risk increases or plateaus as body weight increases throughout the obese range.

Kathleen McTigue, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues conducted a study to examine the relationship between weight category and risk of death and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a large population-based sample of U.S. women, focusing on risk across degree of obesity. The researchers analyzed data on incident death and cardiovascular outcomes by weight status in 90,185 women recruited from 40 U.S. centers for the Women’s Health Initiative-Observational Study who were followed-up for an average of 7.0 years (Oct. 1993 to Aug. 2004).

The researchers found that extreme obesity prevalence differed with race/ethnicity, from 1 percent among Asian and Pacific Islanders to 10 percent among black women. “In this diverse population-based sample of older women, we found that obesity was linked with considerable health risk and that accounting for degree of excess weight is important in understanding weight-related health risk. Overall, extremely obese women were more likely to die over the average 7.0 years of follow-up than were women in other examined weight categories. Modeling analyses adjusted for age, smoking status, educational achievement, U.S. region, and physical activity level showed that weight-related risk for all-cause mortality, CHD mortality, and CHD incidence did not differ by race/ethnicity.”

“There was a positive trend in all-cause mortality risk and CHD incidence with increasing weight category. This trend had borderline significance for CHD mortality among black women, likely reflecting sample size limitations. Much of the obesity-related mortality and CHD risk was mediated by diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia [high cholesterol levels]. In white women, as other studies have found, weight-related all-cause mortality risk was modified by age, with obesity conferring less risk among older women. Smoking may modify weight-related risk in black women, but further study is needed to understand the nature of this relationship,” the authors write.

“Our findings have important clinical and policy implications. The escalating prevalence of extreme obesity may exacerbate the health effects and health-related expenditures

Posted by dlife at 01:14 PM | Comments (0)

Obesity Associated with Psychiatric Disorders, Decreased Odds of Substance Abuse

July 03, 2006

July 3, 2006 (Eurekalert) - Obesity is associated with a 25 percent increase in the risk of developing mood and anxiety disorders and a 25 percent decrease in likeliness for substance abuse, according to a paper in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

About 31 percent of all U.S. adults were obese in 2000, an increase from 23 percent in 1990, according to background information in the article. Obese adults are at higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other harmful conditions. Previous studies have suggested a link between obesity and depression, but little research has examined the associations between obesity and other psychiatric disorders.

Gregory E. Simon, M.D., M.P.H., of the Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, and colleagues studied 9,125 adults from across the country who were interviewed as part of a large national survey of mental disorders between Feb. 5, 2001, and Feb. 12, 2003. Participants (average age 44.8 years) completed an in-home interview that included questions about demographic characteristics, height, weight and psychiatric disorders. These included mood disorders, such as major depression, dysthymia (persistent mild depression with associated symptoms) and bipolar disorder; anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder; and substance abuse disorders, including alcohol or drug dependence.

Of all the participants, 6,795 had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 and 2,330 had a BMI of 30 or greater and were therefore considered obese. Those who were obese had a higher prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders and a lower prevalence of substance abuse disorders over their lifetimes. These associations remained similar for men and women. The link between obesity and mood disorders appeared strongest in non-Hispanic whites and in those with higher education levels.

"The estimated prevalence of lifetime mood disorder in those with BMIs below 30 and in those with BMIs 30 or higher translates to a population-attributable risk of 24 percent, which indicates that nearly one-quarter of the cases of obesity in the general population are attributable to the association with mood disorder," the authors write. "This calculation illustrates the public health importance of the association but does not indicate a direction for the causal relationship. It is equally correct to state that more than one-fifth of cases of mood disorder in the general population are attributable to the association with obesity." Increased appetite, weight gain, reduced physical activity and binge eating have all been associated with depression, potentially increasing risk for obesity. However, obesity could also contribute to depression by limiting physical activity, or through the stigma that may be associated with being overweight, especially among some women and other particular sociodemographic groups. An unknown third cause also could be linked to both. The results also do not indicate the mechanisms behind the negative association between obesity and substance abuse.

"We conclude that obesity is meaningfully associated with a range of common mood and anxiety disorders in the general U.S. population," the authors write. "Obesity is associated with a moderately lower risk of substance use disorder. Variation in the obesity-depression relationship by education level and race/ethnicity suggests an important role of social or cultural factors in mediating or moderating the relationship between obesity and mood disorders."

