StemCell Therapy

Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) say continued investment in gene discovery and genetic analysis technology is allowing their farmer shareholders to improve cow production valued in the millions.

Investment into the understanding of bovine genetics undertaken by LIC scientists indicates farmers could be missing out on production to the tune of up to the tune of up to $10 million each year.

The co-operative spent $16 million on research and development during the 2019/20 season.

The discovery of genetic variations have been made from the farmer-owned co-operative's database of genotyped cows and bulls and validated through on-farm inspections.

LIC chief scientist Richard Spelman says that despite a relatively low frequently, the hidden impacts on production from these variants can be substantial.

Spelman says they are recessive genetic variations, which means an animal has to have two copies to be affected.

"Identifying these animals via Genemark and removing them from the herd as calves will save in lost production and the rearing cost for these animals.

"We estimate this could be worth up to $10 million in lost production each year across the national herd," he says.

"Even having a few of these cows in a herd could equate to significant loss in productivity and profitability."

He says that LIC's continued investment in gene discovery, with the Genemark testing platform, will allow farmers to identify genetic variations in animals as calves, remove them from the herd, and allow them to focus on the rest of their replacements.

Each of the variants exist within the national herd at differing frequencies and all have varying effects on an animal's production.

From spring 2021, all farmers using LIC's Genemark services will automotically be notified at no additional charge if any of their calves are affected by any of the variations.

"We are pleased our combined investment into science and technology has come together to deliver a simple and convenient service for farmers that is likely to save millions in lost production."

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Cow production improved by genetic research and tech - Rural News Group

Ancient people brought the plague to Siberia by about 4,400 years ago, which may have led to collapses in the population there, a new genetic analysis suggests.

That preliminary finding raises the possibility that plague-induced die offs influenced the genetic structure of northeast Asians who trekked to North America starting perhaps 5,500 years ago. If the result holds up, it, along with other newly uncovered insights into human population dynamics in the region, would unveil a more complex ancestry among those ancient travelers than has usually been assumed.

A team led by evolutionary geneticists Glah Merve Kilin and Anders Gtherstrm, both of Stockholm University, extracted DNA from the remains of 40 human skeletons previously excavated in parts of eastern Siberia. Among those samples, DNA from Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, was found in two ancient Siberians, the researchers report January 6 in Science Advances. One person lived around 4,400 years ago. The other dated to roughly 3,800 years ago.

Its unclear how the plague bacterium first reached Siberia or whether it caused widespread infections and death, Gtherstrm says. But he and his colleagues found that genetic diversity in their ancient samples of human DNA declined sharply from around 4,700 to 4,400 years ago, possibly the result of population collapse.

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The new data coincide with evidence reported in June 2020 in Cell of Y. pestis DNA in two ancient individuals from eastern Siberias Lake Baikal region, dating to around 4,500 years ago.

The plague may well have reached Siberia by roughly 4,500 years ago, at a time when Y. pestis infected people inhabiting other parts of Eurasia (SN: 10/22/15), says evolutionary geneticist Hendrik Poinar of McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada who did not participate in the new study.

But its possible that the ancient Siberians were infected with a version of Y. pestis that wasnt virulent. If so, the bacterium wouldnt have killed enough people to alter the genetic structure of Siberians. Genetic data from only two individuals provides too little evidence to confirm that they possessed a virulent strain of Y. pestis, Poinar says.

The genetic findings do provide a glimpse of a series of previously unknown ancient population shifts in that region. Ancient individuals included in the new research dated from around 16,900 years ago, shortly after the last Ice Age peaked, to 550 years ago. The researchers compared those ancient Siberians DNA to DNA from present-day humans in different parts of the world and to previous samples of ancient human DNA mainly from Europe, Asia and North America. The analyses showed that despite Siberias harsh climate, groups near Lake Baikal and regions further east mixed with various populations in and outside of Siberia from the Late Stone Age up to medieval times.

The two plague-carrying Siberians, in particular, came from regions that had experienced major population transformations during much of the sampled time period, the researchers say. Those events could have included migrations of plague-carrying people from outside Siberia. For instance, the 4,400-year-old skeleton was found just west of Lake Baikal, a region that witnessed the emergence of several distinct genetic groups with roots mainly further to the west and southwest of Lake Baikal between around 8,980 and 560 years ago.

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Plague may have caused die-offs of ancient Siberians - Science News

For assistant professor of sociology James Doucet-Battle, diabetes research is personal. His grandmother was diabetic, and thats part of what inspired him to delve into the issue through the lens of African American experience.

Im interested in this notion that there is a racial component to risk for type 2 diabetes, he said. I wanted to unpack the ways in which African Americansand, increasingly, Latino peopleare held up as examples of high-risk type 2 diabetes populations.

Diabetes is a medical condition that affects the bodys ability to regulate blood sugar levels, and in type 2 diabetes, cells become resistant to insulin, the hormone produced in the pancreas that normally helps cells convert blood sugar into energy. African American people are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white Americans. But why? And what are the effects of this disparity?

These are some of the questions that Doucet-Battle wanted to explore. And now, his new book, Sweetness in the Blood: Race, Risk, and Type 2 Diabetes, captures findings from that journey in a way that challenges assumptions about race within diabetes research.

For the first phase of the project, Doucet-Battle studied how African American populations with diabetes interact with researchers, healthcare professionals, and diabetes technologies, like glucometers. In particular, he wanted to uncover how the history of racism in the United States has affected trust between African American communities and biomedical researchers.

Doucet-Battle also studied a Silicon Valley-based biotechnology companys efforts to design a diabetes risk algorithm and examined how they navigated race in projecting health outcomes. The company had sought out an African American test group and a group of participants from Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. It struck Doucet-Battle that both Mauritius and parts of the United States were once sugar colonies. That launched him into a study of how the global geography of diabetes reflects the history of colonialism and slavery.

He also worked with epidemiologists, molecular biologists, and genomicists across the country to look for diabetes risk factors in mitochondrial DNA, a maternally inherited chromosome that plays an important role in human metabolic adaptation to environmental change. Through this workspurred by the 2013 mapping of the genome and epigenome of the maternally derived HeLa cells of Henrietta Lackshe demonstrates the importance of analyzing gender before attempting to examine the social construct of race.

Ultimately, Doucet-Battle says researchers who want to better understand diabetes risk should focus more attention on social factors, because risk is as socially, culturally, politically, and economically created as it is biologically.

For example, he explained that type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with body weight, and many type 2 diabetics may be able to reduce or eliminate their dependence on medication through diet and exercise. Similarly, those who are prediabetic could reduce their risk of developing the disease. However, Doucet-Battle notes that the cultural and economic impulses in this country are mitigating against that. And one of those factors is inequality in access to physical activity.

While we can stay relatively healthy here in Santa Cruz County walking up and down the verdant hills of the Central Coast, for a lot of people, getting that recommended 180 minutes of aerobic exercise per week is quite a challenge, he said. Particularly when youre living in resource-deprived, unsafe, or aesthetically challenging areas.

In his future research, Doucet-Battle wants to continue exploring how barriers to physical activity affect diabetes risk and treatment outcomes. Hes particularly interested in taking a regional look at how COVID-19 lockdowns and poor air quality during Californias 2020 wildfire season have affected the lives of diabetics. To study this, hes assembling a team of UC Santa Cruz undergraduate researchers, with funding from the Building Belonging program administered by the Institute for Social Transformation.

Overall, when he looks back at the experience of writing Sweetness In The Blood, Doucet-Battle says it has helped him visualize the intersection of race, gender, history, and scientific knowledge production in new ways that will have a lasting effect on his approach to research.

I came into this project as a medical anthropologist, he said. I came out of it as a social scientist of science.

Link:
Uncovering the social factors lurking within diabetes risk - UC Santa Cruz

The director of clinical research in the Center for Cancer Care at White Plains Hospital spoke about the implications of a study which evaluated the impact of diabetes in patients with multiple myeloma.

A descriptive analysis of the Connect MM Registry (NCT01081028), a disease registry for patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic multiple myeloma, presented at the 2020 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting & Exposition revealed an unmet need related to providing better supportive care for diabetes management in patients with this hematologic malignancy.

