Human Beta Cells Can Be Easily Induced To Replicate, According To Pitt Study In Diabetes

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have successfully induced human insulin-producing cells, known as beta cells, to replicate robustly in a living animal, as well as in the lab. The discovery not only could improve models and methods for studying diabetes, but also opens up new possibilities for treating the condition. More at...

Introduced in the 1960s, oral contraceptives have been used by about 80 percent of women in the United States at some point in their lives. More at...

Crucial breakthroughs in the treatment of many common diseases such as diabetes and Parkinson's could be achieved by harnessing a powerful scientific approach called systems biology, according to leading scientists from across Europe. In a Science Policy Briefing released by the European Science Foundation, the scientists provide a detailed strategy for the application of systems biology to medical research over the coming years. More at...

MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) announced successful completion of its trial to demonstrate equivalence of its commercial inhaler to the version of the device that was used in clinical trials to deliver AFRESA(TM), MannKind's ultra rapid acting insulin that recently completed Phase 3 clinical trials. More at...

A benchmarking study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine evaluated contemporary hospital glycemic management in United States academic medical centers, determining glucose control practices are suboptimal and do not meet current American Diabetes Association (ADA) hospital diabetes care standards. More at...

A new study from the US found that patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is sometimes accompanied by pain in leg muscles, improved their walking endurance and quality of life by taking part in a treadmill walking exercise that also helped patients who did not have the classic symptoms of pain in the legs. More at...

ARYx Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARYX), a biopharmaceutical company, announced further results from a Phase 2b clinical trial testing the safety and efficacy of its oral anti-arrhythmic therapy, ATI-2042, in patients with atrial fibrillation. This follows the December 18, 2008 press release reporting that ATI-2042 reached statistical significance at its primary end point in the two highest of three doses tested. More at...