New Target for Obesity-Related Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes
Building on mounting evidence that implicates infection-fighting cells found in obese fat tissue in the growing problem of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes, researchers at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine have identified a particular subset of cells that are linked to obesity-associated insulin resistance, and that offer a promising new target for the treatment of diabetes. They showed that depletion of these cells, called CD11c-positive, in obese mice resulted in a reversal of obesity-associated insulin resistance.
The study, led by Jaap Neels, Ph.D., formerly of UC San Diego School of Medicine and now at the Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, and Jerrold Olefsky, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs at UC San Diego, will be published in the October 8 issue of Cell Metabolism.
Obese adipose, or fat, tissue is characterized by the presence of macrophages, specialized cells that usually fight infection. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) accumulate in fat tissue as body weight increases. Growing evidence shows that ATMs are a significant contributor to inflammation in obesity – inflammation that leads to insulin resistance, resulting in Type 2 diabetes.
‘Fantastic 4’ of breast procedures leave women extremely satisfied
Injecting fat after breast reconstruction to correct implant wrinkling or dimpling may be safe and effective to improve breast shape, according to a study to be presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2008 conference, Oct. 31 – Nov. 5, in Chicago. Using fat injections for cosmetic breast enhancement; however, is still controversial and will be the subject of a panel discussion.
“My reconstruction patients could not be happier with the improvement fat transfer gives to the appearance of their breasts,” said Gregory Scott, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study co-author. “The initial implant reconstruction sometimes leaves them with contour deformities or wrinkling, but fat injections can correct these problems and give their breasts a smoother, softer, more natural appearance.”
The study looked at 21 patients who had 42 fat transfers for contour deformities or wrinkling. The injections were performed an average of 9.9 months following reconstruction. The fat was taken from the patients’ abdomen or upper thighs. The study found that fat injection to the breast for reconstruction is safe, improves breast shape, and corrects implant wrinkling.
Dementia Won’t Improve With Procaine, and Health Might Suffer
Procaine, a medication that functions as a topical anesthetic normally, has been touted as an anti-aging drug that might prevent or even reverse dementia. However, a new Cochrane Review suggests that the risks of bad side effects outweigh any benefit.
“There is a lot of information, especially on the Internet, about the effect of procaine, promoting this drug for age-related problems, including dementia,” said lead author Szabolcs Szatmàri at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania. “At the same time, there were no available updated medical guidelines or evidence-based data for doctors and patients about procaine.”
The review included three studies involving 427 patients. Data from these studies showed high incidence of side effects such as restlessness, dizziness, migraine headaches and systemic lupus erythematosus, a disease in which a person’s immune system attacks itself.