Posted by dlife at 12:45 PM | Comments (0)

Coffee Intake Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk

June 26, 2006

June 26, 2006 (Eurekalert) - Drinking coffee, especially when it is decaffeinated, may be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the June 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Previous studies in the United States and Europe have linked coffee to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, according to background information in the article. The link between coffee and diabetes risk appears to be consistent across different ages and body weights; in addition, most research has found that the more coffee an individual generally drinks, the lower his or her risk for diabetes. However, it remains unclear whether it is the caffeine or another ingredient in coffee that may confer a protective effect.

Mark A. Pereira, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, studied coffee intake and diabetes risk in 28,812 postmenopausal women in Iowa over an 11-year period. At the beginning of the study, in 1986, the women answered questions about their risk factors for diabetes, including age, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption and smoking history. They also reported how often they consumed a variety of foods and beverages over the previous year, including regular and decaffeinated coffee.

Based on information reported in the initial questionnaire, about half of the women (14,224) drank one to three cups of coffee per day; 2,875 drank more than six cups; 5,554 four to five cups; 3,231 less than one cup; and 2,928 none. Over the following 11 years, 1,418 of the women reported on surveys that they had been newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. After adjusting the data for some of the other diabetes risk factors, women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely than those who drank no coffee to be diagnosed with diabetes; those who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee per day had a 33 percent reduction in risk compared with those who drank none.

Overall caffeine intake did not appear to be related to diabetes risk, further suggesting that some other ingredient in coffee was responsible. "Magnesium, for which coffee is a good source, could explain some of the inverse association between coffee intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus through known beneficial effects on carbohydrate metabolism," the authors write. However, the study found no association between this mineral and diabetes risk. Other minerals and nutrients found in the coffee bean--including compounds known as polyphenols that have also been shown to help the body process carbohydrates and antioxidants that may protect cells in the insulin-producing pancreas--may contribute to its beneficial effects and should be examined in future studies.

"In summary, we observed an inverse association between coffee consumption, especially decaffeinated coffee consumption, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus over an 11-year period in postmenopausal women residing in the state of Iowa," the authors conclude. "Although the first line of prevention for diabetes is exercise and diet, in light of the popularity of coffee consumption and high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus in older adults, these findings may carry high public health significance."

Posted by dlife at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)

New Perspective Emerges on Metabolic Syndrome

June 25, 2006

Leaders of the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association Announce Joint Letter at ENDO 2006, Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society

BOSTON, June 25 (PRNewswire) - Though they have markedly different opinions on the controversial Metabolic Syndrome, leaders of the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association announced at the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society that they will co-publish a statement on Monday expressing a desire for the organizations to work together on the topic of "cardio-metabolic risk."

Despite their differences of opinion, both organizations are working together to prevent heart disease, stroke and diabetes, said Robert H. Eckel, president of the American Heart Association, a physician and professor at the University of Colorado.

Eckel presented alongside John Buse, vice president of the American Diabetes Association in a debate at The Endocrine Society annual meeting entitled "Controversies in Endocrinology: Impact and Management of the Metabolic Syndrome."

The two organizations represented by Buse and Eckel clearly still have differing viewpoints on the Metabolic Syndrome, as articulated last year in a paper published by the American Diabetes Association, "The Metabolic Syndrome: Time for a Critical Appraisal."

The Metabolic Syndrome is loosely defined as a cluster of medical conditions -- including obesity, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol (and low HDL) -- that increase the risks of diabetes and cardio-vascular disease.

The American Heart Association, according to Eckel, supports identifying and treating the syndrome through lifestyle modifications and other treatments.

But the American Diabetes Association, Buse said, believes that the definition of the syndrome is poor, and that risk prediction of cardiovascular disease is also poor. Further, he said there is little benefit to treating the syndrome as a whole rather than identifying and treating the various components.

The letter, to be released Monday, uses the term "cardio-metabolic risk," new terminology which Buse said may signify a new way of describing and therefore treating the condition known as Metabolic Syndrome.

The debate also included representatives of the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry.

Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 12,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at http://www.endo-society.org/.

