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Shares of Cyclerion Therapeutics Inc. (cycn) plummeted 71% toward a record low Wednesday, to pace all premarket losers, after the biopharmaceutical company said a Phase 2 trial of its diabetes treatment missed the primary endpoint. The company said the Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of praliciguat, which is a once-daily, orally available stimulator in diabetic nephropathy did not meet statistical significance on its primary endpoint of reduction in albuminuria from baseline as compared with placebo. The company said, however, there was a trend toward improvement and improvements were observed in patients in several secondary measures associated with cardiovascular risk and kidney disease. Cyclerion said it still expects to "out-license" praliciguat for global development and commercialization. The stock, which went public in March, has run up 39.2% over the past three months through Tuesday, while the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (ibb) has gained 1.0% and the S&P 500 (spx) has edged up 0.8%.

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Giuliana and Bill Rancic open up about breast cancer journey

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Tot battling cancer shoots hoops with Globetrotters

After months being cooped up, Quinn Waters, 3, was ready to get out on the court and shoot some hoops. The Massachusetts toddler is battling medulloblastoma and has undergone multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Those aggressive treatments knocked out the little boy's immune system and forced him to spend months in isolation inside his own home, his family said. When Quinn's doctor finally gave him the all-clear to go outside, two Harlem Globetrotters were waiting to play with him this week.

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Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. According to the American Diabetes Association, 1.25 million Americans are living with the condition and 40,000 people will be diagnosed with it this year. People with Type 1 diabetes must monitor their blood sugar and take insulin multiple times a day to prevent dangerous episodes of high and low blood sugar. According to Sam, living with Type 1 diabetes means you need to be always thinking ahead.

Since his days on Top Chef, Sam Talbot has worn many hats: celebrity chef, author, entrepreneur and consultant to name a few. One of his newest roles, however, is that of diabetes mentor – Sam has Type 1 diabetes and while he has gone public via his diabetes cook book and collaborations with his friend Nick Jonas as part of their organization, Beyond Type 1. Sam is now spearheading a new campaign inspiring others with diabetes to Live More and Worry Less. 

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) strongly supports the introduction of the Insulin Price Reduction Act in the United States House of Representatives. The ADA thanks Congressional Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Representative Tom Reed (R-NY) for their leadership in introducing the House version of this legislation, which will lower the cost of insulin for many Americans who rely on it to stay alive. The Insulin Price Reduction Act was first introduced in the United States Senate on July 22, 2019.

For more than 7.4 million Americans, including all individuals with type 1 diabetes, insulin is a life-sustaining medication for which there is no substitute. Ballooning costs have put lifesaving insulin out of reach for an increasing number of Americans. Between 2002 and 2013, the average price of insulin nearly tripled. A 2018 ADA survey showed that individuals with diabetes who face high out-of-pocket costs are forced to make decisions about their insulin regimen that can have damaging consequences on their health. Many individuals with diabetes ration or forego insulin doses to reduce costs.

"Insulin is a matter of life and death," said LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy. "For the many Americans who cannot afford their insulin, the consequences can be dire, including serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney disease, amputation, and  even death. The American Diabetes Association applauds Representatives DeGette and Reed for their leadership in addressing this urgent issue. We urge all members of the House of Representatives to support this critical legislation and advance it through the legislative process."

The Insulin Price Reduction Act seeks to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin by encouraging insulin manufacturers to reduce the list price of all insulin products to their 2006 list price. Importantly, these lower-priced products would not be subject to health plan deductibles and would not be placed on less favorable formulary tiers. Rolling back list prices for insulin products by over a decade will make insulin more accessible for many Americans, both insured and uninsured.

The ADA continues to work diligently on the critical issue of insulin affordability. In 2016, the ADA's Board of Directors released a resolution calling on all entities in the insulin supply chain to increase transparency in insulin pricing and to ensure that no one living with diabetes is denied affordable access to insulin. The resolution also called on Congress to hold hearings with all entities in the insulin supply chain to help identify the reasons for the dramatic increases in insulin prices and to take action to ensure that all people who use insulin have affordable access to the insulin they need. The ADA's Make Insulin Affordable petition has achieved more than 487,000 signatures to date. In 2017, the ADA's Board of Directors convened an Insulin Access and Affordability Working Group, and the Working Group's findings were detailed in a white paper published in 2018 in the journal Diabetes Care. The ADA subsequently issued a public po licy statement providing detailed recommendations to lawmakers. The ADA has also testified at multiple congressional hearings in 2018 and 2019 focused on the high cost of insulin. Resources are available through the ADA's call center at 1-800-DIABETES, and at InsulinHelp.org.

About the American Diabetes AssociationEvery day more than 4,000 people are newly diagnosed with diabetes in America. Nearly 115 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes and are striving to manage their lives while living with the disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For nearly 80 years the ADA has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

Contact:  Alex Day, 703-253-4843press@diabetes.org

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SOURCE American Diabetes Association

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Advanced engineered cell therapies are an area of great promise for treatments of diseases ranging from cancer to diabetes. In order to be useful in the clinic, genetic control over the cells is needed. Now, researchers have created a system for gene editing that can be triggered by a compound found in green tea.

