Author: xMenace

Express.co.uk – Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | UK News :: Diabetes and obesity see 15-minute ‘cure’

DIABETES AND OBESITY SEE 15-MINUTE ‘CURE’

The 15‑minute treatment can lead to weight loss and reverse the onset of diabetes
Sunday January 24,2010
By Lucy Johnston and Martyn Halle Have your say(0)
SCIENTISTS have developed a 15‑minute non-surgical treatment that can lead to dramatic weight loss and reverse the onset of diabetes.

It involves inserting a cloth sleeve into the intestine to prevent food *being absorbed into the body.

The device is fed through the mouth with the patient awake using an *instrument called an endoscope.

The procedure is being seen as a cheap and safe alternative to surgery that could save the NHS millions of pounds. During trials the sleeve was able to reverse Type 2 diabetes within weeks by reducing patients’ blood sugar levels so they no longer needed to take drugs.

In a 12-week trial patients fitted with the EndoBarrier lost an average of two‑and-a-half stone compared with a control group of patients who dieted and lost just 12lbs. And at less than £2,000 a time it is about half the cost of the cheapest obesity operation.

Professor Nadey Hakim, a leading UK consultant in weight loss surgery, said: “I would love to be able to cure a patient’s obesity with a 15-minute *procedure. It’s a very clever idea. It’s going to be very attractive to patients because they won’t have the worry of having surgery. We make obesity *operations as safe as we can but if you can avoid surgery it would be better.”

Extensive tests have been carried out in the US and Europe and last week the new device was given a *licence for use on European patients.

In a Dutch trial 40 patients lost 19 per cent of their body weight in 12 weeks. EndoBarrier’s US inventors say it will be available to treat UK patients towards the end of the year.

Dr Keith Gersin, head of obesity surgery at Carolinas Medical Centre in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been trialling the EndoBarrier sleeve for 18 months. He said: “Obesity surgery can be risky simply because of the patient’s weight and the fact that you are giving them a general anaesthetic. That’s why it’s so good to have a non-surgical approach.”

He said the technique could revolutionise healthcare for the rising population of obese patients. He added: “It is so quick to fit that you can get lots more patients treated. The patients loved it so much they didn’t want us to remove it at the end of the trial period. We had no significant side effects and it was easily removed.

“The patients who used it have continued to lose weight. It gave them the incentive to diet and eat sensibly.” The EndoBarrier device is fitted to the first two feet of the small intestine where most food is absorbed.

But trials indicate patients still get enough nutrition as food passes *further down the digestive tract. The device can stay in patients for up to 18 months but specialists expect the sleeve to be fitted for around six to nine months in most cases.

In that time it might be possible for patients to lose between seven and ten stone and then continue to lose weight through diet and exercise. Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of charity Weight Concern, said: “This is a very clever concept that could save the NHS a lot of money while *reducing costs for private patients.”

Was Buddha a diabetic?

YouTube – TCOYD: Diabetic Eye Disease

This is a video everybody should watch. I highly recommend it.

Changes in the Position of Conventional Insulin Pumps Shown to Significantly Impact Accuracy of Insulin Delivery

Changes in the Position of Conventional Insulin Pumps Shown to Significantly Impact Accuracy of Insulin Delivery

Study Published in Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
January 21, 2010: 08:00 AM ET

Researchers at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and University of California, Santa Barbara have concluded that changing the height of a conventional insulin pump in relation to its tubing and infusion set can significantly impact expected insulin delivery rates. Such changes can occur during routine daily activities like dressing, sleeping or showering. The study, "Siphon Effects of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Pump Delivery Performance," evaluated the siphon or hydrostatic pressure action effects on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and was published in the January issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology.

"In this study we found a pronounced siphon effect in conventional insulin pumps, which caused significant fluctuations in the accuracy of insulin delivery rates when the pump position was moved higher or lower relative to its tubing and infusion site," said lead investigator Howard Zisser, MD, Director of Clinical Research and Diabetes Technology at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara, CA. "Insulin pump therapy allows for precise control of insulin delivery for patients with type 1 diabetes. The unintended fluctuation in insulin delivery, which may arise from pump movement during normal daily use, can increase blood glucose variability, a risk factor for the progression of complications of diabetes. The effect of hydrostatic pressure was most significant at low basal rates and therefore these findings may be particularly important for pediatric diabetes patients, who often use insulin pumps at low basal rates."