Posted by dlife at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)

Diabetes, heart disease can herald early GI cancers

June 23, 2006

LOS ANGELES (May 23, 2006) – Heart disease and diabetes are among the most common conditions plaguing Americans today, and they are related to a host of other diseases. Research presented today at Digestive Disease Week® 2006 (DDW) now also demonstrates that these conditions can be warning signs for some types of digestive cancers, and may lead to early screening and interventions that may help prevent the onset of cancer or lead to earlier detection and treatment. Furthermore, certain treatments for these diseases may actually reduce digestive cancer risk. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

"The presence of diabetes or heart disease can be a signal for clinicians to evaluate patients' risk for digestive cancers," said Randall W. Burt, M.D., professor of medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine and Interim Executive Director, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. "The associations between these two diseases and cancer, as shown in these studies, provide a critical tool to diagnose cancer early when patients might benefit most from treatment. These studies also suggest that certain treatments for heart disease, in particular ACE inhibitors, may reduce the risk of colon, pancreatic and esophageal cancers."

Resectability of Pre-Symptomatic Pancreatic Cancer and its Relationship to Onset of Diabetes: A Retrospective Review of CT Scans and Fasting Glucose Values Prior to Diagnosis [Abstract 952]

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, claiming the lives of nearly 32,000 people in the United States each year. With few visible symptoms, pancreatic cancer is often difficult to catch early and many patients are not diagnosed until the cancer is too advanced for surgery.

Up to 80 percent of pancreatic cancer patients are diabetic and research now suggests that a recent diagnosis of diabetes may be a marker of early pancreatic cancer. This study looked at CT scans of pancreatic cancer patients who were also diabetic to determine if a new diabetes diagnosis indeed signals early pancreatic cancer, hoping that it would help with asymptomatic detection and a better chance of successful treatment with surgery.

Mario Pelaez-Luna, M.D., and study partners at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. examined the CT scans of 20 patients who had at least one abdominal scan prior to being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. These initial scans were reviewed to determine the condition of the patient's pancreas – no changes, some pancreatic duct narrowing or blockage, early, small tumors, or advanced tumors.

The 20 patients had undergone a total of 23 CT scans six or more months prior to their diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. All scans done more than six months prior to diagnosis showed no definite evidence of cancer. At the time of cancer diagnosis, 80 percent of the cancers were too advanced to be treated with surgery. With regard to the relationship to diabetes, all scans prior to the onset of diabetes were found normal. When patients first showed high blood sugar levels suggestive of diabetes, 85 percent still had a normal-appearing pancreas or showed early cancer; only 15 percent of cancers were advanced. The cancer was diagnosed, on average, five months after the diabetes first developed.

The research suggests that the number of pancreatic cancers amenable to surgical treatment can be greatly increased if the diagnosis is made even six months earlier. Diabetes associated with pancreatic cancer occurs at a time when the tumor is still treatable by surgery. Thus, a new diabetes diagnosis can be a warning sign that pancreatic cancer may be present, leading to an early cancer diagnosis with potentially better outcomes.

"Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat. By the time patients develop symptoms, the cancer is already at an advanced stage" said Mario Pelaez-Luna, M.D., lead author of the study. "However, discovering new links between pancreatic cancer and other conditions such as diabetes is helping us identify clues to early diagnosis. The only hope of offering surgical treatment to more patients with pancreatic cancer is diagnosing the disease before symptoms develop."

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Impact on Colorectal Adenoma Risk in Women [Abstract S1245]

Having Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus raises a person's risk for developing colorectal cancer, and while there have been several studies linking insulin resistance to colorectal cancer risk, there is little data on whether women with diabetes are more at risk for colorectal adenomas, or polyps, which can become cancerous.

In this study, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis, MO., selected 600 women undergoing screening colonoscopies – 100 had Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes and 500 were non-diabetic. Both groups were similar in terms of age, race, having a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer and body mass index.

Results showed that diabetics had increased rates of adenoma than non-diabetics (37 percent versus 24 percent) and advanced adenoma, larger adenomas and/or with more abnormal cells (14 percent versus 6 percent). Researchers compared 245 obese women with 321 non-obese women and found that the obese women had a higher rate of adenoma (32 percent versus 22 percent). Obese diabetics compared with non-obese, non-diabetics had increased rates of any adenoma (42 percent versus 23 percent) and advanced adenoma (19 percent versus 7 percent). A multivariate analysis that took into account age, race, diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol levels, body mass index, and NSAID use showed that diabetes was a risk factor for both adenomas and advanced adenomas and increased age was a risk factor for adenomas.

