Our last poll of 2007! Have a happy and safe new year!
Which type of research are you most excited about for the upcoming new year?
Stem cells with their cardiac indications
New lipid lowering medicines that are on the horizon
New and Improved warnings on existing hypertensives
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Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! We might just have a new type of oral diabetes treatment. It is derived from yeast and yes, that did make me giggle since yeast is in bread and bread is carbs and carbs turns to sugar and… you get my point.
It is called glucose tolerance factor, GTF, and is essential in understanding how your body builds a resistance to insulin and can use it an ineffective way at different parts of the day or in differing situations.
The results indicate that GTF acts similarly to insulin in the rats, lowering the level of glucose, and of LDL-cholesterol, (the “bad” cholesterol), and raising the level of HDL-cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol). GTF inhibited oxidation processes that can cause atherosclerosis and result in further complications of the disease like strokes and heart attacks. Moreover, when GTF is given at early stage of the disease, it could prevent or delay renal complications. GTF also helped to prevent cataracts and retinal damage. It was also found that GTF improves the effectiveness of injected insulin.
More research needs to be done but we have a strong start and great possibilities!
via Science Daily
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Two Food and Drug Administration advisory committees recommended that the agency not approve over-the-counter status for lovastatin 20 mg (Mevacor). During the joint meeting of the Nonprescription Drug Advisory Committee and the Endocrinologic Drugs Advisory Committee ASHP voiced its opposition to the proposal, focusing its
An FDA advisory panel on Thursday voted 10-2 against recommending that Merck’s cholesterol drug Mevacor be granted over-the-counter status, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Mevacor, a drug used for treating high cholesterol (a statin drug), should not change status from prescription only to over-the-counter (OTC), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel recommended today. The Panel believes patients may not know how to use the drug correctly. This is the third time that Mevacor makers, Merck & Co, apply for OTC status. This time round the Panel voted 10-2 against the move.
The first heart transplant was 40 years ago and the patient lasted a little over 2 weeks. That may not have been lengthy but it sure was ground breaking. Now 4 decades later we are performing less and less heart transplants. Why?
Could it be the ability to keep very sick hearts alive and working effectively for longer amounts of time then previous? Quite possibly! Could it be that even though there are more registered organ donors, our organs aren’t exactly what they used to be? High cholesterol, smoking, alcohol abuse and older donors… a different type of death.
What do you suppose is the solution? Well I do have 2 words for you… stem cells. I know how controversial and heated the debate is but just think what the implications could be if we were able to regenerate healthy heart tissue. Here is what the UK government has suggested.
The UK government is currently looking into turning our current system of “opting in” to being a donor, to “opting out”, where everybody is considered a donor unless they explicitly state otherwise. But this is a thorny issue, and there are some who believe that no matter how many people are dying on waiting list, the suggestion that the state presume control of our bodies is one step too far.
How do you feel about the above mentioned? Kind of interesting…
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