In an interview with CancerNetwork, Lisa La, director of clinical research in the Center for Cancer Care at White Plains Hospital, discussed the implications of these study results and what she believes they point to regarding research moving forward.

Transcription:

Its always been known in the clinic that patients [with diabetes] possibly had worse overall survival and progression-free survival, but there wasnt a lot of data to prove that. Now that we have [those] data, whats next? Its really [about] providing the patients with more supportive care.

What does that mean? It could mean a lot of different things to a lot of different centerssuch as providing them with [a dedicated] clinician to handle and better manage their diabetes, weight management, healthy eating, [and] following up on them. Ive been doing some preliminary analysis on taking the next steps.

What other data Im interested in after looking at these general findings were [whether or not] race plays a role? Do steroids play a role? We know in myeloma, steroids are a big backbone for all of our treatments in general. And does that play a role in why patients [with diabetes] did not have a fair advantage of getting the same treatment options as those without diabetes just because of their comorbidities?

So, there are a lot of interesting findings. When the data were presented, there was a lot of excitement. Whats the next step? Can we look at race? Can we do subgroup analyses? What about the [patients going to] transplant? There are a lot of things that we can look at from this data.

Reference:

La L, Jagannath S, Ailawadhi S, et al. Clinical features and survival outcomes in diabetic patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) enrolled in the Connect MM Registry. Blood. 2020;136(suppl 1):49-50. doi:10.1182/blood-2020-137309.

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Lisa La on the Impact of Diabetes in Patients with Multiple Myeloma - Cancer Network

This article was originally published here

Obes Med. 2020 Dec 30:100316. doi: 10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100316. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the leading non-communicable disease worldwide and is associated with several microvascular and macrovascular complications. Individuals with T2D are more prone to acquiring selected types of infections and are more susceptible to complications due to these infections. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between T2D and COVID-19 in the community setting.

METHODS: This was a single-center retrospective analysis that included 147 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to a community hospital. Demographics, medical history, symptoms and signs, laboratory findings, complications during the hospital course, and treatments were collected and analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to describe the probability of intubation in patients with T2D as compared with patients without T2D. The hazard ratio for intubation in the survival analysis was estimated using a bivariable Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS: Of 147 patients, 73 (49.7%) had a history of T2D. Patients with T2D had higher requirement of ICU admission (31.5% vs 12.2%; p=.004), higher incidence of ARDS (35.6% vs 16.2%, p=.007), higher rates of intubation (32.9% vs 12.2%, p=0.003), and higher use neuromuscular blocking agents (23.3% vs 9.5%, p=.02). In the survival analysis at 28 days of follow-up, patients with T2D showed an increased hazard for intubation (HR 3.00; 95% CI, 1.39 to 6.46).

CONCLUSION: In our patient population, patients with COVID-19 and T2D showed significantly higher ARDS incidence and intubation rates. The survival analysis also showed that after 28 days of follow-up, patients with T2D presented an increased risk for shorter time to intubation.

PMID:33392411 | PMC:PMC7772088 | DOI:10.1016/j.obmed.2020.100316

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Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risk of critical respiratory illness in patients COVID-19 in a community hospital - DocWire News

Diet or diabetes: You decide.

An estimated 34 million people in the U.S. -- or just over 1 in 10 -- have diabetes. Diet is a crucial tool for managing the disease, and weight loss can help people who are overweight prevent Type 2 diabetes. Prevention is particularly important when you consider that diabetes brings complications such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, plus increased risk for heart attack and stroke, kidney disease and blindness.

Consider one of the U.S. News 2021 Best Diabetes Diets, as evaluated by nutrition experts:

No. 1 (tie) The Flexitarian Diet

The Flexitarian Diet marries flexibility with a vegetarian eating plan -- eat like a vegetarian most of the time, but when the urge for a double cheeseburger hits, go for it. Cutting back on meat will likely help you lose weight, which means you stand a better chance of staving off diabetes. Plus, vegetarianism is linked to a lower diabetes risk, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"The amount of information and guidance in the Flexitarian diet is just enough to make the dieter feel informed without feeling restricted," a U.S. News reviewer says. "Focusing on a plant-based diet has been shown in research to be beneficial for your heart and brain and can help reduce the risk of diabetes and certain cancers."

No. 1 (tie) Mediterranean Diet

Fruits, veggies, whole grains. Fish and seafood. Oh yeah, and wine. The Mediterranean diet is a healthy all-around choice -- and a clear winner when it comes to diabetes management and prevention. One study, for example, found that about 30% of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease could be prevented by adopting the approach. Another study suggests the Mediterranean diet can help prevent diabetes, since the short-chain fatty acids (a product of fiber fermentation in the gut) the diet promotes are linked to a decreased risk of the disease. As one expert said, "Overall, this is the best diet for long-term health and disease prevention."

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No. 3 (tie) DASH Diet

The DASH diet -- Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension -- was designed to curb high blood pressure, but chances are, it can help prevent and manage diabetes, too. It's generally viewed as an ideal eating pattern for both, and it echoes dietary advice touted by the American Diabetes Association. One large 2017 study even linked diets that closely mirror DASH and other healthy eating patterns with an 18% reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. Better yet, "because it uses regular food and does not depend on supplements or smoothies, it is relatively easy to incorporate into a dietary plan and it provides satiety," one U.S. News panelist said.

No. 3 (tie) Mayo Clinic Diet

The Mayo Clinic Diet aims to recalibrate eating habits and promote weight loss. It emphasizes the right foods (fruits, veggies and whole grains), discourages the wrong ones and mandates physical activity -- all good standards for diabetes prevention. The guidelines mirror those of the American Diabetes Association, and our expert panelists said the plan is better than most other approaches for those worried about diabetes.

No. 3 (tie) Vegan Diet

Going vegan will likely help you lose weight and fend off chronic diseases like diabetes. Research suggests the approach can lower A1C levels, and a small pilot study published in the journal Nutrition & Diabetes in 2015 suggests it can help ease diabetes-related nerve pain. In late 2016, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics released a position statement declaring vegetarian diets -- including vegan ones -- to be healthy, nutritionally adequate and potentially able to prevent and treat diseases, including Type 2 diabetes.

A U.S. News reviewer concurs: "If followed in a healthy way, (a vegan) diet has a lot of potential for treating and managing diabetes and for preventing heart disease."

No. 6 Jenny Craig

Jenny Craig offers a lower-carb program for people with Type 2 diabetes. U.S. News panelists suspect the Jenny Craig for Type 2 program can work for diabetes care and applaud its support component, but caution that the cost and packaged foods approach aren't ideal long term. "The lack of preparation (doesn't teach) people to eat a healthy diet for the rest of their lives," one expert said.

No. 7 (tie) The Engine 2 Diet

Experts were impressed with the Engine 2 Diet, a low-fat, vegan plan designed to prevent and perhaps reverse diseases like diabetes caused by the so-called standard American diet. It will almost certainly help you lose weight, which can stave off Type 2 diabetes. Plus, one study found that those on a similar diet were able to ease up on their diabetes medications and lower their A1C hemoglobin levels.

But, as with any restrictive plan, careful planning to consume the right amount of various nutrients is key. "Following this diet alone will not reverse diabetes; you'd still have to pay attention to carbohydrate intake," one reviewer said.

No. 7 (tie) MIND Diet

The MIND diet -- which blends two all-star plans, the DASH and Mediterranean diets -- is designed to prevent Alzheimer's disease with brain-healthy foods such as leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, beans and whole grains.

While research focuses on brain health, the plan's parent diets may have diabetes-preventive effects. Just make sure you get moving, too. Exercise is one of the most important aspects of preventing diabetes and other chronic diseases, one expert says, "so it's unfortunate that an exercise recommendation is not included with this diet plan."

No. 7 (tie) Ornish Diet

Experts applauded the Ornish Diet as a way to prevent or control diabetes, giving it an impressive rating in this category. The plan's basic principles of emphasizing whole grains and produce and shunning saturated fat and cholesterol are right in line with American Diabetes Association guidelines. And in one study, Ornish dieters decreased their A1C levels (blood sugar measure) by 0.4 percentage points after a year, which was considered meaningful. "I appreciate that this diet takes a more holistic approach to health, including supporting relationships with others and stress reduction," one U.S. News panelist said.