The engineered cells, which successfully treated diabetes in mice and macaque monkeys that drank green tea, could potentially be used as a remotely controlled and easy-to-follow therapy for diabetes in humans. They could also be used for various other applications, such as guiding CRISPR gene editing and conducting digital computations.

The work is published in a paper titled "A green tea–triggered genetic control system for treating diabetes in mice and monkeys" in Science Translational Medicine.

The authors noted that the translation of many promising cell-based technologies into the clinic is currently limited by a lack of remote-control inducers that are safe and can be tightly regulated. In recent years, researchers have made progress in refining the control of cell therapies, which have shown promise for diseases such as cancer. Cell therapies often use a compound to trigger cells to secrete a specific therapeutic, but existing triggers such as antibiotics can have side effects or may be unsafe for long-term use.

Authors Jianli Yin and Haifeng Ye, PhD [East China Normal University]Seeking a safer trigger, Jianli Yin and colleagues in the lab of Haifeng Ye, PhD, pro fessor in the school of Life Sciences in East China Normal University, turned to green tea, a popular beverage around the globe that contains a metabolite called protocatechuic acid (PCA). The team developed a control system by engineering cells to respond to PCA. They constructed multiple genetic control technologies that could toggle a PCA-responsive on/off switch based on a transcriptional repressor from Streptomyces coelicolor and showed how these technologies could be used as implantable biocomputers in live mice to perform complex logic computations that integrated signals from multiple food metabolites.

The team wrote that they demonstrated the use of the PCA on/off switch in three major bioengineering areas: in CRISPR-Cas9 systems for genome engineering, in controllable engineered cell biocomputer implants in live mice, and in controllable engineered cell-based drug delivery systems for treating diabetes in both mouse and monkey models.

The team demonstrated that PCA-controlled switches can be used for guide RNA expression–mediated control of the CRISPR-Cas9 systems for gene editing and epigenetic remodeling. The scientists were able to use their PCA-responsive cells to perform more targeted CRISPR gene editing and as "cellular computers" to process input signals and perform logic computations.

Orally ingested PCA regulated blood glucose by triggering secretion of insulin or a short variant of human glucagon-like peptide 1 from implanted engineered cells in mouse and nonhuman primate (cynomolgus monkey) models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They observed the released insulin or a short variant of human glucagon-like peptide 1 and lowered blood sugar levels when the animals drank concentrated green tea or were given PCA.

The switches offer a highly flexible platform for genetic control, and open new opportunities for gene and cell-based precision medicine the authors said. This biocompatible and versatile food phenolic acid–controlled transgenic device opens opportunities for dynamic interventions in gene- and cell-based precision medicine.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases today. The statistics are overwhelming, such that in the US alone, more and more children and teens are starting to develop this disease. Most cases are those from age 45 and above, but data from the Centers Disease and Control Prevention showed that the age is going down.

Culprits Behind Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body no longer produces the right amount of insulin or that it has become resistant to it. This then debilitates the body from acting on the sugars. While the exact reasons behind these conditions continue to be unknown, studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle and being overweight greatly contribute to its onset.

This is why it is highly advised that at a young age, controlling sugar intake would be a must. Encouraging children and teens to maintain an active lifestyle can do wonders too.

Best snack to help lower blood sugar Photo: Robert-Owen-Wahl - Pixabay

Foods for Type 2 Diabetes

Some of the best foods for Type 2 diabetes patients include fruits and vegetables. While carbohydrates are not encouraged, certain starchy foods could be ideal. The latter will be responsible for keeping sugar in the body at minimum levels.

One food that is considered as a best friend of Type 2 diabetes patients is cod. This is a very good protein source and is known to help prevent diabetes or manage the disease better compared to other types of meat.

Cod is a type of fish. It makes a great ingredient for fillets due to its firm meat. It can be marinated so that it can be cooked following your preferences. As per NHS, when cod are consumed every week, at least 2 portions thereof, the body can greatly benefit.

Even the American Diabetes Association, stated that fish is great for those with diabetes. It does not only help in controlling or lowering blood sugar levels, but it also brings amazing cardiovascular benefits. It would also help in adding the needed vitamin D. Besides, it can provide the other nutritional requirements that the body needs. The next time that you crave for a healthy snack, better choose cod meat.

Cancer screening rates are up to a quarter lower in women with diabetes, varying by type of cancer, and putting them at risk of poorer cancer outcomes, concludes new research in Diabetologia.

Led by doctoral student Dominika Bhatia and Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, Women's College Hospital and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, the study found that cervical cancer screening rates were 24% lower for women with diabetes compared to women without. The study authors also determined that screening uptake for breast cancer was 17% less and for colorectal screening was 14% less in women with diabetes.

Diabetes has been associated with 30% higher incidence of certain cancers, and with a 40% higher mortality after cancer diagnosis. In addition to shared risk factors, a causal relationship between diabetes and cancer has been suggested—with high blood insulin and insulin resistance thought to be linked to tumour formation. Cancer screening significantly reduces cancer deaths—by up to 33% for breast cancer, 70% for cervical cancer, and 37% for colorectal cancer—as early detection enables early treatment and improves prognosis. For this reason, many countries have implemented routine screening programmes.