"This study took a careful look at women with diabetes to determine how gender might impact the diabetes-colorectal cancer connection, and results show colon cancer is indeed a concern for diabetic women," said Jill E. Elwing, M.D., of Washington University and lead study author. "Colorectal cancer screening is critical for this population, as their diabetic condition raises their risk of colorectal cancer."

Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Are At High Risk For Developing Colorectal Cancer and Adenoma: An Interim Analysis of a Prospective Study [Abstract 208]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common but curable cancers, when caught early. This underscores the importance of identifying high risk patients and screening them to ensure early detection and treatment. Investigators from the University of Hong Kong conducted a prospective study to evaluate potential risk factors for colorectal cancer and found that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were also prone to colorectal cancer and adenoma, most likely as a result of common risk factors for both diseases. Both conditions share risk factors including male sex, old age, diabetes, smoking, high fat diet, sedentary life style and high body mass index (BMI).

Researchers administered coronary exams in 307 patients, diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) in those who had at least 50 percent blockage in one of the main heart arteries. The group of patients with CAD (46.3 percent) showed a higher incidence of adenomas and cancer than the patients who did not have CAD (30.3 percent versus 19.4 percent), including having larger adenomas with abnormal cells (16.9 percent versus 6.7 percent). Five cases of colorectal cancers were detected in the CAD group (3.5 percent) and none were detected in the group that did not have CAD. Analysis of the data showed a strong association between colorectal cancer and adenomas and CAD, with male smokers most at risk to have both diseases.

"Patients with CAD are at high risk of developing colorectal adenomas," said Annie On On Chan, M.D., University of Hong Kong and lead study author. "The two diseases share risk factors, and screening by colonoscopy of these patients should be mandatory to help prevent the disease and, if necessary, encourage early treatment."

Posted by dlife at 03:02 PM | Comments (1)

Less Sleep Linked to Weight Gain

Newswise — Women who sleep 5 hours or less per night weigh more on average than those who sleep 7 hours, according to a study to be presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference on May 23rd.

The study found that women who slept for 5 hours per night were 32% more likely to experience major weight gain (defined as an increase of 33 pounds or more) and 15% more likely to become obese over the course of the 16-year study compared with women who slept 7 hours. Women who slept for 6 hours were 12% more likely to have major weight gain and 6% more likely to become obese compared with women who slept 7 hours a night.

The study included 68,183 middle-aged women who were enrolled in the Nurses Health Study. They were asked in 1986 about their typical night’s sleep, and were then asked to report their weight every 2 years for 16 years.

On average, women who slept 5 hours or less per night weighed 5.4 pounds more at the beginning of the study than those sleeping 7 hours and gained an additional 1.6 pounds more over the next 10 years.

“That may not sound like much, but it is an average amount—some women gained much more than that, and even a small difference in weight can increase a person’s risk of health problems such as diabetes and hypertension,” said lead researcher Sanjay Patel, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.

Dr. Patel noted that this is by far the largest study to track the effect of sleep habits on weight gain over time. “There have been a number of studies that have shown that at one point in time, people who sleep less weigh more, but this is one of the first studies to show reduced sleep increases the risk of gaining weight over time.”

The researchers looked at the women’s diets and exercise habits to see if they could account for part of the findings. “Prior studies have shown that after just a few days of sleep restriction, the hormones that control appetite cause people to become hungrier, so we thought that women who slept less might eat more. But in fact they ate less,” Dr. Patel said. “That suggests that appetite and diet are not accounting for the weight gain in women who sleep less.”

The researchers also asked women about how much they participated in exercise activities such as running, jogging or playing tennis. But they didn’t find any differences in physical activity that could explain why women who slept less weighed more.

“We don’t have an answer from this study about why reduced sleep causes weight gain, but there are some possibilities that deserve further study,” Dr. Patel said. “Sleeping less may affect changes in a person’s basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn when you rest). Another contributor to weight regulation that has recently been discovered is called non-exercise associated thermogenesis, or NEAT, which refers to involuntary activity, such as fidgeting or standing instead of sitting. It may be that if you sleep less, you move around less, too, and therefore burn up fewer calories.”