No. 7 (tie) Volumetrics

Filling up on fibrous, bulky foods (think raw carrots) over easy-to-overeat foods (like Cheetos) is tied to weight loss -- and, quite likely, diabetes prevention and management, experts agreed. Research suggests such low-density diets help prevent insulin resistance -- a frequent precursor to Type 2 diabetes.

The Volumetrics diet is flexible, too. "From a behavioral standpoint, it is one of the most reasonable plans to follow over the long term because it is not overly restrictive and allows people to make 'better' choices rather than trying to follow strict guidelines," one U.S. News panelist said.

No. 7 (tie) WW (Weight Watchers)

Want to eat your cake and be able to prevent or manage diabetes, too? WW (Weight Watchers) -- which offers specific plans for people with diabetes and prediabetes -- allows dieters to strategically indulge using a point system. Still, making mindful choices is important, an expert notes: "Since fruits and vegetables are zero points, those with prediabetes and diabetes may be adversely affected by this if they overindulge in these foods."

One yearlong randomized controlled trial of 563 American adults with Type 2 diabetes found that nearly twice as many people who followed WW (Weight Watchers) and received counseling from a certified diabetes educator met their A1C level treatment target in comparison to those who received standard diabetes nutrition counseling and education. WW (Weight Watchers) participants were also more than twice as likely to reduce their diabetes medications. The program also led to greater weight loss and more reduced waistlines.

No. 12 (tie) Nutritarian Diet

The Nutritarian diet's focus on plant foods and limiting of animal proteins is in line with diabetes prevention and management protocols. Research, too, links diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts with a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, while diets high in red meat and other animal protein have been linked with higher diabetes prevalence in women. "The Nutritarian diet seems radical," one expert said, "but it's really just trying to pack as many of the healthiest foods as possible and minimize those that have been associated with disease."

No. 12 (tie) Vegetarian Diet

Going vegetarian can help shed pounds and fend off chronic diseases, including diabetes. A meat-free eating plan will likely help you lose weight and keep it off, which can stave off Type 2 diabetes. Research links vegetarianism with a lower diabetes risk, and the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics agree it's a healthful option.

Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes

-- Flexitarian Diet.

-- Mediterranean Diet.

-- DASH Diet.

-- Mayo Clinic Diet.

-- Vegan Diet.

-- Jenny Craig.

-- Engine 2 Diet.

-- MIND Diet.

-- Ornish Diet.

-- Volumetrics.

-- WW (Weight Watchers).

-- Nutritarian Diet.

-- Vegetarian Diet.

More:
The Best Diets to Prevent and Manage Diabetes - Yahoo News

This article was originally published here

J Diabetes Complications. 2020 Nov 27:107808. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2020.107808. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We searched whether the accumulation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs), reflected by the skin autofluorescence (SAF), could predict diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) during the long-term follow-up of people with type 1 diabetes. During year 2009, we measured the SAF with an AGE-Reader in 206 subjects with type 1 diabetes. DFU and amputations were registered during the 10 following years. The relation between the SAF and later DFU was analyzed by Cox model regression, adjusted for vascular risk factors. The 206 participants were mainly men (55.8%), 51 15 years old, with a 22 13 years diabetes duration. Twelve subjects presented a DFU. Their SAF were higher: 2.61 0.89 AU vs 2.11 0.53 for the others (p = 0.003), related to the risk of DFU (OR:3.69; 95% CI: 1.06-12.79) after adjustment for age, gender, diabetes duration, initial HbA1c, arterial hypertension, history of smoking, blood lipids and use of a statin. Five subjects were amputated, also related to the initial SAF: OR: 11.28 (95% CI: 1.76-79.97) after adjustment for age, gender, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c. The SAF has already been related to diabetic neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease. It predicts DFU in type 1 diabetes, which suggests that AGEs play a role in this highly specific and feared complication.

PMID:33386214 | DOI:10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2020.107808

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For diabetic type 1 patients, the skin autofluorescence predicts ulcers and amputations - DocWire News

Texas AgriLife Extension Services next diabetes education program will be held virtually on Wednesday in February.

Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes is a program is designed to help people with Type 2 diabetes learn how to manage their blood glucose through basic nutrition and self-care management.

The class was originally scheduled to be start Wednesday, Jan. 4. However, the class has been moved to Wednesdays in February.

The diabetes education program is offered free from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24 over Zoom, thanks to grant funding.

To register, contact Texas AgriLife Extension Family & Community Health Agent Agent for Hopkins County Johanna Hicks at [emailprotected] or 903-885-3443 by Jan. 30. They will then receive registration forms, materials and a participation link to log into the Zoom sessions facilitated by medical experts and professional educators.

Hicks has collaborated with colleagues in Fannin, Titus, and Rockwall Counties to offer the course.

If individuals are not comfortable with Zoom, or if they dont have reliable internet, they are welcome to view the sessions at my office, Hicks said.

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Diabetes Education Class To Be Held Virtually In February - KSST

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. A researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is testing what he calls a radically different approach to managing type 2 diabetes for those who cant or dont want to lose weight.

Daniel Cox, PhD, professor of psychiatry and internal medicine, said his program flies in the face of conventionality in that it doesnt insist on weight loss as a key component of controlling blood sugar.

Instead, it combines continuous glucose monitoring with well-informed eating choices, to understand the effect of different foods on blood-sugar levels, and well-timed exercise, to reduce those levels as needed.

The convention is lose weight. And if you lose weight, you lose belly fat, and if you lose belly fat, you lose adipose tissue in the liver. And that, in turn, reduces insulin resistance, Cox said. Thats all fine and good. And if you can, in fact, lose a significant amount of weight and keep it off for a long time a lifetime youre golden. You can even put diabetes in remission. Theres nothing wrong with that approach, and its a very effective approach.

But some people dont need to lose weight, and some people dont want to lose weight, and other people want to lose weight but they cant, or they cant keep it off for a lifetime.

Coxs approach relies on continuous glucose monitoring to help people understand how their food choices affect their blood sugar. Different foods may affect people differently, he notes.

Continuous glucose monitoring involves wearing a sensor on the back of the arm that continually sends a signal to a receiver that shows the persons blood glucose level, without the need for finger sticks.

Continuous glucose monitoring lets people see how a particular food affects their blood-glucose levels, whether its a sugary slice of cake or a seemingly healthy bowl of oatmeal, Cox said. Understanding that lets them make smart choices to keep their blood sugar under control.

If they do choose to indulge in a sugar-spiking food, the program encourages them to use light exercise, such as walking, to help bring their blood sugar back into check.

This is the innovation: One, you dampen how much (blood sugar) goes up by minimizing the amount of carbohydrate you eat, and, two, you hasten its recovery by becoming more physically active, Cox said.

Physical activity does two things: One, the skeletal muscle burns blood glucose as fuel, and, two, physical activity reduces your insulin resistance for a short period of time, about 24 hours.

Instead of fixing supper and having a great dinner and then plopping in front of the TV for the rest of the night, the alternative is becoming more physically active, Cox said. Do your shopping after you eat, walk the dog after you eat, clean your house after you eat.

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'Radically different' approach to managing Type II diabetes tested - The Union Leader

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease. Its what happens when your body cant make enough insulin or use it properly. Insulin is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Too much sugar in the blood causes a lot of complications. People with diabetes are at high risk for nerve damage, kidney disease, skin infections, eye problems, and developing a serious case of COVID-19, should they become infected. All of these problems can be very painful and debilitating. And once you have diabetes, it doesnt go away. You have to manage it for the rest of your life.

All of this sounds pretty bleak, but there is good news. The most common type of diabetes, type 2, can sometimes be prevented. The body sends up a warning flag called prediabetes. Those who are tested and find out they have prediabetes can take action to prevent the onset of irreversible diabetes.

The first step is to know your risk. The most significant risk factor is being overweight, especially if you carry more weight around your waist. Men with a waist measurement of 40 inches or more and women with a waist measurement of 35 or more are at greater risk of diabetes.

