Pancreatic Cell News Volume 2.12 | Mar 29 2011

Drug Prevents Type 2 Diabetes in Majority of High-Risk Individuals
A pill taken once a day in the morning prevented type 2 diabetes in more than 70 percent of individuals whose obesity, ethnicity and other markers put them at highest risk for the disease. [Press release from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine]

Researchers Find Potential New Non-Insulin Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes
Researchers have discovered a hormone pathway that potentially could lead to new ways of treating type 1 diabetes independent of insulin, long thought to be the sole regulator of carbohydrates in the liver. [Press release from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in Science]

Spencer Pharmaceutical Announces Publication in Major Scientific Journal of a Breakthrough Technology in Type 2 Diabetes
Using a well recognized animal model, intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests revealed an efficacious decrease of blood glucose compared with controls for up to 24 days after a treatment with proprietary-patented nanocomplexes, where injections of this formulation allowed near-normalization of blood glucose level. [Press release from ClinicaSpace discussing online prepublication in Gene Therapy]

DNA ‘End-Caps’ Length Linked to Diabetes Risk
New evidence has emerged from studies in mice that short telomeres or “caps” at the ends of chromosomes may predispose people to age-related diabetes. [Press release from Johns Hopkins Medicine discussing online prepublication in PLoS ONE]

Pathfinder Cells Demonstrate Ability to Regenerate Damaged Tissue and Restore Pancreatic Function in a Diabetic Mouse Model
Pathfinder, LLC announced publication of promising preclinical data demonstrating that the Company’s unique cell-based therapy is able to completely reverse diabetes in a mouse model. [Press release from PR Newswire discussing online prepublication in Rejuvenation Research]

IDF Releases Position Paper on Bariatric Surgery
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has released its Position Statement on Bariatric Surgery. The Paper calls for bariatric surgery to be considered earlier in the treatment of eligible patients, to help stem the serious complications that can result from diabetes. [Press release from the International Diabetes Federation discussing research presented at the 2nd World Congress on Interventional Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes]

DIABETES

Pioglitazone for Diabetes Prevention in Impaired Glucose Tolerance
As compared with placebo, pioglitazone reduced the risk of conversion of impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes mellitus by 72% but was associated with significant weight gain and edema. [N Engl J Med]

FGF19 as a Postprandial, Insulin-Independent Activator of Hepatic Protein and Glycogen Synthesis
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 activates a physiologically important, insulin-independent endocrine pathway that regulates hepatic protein and glycogen metabolism. [Science]

Glucose- and Hormone-Induced cAMP Oscillations in α- and β-Cells Within Intact Pancreatic Islets
Oscillatory subplasma-membrane cAMP concentration signaling in secretagogue-stimulated β-cells is maintained within intact islets and depends on transmembrane adenylyl cyclase activity. [Diabetes]

Multimodality Imaging of β-Cells in Mouse Models of Type I and II Diabetes
MIP-TF mice provide a new tool for monitoring β-cells from the single cell level to noninvasive assessments of β-cells in models of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. [Diabetes]

Antidiabetic Actions of Endogenous and Exogenous GLP-1 in Type 1 Diabetic Patients With and Without Residual β-Cell Function
Researchers investigated the effect of exogenous as well as endogenous glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) on postprandial glucose excursions and to characterize the secretion of incretin hormones in type 1 diabetic patients with and without residual β-cell function. [Diabetes]

Effective and Safe Gene-Based Delivery of GLP-1 Using Chitosan/Plasmid-DNA Therapeutic Nanocomplexes in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Researchers show effective and safe gene-based delivery of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) using chitosan/plasmid-DNA therapeutic nanocomplexes in Zucker diabetic fatty animal model of type 2 diabetes. [Gene Ther]

Short Telomeres Compromise β-Cell Signaling and Survival
Data indicate that short telomeres can affect β-cell metabolism even in the presence of intact β-cell number, thus identifying a novel mechanism of telomere-mediated disease. [PLoS ONE]

Transplanted Human Bone Marrow Progenitor Subtypes Stimulate Endogenous Islet Regeneration and Revascularization
Researchers investigated the contributions of high aldehyde dehydrogenase-activity (ALDHhi) mixed progenitor cells or culture-expanded, ALDH-purified multipotent stromal cell subsets to activate endogenous programs for islet regeneration after transplantation into streptozotocin-treated NOD/SCID mice. [Stem Cells Dev]

Pancreatic-Derived Pathfinder Cells Enable Regeneration of Critically Damaged Adult Pancreatic Tissue and Completely Reverse Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes
Researchers demonstrate that intravenous delivery of human, or rat, pancreas-derived pathfinder cells can totally regenerate critically damaged adult tissue and restore normal function across a species barrier. [Rejuvenation Res]

PANCREATIC CANCER

CD40 Agonists Alter Tumor Stroma and Show Efficacy Against Pancreatic Carcinoma in Mice and Humans
Cancer immune surveillance does not necessarily depend on therapy-induced T cells; rather, findings demonstrate a CD40-dependent mechanism for targeting tumor stroma in the treatment of cancer. [Science]