Previous studies have shown that diabetes is associated with a variety of adverse effects in relation to cancer treatment and survival rates. Individuals with diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage tumours; they experience greater toxicity during treatment, leading to more conservative treatment regimens; and they experience poorer preventive care because of the competing priorities of chronic disease management. This new study explored whether diabetes also impacts on uptake of recommended cancer screenings for this already disadvantaged group.

Biomedical archives (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL) were searched for studies between 1 January 1997 and 18 July 2018, showing attendance for screening for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers, in people with diabetes compared to people without, within the general population. Screening was via the recommended methods—mammogram for breast cancer; Papanicolaou test ('Pap' smear test—swab taken from the cervix and tested for abnormal cells) for cervical cancer; and faecal blood and/or endoscopy tests (internal examination, using a camera, of the large or small bowel) for colorectal cancer. Studies involving tests for reasons other than general screening were excluded, for example screening in women with a history of these or other cancers, or following diagnosis or treatment for them. The analysis was adjusted for age and for personal or family history of cancer, as these risk factors influence screening recommendations.

Of 5200 unique records searched, 37 studies met the criteria—nine studies of breast cancer screening, two of cervical cancer screening, and eight of colorectal cancer screening. In addition to single test studies, eight examined both breast and cervical cancer screening; one examined both breast and colorectal screening; and nine examined screening for all three cancers. Over half of the studies were from North America (21 from USA, 3 from Canada), with the remainder from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Sample sizes ranged from 129 to 732,687 individuals. The mean diabetes prevalence was 15.1% for breast, 9.7% for cervical and 12.4% for colorectal cancer screening.

Women with diabetes were found to be significantly less likely to undergo the recommended screening for all three cancers. The findings were particularly striking for cervical screening—uptake for which was 24% less for women with diabetes compared to women without. Screening uptake for breast cancer was 17% less, and for colorectal screening 14% less, in women with diabetes compared to those without the condition.

The burden of diabetes care management in primary care may contribute to lower uptake of cancer screening, the authors suggest. It has been shown that as the number of guideline recommended preventive services for which a person is eligible increases, the likelihood of their uptake decreases. Following the recommended guidelines for chronic disease care takes up more time per patient than physicians have available—the authors note—so that routine preventive care takes a back seat compared to the more pressing and obvious diabetes care.

"Patients with conditions such as diabetes, which cause a high health care burden and competing demands, may need new cancer screening approaches," explain the authors. "The use of mail and telephone-based invitations, for example, have been shown to increase screening uptake for all three cancers studied. Likewise, direct mailing of self-screening kits has produced good results. Education regarding cancer screening is advised—uptake for colorectal cancer screening, for example, may be lower in women because the condition is perceived to be more common in men. Shared care between diabetes specialists and primary care physicians may also lead to better guideline-recommended care in persons with diabetes."

Many limitations to the current research were noted, including that the studies analysed relied mostly on self-reporting. Whilst this has previously been shown to be reliable for diabetes diagnosis, it is known that people tend to over-estimate their adherence to recommended cancer screening guidelines. As such it is possible that the actual cancer screening rates are even lower than those found in this study. The authors conclude: "Further high-quality research on these worrying findings should be carried out to ensure that women with diabetes, already at a health disadvantage, are receiving as timely cancer screening as those in the general population, based on recommended guidelines."

Citation: New research shows lower rates of cancer screening in women with diabetes (2019, October 24) retrieved 27 October 2019 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-10-cancer-screening-women-diabetes.html

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In the last five years, the landscape of type 2 diabetes treatment has changed dramatically. Two new classes of drugs -- SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists -- have been shown to prevent some of the most serious diabetes complications, including heart and kidney conditions, in patients. While primary care physicians treat the majority of patients with type 2 diabetes, many patients also seek out internal medicine specialists, including nephrologists, endocrinologists and cardiologists for care.

To better understand the distribution of specialists in the U.S. who may be able to help care for the rising number of patients with diabetes, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital analyzed national data on the prevalence of diabetes and the number of internal medicine specialists in each U.S. state. They found that cardiologists were the highest represented specialists and conclude that they are well positioned to be integral members of a patient's care team. Their findings are published in JAMA Cardiology.

While patients with diabetes traditionally seek care from endocrinologists and/or primary care physicians, these national data suggest that a broader network of clinicians, including cardiologists and nephrologists, may provide additional avenues for care delivery. This is especially important as the cardiovascular and renal risks associated with diabetes are becoming increasingly recognized, and as new strategies become available to modify disease course."

Muthiah Vaduganathan, MD, MPH, cardiologist at Brigham and corresponding author

Vaduganathan and colleagues used 2016 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System to find the number of new diabetes cases in each state. They also gathered data on the number of practicing endocrinologists, cardiologists, and nephrologists in each U.S. state using 2016 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services physician and other supplier public files.

In 2016, 1.9 million U.S. adults were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Colorado had the lowest density of cases (6.2 percent) and Puerto Rico had the highest (13.7 percent). The density of specialists varied widely, but overall, cardiologists were the highest represented specialists and there was a lower ratio of patients with diabetes to cardiologists than to nephrologists or endocrinologists.