Age is also a risk factor. Because people tend to exercise less and gain weight as they age, those over 45 are at greatest risk. Pay attention to your family history, as well. If a parent or sibling has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to get it.

For a quick and easy screening test from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions National Diabetes Prevention Program, visit https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pdf/Prediabetes-Risk-Test-Final.pdf.

If you find that you are at risk, ask your primary care provider to test for diabetes. The test your provider will most likely recommend is called a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. Its a blood test that shows your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months. Your provider is looking for a number below 5.6 percent. Measurements 5.7 to 6.4 are an indication of prediabetes. Higher than 6.5 percent on two tests indicates that you have diabetes.

If your test indicates that you already have type 2 diabetes, ongoing visits with a diabetes educator and a very focused and committed approach to diet and exercise can help you manage the effects of the disease. Medications and other therapies are sometimes recommended too.

If you find that you have prediabetes, the most important thing you can do is learn more. Understanding how the disease works will help you make some important life changes. The CDC offers a proven-effective diabetes prevention program specifically designed for people with prediabetes. Local health and fitness professional Andrea Malinowski is conducting a session starting in February. Its free, but you must have a prediabetes diagnosis to join. Ask your primary care provider to connect you with the local diabetes educator for more information.

Paula Haytko, RN, CDE, is a certified diabetes educator at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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Health Matters: How to prevent type 2 diabetes - Bennington Banner

Cox partners with UM Extension to help keep community healthy

Cox Health and the University of Missouri Extension are teaming up to give residents who may be at risk of type 2 diabetes another resource to stay healthy in 2021.

The new diabetes prevention program is scheduled to begin Monday, Jan. 11 with online classes. Classes will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Monday for the first six months, and once a month for the final six months of the year-long program.

Community Health Field Specialist Kelsa Ferguson said a grant from the Department of Health and Senior Services is providing a grant that allows the partnership to offer this program for free of charge.

One in three adults are pre-diabetic, and 90 percent are unaware, Ferguson said. By participating in this class, it will reduce their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

The goal of the program is to help participants lose 5-7 percent of their bodyweight and work up to 150 minutes of physical activity per week by the end of the 12-month course.

Ferguson also said the program will also function as a support group, where members can work together to share information.

We are going to talk a lot about how to heat healthy, how to exercise and stress management, Ferguson said. A lot of it is going to be about getting support as a group.

While the program will begin this month with online meetings, if COVID-19 restrictions are eased later down the road, Ferguson said the group may begin to meet in-person.

This program is being specifically designed for community members who are at risk of contracting diabetes, which could include people with a family history of diabetes, those who are overweight, residents who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes and women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

There are 79 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, which increases their risk of heart disease and stroke risk, Ferguson said. Without intervention, 30 percent will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.

Anyone who is interested in enrolling in the program is invited to contact Ferguson at 417-635-4562 or kelsaferguson@missouri.edu.

More:
Local News: Beat diabetes in the new year (1/2/21) - Monett Times

Conceptual vector illustration. Human diseases. Stop cancer

Its now well established that obesity, visceral (belly) fat and type 2 diabetes (i.e., metabolic dysfunction) increase a persons risk for developing certain cancers. What is only beginning to be appreciated is that cancer patients that have underlying metabolic dysfunction have much worse outcomes and seriously increased mortality rates. This suggests that metabolic hormones play an important role in cancer progression, and could be valuable targets in cancer treatment.

A variety of chronic, adverse health issues are associated with metabolic dysfunction, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimers, and most notably cancer. Metabolic dysfunction is linked with worse outcomes for at least 13 types of cancers and is associated with a 33% elevated risk of death from cancer in the US. Of all the various cancer types, some of the most common are highly sensitive to dysregulated metabolic hormones (insulin, leptin, adiponectin) and chronic inflammation stemming from overweight/obesity, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. An estimated 630,000 patients in the United States alone were diagnosed in 2014 with an obesity-related cancer, including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Yet, only now are oncologists and researchers beginning to pay close attention to the profound influence systemic metabolic dysfunction has on cancer progression and patient outcomes.

The nexus of cancer and metabolic dysfunctionMetabolic dysfunction leads to dysregulated hormones that impact known oncogenic pathways causing tumors to grow faster with greater metastatic potential, and may even be implicated in cancer treatment resistance. The metabolic hormone insulin, as well as leptin and adiponectin (aka adipokines), signal through validated oncogenic pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, ERK, JNK, Notch, and STAT3, and trigger deleterious downstream effects such as cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, stem cell protection, and metastatic potential. Ultimately, these downstream effects drive tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, systemic metabolic dysfunction dysregulates the tumor immune microenvironment leading to immune suppression possibly rendering the tumor resistant to cancer treatment.

Sadly, you dont have to be overweight to have metabolic dysfunction. People who maintain a healthy weight according to their body mass index (or BMI) can still have systemic metabolic dysfunction, depending on how their body fat is distributed. These individuals are also at a higher risk of developing cancer, one major example of this being in post-menopausal women and breast cancer. Furthermore, cancer therapies themselves can induce metabolic dysfunction (e.g., hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, weight gain, insulin resistance) which can impact the patients quality of life and even lead to treatment failure.

Why targeting gene mutations isnt enoughCurrent cancer treatments tend to target specific mutations or dysregulated pathways in tumor cells with the goal of blocking cell proliferation and reducing tumor burden. However, as long as metabolic dysfunction is stimulating key oncogenic pathways, oncologists administering these treatments will be fighting a losing battle. Studies with diet and exercise suggest that standard treatments may be more effective if they are administered simultaneously with measures to reduce metabolic dysfunction in cancer patients. This approach addresses the disease on two fronts: molecularly targeted chemotherapeutics arrest cell proliferation and can shrink the tumor size, while restoring normal metabolic hormone levels relieves the external stimulation on oncogenic signaling pathways. Not only does this combination approach impede multiple cancer drivers at both the systemic and cellular levels, but it also improves patients quality of life by boosting their strength and possibly lessening side effects from treatment.

It is now more important than ever that standard cancer treatments account for the critical role that metabolic dysfunction plays in patients prognosis. Rates of obesity, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes are on the rise worldwide, driven by poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and even reduced activity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, metabolic dysfunction and cancer are associated with aging, and retiring baby boomers make up a massive aging segment of our population. This growing population of aging individuals combined with an increase in metabolic dysfunction creates the perfect storm in which many more people are likely to develop highly aggressive forms of cancer in the coming years.

How to treat a cancer patient with metabolic dysfunction?When a person with metabolic dysfunction discovers they have cancer, they can work with an endocrinologist or dietician to develop healthier lifestyle habits, such as weight loss, better diabetes control, improved nutrition, and regular physical activity all of which help the patient better tolerate chemotherapy, and improve the treatment outcomes. However, sticking to a rigorous diet and exercise regimen can be challenging for patients, especially while they are undergoing chemotherapy. While adopting healthy habits should always be a goal, cancer patients could benefit from pharmacological options that treat systemic metabolic dysfunction more predictably and reliably to provide a complementary, one-two punch with standard of care cancer therapies so they have a better shot at working. Although there are no drugs on the market specifically targeting this population, the type 2 diabetes drug metformin has been clinically studied in this population, with mixed results.

Treating the patient, not just the cancerWeinbergs The Hallmarks of Cancer got it right a multi-faceted approach to treating cancer is the way forward. Metabo-oncology is the emerging area of research dedicated to understanding and developing treatments for cancers that are sensitive to metabolic dysfunction. A steadily-growing body of clinicians are speaking out on the role of metabolic dysfunction and its implications on cancer patient treatment and clinical outcomes.

Justin Brown PhD, assistant professor and director of the Cancer Metabolism Program at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana is a leader in the field researching how metabo-oncology principles can be put into clinical practice. From Dr. Browns perspective, the diagnosis of cancer triggers two reactions: on one hand, an individual becomes motivated to do everything in their power to maximize the probability for a good outcome; on the other hand, the diagnosis is overwhelming, stressful, and terrifying. Most patients experience some combination of both reactions, and this is where healthy lifestyle habits can be a powerful, enabling tool.