Posted by dlife at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

Metabolic Syndrome Significantly Boosts Risk of Heart Failure in Middle Age

June 22, 2006

May 22, 2006 (British Medical Journal) — Metabolic syndrome significantly boosts the chances of heart failure in middle age, suggests research published ahead of print in Heart.

Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure, unfavourable blood fat levels, and diabetes.

The researchers base their findings on regular monitoring of more than 2,300 men who were aged 50 between 1970 and 1974 and who were tracked until the age of 70.

The presence of metabolic syndrome at the start of the study was strongly associated with the subsequent development of heart failure. Men with the syndrome were almost twice as likely to develop heart failure as those without.

This was independent of any other established risk factors for heart failure, such as coronary artery disease, a heart attack, smoking, and poorly working heart valves.

The authors suggest that metabolic syndrome may directly affect the heart itself as well as boosting the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries.

The likely mechanism is insulin resistance and the subsequent excess insulin circulating in the blood, say the authors. Insulin may excessively enlarge the heart muscle (myocardium), so impairing its capacity.

High circulating levels of insulin also stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, thought to be a risk factor in heart failure, and cause heart muscle cells to wither and/or stiffen.

Click here to view the paper in full: http://press.psprings.co.uk/heart/june/ht89011.pdf.

Posted by dlife at 03:04 PM | Comments (0)

New Data On Renin Inhibitor SPP100 (Rasilez) Demonstrates Its Potential Use In Diabetic Patients

June 13, 2006

Robust efficacy and safety data presented at European Society of Hypertension meeting

BASEL, Switzerland and BRIDGEWATER, N.J., June 13, 2006 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) - Speedel (SWX: SPPN) is very pleased with the Phase III clinical data on SPP100 (Rasilez(1) in the treatment of hypertension in diabetic patients presented today by Novartis in Madrid at the 16th Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH). The data demonstrated the robust efficacy and good safety profile of SPP100 as a monotherapy and in co-administration with ramipril, an ACE(2) inhibitor. SPP100 is the first-in-class once daily oral renin inhibitor that Speedel successfully developed through Phase I and II clinical trials before Novartis exercised its license-back option in 2002. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2006 accepted for review Novartis' new drug application (NDA) for SPP100 as a treatment for hypertension both as monotherapy and in co-administration with other anti-hypertensives.

Dr. Jessica Mann, Speedel Medical Director, said: "This new data underlines the potential of SPP100 in diabetic hypertensives, a segment of the hypertension population which is at a higher risk of having cardiovascular events than those hypertensive patients without diabetes. SPP100 offers additional blood pressure control and is well tolerated when co-administered with ramipril -- this is critical given that so many patients, especially those with hypertension and diabetes, are taking combination treatments in order to reach blood pressure targets."

The ESH meeting in Madrid is the first time that this data on SPP100 (Rasilez) has been presented in a scientific forum in Europe. The data presented today were from a clinical trial in 837 patients with diabetes and hypertension. Such patients are at an increased cardiovascular risk and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a lower blood pressure (BP) goal (< 130/80 mmHg) than patients with hypertension but without diabetes. In order to achieve such BP targets, most patients require therapy with multiple antihypertensive therapies. The use of SPP100 together with the ACE inhibitor ramipril (a first line therapy recommended by the ADA), not only decreases blood pressure further than ramipril alone through its additive effects, but also shows sustained 24-hour blood pressure control in these patients.

The number of adults with diabetes in the world is estimated to increase from 135 million in 1995 to 300 million in the year 2025(3).

The data from the Phase III clinical trial was presented today by investigators in the format of two posters:

SPP100 has greater BP lowering effect than ramipril and additional BP lowering effect when combined with ramipril in patients with diabetes and hypertension(4):

* After 8 weeks treatment, co-administration therapy with SPP100 and
ramipril provided superior reductions in MSDBP(5) from baseline compared
with either monotherapy

* By week 8, MSSBP(6) reductions from baseline were significantly greater
with both SPP100 monotherapy and SPP100/ramipril co-administration
therapy compared with ramipril monotherapy

* By the end of the study significantly more patients had responded to
SPP100 monotherapy and to SPP100/ramipril co-administration therapy than
ramipril monotherapy

