By: Tom Blackwell, National PostPublished: Friday, December 15, 2006 In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians. Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas. "I couldn't believe it," said Dr. Michael Salter, a pain expert at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the scientists. "Mice with diabetes suddenly didn't have diabetes any more." The researchers caution they have yet to confirm their findings in
people, but say they expect results from human studies within a year or so.
Any treatment that may emerge to help at least some patients would likely be
years away from hitting the market. But the excitement of the team from Sick
Kids, whose work is being published today in the journal Cell, is almost palpable. "I've never seen anything like it," said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at
the hospital and a leader of the studies. "In my career, this is unique." Their conclusions upset conventional wisdom that Type 1 diabetes, the most serious
form of the illness that typically first appears in childhood, was solely caused
by auto-immune responses -- the body's immune system turning on itself. They
also conclude that there are far more similarities than previously thought
between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and that nerves likely play a role in other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and Crohn's disease. The "paradigm-changing" study opens "a novel, exciting door to address one of the diseases with large societal impact," said Dr. Christian Stohler, a leading U.S. pain specialist and dean of dentistry at the University of Maryland, who has reviewed the work. "The treatment and diagnosis of neuropathic diseases is poised to take a dramatic leap forward because of the impressive research." About two million Canadians suffer from diabetes, 10% of them with Type 1, contributing to 41,000 deaths a year. Insulin replacement therapy is the only treatment of Type 1, and cannot prevent many of the side effects, from heart attacks to kidney failure. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to shift glucose into the cells that need it. In Type 2 diabetes, the insulin that is produced is not used effectively -- something called insulin resistance -- also resulting in poor absorption of glucose. The problems stem partly from inflammation -- and eventual death -- of insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. Dr. Dosch had concluded in a 1999 paper that there were surprising similarities between diabetes and multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system disease. His interest was also piqued by the presence around the insulin-producing islets of an "enormous" number of nerves, pain neurons primarily used to signal the brain that tissue has been damaged. Suspecting alink between the nerves and diabetes, he and Dr. Salter used an old experimental trick -- injecting capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes.Article Taken from the National Post
Here I will be blogging about WHATEVER comes to mind to talk about daily…sometimes more or less than daily. I hope that you enjoy my topics and provide me with valuable feedback.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Diabetes breakthrough...Toronto scientists cure disease in mice
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Six Degrees of Separation
... the positive energy returns to the blog...Good Day Everyone out there in blogging world. Today’s topic is the age old theory of Six Degrees of Separation. My friend, Denise, was watching ABC New's Primetime last evening and decided to participate in the current Columbia University's Small World Project. This theory fascinates me for many reasons.
- Reason 1: I believe that it is true and have had many discussions with my friend Denise in particular about it
- Reason 2: Years ago I belonged to a website that explored this theory loosely and could see the effects
- Reason 3: I enjoy studying the validity of such wonders
- Reason 4: I am a member of a scientific review board and it is interesting to read Columbia University’s On-line Consent
- Reason 5: I think it is just plain fun!
So if you have time please click on the links above to check out and even join the study.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Don’t Have Enough Experience???
Time and time again I interview… (and yes my boss knows, he hired me with the intention of me bettering myself)…and I have one friend in particular, lets call her Penelope, that can completely relate to me. And I think she is one reason I continue to interview. Time and time again we interview and we are told how wonderful, great, what a good fit for “Job X” we would be BUT… and here it comes…
- we don’t have enough experience...or
- "Person Y" has so much MORE expereince... or
- you are overqualified for this job... or
- with your Masters Degree we feel we would have to pay you... or
- they say they are going to call you back and they DON'T!
... COME ON PEOPLE... be original come up with some other excuse... becuase that is what it is! Okay, maybe that is a little harsh but you too would be annoyed if you were in my shoes...
Would someone somewhere please explain to us how we will EVER get more experience if we are constantly rejected? I mean seriously, time passes, we continue to do similar things but not what we want to do with the rest of our lives… gaining experience doing SOMETHING and what are we told… Lets see … we both have Bachelors of Sciences… we both have Masters Degrees… and Penelope is even working on her PhD. (You go Girl!!) 7 years removed from attaining our Bachelors and we are getting the same responses!
We have contemplated at times omitting our Masters Degrees from our resume and replacing them with the objectives listed for our respective Masters Degrees as EXPERIENCE from said institutions, but that would be dishonest… and we would have to account for those years somehow.There are those of you who read my blog and tell me that I should look for jobs in locations far from my current locale. To those of you nothing personal but...
- 1) I am SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THAT (if that is your advice... please keep it to yourself)
- 2)I HAVE AND DO... I admit not as much as I have in the past but work with me here that IS NOT the ONLY answer the question either.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Please Contribute Recipes!
One of my closest friends, Alyssa, will be getting married in February 2007. CONGRATULATIONS ALYSSA! The Clemson Bridesmaids are throwing her a Kitchen/Recipe Shower. What I would like from you is to please contribute your favorite recipe so that I can add it to the recipe box we are giving her at her shower. You can either leave it on my blog or email it to AlyssaKitchen@lizacorrine.com If you choose to send a recipe via email please put the name of the Recipe in your subject line. Also, if you don't mind please put your city and state. I appreciate your time and recipes :) Have an outstanding weekend!
Liza Corrine
If you have pictures of the actual items you are sending me the recipe for please attached it to the email.
Thank you !
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Great Appointment Book
Hello Everyone - I am back and blogging this wonderful holiday season! If you are an organize fanatic or looking to become more organized in the coming year the appointment book by Olge Publsihing company a wonderful choice. My boss had one in his office from 2005 and I really liked it so I purchased a 2006 planner have loved it! If you would like to find ou
t more abou them and the other products they offer please check out their website. www.oglepub.com . Their contact information is listed below. Here is a picture of an opened appointemnt book...
As you can see it has monthly tabs, daily and monthly bookmarks and also has... has monthly expense recording spaces, places to record mileage, an address book , area code map, intantional dialing codes, the most oftn used websiteds and 800 numbers in North America, Weights and Mesarues, converstion tables, and so much more. With shipping and handling one appointment book comes to $32.75... I believe it is worth the money!PHONE: 1(800) 914-6453 • FAX: (503) 625-1892 • E-MAIL: PAT@OGLEPUB.COM
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PACIFIC COAST TIME
Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)
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