Dr. Brown believes that oncologists should provide the right information about lifestyle choices to the right patient at the right time. When a patient indicates that they are ready, physicians could then initiate a patient-centered discussion about the benefits of pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Once a patient decides they want to adopt a healthier lifestyle, doctors should put the patients in contact with experts (endocrinologists, dieticians) to help improve clinical success.

In reality, however, while oncologists and their patients generally recognize the importance of healthy lifestyle habits, in a 2019 survey conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, oncologists only reported counselling patients about weight management, healthful eating, and physical activity about 40-60% of the time, due to a lack of training, limited referral options, and lack of third-party reimbursement for diet and exercise counseling.

Thats why treating cancer patients with concomitant metabolic dysfunction remains a major challenge for oncologists. The work of a key opinion leader in this field, Emily Gallagher, MD, PhD demonstrates this well. Dr. Gallagher is an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai in New York who specializes in treating cancer patients with metabolic dysfunction. When Dr. Gallagher treats her patients, she never takes a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing their metabolic issues. Instead, she considers the underlying medical reason patients were referred to her, the type of cancer they have, and the type of treatment they are receiving. She considers pre-existing conditions, like type 2 diabetes, current lifestyle, and disease symptoms when devising a treatment regimen that she believes will be most effective. She sets short-term and long-term goals for her patients and follows up regularly to help keep them on track, and encourages them to see a diabetes educator/dietitian to further encourage positive lifestyle changes.

From Dr. Gallaghers perspective, when patients have metastatic cancer, their non-cancer background conditions often go under-treated. But, by ignoring systemic metabolic dysfunction, clinical oncologists may inadvertently be contributing to their patients disease progression. Therefore, its important that oncologists pay close attention to the metabolic health of their cancer patients and monitor for endocrine side effects (hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, obesity/weight gain) induced by the cancer drugs they prescribe. This is why it makes sense to refer these patients to endocrinologists who may have already developed strategies to address these problems. Whats more, by having the oncology team reinforce the importance of systemic metabolic health, it communicates to the patients that their treatment strategy is being administered by a team of doctors using a whole-patient strategy.

While treating physicians know that obesity/systemic metabolic dysfunction leads to worse outcomes for their cancer patients, they face multiple challenges in addressing it: limited pharmacologic interventions that can effectively treat patients metabolic issues, lack of training in the methods endocrinologists use to address these issues, and no payer incentives to encourage better lifestyle choices. While we wait for effective pharmaceutical interventions that can reliably address these issues, anti-diabetic medications and diet and exercise will have to do. Addressing systemic metabolic dysfunction in cancer patients requires communication between diverse medical experts and scientific disciplines. Incorporating a multi-disciplined approach to treating cancer should help foster better clinical practices for cancer patients and improved outcomes for patients with cancers sensitive to metabolic hormones.

Photo: Main_sail, Getty Images

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Are metabolic hormones the next frontier in cancer treatment? - MedCity News

New Delhi: People with diabetes face a real challenge during the winter season. The cold weather coupled with reduced physical activity puts stress on the body, causing it to go into a fight-or-flight mode. This results in the release of natural survival hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Consequently, the liver releases more glucose for energy leading to increased blood sugar levels.

Dr H.P. Bharathi, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Jindal Naturecure Institute says: Presently, more than 50 million people in India have diabetes and it is expected to go over 6 crores by 2025. So, theres a big challenge in front of the country to tackle this rising concern. A naturopathic approach recommending specific behavioural changes can help in the effective management of diabetes during the winters. He shares six naturopathy and yoga tips that can help people with diabetes during the cold season.

1. Diet: A well-balanced diet is crucial to keep diabetes in control no matter the season. It is recommended to include plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lentils, beans, and oatmeal. Sweets and fatty foods should be avoided. Also, diabetics should refrain from consuming dry fruits as the fructose in them may spike the sugar level.

2. Yoga: The ancient practice of yoga can work wonders on the body, helping people with diabetes to keep the disease under control and lead a normal, happy life. Science has shown that specific yoga poses that involve the twisting and stretching of the internal muscles and organs stimulate the pancreas and endocrine system. This facilitates insulin secretion, which keeps the blood glucose levels under check.

3. Alternative treatments: Alternative treatment methods like acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, etc., can restore harmony to the body in several ways. Acupuncture, where thin needles inserted into specific points in the body, can help with weight loss, control blood sugar levels, and reduce insulin resistance. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy promote neurological and musculoskeletal functions that aids in weight loss, reduces stress levels, and lowers blood pressure.

4. Mental health: Those affected with diabetes live with a lot of stress. It can cause spurts of anxiety, mood change, confusion, and depression. The American Diabetes Association says that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may occur during winters; however, it is treatable. Spending time with loved ones, indulging in hobbies, or getting professional help are some of the ways through which diabetics can find relief.

5. Lose weight: Obesity can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 80-85 percent. For people with obesity, the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet the body's needs. Therefore, losing weight becomes the only option to stay healthy and fit. Regular exercise, brisk walks, etc., should be incorporated into daily life to get rid of excess weight.

6. Avoid immune suppressing foods: Diabetics should stay away from high-fat food, alcohol, caffeine, and white sugar, suppressing the immune systems effects. Too much high-fat foods can block the lymphatic system, hindering the bodys ability to fight infections.

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Know how to boost well-being in winters if you are diabetic - Free Press Journal

NEW YORK When youre trying to lose weight, it may not seem like theres such a thing as good fat. Despite this, scientists say brown fat is something everyone needs more of and it can even make you healthier. Aside from burning more energy, a new study reveals having brown fat makes it less likely someone will develop several conditions including diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers from Rockefeller University Hospital say brown fat is much different than the more common white fat. While white fat stores calories and makes up about 90 percent of the bodys fat cells, brown fat is key in energy consumption, fat burning, and generating heat. The one problem with studying the health benefits of brown fat is it can be hard to find. A reason for this is its buried deep inside the body and even gets mistaken for tumors.

The study of over 52,000 participants finds those who have detectable levels of brown fat in their bodies suffer from fewer health problems.

For the first time, it reveals a link to lower risk of certain conditions, says Paul Cohen, a senior attending physician at Rockefeller, in a media release. These findings make us more confident about the potential of targeting brown fat for therapeutic benefit.

While scientists have been researching brown fat for decades in animals and infants, they discovered in 2009 that adults still have these cells as well. Typically, brown fat is located in the neck and shoulders. Unfortunately, researchers ran into a problem when it came to scanning for these cells using PET medical imaging.

These scans are expensive, but more importantly, they use radiation, says study first author Tobias Becher. We dont want to subject many healthy people to that.

The team quickly realized there was an alternative nearby at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. There, patients undergoing evaluation for possible cancers regularly take PET scans. The scan easily detects brown fat and radiologists must make a note of it so doctors dont mistake it as a cancerous mass.

Working with Heiko Schoder and Andreas Wibmer at Memorial Sloan Kettering, the study examined 130,000 PET scans. Those scans reveal nearly 10 percent of the more than 52,000 patients have brown fat tissue. The results find only 4.6 percent of patients with brown fat have type 2 diabetes. That number is 9.5 percent among people who do not have visible brown fat deposits.

Additionally, just 18.9 percent of patients with brown fat have abnormal cholesterol levels, compared to 22.2 percent of those without brown fat. Patients with brown fat tissue also have lower risk for high blood pressure, heart failure, and coronary artery disease. The results even point to brown fat negating some of the health impacts of obesity in overweight patients.

It almost seems like they are protected from the harmful effects of white fat, Cohen says.

Study authors note the number of adults in the general population with brown fat is likely higher. This is because patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering are commonly advised to avoid the cold, exercising, and caffeine. Scientists are still looking for the reasons why brown fat is able to reduce the risks of these conditions. The study says there are some clues though.

Brown fat cells consume glucose as they burn calories. Researchers believe its possible this is lowering the blood glucose levels, which is a major determining factor for diabetes patients. There are fewer clues tying brown fat to hypertension, but its link to the hormonal system may hold the answer.