"For any patient seeing a specialist, it's important to ask how your diabetes may put you at risk and if there's anything that can be done to reduce risk," said lead author Ravi B. Patel, MD, a former internal medicine resident at the Brigham. Patel is now a clinical fellow in cardiovascular medicine at Northwestern University. "Diabetes is a systemic disease and should be treated as such, with many specialists as part of a team providing optimal care."

Source:

Journal reference:

Patel, R.B., et al. (2019) Implications of Specialist Density for Diabetes Care in the United States. JAMA Cardiology. doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2019.3796.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Federal regulators are suing to block pamphlet and newsletter publishers from marketing a purported cure for diabetes and advertising claims that consumers can collect $1 trillion in "Congressional Checks" or "Republican Checks."

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Maryland, the Federal Trade Commission says publishers of "The Doctor's Guide to Reversing Diabetes in 28 Days" are falsely promising a cure for the disease without dietary changes or exercise.

The FTC's suit says other publications are duping consumers into thinking they can collect hundreds of thousands of dollars per month by following instructions in a book entitled, "Congress' Secret $1.17 Trillion Giveaway."

[unable to retrieve full-text content]FISHERS, IN / ACCESSWIRE / October 23, 2019 / Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company specializing in diabetes care, this month announced the release of a new innovative treatment for Type 2 ...

An investigational liver-targeted formulation of fast-acting insulin may help minimize hypoglycemia in patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes, new research suggests.

Findings regarding Diasome Pharmaceutical Inc's hepatic-directed vesicle (HDV) insulin were published online September 24 in Diabetes Care. The study was conducted by David Klonoff, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues.

The product is made of a specially designed matrix that passively attaches free insulin. It provides more normal insulin biodistribution by mimicking the usual physiologic portal vein delivery that occurs in people who do not have type 1 diabetes. It can be mixed with any commercially available short-acting insulin.

Among 141 patients with type 1 diabetes who completed the 26-week phase 2b study, there was no difference in change in A1c level from baseline between the 98 patients who received mealtime insulin lispro (Humalog, Lilly) mixed with HDV (HDV-L) and the 43 patients who received lispro alone.

However, for those with baseline A1c ≥8.5%, use of HDV-L resulted in less time in hypoglycemia and less use of insulin despite the same drop in A1c.

"There was noninferiority on A1c and superiority on hypoglycemia," and this "is important," because people "with type 1 diabetes often have to choose between better control or more hypoglycemia," study coauthor and Diasome chief medical officer Marc Penn, MD, PhD, told Medscape Medical News in an interview.

"The addition of HDV allows for that same half percent improvement in A1c with an actual reduction in hypoglycemia, so it's not a give-and-take with HDV," he observed.

Patients whose A1c level was lower than 8.5% and who received HDV-L actually experienced an increase in time spent in hypoglycemia, but that would be expected, owing to the increased liver bioavailability, Penn explained.

Another study, which is currently underway, is examining the effects of lowering the dose of basal insulin in patients with A1c of 6.5%â€"8.5% in order to avoid that, he said.

"I think there's a growing understanding of the potential that patients who are poorly controlled" are so "in part because they have a higher hypoglycemia risk, and the choice of better control vs hypoglycemia is a greater issue for them," he said.

From the current study, Penn said, the thinking is that "patients who are better controlled are going to need their basal adjusted first before going on a more potent insulin, whereas those with higher A1c will have more excess glucose around so they won't need that."

"In theory, hepatic specific insulins could be more effective in lowering postprandial insulin vs standard subcutaneous insulin injections," endocrinologist Harvey L. Katzeff, MD, senior medical director at IQVIA, commented to Medscape Medical News.

"However, this study does not confirm this hypothesis, and the differences observed were measurable but not clinically significant," said Katzeff, who spent 10 years at Merck providing medical oversight and monitoring of clinical trials involving diabetes and related conditions.

"Overall, I would say the authors have overestimated the differences between these two insulins and that the data presented only weakly support [their] conclusions."

Was Noninferiority Proven?

The patients in the study were mostly male. Of the HDV-L group, 62% were men, and of the lispro group, 72% were men. The mean baseline age was 46.7 and 44.1 years, respectively, and the mean baseline A1c level was 8.12% and 8.22%, respectively.

The HDV-L used in the study was 1% HDV-bound lispro and 99% unbound lispro. It was formulated by mixing 0.8 mL HDV into 10 mL commercial lispro. The comparator was lispro similarly diluted with water.

Mean change in A1C from baseline to week 26 was â€"0.09% with HDV-L and â€"0.16% with lispro, giving an estimated treatment difference of 0.09% for the modified intention-to-treat population.

There were no significant treatment effects from week 0 to week 26 in basal, bolus, or total insulin doses.

The authors say that these data confirm noninferiority on the basis of a prespecified 0.4% margin, but Katzeff disputes this.

"The noninferiority value should be 50% of the treatment effect difference in the study," he said.

"The statistician used 0.4% when the actual treatment effect was 0.16%. They should have used 0.08% as the noninferiority margin and need to reevaluate the data using the correct margin. It may be that they are not noninferior as reported," he said.

Hypoglycemia Effect Differed by Baseline A1c

Overall, there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups in time spent with glucose levels <54 mg/dL, as measured by continuous glucose monitoring during week 26. It was 1.6% for the HDV-L group, vs 1.5% for the lispro group.