TLR9 and the NLRP3 Inflammasome Link Acinar Cell Death with Inflammation in Acute Pancreatitis
Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and P2X(7) are important damage-associated molecular pattern receptors upstream of inflammasome activation, and their antagonism could provide a new therapeutic strategy for treating acute pancreatitis. [Gastroenterology]

Mutant K-Ras Increases GSK-3β Gene Expression via an ETS-p300 Transcriptional Complex in Pancreatic Cancer
Results provide a general mechanism for increased expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) in pancreatic cancer and perhaps other cancers, where Ras signaling is deregulated. [Oncogene]

Sanofi-aventis Enters into Research Collaboration with Columbia University to Develop New Diabetes Treatments
anofi-aventis announced a research collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center for the development of innovative diabetes medicines. [Columbia University Press Release]

Cambridge Launches New Pancreatic Cancer Centre
The new Cambridge Pancreatic Cancer Centre, a multi-disciplinary centre of excellence which aims to bring cutting-edge pancreatic research from the bench to the bedside, was launched. The Centre will focus on conducting world-class human clinical trials of therapies and diagnostics which have shown scientific potential. [University of Cambridge Press Release]

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and AACR Award Research Grants Totaling Nearly $3 Million
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) awarded 10 grants to outstanding scientists throughout the country, supporting their innovative research in the field of pancreatic cancer. [American Association for Cancer Research Press Release]

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – AACR Pathway to Leadership Grants Awarded to Early-Career Investigators
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) have awarded Jennifer M. Bailey, Ph.D., and E. Scott Seeley, M.D., Ph.D., the 2011 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – AACR Pathway to Leadership Grants. [American Association for Cancer Research Press Release]

Scientists Awarded Carcinoid Tumor and Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Grants
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011 Caring for Carcinoid Foundation-AACR Grants for Carcinoid Tumor and Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor Research and the 2011 Raymond and Beverly Sackler AACR Fellowships for Ileal Carcinoid Tumor Research. [American Association for Cancer Research Press Release]

Adamis Reports APC-300 Kills Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced that in addition to its activity in prostate cancer, its drug APC-300 significantly inhibits the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. [BusinessWire]

Oramed Successfully Completes Toxicity Study For ORMD-0801
Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has successfully completed a comprehensive toxicity study for its flagship oral insulin capsule, ORMD-0801. [Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. Press Release]

XOMA 052 Phase IIb Top Line Results: Glucose Control Not Demonstrated, Positive Anti-Inflammatory Effect, Cardiovascular Biomarker and Lipid Improvement and Safety Confirmed
XOMA Ltd. announced that its Phase IIb trial of XOMA 052 in Type 2 diabetes patients did not achieve the primary endpoint of reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, after six monthly treatments with XOMA 052 compared to placebo. [XOMA Ltd. Press Release]

Second Lucentis Phase III Study Meets Primary Endpoint for Improved Vision in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema
Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced that the second of two Phase III trials evaluating Lucentis® (ranibizumab injection) in patients with diabetic macular edema met its primary endpoint. [Genentech, Inc. Press Release]

Cancer Research and the $90 Billion Metaphor
Although the “War on Cancer” metaphor has been a target for skeptics, who note that cancer incidence and mortality rates haven’t changed fundamentally, if one sets aside the rhetoric, it’s evident that the cancer campaign has changed therapy and saved lives, as demonstrated in this infographic Science has created of indicators for the seven deadliest cancers. [Science]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)
 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

National Health Service (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW American Diabetes Association 4th Disparities Partnership Forum
April 6-7, 2011
Alexandria, United States

NEW 4th International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome
April 6-9, 2011
Madrid, Spain

NEW Diabetes Spring Conference 2011
April 15-16, 2011
Medway, United Kingdom

NEW 4th Diabetes India International Conference
April 15-17, 2011
New Delhi, India

NEW 6th International Symposium on The Diabetic Foot
May 11-14, 2011
Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands

NEW 46th Annual Meeting of the European Diabetes Epidemiology Group (EDEG) 2011
May 15-17, 2011
Cádiz, Spain

NEW Cancer Proteomics 2011 – Systems Biology, Developmental Models & Data Integration
June 20-23, 2011
Dublin, Ireland

NEW 3rd International Brussels Pancreatic Islet Symposium
June 30-July 3, 2011
Brussels, Belgium

NEW 2nd National Diabetes Conference 2011
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
July 8-10, 2011

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the pancreatic cell community.

Lab Technologist – Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies)

Postdoctoral Position (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Stem Cell Biology (Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Stem Cell Institute)

Field Applications Specialist – Cell Therapy (Medical) (Pall Corporation)

Postdoctoral Scientist (University of Oxford Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences)

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Diabetes/Cardiovascular Disease (Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology – Diabetes (Lund University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Medical College of Wisconsin)

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