* Co-administration therapy provided a clinically relevant additional BP
reduction of 4.6/2.1 mmHg over that achieved with standard ACE-I
treatment

* All treatments were well tolerated. As expected, the incidence of cough
was lower with SPP100 as a monotherapy than with ramipril. With
co-administration therapy the incidence of cough was lower than with
ramipril alone -- an unanticipated result that suggests an attenuation
of ACE-I induced cough

Adding SPP100 to ramipril improves 24-hour BP control compared to ramipril alone in patients with diabetes and hypertension(7):

* All treatments provided effective 24-hour BP lowering from baseline,
with SPP100/ramipril co-administration therapy providing significantly
greater ADBP(8) lowering than ramipril monotherapy

* Smoothness indices indicate that SPP100 monotherapy and SPP100/ramipril
co-administration therapy provide BP lowering from baseline with less
variability over the 24 hour period than ramipril alone

* Reductions from baseline in BP during the early morning BP surge were
greater with SPP100 monotherapy and SPP100/ramipril co-administration
therapy than with ramipril alone, suggesting that SPP100 based regimens
may provide greater protection for patients during the early morning
period of increased cardiovascular risk

Speedel believes that SPP100 has a five year lead over the next generation of renin inhibitors being developed in the industry. Speedel's own family of renin inhibitors includes SPP635 currently in Phase I with results due in the second half of 2006, followed by the SPP1100 series currently in toxicology testing with a compound due for entry into man before the end of 2006, and the SPP800 series currently in late-stage pre-clinical profiling.

About SPP100 (aliskiren, Rasilez(9)

SPP100 (aliskiren, Rasilez) is the first-in-class oral renin inhibitor. The development of SPP100 is the result of over 20 years of research on renin. Renin is the key enzyme at the top of the Renin Angiotensin System (RAS), one of the key regulators of blood pressure. The RAS is a cascade, starting with renin, leading to angiotensin I and finally to angiotensin II. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) have been developed to block this system "down stream" and have shown clinical efficacy in patients with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

Inhibition of renin, articulated as Plasma Renin Activity (PRA) is believed to be very important in end-organ protection (e.g. heart and kidney). PRA is a surrogate marker for several cardio-renal diseases, such as myocardial infarction and chronic renal disease. A renin inhibitor can lower PRA efficiently whereas most current leading anti-hypertensive drug classes such as diuretics, ACE-Is and ARBs increase PRA levels.

Speedel in-licensed SPP100 from Novartis in 1999, and successfully completed 18 clinical trials through Phase I and II in about 500 patients and healthy volunteers. Based on the results generated during this programme, Novartis exercised a license-back option in 2002, and in March 2004 Novartis started trials with SPP100 in Phase III as monotherapy for hypertension and in Phase IIb as combination therapy. Phase III trials are ongoing in the US, EU, and Japan, with first regulatory submission in the US already filed in Q1 2006 and planned in the EU during 2006.

Speedel believes that it is the first company to establish successfully a clinical proof of concept in Phase II and to have developed and filed for patent protection a commercially viable manufacturing process for a renin inhibitor, an area of industry research for over 20 years. In a Phase II study of 200 patients conducted by Speedel, it was demonstrated that SPP100 achieves dose-dependent blood pressure reduction. The study also showed that 150mg and 300mg SPP100 once daily were comparable to Losartan 100mg, which is double the starting dose of this ARB (Stanton, Jensen, Nussberger, O'Brien, Hypertension.2003; 42: 1137-1143).

About Hypertension

Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and the main risk factor for stroke and heart attack, and can also lead to heart and kidney failure, so-called "end-organ damage". This disease is estimated to affect approximately 190 million people in the seven key markets (United States, Japan, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain), representing the largest indication for prescription pharmaceuticals worldwide, with approximately USD 39 billion in global annual sales in 2004, according to Datamonitor, IMS Health and Business Insights.

Hypertension is a common disorder in which blood pressure is abnormally high, placing undue stress on the heart, blood vessels and other organs such as the kidney and the brain. Blood pressure is determined in two phases as the heart contracts and relaxes. Systolic blood pressure represents the force that blood exerts on the walls of arteries as the heart contracts to pump out blood. Diastolic blood pressure represents the force as the heart relaxes to allow the blood to flow into the heart.