However, differences were found in a prespecified subgroup analysis of those with baseline A1c of ≥8.5% vs <8.5%.

At week 26, for those with A1c ≥8.5%, reduction in A1c was similar for both treatment groups (~0.5%), but the HDV-L group used about 25% less bolus insulin compared to the group that used lispro alone. The HDV-L group also spent less time with blood glucose <54 mg/dL: the HDV-L group spent 1.5% of time below this at baseline, compared with 0.7% at 26 weeks; for the group that used lispro alone, these figures were 1.2% and 2.0% (P = .09 between the two comparators at 26 weeks).

In contrast, among those with A1c <8.5%, there were no differences in insulin dosage from baseline to week 26 for either treatment.

Among these patients, the lispro group actually showed a decrease in time spent <54 mg/dL at baseline, which was 1.9%, to that spent below this level at 26 weeks, which was 0.6%. There was little change between the two time points with HDV-L, 1.9% vs 2.0% (P = .16 between the two comparators at 26 weeks).

Penn, who also practices cardiology at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio, told Medscape Medical News, "I think the most important thing is the idea that insulinization of the liver isn't being done, but it's part of the natural way that insulin is delivered to the body, and restoring that is actually really important."

Diasome is currently in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration about designing phase 3 trials for HDV-L, which will initially focus on patients with type 1 diabetes and A1c >8.5%.

Katzeff believes the results from that trial will need to be more convincing than those of the current trial.

"If the phase 3 data results are similar to the phase 2 data, I do not believe this new insulin preparation would be a significant improvement over the presently available short-acting insulin preparations," he concluded.

Diabetes Care. Published online September 24, 2019. Abstract

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While its Latin name, Silybum Marianum, might make it sound like milk thistle's benefits are decidedly Hogwarts-esque, they are more liver-boosting and cirrhosis-nixing than 'disarming your opponent of her wand.'

'It has strong antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties with a number of beneficial therapeutic applications, including the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases, infections, drug intoxication', says nutritionist Mays Al-Ali. 'Several other protective effects have been identified for this herb, such as decreasing insulin resistance, improving neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, regulating blood pressure, and improving lipid profiles for cardiovascular health, as well as helping with improving skin and signs of ageing due to its antioxidant properties.'

Native to Mediterranean countries, though now widespread, the fruit, stem and seeds of the milk thistle plant have been used as a healer since ancient Greek times — kicked off by Dioscorides in the 4th century BC. Through the middle ages it was used in salads, but now it's mostly commonly taken in supplement form or in teas.

As well as liver help, fans preach its uses for an army of ailments. The herbal remedy is related to the daisy family and is prickly, with purple flowers and white veins.

But do these punchy claims hold up or are they hot air? Let's dig in.

[We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.]

What Does Milk Thistle Do?

The active ingredient in milk thistle is silymarin, a compound of antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory flavonoids that fights damage from free radicals.

Milk Thistle Benefits: What Can It Do?

Protecting the liver and gallbladder

Probably best known for its detoxing properties, studies have suggested milk thistle can help treat alcohol-related liver damage, chronic liver diseases and even liver cancer. Research is ongoing into how it can best be used for specific liver issues.

'It reduces free radicals which may be produced when your liver metabolises toxic substances', says Al-Ali. 'Studies have shown improvements in liver function in people with liver diseases who have taken a milk thistle supplement, suggesting it could help reduce inflammation and damage and it is often promoted for its liver-protecting effects.'

Help symptoms of diabetes

Combined with traditional treatment, milk thistle has shown to help type 2 diabetes by decreasing blood sugar levels, improving insulin resistance and lowering cholesterol.

As the liver plays a big part in the smooth runnings of the adrenal system, removing excess or used hormones from the body, milk thistle is thought to avoid issues like excess oestrogen — and research seems to back this up.

Milk thistle has been used to treat neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cerebral ischemia for thousands of years. Studies suggest it can improve symptoms where the issue is oxidative stress or neuroinflammation are related to the progression of the disorder. It's also thought to stave off age-related neurological function decline.

Research points to milk thistle having skin-improving benefits; particularly where inflammation is the cause of the issue, including disorders like rosacea. Due to its free radical inhibiting properties, it could also help the signs of ageing.

Though a lot of herbal remedies claim to have cancer-fighting properties, milk thistle has shown to combat the free radicals (which is what gives it potential dermatological benefits too) and helps shut malignant cells down through a process called apoptosis.

Related to milk thistles benefits to people with diabetes, it's been shown to reduce cholesterol and in doing so lower risk of stroke and heart disease.

Studies suggest milk thistle may prevent bone loss by bolstering levels of calcium, phosphorus and hormones — particularly related to oestrogen — in the body.

A key player in disorders such as diabetes and potentially PCOS, milk thistle may lower blood sugar levels, according to a study published in the Journal of Senman Medical Sciences University and another in the Journal Of Medicinal Food.

Related to the balanced blood sugars, milk thistle can help to cut chances of cravings and snacking. It's also thought to directly cut weight loss, judging by a study from Tianjin Medical University on mice with diet-related obesity .