The investigators reached this finding by quantifying the effect of hydrostatic pressure (the pressure exerted on a portion of a column of fluid as a result of the weight of the fluid above it) on insulin delivery during bolus dosages, basal rates and static changes in insulin pumps. They tested conventional insulin pumps from Medtronic Diabetes (MiniMed 512 & 515, which uses 110 cm tubing) and Smiths Medical (Deltec Cozmo 1700, which uses 80 cm tubing), and also compared them to the tubing-free pump from Insulet Corporation (the OmniPod System).

The researchers found that raising or lowering a conventional insulin pump, to the full extent of its tubing, can significantly affect the accuracy of insulin delivery, especially at low basal infusion rates. The most pronounced differences were seen during basal delivery in the Cozmo and MiniMed pumps. For the 1U/hr rate, differences ranged from 74.5% of the expected delivery when the pumps were below the pipettes and pumping upward to 123.3% when the pumps were above the pipettes and pumping downward. For the 1.5U/hr rate, differences ranged from 86.7% to 117.0% when the pumps were below or above the pipettes, respectively.

In contrast, the OmniPod, which has no external tubing, was the least affected by pumping orientation and direction. With the OmniPod System, the 1U/hr rate differences only ranged from 98.3% when its delivery cannula was in a level pumping position to 101.3% when the cannula was in an upward pumping position. For the 1.5U/hr rate, its differences only ranged from 96.0% in a level pumping position to 102.5% in an upward pumping position.

The researchers measured the change in the fluid level in an in-line graduated glass pipette when the Cozmo and MiniMed pumps were moved either up or down to its maximum length in relation to the end of the tubing/pipette. For the OmniPod, the unit was held in a clamp vertically with the delivery cannula up for "upward" pumping position and the delivery cannula down for the "downward" pumping position. The OmniPod was horizontal for the level pumping position.

The study was supported by a grant from Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD) of Bedford, MA.

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is a non-profit research center devoted to the prevention, treatment and cure of diabetes through research and education. In particular, it is known for its work on methods to detect and chart the progress of diabetes, its success in developing protocols to increase the incidence of healthy babies born to women with diabetes, and its expertise in new diabetes technology.

Media Contacts:
Erich Sandoval
Lazar Partners
(805) 667-8402
Email Contact
Darcy Keane
Lazar Partners
(646) 871-8487
Email Contact

JDRF and BD Collaborate to Improve Insulin Pump Delivery — NEW YORK and FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ —

JDRF and BD Collaborate to Improve Insulin Pump Delivery
R&D Program Targets Opportunities to Improve Glucose Control and Help People with Diabetes Lead Healthier Lives

NEW YORK and FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) announced today an innovative program aimed at improving the treatment of type 1 diabetes by developing novel insulin delivery products to enhance the use of insulin pumps.

Through the program, JDRF will support BD’s research and development of new products that deliver insulin from a pump to a patient in either an infusion set or patch-pump configuration. Research indicates that there are significant opportunities to enhance pump therapy by improving convenience as well as minimizing pain, kinking, occlusions and site infections. An additional goal of the program is improving the speed at which insulin works. These enhancements are intended to improve how people with diabetes control their insulin therapy and have a positive impact on their overall level of glycemic control.

"Better control means better health outcomes for people with diabetes," said Alan Lewis, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of JDRF. "Constantly improving the technological tools to dispense insulin will lead to greater adoption of these methods and healthier lives. That’s why we view this collaboration with BD as vital to our goal to provide a bridge to the cure for type 1 diabetes."

The JDRF will invest $4.3 million in milestone-based financial support over the next few years for these projects.

"Providing reliable, convenient and cost-effective insulin delivery options is vital to helping people manage diabetes," said Linda Tharby, President, BD Medical – Diabetes Care. "This collaboration with JDRF demonstrates BD’s commitment to leveraging our expertise as a leader in insulin injection and acute care infusion to improve the patient experience for insulin pump users."