We are considering the possibility that brown fat tissue does more than consume glucose and burn calories, and perhaps actually participates in hormonal signaling to other organs, Cohen explains.

The natural question that everybody has is, What can I do to get more brown fat?' he adds. We dont have a good answer to that yet, but it will be an exciting space for scientists to explore in the upcoming years.

The study appears in the journal Nature Medicine.

Read the rest here:
Brown fat may protect adults from chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart failure - Study Finds

Wow, what a year 2020 has been

Weve had to learn to live in ongoing pandemic crisis mode as COVID-19 remains a public health emergency across the globe.

Pretty much everything is seen through that lens, and as a result, our annual diabetes year in review also looks a bit different this time around.

Traditionally, DiabetesMine has featured a month-by-month breakdown of the biggest happenings of the year.

But 2020 isnt like any other year. Every week and month has felt extraordinarily long, and the days seemed to blend together in ways we just havent ever experienced before.

As such, weve focused our annual review on the big themes defining 2020, along with a handful of notable news items.

The pandemic has hit our Diabetes Community on so many different levels, including but not limited to the following:

We cant overlook the mental health effects all of the above both individually and collectively had on people with diabetes (PWDs).

Mental health has been a lesser-discussed aspect in official research and diabetes care until recently. (This has prompted some community advocates to devote themselves to helping.)

A new study by a team of diabetes experts published in the December 2020 edition of the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications examined the early effects of COVID-19 nationally on U.S. adults with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The researchers concluded that: There is a substantive increase in level of diabetes-related and general life stress and worry about being vulnerable to the virus, and significant social isolation [and] there is a significant impact on disease management.

Changes in the medium of healthcare delivery were only modest during the early stages of social restriction, but satisfaction with these changes was generally low, they added.

These findings suggest the need for greater attention to the emotional and psychosocial impact of the pandemic on this population and its implications for disease management and diabetes-related healthcare delivery.

The United States endured one of the most volatile presidential administrations and intense elections in modern history.

And with that, it seems everything was viewed through a political lens including the efforts to prevent and respond to the pandemic itself.

This made everything even more confusing and concerning for PWDs. For instance:

Of course, recognition and representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) became a hot-button issue in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd, sparking historic protests across the country.

Some PWDs were among those arrested, which brought up the issue of whether police were discriminatory or negligent with diabetes care and personal safety on the line.

Meanwhile, there was a great deal of introspection about racial disparities, in COVID-19 responses and beyond, and the implicit bias and systematic racism that exists in our U.S. healthcare system.

As everything began boiling over, some key diabetes advocacy organizations like JDRF and Beyond Type 1 came under fire for lacking diversity and not addressing the issue properly. See the JDRFs response here.

There were many panel discussions and studies presented on this topic at conferences, and a new nonprofit called Diversity in Diabetes (DiD) was formed by advocates of color to elevate efforts.

We at DiabetesMine conducted a survey on BIPOC experiences with diabetes technology and care in fall 2020, and found that more than 50 percent of respondents currently do not feel represented at all.

See also our video of BIPOC advocates expressing their desires for change.

Thankfully, 2020 also brought our D-Community a handful of highlights worth mentioning. Here they are, in no particular order:

Announced in late 2019, a long-awaited policy change finally took effect that allows people with insulin-dependent diabetes to legally pilot commercial airplanes.

Pietro Marsala became the first T1D licensed commercial pilot.

Ironically, this came to be just as the global pandemic sucker punched the travel industry.

Still, its an important change that puts the United States on par with other countries, and it takes away one more cant do for PWDs following their dreams.

While insulin affordability and access remains at crisis level in the United States, we saw two new forms of insulin finally get clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and launched this past year:

A few important new diabetes devices were launched this past year as well:

Despite the economic struggles and effects on diabetes nonprofits, weve seen a few new orgs born during 2020 to address specific needs: the aforementioned Diversity in Diabetes (DiD), Beta Cell Foundation, and Mutual Aid Diabetes (MAD).

The latter two are grassroots orgs formed to help people in need get diabetes meds and supplies, beyond whats offered by existing industry-based financial assistance programs.

This year of content streaming gave us the Netflix reboot of The Baby-Sitters Club, once again featuring a main character who wears an insulin pump.

Also in the limelight was the passing of actor and famous diabetes supply spokesman Wilford Brimley. Pop singer Meghan Trainor also shared her gestational diabetes story publicly.

Be on the lookout for the new movie Greenland, written by Chris Sparling, husband of well-known diabetes advocate and author Kerri Sparling.

The movie features a T1D character and was released for on-demand viewing in December 2020. Its heading to HBO Max in 2021.

This past year has been extremely tough for all of us on so many fronts Heres to looking forward to a brighter, less stressful 2021 ahead.

Read more:
A Look Back on 2020: Diabetes Year in Review - Healthline

At the molecular level all cancers are genetic, they start as your normal breast cell or ovaries and overtime pick up small genetic changes. When talking about inherited testing or hereditary testing only a small portion of cancer can be passed down in a family. We roughly quote 5-10% can be due to hereditary reasons or something we might find in an inherited genetic test, explained Dr. Tong at the CURE Educated Patient Womens Cancer Summit.

Genetic testing is a critical part of understanding these cancers, as well as how to treat, and Ill be discussing today about how we think about how genetics fits in cancer development, how genetic testing plays a role and how genetic counseling can help induvial and families come to decisions around genetics, says Dr. Tong.

Some exceptions include, up to 20% of negative breast cancers that can be hereditary and up to 25% of ovarian cancers can be hereditary, which is why genetic testing is recommended for all ovarian cancers.

When talking about hereditary cancer Dr. Tong says clinicians and genetic counselors are thinking about if that person has a higher chance of developing cancer, because nobody is at a 0% of developing cancer. Genetic testing will look at to see if they can identify what is elevating the persons risk of developing cancer, and can you potentially explain why a person developed certain cancer.

Part of what we learn from genetic testing, is not only could it have been due to a hereditary cause, such as a mutation in a gene, but which gene mutation and how can we differentially take care of people depending on which gene mutation did cause that, says Dr. Tong.

Guidelines recommend that all women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and breast cancer should be offered genetic testing.

Beginning in 2015 technology has brought three different types of gene testing or as they call it, Multi-Gene Panel Testing. Then there is a decision about how much genetic testing to do. For genes that they know are associated with inherited risk, those are high and moderate risk genes, they have actionable guidelines for treatment, risk reduction or prevention.

As technology develops you think about if the low-risk genes should also be looked at, the most likely have no impact on your health, such as a recessively inherited cancer risk, the information from these genes may be relevant to your family members or future generations. Some panel offers looking at newly described genes, they have limited evidence that they may impact inherited cancer risk, and they dont have actionable guidelines yet but could in the future.

We think that pretest counseling with a genetic counselor can help an induvial better understand how genetics impacts or plays a role in their cancer diagnosis or in their family history. Genetic counselors will take a look at family history and go many generations to look at distant relatives to see if there is a pattern to the cancers of that family that can be inherited, or does it look more like sporadic risks, then that counselor can discuss what the testing options are, how much testing to have or if its even right for you or not, says Dr. Tong about genetic testing counseling.

Types of results include a negative, the most important to be working with a genetic counselor, meaning there was no change found in the gene, it is considered a normal result and cancer treatment, screening and prevention decisions can be based on personal and family history of cancer. The next is a variant or uncertain significance, also considered a normal result, a change was found but is most likely due to normal human variation. The last result is positive result, where they find a change or genetic mutation that is associated with cancer, cancer treatment, screening and prevention decisions will be based on the risks specific to the change found.

Some may fear that they may be discriminated against due to their genetic testing results. There are laws in place that will protect you and your family members from employment or health insurance discrimination such as the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008, or GINA. In addition, there is the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, and the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, HIPPA. However, there are limitations, how these laws dont protect against other types of discrimination such as life insurance, disability or long-term care, which would be discussed in your genetic counseling session.

Genetic testing can help thinking about what the path forward is for you and your family when we do learn the results, Dr. Tong concludes. He says going to a genetic counselor can help medically keep you healthy and also emotionally, connecting you with different resources and support organizations.