A strengthened immune systems has been indicated in animals and humans talking milk thistle extract — though more research is needed.

Another benefit of milk thistle's anti-inflammatory properties, research (mice again) suggests it can protect against tightened airways caused by allergic asthma.

Thought to be kind on the liver, milk thistle has traditionally been used to counter the effects of excess alcohol due to alleged protective benefits, though as of yet evidence is insufficient.

Another anecdotal benefit of milk thistle is its impact on indigestion, often marketed at people who have overindulged.

4 Health-Boosting Milk Thistle Products To Factor Into Your Day

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Milk Thistle Benefits: Let's Answer Your FAQs Can Milk Thistle Help People With Diabetes?

Studies suggest milk thistle can help balance blood sugar levels, improve insulin resistance and lower cholesterol; all elements of type 2 diabetes.

Is Milk Thistle Good for Fatty Liver?

Linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are both related to insulin resistance, fatty liver is the name for fat building up in the liver cells – and it's becoming increasingly common.

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Studies suggest milk thistle can help reduce insulin resistance in people with NAFLD (a.k.a non-alcoholic liver disease), especially when combined with vitamin E.

Does Milk Thistle Help Kidneys?

Research is by no means conclusive, but it suggests that milk thistle may have some affect on the kidneys — particularly in protecting from and restoring after drug-related damage.

How Much Milk Thistle Should You Take a Day?

Up to 420mg/day, taken orally as a supplement or in a tea, is safe for up to 41 months. It's best to read the individual packaging and limit yourself to six cups.

What Are the Side Effects of Milk Thistle?

Milk thistle has few reported side effects, the most common being diarrhea.

It should be avoided, however, in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or suffer from oestrogen-related disorders as it's a phytoestrogen meaning it can mimic the effects. Also, avoid if you suffer from ragweed allergy.

Always speak to a medical expert before starting new supplements.

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(Reuters) - AstraZeneca's <AZN.L> diabetes drug Farxiga has been approved for use in the United States as a treatment to reduce the chances of hospitalisation for heart failure in adults with type-2 diabetes and other cardiovascular risks, the British drugmaker said on Monday.

The approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is based on results from the DECLARE-TIMI 58 clinical trial, the London-listed company said, and follows a similar approval https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2019/forxiga-label-updated-in-the-eu-in-type-2-diabetes.html by the European authorities in August.

Farxiga is the first of its class to be approved in the United States for this indication, Ruud Dobber, executive vice president of BioPharmaceuticals at AstraZeneca said.

"This is promising news for the 30 million people living with type-2 diabetes in the United States, as heart failure is one of the earliest cardiovascular complications for them, before heart attack or stroke," Dobber said.

Farxiga, already approved as a treatment for type-2 diabetes, is part of the SGLT2-inhibitor class of antidiabetics that cause the kidneys to expel blood sugar from the body through urine.

Diabetes is often associated with a high risk of heart failure, a condition in which the blood-pumping organ does not circulate blood as well as it should.

The treatment, one of AstraZeneca's top 10 drugs by sales, had shown promise in reducing the risk of heart attacks or disease progression in patients with the HFrEF subtype of heart failure, accounting for about half of heart failure cases.

The FDA has already placed Farxiga under speedy reviews to treat some kinds of heart failure and kidney failure.

(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)

There is no cure for Type 2 diabetes. What you can do is to ensure that you prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking. Food intake is one major factor that determines whether your blood sugar will rise or fall. You can add a certain food to your breakfast that will help in stabilizing your blood sugar levels the entire day.

Go for Avocadoes

Express reported that when you add avocadoes to your breakfast, you will be able to stabilize your blood sugar. Type 2 diabetics could benefit from a daily addition of avocado to their meals in the morning.

A study that was found in the Nutrition Journal stated that patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes could greatly benefit from avocadoes. By adding avocado to the diet, they would be able to increase insulin sensitivity. Also, the fruit can help them to lose extra pounds and to lower their cholesterol.

Avocado can stabilize blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients Photo: coyot - Pixabay

Since avocadoes have low carbohydrate-content, it will not contribute to increased blood sugar levels. Eating avocadoes makes a person feel a lot fuller for a longer period.

A US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health study analyzed diet plans. It found that when monounsaturated fats are high in a weight loss diet, the insulin sensitivity of the patient also improves. This result is not seen in a diet that his high in carbohydrates.

This is why avocadoes are ideally made as a part of a Type 2 diabetic's diet. In addition to stabilizing blood sugar, it also helps in lowering blood pressure. The fruit also contributes to lowering cholesterol levels.

A breakdown of the nutrient content of 150g of avocado, as provided by the US Department of Agriculture, would show that it has 10.1g of fiber, less than 1g of sugar, and 22g fat. Its carbohydrate content is only up to 12.79g. Thus, it is the right recipe for a diabetic.

Other Great Foods to Eat

You don't need to eat avocado alone. You can pair it up with some other great foods for diabetics. You can add it to scrambled eggs. You can even add it to a toast. Since fiber and fat need a longer digesting time, the body's absorption of carbohydrates also slowed.

So the next time that you eat breakfast, better add some avocadoes. This great fruit will certainly help in stabilizing your sugar levels throughout the day.