Due to its wide prevalence and impact on cardiovascular health, hypertension is a major cause of disease and death in Europe and North America. More than one in three Europeans and North Americans over the age of 35 suffers from hypertension -- but for the vast majority of patients who undergo hypertension treatment, the causes of high blood pressure are unknown. More than 40 % of patients undergoing treatment with current therapies do not reach targeted blood pressure levels, and so there is a considerable unmet medical need.

The latest potential therapeutic agents for hypertension are renin inhibitors. Renin is an enzyme produced in the kidneys in response to reduced renal perfusion. Through a cascade of biological events, renin acts to bring about sodium retention, an increase in blood pressure, and restoration of renal perfusion, which shuts off the signal for renin release. For hypertensive individuals, renin inhibitors are currently being investigated as a therapy that may provide benefits over current therapies to reduce blood pressure, decrease salt retention and may protect end organs such as the kidney, heart and brain.

About Speedel

Speedel is a public biopharmaceutical company that seeks to create value for patients, partners and investors by developing innovative therapies for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Speedel is a world leader in renin inhibition, a promising new approach with significant potential for treating cardiovascular diseases. Our lead compound SPP100 (Rasilez), the first-in-class renin inhibitor, is partnered with Novartis for development and commercialisation in hypertension, and the NDA was filed with the FDA in the US in Q12006. Our pipeline covers three different modes of action, and in addition to SPP100, includes SPP301 in Phase III, SPP200 in Phase II, SPP635 in Phase I, and several pre-clinical projects.

Speedel develops novel product candidates through focused innovation and smart drug development from lead identification to the end of Phase II. We either partner with big pharma for Phase III and commercialisation in primary-care indications, or we may ourselves complete Phase III development in specialist indications. Candidate compounds for development and the company's intellectual property come from our late-stage research unit Speedel Experimenta and from in-licensing. Our team of approximately 70 employees, including over 30 experienced pharmaceutical scientists, is located at our headquarters and laboratories in Basel, Switzerland and at offices in New Jersey, USA and Tokyo, Japan.

In March 2006 the company raised gross proceeds of CHF 83.95 million (approximately EUR 53m or USD 64m) through the public offering of 500,000 treasury shares. As a private company, we have previously raised gross proceeds of CHF 239 million (approximately EUR 154 million or USD 183 million) from private placements of equity securities and two convertible loans and we have had total revenues, principally from milestone payments, of CHF 57.7 million (approximately EUR 37 million or USD 44 million). The company's shares were listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange under the symbol SPPN on 08 September 2005.

Posted by dlife at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)

Novocell Presents Phase I/II Data on Safety and Response to Encapsulated Islets at the American Diabetes Association's 66th Annual Scientific Session

June 12, 2006

Novocell's Chief Scientific Officer Speaks in a Symposium on Engineering Stem Cells to Endoderm the First Step to Producing Unlimited Numbers of Insulin-Producing Islet Cells

WASHINGTON, June 12 (PRNewswire) - Novocell, Inc., a stem cell engineering company, presented preliminary data from its phase I/II proof-of-principle clinical trial for encapsulated primary human islet allografts in a late-breaking poster presentation today at the American Diabetes Association's 66th Scientific Session.

The poster entitled "Encapsulated Human Islet Allografts -- Phase I/II Clinical Trial" described safety and efficacy results following subcutaneous implants of encapsulated human islet allografts into patients with type I diabetes of long standing duration. The first two partially implanted patients are showing early evidence of encapsulated islet function. The recipients are not showing evidence of encapsulated islet destruction by autoimmune reactions or allograft rejection to date. The patients only received transient low dose cyclosporine (50-100 ng/ml 12hr trough) and do not receive cyclosporine long term or any other form of immunosuppression.

"Patients are free of any safety concerns or adverse events to date," commented David Scharp, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. "We hope to see additional efficacy as these recipients receive increasing doses of encapsulated islets."

The single site study is being conducted in San Antonio, Texas, with Co-Principal Investigators, Sherwyn Schwartz, MD, Director of the Diabetes and Glandular Disease Center and Paraic Mulgrew, MD, of the Transplant Institute at the Christus Santa Rosa Hospital. The study is partially funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Novocell believes its proof of principle study is important to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the encapsulation technology that can be used with the unlimited source of insulin-producing cells developed from stem cells to treat patients with diabetes.

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