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What is Genetic Cancer Testing and How Do Patients Get Tested? - Curetoday.com

Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Heres a look at some of the more interesting ones.

Antibodies Respond Differently to Severe Versus Mild COVID-19

Researchers at Stanford Medicine found that COVID-19 antibodies preferentially target different parts of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in mild COVID-19 cases than they do in severe cases. In addition, they fade differently based on the severity of the case. People with severe COVID-19 have low proportions of antibodies that target the spike protein. In milder cases, the antibodies seem to do a better job of binding to the spike protein. The spike protein binds to the ACE2 receptor on human cells, which allows the virus to enter the cell. Once inside, the virus gets rid of its outer coat, takes over the cells protein-making machinery and churns out more viral particles that then infect other cells. Antibodies that bind to the spike protein block the ability to bind to ACE2. Antibodies that bind to other parts of the virus dont seem to prevent viral spread.

Antibody responses are not likely to be the sole determinant of someones outcome, said Scott Boyd, associate professor of pathology at Stanford. Among people with severe disease, some die and some recover. Some of these patients mount a vigorous immune response, and others have a more moderate response. So, there are a lot of other things going on. There are also other branches of the immune system involved. Its important to note that our results identify correlations but dont prove causation.

Understanding Brain Plasticity in Adults

When brains develop, they constantly grow new neuronal connectionssynapsesas they learn and remember. Important connects are nurtured and reinforced while seemingly unnecessary ones are pruned. Adult brains undergo similar treatment, but its not well understood why adult synapses are eliminated. A group of researchers at The Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have found the underlying mechanism of plasticity, which could be related to neurological disorders in adult brains. The brains gray matter contains microglia and astrocytes. Microglia are a frontline immune defensethey eat pathogens and dead cells. Astrocytes are star-shaped cells that help structure the brain and maintain homeostasis with involvement in neuronal signaling. It was long thought that microglial eat synapses as part of their clean-up effort, a process called phagocytosis. But their research, using a new molecular sensor, found that it was actually the astrocytes that are constantly eliminating excessive and unnecessary adult excitatory synaptic connections.

New Class of Antibiotic Works Against Range of Bacteria

Investigators withThe Wistar Institute have identified a new class of antibiotics that have a broad range of antibacterial effects, including against microbes with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). They focused on a metabolic pathway essential for bacteria but absent in humans, called methyl-D-erythritol phosphate (MEP) or non-mevalonate pathway, which is responsible for biosynthesis of isoprenoids. Isoprenoids are required for cell survival in most pathogenic bacteria. The researchers targeted the IspH enzyme, essential in isoprenoid biosynthesis. They screened several million commercially available compounds using computer models to find ones that could bind with the enzyme and chose the most potent ones. Most IspH inhibitors cant penetrate the bacterial cell wall, so the researchers worked to identify and synthesize novel IspH inhibitors that could get inside the bacteria.

Rhesus Macaque Genome Reference Includes 85 Million Genetic Variants

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Missouri and the University of Washington created a new reference genome assembly, identifying more than 85 million genetic variants in the rhesus macaque. This makes it the largest database of genetic variation for any single nonhuman primate species. It is a big improvement over the first reference assembled in 2007, and they believe it can help analyze and answer fundamental questions in molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology, not just in rhesus macaques, but in humans and other primates and mammals.

This is a major step forward in the amount of information we have about genetic variation in the rhesus macaque, said Jeffrey Rogers, associate professor at the Human Genome Sequencing Center and Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor. We have actually identified thousands of new mutations in the population of research animals. Now colleagues all over the country who are investigating various aspects of health and disease using rhesus macaques can begin to make use of that information.

Common Diabetes Drug Linked to Rare COVID-19 Complications

Although diabetes is a known risk factor for COVID-19, researchers with Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified a rare COVID-19 complication with common diabetes drugs. The side effect is called euDKA, or euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. DKA occurs when the bodys cells do not absorb enough glucose and begin metabolizing fats instead, which results in a build-up of ketones. EuDKA is marked by lower blood sugar levels, making it harder to diagnose. The researchers evaluated five unusual euDKA cases that was a significantly higher level of incidence, all seen in COVID-19 patients taking sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SLGLT2i). They believe that COVID-19 may increase the risk of euDKA by binding to cells on the pancreas that produce insulin. The three SGLT2 inhibitors approved by the FDA are Janssens Invokana (canagliflozin), AstraZenecas Farxiga (dapagliflozin) and Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheims Jardiance (empagliflozin).

Whats Going on in the International Space Station?

The Expedition 64 crew took the day off for Christmas, but immediately afterwards went back to work on a variety of biological and medical research. Two studies evaluated new treatments for joint injuries and cancerone looked at bone, cartilage and synovium in artificial gravity chambers to better understand bone loss and joint damage; the second studied protein crystals grown in space and their ability to target cancer cells. A different study on several dozen mice evaluated the vascular changes in space on eyesight functionabout 40% of people working in space have vision changes from fluid shifts and radiation. Another experiment studied genetic changes in space and their impact on the growth and deterioration of bone tissue.

See the article here:
Research Roundup: Different Antibody Responses to COVID-19 and More - BioSpace

People wear face masks as they walk by an art installation in Montreal, Dec. 27, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world.

Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press

The emergence of a more contagious variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 does not require individuals to take new precautions, but it is now more important than ever that they follow existing public-health guidelines, doctors and scientists say.

While new variants of the virus SARS-CoV-2 have recently been detected in South Africa, Nigeria and Britain, the latter countrys version, called B117, has caused particular concern, as scientists estimate it is more transmissible than other mutations of the virus. This new variant has also been identified in people in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, and the Canadian government has suspended flights from Britain until Jan. 6. Meanwhile in Britain, there are growing calls to impose another national lockdown and shut down schools and universities.

In a study, yet to be peer-reviewed, British scientists estimated B117 is 56 per cent more transmissible than pre-existing variants of the virus. Although they found no clear evidence that it affects the severity of illness, they warned that the increased transmissibility would likely lead to a surge in hospital admissions and deaths. They suggested strict lockdown measures may not be sufficient, unless primary schools, secondary schools and universities are closed.

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I would say that the current social distancing guidelines are more important than ever given this new variant, lead author Nicholas Davies of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in an e-mail. People should be cautious, follow the guidelines, and self-isolate if they suspect they may have been infected.

But the estimated increased transmissibility of the new variant does not mean existing public-health advice for personal protection such as wearing masks when you may come in close contact with others, keeping two metres away from people outside your household and maintaining hand hygiene will be less effective, experts say.

Rather than changing the current guidelines, Leighanne Parkes, an infectious-disease specialist and microbiologist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, said she would be happy to see people actually follow them.

People take little shortcuts from time to time and give themselves little cheat days. And I think thats where the danger lies, when we let down our guard and we fail to remain vigilant, she said.

Dr. Parkes said family members have contacted her over the holidays, expressing worry that this new variant adds another twist to an already calamitous year. But, she explained, there have been numerous variants since the very emergence of SARS-CoV-2. And some, such as a variant called D614G, have become predominant worldwide.

Dr. Parkes said it is important to note that large task forces and working groups at the global level are trying to determine the significance of the changes to the virus in the new variant.

Technically, she said, it involves a mutation within a part of the binding loop, which is part of the virus that sticks to our ACE-2 receptors, the part of the cell to which the virus binds to gain entry. The concern is that since this mutation affects an important part of the virus and how it attaches to cells, it raises questions such as whether it has increased tissue-specificity that is, it binds to cells in the nose and upper respiratory tract where it can be spread through droplets with greater ease, whether smaller quantities of the virus can lead to infection, and whether it changes the way people respond to it.

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While there are experts working to rapidly answer these questions, I think as of now, we just dont know. These are all kind of black holes in our knowledge, she said.

In an e-mailed statement, Health Canada said the government is closely monitoring the variant and is working with international groups, including the World Health Organization.

While early data suggest that the United Kingdom variant may be more transmissible, to date there is no evidence that the mutations have any impact on symptom severity, antibody response or vaccine efficacy, it said, but noted evidence is limited at this time.

But no matter the variant, SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that transmits very easily, and it is well known that people can spread it when they are minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic, Dr. Parkes said.

