11, Oct 2014

'Good' fat that fights diabetes discovered

New York: Fat is not all that bad. Scientists have now discovered a new class of molecules -produced in human and mouse fat - that protects against diabetes.

The researchers found that giving this new “good” fat or lipid to mice with the equivalent of type 2 diabetes lowered their elevated blood sugar.

The team also found that levels of the new lipids called called fatty acid hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are low in humans with a high risk for diabetes, suggesting that the lipids could potentially be utilised as a therapy for metabolic disorders.

“We can add FAHFAs to the small list of beneficial lipids. These lipids can also reduce inflammation, suggesting that we might discover therapeutic opportunities for these molecules in inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes,” explained Alan Saghatelian, professor at the Salk Institute and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston.

FAHFAs had not been noticed previously in cells and tissues because they are present in low concentrations, making them difficult to detect.

Once researchers identified FAHFAs as being the lipid that was different between normal mice and these diabetes-resistant mice, they found that when the mice eat FAHFAs, blood sugar levels dropped and insulin levels rose, indicating the potential therapeutic value of FAHFAs.

To determine whether FAHFAs are also relevant in humans, the team measured FAHFA levels in humans who are insulin-resistant and found that their FAHFA levels were lower in fat and blood, suggesting that changes in FAHFA levels may contribute to diabetes.

“This work suggests that changes in FAHFA levels are a new mechanism in diabetes,” Saghatelian concluded.

The study appeared in the journal Cell.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

11.10.2014

Men twice as likely as women to die after hip fracture

London: Men are the "weaker sex" in terms of death and disability caused by osteoporosis as their bone health is simply being ignored by the healthcare systems, shows a study.

According to researchers, men are not being adequately diagnosed or treated for osteoporosis, with those suffering a hip fracture twice as likely to die compared to women.

"One-third of all hip fractures worldwide occur in men with mortality rates as high as 37 percent in the first year following fracture. This makes men twice as likely as women to die after a hip fracture," said lead study author professor Peter Ebeling, head of department of medicine at Monash University in Australia.

In the European Union, projections suggest that by 2025, the total number of fractures in men will increase by 34 percent to almost 1.6 million cases per year.

In the US, the number of hip fractures among men is expected to increase by 51.8 percent from 2010 to 2030, and in contrast the number among women is expected to decrease 3.5 percent.

Osteoporosis experts warn that as men often remain undiagnosed and untreated, millions are left vulnerable to early death and disability, irrespective of fracture type.

The report highlights that the ability of men to live pain-free lives in the old age is being seriously compromised. Continued inaction will lead to millions of men being dependent on long-term healthcare and social care systems tested to the limit.

Often mistakenly considered a woman's disease, osteoporotic fractures affect one in five men aged over 50 years.

However, this number is predicted to rise dramatically as men are ageing fast.

John A. Kanis, president of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), said: "It is estimated that the lifetime risk of experiencing an osteoporotic fracture in men over the age of 50 years is up to 27 percent - higher than that of developing prostate cancer."

The report titled "Osteoporosis in men: why change needs to happen" is released ahead of World Osteoporosis Day Oct 20.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

11.10.2014

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them and strong enough to correct them

John C. Maxwell