A Guide to Coronary Calcium Scans

Here in Australia, a number of organisations offer coronary calcium scans. What, I hear you say, is a coronary calcium scan? Why Look At Coronary Calcium? A coronary calcium scan looks for specks of calcium (or calcification) in the walls of the coronary (heart) arteries. Calcification can be an early sign of coronary heart disease… Read More

Is there a Correlation between Autonomic Dysfunction & Metabolic Syndrome?

Research Paper Title Study on autonomic dysfunction and metabolic syndrome in Chinese patients. Background There is still a lack of simple methods and instruments for the early assessment of autonomic dysfunction in metabolic syndrome patients. Assessment of sudomotor function has been proposed to explore autonomic function, and could be used as an early biomarker for… Read More

What is the Microvascular Reactivity to Thermal Stimulation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus & Polyneuropathy?

Research Paper Title Microvascular Reactivity to Thermal Stimulation in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Polyneuropathy. Background The study aimed to investigate local thermally induced microvascular reactivity in patients with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and polyneuropathy and to compare it with healthy controls. Methods A hundred and fourteen subjects were investigated… Read More

Reappraising the (Cutoff Value) Relationship between Waist Circumference & BMI

Research Paper Title Reappraisal of Waist Circumference Cutoff Value according to General Obesity. Background Current criterion of waist circumference (WC) for abdominal obesity is not enough to demonstrate characteristics of obese and non-obese populations defined by BMI. The aim of this study was to redefine the cutoff values of WC according to general obesity (BMI ≥ 25… Read More

Type 1 Diabetes: The Pancreas & Transforming Non-Beta Cells

What an incredible transformation: A protein that persuades normal pancreatic cells to make insulin could help people with type 1 diabetes avoid daily injections. Insulin keeps the amount of glucose in our blood at a safe level. But in type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that makes insulin.… Read More

Type 1 Diabetes: Sensor, Pump, Action!

Research Paper Title Home Use of an Artificial Beta Cell in Type 1 Diabetes. Background The feasibility, safety, and efficacy of prolonged use of an artificial beta cell (closed-loop insulin-delivery system) in the home setting have not been established. Methods In two multi-centre, crossover, randomised, controlled studies conducted under free-living home conditions, the researchers compared… Read More

Australia & Diabetes: I Like Being Accurate!

Headline: New diet and exercise programme helps people with type 2 diabetes cut medication ADELAIDE researchers have developed a diet and exercise program the CSIRO says has proven highly effective in reducing the burden of type 2 diabetes, including an average 40 per cent reduction in medication levels. Some people in the trial were able… Read More