As always, given the high potential for asymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the most prudent course of action for individuals is to act as though they might have the virus, Dr. Davies at the London school added in his e-mail.

While the mutations of the new variant may change how efficiently people contract the virus, they do not change the mechanism by which it spreads, said Emanuel Goldman, a virologist and professor of microbiology, biochemistry and molecular genetics at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

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The main route of transmission is still through what we breathe, so wearing a mask in public places, particularly indoors, is still the first line of defence, Dr. Goldman said. There is no need to go back to wiping down groceries as many did at the beginning of the pandemic, since transmission of the virus from surfaces is almost non-existent, he said.

The virus may be more transmissible, but its not less fragile, he said, explaining it degrades rapidly when exposed to the environment.

When it comes to behaviours that stop the virus, everything should stay the same. What works for the parent will work for the variants, Dr. Goldman said.

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Experts stress importance of following public-health advice as COVID-19 variant emerges - The Globe and Mail

The great but grumpy biologist J.B.S. Haldane was once asked what evidence would disprove evolution, whereupon he growled: Fossil rabbits in the Precambrian. He was referring to the evolutionary fact that complex multicellular creatures came along later than simple, unicellular ones. A bit surprising, perhaps, that one of the foremost evolutionary geneticists of the 20th century immediately reached for a paleontological example, but Haldanes reply was well-suited for public consumption, because thenas nowwhen most people thought of evolution, they were likely to conjure images of dinosaur fossils.

Donald Prothero is a research associate in vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. When I learned he had written a book that examined 25 different discoveries relating to evolution, I assumed that he, like Haldane, would deploy paleontology in making his case. Mr. Protheros book is indeed tilted toward examples from the world of ancestral creatures, but, refreshingly, also guides the reader through impressive discoveries in embryology and molecular genetics.

The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries is a parade of self-contained vignettes, often including biographical sketches of the scientists who made and interpreted each discovery. This particular story begins (like everything else) with the big bang, followed by the fascinating tale of how science gradually came to understand the age of the Earth: From biblical literalism; through Lord Kelvins famous underestimate, in the 1890s, of 20 million years; to our current understanding of 4.5 billion years. Then comes a whirlwind tour of evolutionary change as it occurs, in real time, among microbes, plants, insects, fish, birds and mammals, obliterating the creationist canard that evolution hasnt even been witnessed, let alone studied.

Some of the most impressive evolutionary stories involve common body plans, technically known as homologies. Thanks to Mr. Prothero, I now know that Aristotle first noticed this widespread phenomenon, of which Darwin wrote: What can be more curious than that the hand of a man, formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat, should all be constructed on the same pattern, and should include similar bones, in the same relative positions? Curious indeed. And strongly suggestive of common descentor, for anti-evolutionists, of a Creators insistence on sticking with the same divine blueprint, or archetype, even when other more direct routes should have been available. The Darwinian story provides scientific insight into why homologies occur, whereas the theological story simply reiterates that they occur.

And on we go, to the embryonic similarities of otherwise distantly related creatures (ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny) and then biogeography (the sinking of Noahs Ark), which shows, among other relevant findings, that the flora and fauna of islands resemble those of nearby continentsa phenomenon that wouldnt necessarily be expected if each had been a special, independent creation. The story of life continues, detailing how living things within natural categories share those common body plans, or, as Darwin put it, how organic beings have been found to resemble each other in descending degrees, so that they can be classed in groups under groups. As a result, instead of being arbitrary, our system of biological classification conforms perfectly with the nested, branching patterns of evolutionary relationships demonstrated by anatomy, physiology and genetics. Moreover, as Mr. Prothero points out, if life had been specially created rather than evolved, there would be no reason for the molecular systems to reflect this pattern of similarity seen in megascopic features . . . [and] not even Darwin could have dreamed that the genetic code of every cell in your body also shows the evidence of evolution.

Originally posted here:
The Story of Evolution in 25 Discoveries Review: The Branching Tree of Life - The Wall Street Journal

BY THOMAS J ERVIN, MD We have somehow made it to the final week of 2020. Humorously it can be said that we can all look back at the first year of the pandemic, with usually accurate 20/20 vision. As we all move into 2021, there is time to consider New Years resolutions. This year that opportunity should not go unfilled.

The effects of COVID-19 have spared no one. Even the most skeptical of us, and the unbelievers have noticed something. The negatives are obvious: illness, personal loss, death, social distancing, and isolation to name a few. Positives can also be identified, including personal faith, strengthening family relationships, considering collective wellbeing, and finding value in simple daily routines.

For each of us the balance of the positives and the negatives results in how we see the pandemic and the events of 2020. This balance determines how we consider resolutions for the future. As I am not a student of politics and race relations, I will avoid those events in my reflection of 2020.

My first resolution for 2021 is that this will be the last article I write about COVID-19 and the pandemic. I have spent 40 years teaching, studying, and practicing medicine. I have seen the impact of molecular genetics and biology in most specialties including cancer medicine and infectious diseases. To witness the development of the applied science that has given us potentially preventative vaccines (now there are at least four) within a year is both astounding and unprecedented.

Just 65 years ago injectable inactivated polio vaccine (Dr. Salk) became a reality. It then took six more years for the oral vaccine (Dr. Sabin) to be commercially developed. The overall research effort took more than 20 years. Two doses given four to eight weeks apart provide life-long immunity. Yet eradication of the disease was not immediate.

While the United States is considered polio-free, it has taken until 2017 for the number of wild-type polio cases in the world to fall under 1,000 cases a year. Over the past 30 years, things have gotten better. With continued development of effective vaccine platforms and better understanding of the variables that affect vaccine efficiency (number of doses, added immunostimulants, immunosenescence with age), the vaccines of the 21st century have been more rapidly developed. Successful vaccines are now possible using inactivated intact virus, attenuated virus, toxoids that induce illness such as tetanus, and diphtheria, or subunit viral pieces as in the vaccines for Hepatitis B and Herpes virus. Other forms of vaccines exist, including conjugate vaccine and heterotypic vaccines such as BCG used to prevent tuberculosis and bladder cancer. The list grows yearly.

Now we have the first of a new wave of vaccines. The mRNA platform has arrived just in time. The mRNA-based vaccines being offered by Pfizer-NBiotech and by Moderna have been produced in record time. They come as a result of a decade of research developing innovative vaccines attempting to stimulate an immunologic response to both cancers and emerging viral threats such as Ebola. Synthetic production of mRNA nucleotide fragments and synthetic nanoparticle delivery envelopes have made possible the rapid development of the safe and effective vaccines now available to prevent coronavirus infection and COVID-19 illness. Similarly, the vaccines being developed by AstraZeneca, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson will quickly add options for effective vaccination for us all.

I say BRING IT ON!!!

Yet, in closing 2020, I think back on the history of vaccine development. Without comprehensive programs that incorporate the basics of public health, vaccination programs can work only so well or so fast. Surely, the rollout of the available vaccines will occur. The Boca Grande Health Clinic is in line with four separate pipelines for distribution. Unfortunately, the process is still too early for us to be able to identify the exact sources and timeline of delivery.

It is very likely that we will all have an opportunity for vaccination before the summer, but the next 90 to 180 days (not six to 20 years as in the past) will be critical for many of us. Unless we all buy into doing the right things collectively, COVID-19 will continue among us.

As my last words on COVID-19 (I promise), please wash your hands. Please wear a mask, especially indoors. And please distance yourself and avoid unnecessary indoor gatherings. Before Jenner figured out how to prevent smallpox just before 1800, one of every 13 persons living in London died or was severely disfigured by the disease. Be delighted you are living in 2021, at a time when science and public health policy can help you live well if you listen.

Have a happy and healthy 2021.

Thomas J. Ervin, M.D.

Boca Grande Health Clinic

Marcy Shortuse is the editor of the Boca Beacon, and has been with the paper since 2007. She is also editor of the Boca Beacon's sister publication, Gasparilla Magazine.She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing local newspapers and is originally from the Chicago area.

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New Year's resolution 2021: A (last) word from Dr. Ervin - Boca Beacon