A biomedical engineering professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York is trying to find a cure for diabetes from several different angles, and three federal grants totaling nearly $1.2 million will aid her and her research team in that quest.

The American Diabetes Association estimates that in the U.S. alone, more than 30 million people -- about 9.5 percent of the population -- are battling the disease.

Diabetes patient numbers are growing every year, both Type 1 and Type 2. Now there are Type 3 and Type 4 in elderly patients, depending on the different symptoms."

Sha Jin, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Binghamton

One experimental treatment -- currently in clinical trials through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration -- is pancreatic islet transplantation. Doctors remove islets with healthy beta cells from the pancreas of an organ donor and inject the cells into a vein that carries blood to the liver of a person with Type 1 diabetes. After a few treatments, the islets are expected to make and release insulin in the recipient's body.

There's a problem, however, with finding enough usable islets for the treatment. The demand far outstrips the supply. That's where Jin's research comes in.

A $400,000 grant awarded to her and fellow Binghamton researcher Kaiming Ye from the National Science Foundation will fund continuing research on the molecular mechanisms that lead stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to grow into islet-like organoids.

Jin hopes to answer several key questions: How can scientists create a microenvironment to encourage the self-organization of islet-like architecture that is similar to a human islet? What are the key signaling pathways involved? How can these mechanisms be utilized to optimize the differentiation procedures? Scientists' ability to do this is currently limited.

"The nature of those iPSCs is that they will spontaneously differentiate into any type of cell in our body," Jin said, "so it's going to be really messy in the Petri dish if we cannot control the pathway the cells go."

Using a $450,479 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (part of the National Institutes of Health), Jin will lead research on improving the production of islet-like organoids in three-dimensional scaffolds.

Rather than a flat layer of cells, the scaffolds encourage three-dimensional structures of hormone-secreting endocrine or islet tissues. However, because there is no circulatory system like in the human body, supplying oxygen to all the cells cultured inside a scaffold is difficult.

"The problem is that a three-dimensional culture is a chunk, and in the middle the cells cannot receive enough oxygen due to its low solubility," Jin said. "For other nutrients, this is mitigated because of their high solubility in the growth medium and cells can uptake those. " But with oxygen, the cells on the top of the scaffold material receives it immediately and consumes most or all of it. The cells in the middle or lower areas of the scaffold receive zero oxygen, so they are dying."

Jianjun Guan, a materials science professor at Washington University in St. Louis, is collaborating on this research by developing an oxygen-releasing material that will be tested on stem cells grown inside the scaffolds.

"If we can give an oxygen supply in situ inside a three-dimensional scaffold, not just the cells on the surface will receive oxygen but the entire scaffold," Jin said.

The final award of $346,502 came through the NSF's Major Research Instrumentation grant program, and it will fund the purchase of a high-performance, high-throughput, multicolor fluorescence cell analyzer that can better differentiate among types of cells. It not only will enhance Jin's research but also will be a useful tool to other scientists at Binghamton University and regional healthcare providers for helping patients.

If successful, using scaffolding to grow human stem cells could lead to mini-organ models for use in drug testing, disease modeling and other medical research. Jin, of course, is thrilled to have the funding for her research -- not only to purchase equipment and supplies but also to have more minds thinking about solutions.

"With this support, I can recruit more graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in pancreatic tissue engineering and want to work at my lab," she said. "Together, we can continue in those directions."

The grants providing funding are:

$450,479 from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (part of the National Institutes of Health) for "Generation of islet organoids in oxygenated scaffolds" (#1R15EB027391-01).

$400,000 from the National Science Foundation for "Molecular mechanisms of tissue-specific signaling for islet self-assembly" (#1928855).

$346,502 from the NSF for "MRI: Acquisition of a High-throughput Flow Cytometry for Health Science Research and Training" (#1919830).

The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF aims to raise $3.6 million to accelerate the pace of research

TORONTO, Oct. 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF is a corporate stationary cycling event that will see over 12,000 Canadians come together in cities across Canada to collectively raise $3.6 million and help create a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). The funds raised will support leading-edge T1D research projects and advocacy efforts to furthe r government support of research and new therapies for the T1D community.

Attend the Ride in Toronto on Thursday, October 10 and meet the community and business leaders who are raising money to fund global research in pursuit of turning type one into type none.

What:   2019 Toronto Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF       When:   Thursday, October 10, 2019     Media should please check-in at the registration area       Time:   8:00 am to 5:00 pm       Where:   Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. East, Toronto       Who:   JDRF ambassador, Fran Grundman     JDRF representative, Jessica Diniz, VP Marketing and Development     Sun Life representative, Maryn McGill, Manager, Global Partnerships       Online:   jdrfride.ca      

For more information about the Sun Life Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF or to arrange interviews and/or photo opportunities with spokespeople please contact:

About JDRF Canada

JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our goal is to raise funds to support the most advanced international type 1 diabetes research and progressively remove the impact of this disease from people's lives – until we achieve a world without type 1 diabetes. JDRF collaborates with a wide spectrum of partners and is the only organization with the scientific resources, regulatory influence, and a working plan to better treat, prevent, and eventually cure type 1 diabetes. JDRF is the largest charitable funder of and advocate for research to cure, prevent and treat T1D in the world. For more information, please visit jdrf.ca.

