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ER stress-ed
out insulin
BOSTON —
A new study shows how cells get stressed by obesity
and lead to type II diabetes. Researchers first noticed
molecular markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress
in obese mice. The ER aids in the synthesis of lipids
and carbohydrates. The scientists experimentally induced
ER stress in mice, which led to inhibited insulin action
and decreased insulin receptor signalling. This discovery,
published in the October 15 issue of Science,
may be an important step in developing therapies to
prevent and treat type II diabetes.
ACE
shoots down memory loss
SENDAI CITY, JAPAN
— ACE inhibitors could be an effective treatment
against memory loss for Alzheimer's patients, according
to a study in October's Neurology. The study
looked at 162 Alzheimer's patients with hypertension
split into three groups. The first received ACE inhibitors
able to cross the blood-brain barrier; the second received
ACE inhibitors unable to cross; and the third received
calcium channel blockers. Patients took a memory test
at the beginning and end of the trial. Those in the
first group scored the highest. Researchers are unsure
why, but believe that ACE inhibitors may have some effect
on improving or reversing brain damage.
No
refrigeration required
CAMBRIDGE —
A new technology for delivering vaccines that don't
need to be stored in a fridge could save millions of
dollars and ensure that children in Third World countries
get inoculated. Called stable-liquid technology, vaccine
molecules are dried and embedded in tiny sugar beads
or glass spheres. The spheres are suspended in stable,
injectable liquids and are only released once they dissolve
in the body. The technology was developed by Cambridge
Biostability in the UK.
Bush's
flu jabs shiner
WASHINGTON —
John Kerry and the Democratic Party have taken
the US flu vaccine shortage and are running with it.
They rushed through a radio ad in swing state Florida
with the ominous slogan: "George Bush and the Republicans
have this to say on healthcare: Don't get sick." Americans
living in border towns have been flocking to Canadian
clinics in hopes of scoring a jab after the FDA asked
healthy people to refrain from getting vaccinated. The
FDA is negotiating with a Canadian flu vaccine supplier
to deliver them 1.2 million doses, even though their
vaccine isn't licensed in the US.
Wild
flower tames tumours
GALVESTON, TX
— A compound called cyclopamine — found
in wild lilies — appears to combat skin cancer.
A study published in the October 15 issue of Cancer
Research found that mice genetically engineered
to be susceptible to basal cell carcinoma had 90% less
microscopic tumours and 50% less visible tumours when
they were treated with cyclopamine. Moreover, the flower-powered
mice had no noticeable side effects.
Testosterone
gives sexual second wind
WASHINGTON —
A new study presented at the North American Menopause
Society's 15th annual meeting shows testosterone can
rev up sex drives in menopausal women. Of 549 naturally
menopausal, estrogen-treated women randomized to receive
either 300µg of testosterone transdermal patch
therapy or a placebo twice weekly for 24 weeks, those
who got the real deal had more frequent "totally satisfying"
sexual episodes.
Scratch
the patch and switch to gel
WASHINGTON —
Research shows that estradiol gel may be a better option
than the estrogen patch for reducing hot flashes. Results
of a 12-week study, involving 361 women, were presented
at the North American Menopause Society meeting on October
9. Subjects were either given the patch, or one of three
different doses of gel daily (0.625g, 1.25g or 2.5g).
Although the patch performed better overall, the gel
at the highest dose (2.5g/day) came in a close second
and caused less skin irritation — a common problem
with the patch.
The
strength to clobber that CAD
EDMONTON —
Hitting the dumbbells is a smart move for older women
with coronary artery disease (CAD) according to research
published in the October issue of Chest. Eighteen
women with CAD, aged 60 to 80, were randomized to do
either aerobic training or combined aerobic and strength
training 30 minutes a day, three days a week for eight
weeks. Researchers found that social and physical quality
of life, as well as upper body strength, improved for
the combined exercise group, but not for the aerobic
only group.
RANTES
go ape on simian HIV
CLEVELAND —
Researchers claim they've found a naturally occurring
immune system protein, called RANTES, that can protect
female monkeys from HIV infection. The protein blocks
receptors on the immune cells that HIV infects, and
so prevents the virus from entering the cell. When researchers
put a saline solution containing RANTES into the monkeys'
vaginas 15 minutes prior to infecting them with a simian-version
of HIV, all five of the monkeys receiving the highest
dose were protected from infection.
Health
websites no match for doc's advice
LONDON —
Patients trolling the net for health info might be doing
more harm than good, says a British study. Researchers
at University College London reviewed 28 studies involving
4,042 patients with chronic diseases like diabetes and
asthma. They found that patients who used the net as
a health resource tended to be in worse shape than those
who sought advice from their doc. Websurfers with diabetes
had higher blood sugar levels and those with asthma
had less control over their disease. Researchers think
the reason might be that health websites may not convey
the same sense of urgency.
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