Aurora magazine

A study by the Joslin Diabetes Center shows that some people with Type 1 diabetes suffer from monogenic diabetes. This form of diabetes is a non-autoimmune hereditary condition, which in some cases does not require insulin treatment. According to the author, therefore, young people suffering from Type 1 diabetes should perform genetic tests to identify the possible variant.

The discovery is part of a broader research, focusing on people who have been living with diabetes for at least 50 years. The study includes other important findings on pancreatic cell activity, but this is one of the most interesting. It could in fact mean freedom from insulin for many young diabetics. Monogenetic diabetes is caused by mutations in one of the genes related to insulin production. It could affect about 5% of cases, many of them of juvenile diabetes.

To prove it, the researchers tested 29 genes related to monogenetic diabetes, plus other genes that cause Type 1 diabetes. Out of about 1019 volunteers, about 8% showed a mutation from a monogenetic diabetes that could have caused the disease. About half of them lacked the Type 1 diabetes-related mutation.

This means that the people in question could respond better to oral drug therapy than to simple insulin. New clinical trials should start within a couple of months to test the effectiveness of oral drugs. If the results were positive, they could change the lives of millions of people with diabetes.

Source: medicalxpress.com

Those who suffer from migraine headaches often experience a decrease in symptoms during pregnancy. Nevertheless, frequent headaches during pregnancy could be linked to complications. Suffering women have higher risks of miscarriage, high blood pressure, preterm labor.

Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark say this. According to the study, women with migraine headaches are more likely to experience complications. Even their children are more at risk and are prone to respiratory problems and seizures.

To prove it, the scientists used Danish records to identify over 22,000 pregnant women with migraine headaches. They compared the data with about 200,000 women who do not suffer from the problem. The caesarean sections are 25% more common among women with migraine. The researchers used the data to verify the effectiveness of any treatments against these complications. The treatment of migraine seems to reduce many of the problems mentioned above and is not linked to further complications. An important discovery for the many women who suffer from this problem, who can take appropriate drugs without worries.

The study involves millions of women: the rate of migraines mainly affects women. The cause is still unknown, although it is probably linked to stress and hormonal changes. Paradoxically, for pregnant women migraine is less annoying and even more dangerous. In spite of the many future mothers who see an improvement in their symptoms, there are just as many who run into problems seen.

Source: chop.edu

Together with the bone marrow and spleen, the lymphatic system is one of the fundamental components of the immune system. It is a venous system, composed of vessels and lymph nodes through which it carries liquids throughout the body.

The lymphatic vessels are equipped with small valves that allow the lymph to flow in only one direction, the heart true. In this way the vessels are able to drain the lymph in all tissues, even between the capillaries and in the space between the cells. The capillaries absorb most of the liquid, while what remains passes from the lymphatic vessels to the veins.

The sap contains:

• protein;
• minerals;
• various types of nutrients;
• damaged and sometimes cancer cells;
• bacteria and viruses,
• which penetrate from vessels to different tissues.

The lymph nodes collect all the lymphatic vessels and are positioned in strategic areas of the body. Their job is to eliminate potentially dangerous cells, thanks to the specialized leukocytes that destroy them. In this way they reduce the risk of infections and tumors, which could start from there and spread throughout the body.

The lymphatic system can suffer from various disorders, both genetic and otherwise. The main causes are:

• obstruction of the lymphatic system. When the vessels are blocked, liquids accumulate and damage the tissues. Obstructions can be caused by scar tissue, radiotherapy, trauma;
• infection of the lymph nodes, which causes an expansion of the infection throughout the body;
• tumors, which can block lymphatic ducts or metastasize in lymph nodes.

Source: msdmanuals.com

According to the European IVF Monitoring Consortium, assisted reproduction techniques have reached the maximum possible success rate. Unfortunately the data is not comforting. Only 1 attempt out of 4 is successful and in the last few years there have been no improvements. Indeed, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) has been declining for the past 10 years.

How did these observations come about and what can be done? The researchers analyzed the national registers of 36 European nations, focusing on couples who used assisted reproduction techniques. Of those who used IVF, only 27% managed to have a baby. In the case of ICSI, the percentage drops to 24%.

In 2008, intracytoplasmic injections had a 30% success rate, so there was a sharp decline. ICSI was designed for cases of poor male fertility, when there are few spermatozoa or are too slow to reach the oocyte. In these cases, the doctor selects the best sperm and injects them directly to the oocyte. Why has the technique become less effective? According to Dr. Christian de Geyter, there has been an ICSI boom in recent years. Probably, many doctors are also using it for other causes of infertility, not always successfully.

Even giving reason to Dr. de Geyter, the fact remains that only 1 treatment out of 4 is successful. Fertility treatments may therefore have reached their natural limit. Or perhaps the fact that more and more women over 40 are using assisted reproduction has reduced their success rates.

Source: newscientist.com