Sun Life in the community At Sun Life, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier communities for life and we're proud to hold the Caring Company designation from Imagine Canada. Community wellness is an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients, Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our Team Up Against DiabetesTM p latform; and arts and culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible TM program. We also partner with sports properties, including NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors, in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and active living. Read more about Sun Life in the community.

John Hughes is 92 years old and will participate in JDRF's Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes. He is pictured here, center, with his grandson Jordan, left, and son Bart, right. (Photo: Provided/JDRF)

At 92 years old, John "Jack" Hughes has already logged over 2,000 miles on his recumbent bike this year, according to a press release from JDRF.

And he's still counting.

Next stop? The JDRF Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes in California. Hughes has lived with type 1 diabetes for 50 years now â€" but that has never stopped him.

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When Hughes, of Springdale, was diagnosed with the disease in 1968, he was 41 years old. According to the release, there were no glucose monitors back then. No insulin pumps, either. Hughes gauged his blood sugar through urine testing and used insulin derived from animals.

“When I was first diagnosed, the urine test basically told you what your blood sugar was six hours ago. So there was a lot of guessing,” Hughes said.

He endured multiple emergency room trips in the two decades that followed because of hypoglycemia, the release states.

“I don’t know how I survived, but I did,” he said.

Now, Hughes wears a glucose monitor, gets regular A1C tests and uses synthetic insulin called Humalog that is more effective and safer than animal insulin.

Hughes has always stayed up on the latest advances in the modern management of type 1 diabetes, the release states. But Hughes says that exercise is the key to staying healthy. He is an avid cycler and has logged over 60,000 lifetime miles.

“Jack is an inspiration to so many of us in our chapter,” said Melanie Schmid, development coordinator of the Southwest Ohio Chapter of JDRF. “His physical achievements and his commitment and generosity to supporting our mission are truly amazing. He has shown that T1D does not have to stop anyone from living a long and successful life.”

Hughes will cycle at the JDRF Death Valley Ride to Cure Diabetes on Oct. 17-20 in Death Valley, California.

“I enjoy the cycling, but to me,” Hughes said, â€œIt’s all about contributing to the T1D community.”

Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2019/10/15/springdale-man-cycle-cure-diabetes-age-92/3992085002/

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Today, Peter S. Amenta, MD, PhD, announced that he will step down as President and CEO of Joslin Diabetes Center at the end of 2019. After that, he will remain an advisor to Joslin. The Board of Trustees has formed a Search Committee and has commenced a formal search for a new President and CEO.

"I have spent approximately 10 years here at Joslin, as a Trustee, consultant and finally President and CEO," said Dr. Amenta. "I can honestly say it has been a remarkable experience and one of the most enjoyable periods of my professio nal career. It has been my honor to lead this storied institution and contribute to its success. I will greatly miss the amazingly dedicated clinicians, researchers, educators, and staff at the heart of Joslin, whose commitment to those living with diabetes is unmatched. I am firmly convinced Joslin will lead the way into this most exciting decade of discovery and treatment of people with diabetes."

"Dr. Amenta oversaw the rejuvenation of Joslin and helped us continue to expand our national and international global outreach as we work to improve the lives of people with diabetes," said Joslin Board of Trustees Chair Ann Lagasse. "We are tremendously grateful for his service over the past decade."

Under Dr. Amenta's leadership, the Joslin Clinic has grown to treat more than 23,000 outpatients and inpatients each year. The Young Adult Program, to transition people with diabetes from pediatric services to adult services, was established on his watch and Joslin's IT infrastructure was transformed, in part, to develop programs to deliver novel care and education around the world.

The Research Division at Joslin has continued its success with his support, including receiving federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and t he National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), as one of only 16 designated Diabetes Research Centers. He has worked to assist in creating the Center for Cell-Based Therapy for Diabetes (CCTD) at Joslin and establish Joslin as a founding member of the Harvard-based Boston Autologous Islet Replacement Therapy Program (BAIRT), dedicated to developing novel cellular approaches to treat diabetes. The relationships Dr. Amenta has forged within the academic, clinical and philanthropic communities will benefit Joslin for years to come.

Dr. Amenta's relationship with Joslin began before his appointment as President and CEO, when he served on the Board of Trustees for approximately five years. Prior to accepting the President and CEO position at Joslin, Dr. Amenta served as a faculty member and staff physician respectively of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Jersey, from 1989 – 2015. He was Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at the Hospital for four of those years. In 2006 he was named the interim dean of the medical school and then was appointed dean in 2008; he stepped down as dean in 2014, but remained on the faculty until leaving to lead Joslin. He was also CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group, the school's faculty medical practice, from 2006-2014.

Joslin sincerely thanks Dr. Amenta for his comprehensive efforts and focus on advancing initiatives that are helping individuals, both locally and globally, to benefit from the world's best diabetes care, research and education.

About Joslin Joslin Diabetes Center is world-renowned for its deep expertise in diabetes treatment and research. Joslin is dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives. We develop and disseminate innovative patient therapies and scientific discoveries throughout the world. Joslin is an independent, non-profi t institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and one of only 16 NIH-funded Diabetes Research Centers in the U.S.

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