The evaluation of new delivery technologies, including BD microneedles, will be an important objective of this program. Microneedles are tiny needles that deliver insulin just beneath the skin, increasing the speed of insulin uptake and may be virtually pain free. Microdelivery technology development will focus on improved glucose control and ultimately the use of the technology as a critical element of closed-loop artificial pancreas systems. One day these systems might sense blood glucose levels and automatically administer the proper dosage of insulin in response.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and kills off the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that enables people to convert food into energy. It affects children, adolescents and adults.

To manage this disease, people with type 1 diabetes need to measure their blood sugar and pump or inject insulin throughout the day to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. This daily routine continues for life because insulin does not cure diabetes.

According to JDRF’s estimates, approximately 400,000 of the 3 million people in the United States with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps, which became commercially available in the 1980s. Pumps offer flexibility and precision in controlling diabetes, which is a constant challenge for someone with diabetes. In fact, research shows that most people with diabetes spend the majority of the day with blood sugar levels outside recommended ranges, which can lead to devastating and costly short- and long-term complications.

About JDRF’s Artificial Pancreas Project

The JDRF/BD research program is among the first major non-exclusive industry initiatives of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project. JDRF last week announced that it is partnering with Animas Corporation, a Johnson & Johnson company, in a non-exclusive four-year program to develop a first-generation artificial pancreas system. The eventual, ultimate goal of the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is speeding the development of fully automated diabetes management systems.

An artificial pancreas would measure blood sugar through a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which continuously reads the glucose levels through a hair-thin tube inserted just below the skin, typically on the stomach. The CGM would beam those readings to an insulin pump. In an advanced system, the pump would house a sophisticated computer program that would automatically calculate the necessary amount of insulin, based on the CGM’s glucose readings, and deliver the right amount of insulin.

The development of an artificial pancreas system is an essential step toward an ultimate cure for type 1 diabetes – a "bridge to a cure."

More information about the JDRF Artificial Pancreas Project is available at www.jdrf.org/artificialpancreasproject. http:///The site includes information for people with type 1 diabetes about research leading to the development of an artificial pancreas, as well as interactive tools, project timelines, chats with researchers, and access to information about clinical trials.

About JDRF

JDRF is a global leader in research leading to better treatments and cures for type 1 diabetes. It sets the global agenda for diabetes research, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes science worldwide.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people’s health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD’s capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world’s most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 29,000 associates in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit BD: Medical Supplies, Devices and Technology; Laboratory Products; Antibodies.

SOURCE Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

RELATED LINKS
Type 1 Diabetes: Dedicated to Finding a Cure : Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
BD: Medical Supplies, Devices and Technology; Laboratory Products; Antibodies
http://www.artificialpancreasproject.com/

I don’t know if this is the holy grail some of us are looking for, but IMO it’s big!

Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies evaluating the association of saturated fat with cardiovascular disease — Siri-Tarino et al., 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27725 — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Am J Clin Nutr (January 13, 2010). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27725
2010 American Society for Clinical Nutrition

ABSTRACT

Background: A reduction in dietary saturated fat has generally been thought to improve cardiovascular health.

Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence related to the association of dietary saturated fat with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and cardiovascular disease (CVD; CHD inclusive of stroke) in prospective epidemiologic studies.

Design: Twenty-one studies identified by searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and secondary referencing qualified for inclusion in this study. A random-effects model was used to derive composite relative risk estimates for CHD, stroke, and CVD.

Results: During 5–23 y of follow-up of 347,747 subjects, 11,006 developed CHD or stroke. Intake of saturated fat was not associated with an increased risk of CHD, stroke, or CVD. The pooled relative risk estimates that compared extreme quantiles of saturated fat intake were 1.07 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.19; P = 0.22) for CHD, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.05; P = 0.11) for stroke, and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.89, 1.11; P = 0.95) for CVD. Consideration of age, sex, and study quality did not change the results.

Conclusions: A meta-analysis of prospective epidemiologic studies showed that there is no significant evidence for concluding that dietary saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of CHD or CVD. More data are needed to elucidate whether CVD risks are likely to be influenced by the specific nutrients used to replace saturated fat.

Received for publication March 6, 2009. Accepted for publication November 25, 2009.

———————-

A little about Dr. Krauss
Biography: Ronald M. Krauss, MD