New method could spell end of painful jabs for diabetes

Scientists have developed a new way of administering insulin orally that could prove to be a painless alternative to millions of diabetics worldwide who have to get injections to manage their blood-sugar levels.

The new oral method uses tiny vesicles that can deliver insulin where it needs to go without a shot, researchers said.

"We have developed a new technology called a Cholestosome. A Cholestosome is a neutral, lipid-based particle that is capable of doing some very interesting things," said Mary McCourt from Niagara University in the US.

The biggest obstacle to delivering insulin orally is ushering it through the stomach intact.

Proteins such as insulin are no match for the harsh, highly acidic environment of the stomach. They degrade before they get a chance to move into the intestines and then the bloodstream where they are needed.

Using the patented Cholestosomes, McCourt, Lawrence Mielnicki and undergraduate student Jamie Catalano, all from Niagara, have successfully encapsulated insulin.

The novel vesicles are made of naturally occurring lipid molecules, which are normal building blocks of fats. But the researchers say that they are unlike other lipid-based drug carriers, called liposomes.

"Most liposomes need to be packaged in a polymer coating for protection. Here, we're just using simple lipid esters to make vesicles with the drug molecules inside," said Mielnicki.

Computer modelling showed that once the lipids are assembled into spheres, they form neutral particles resistant to attack from stomach acids.

Drugs can be loaded inside, and the tiny packages can pass through the stomach without degrading.

When Cholestosomes reach the intestines, the body recognises them as something to be absorbed. The vesicles pass through the intestines, into the bloodstream, and then cells take them in and break them apart, releasing insulin.

The team has delivered multiple molecules with these vesicles into cells in the lab.

To pack the most insulin into the Cholestosomes, the researchers determined the optimal pH and ionic strength of the drug-containing solution.

They then moved the most promising candidates on to animal testing. Studies with rats showed that certain formulations of Cholestosomes loaded with insulin have high bioavailability, which means the vesicles travel into the bloodstream where the insulin needs to be.

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Indian-American researchers find new target to control diabetes

In a thrilling discovery, two Indian-American researchers have identified a new potential therapeutic target for controlling high blood sugar - a finding that could help millions suffering from type 2 diabetes worldwide.

Researchers showed that lipid molecules called phosphatidic acids enhance glucose production in the liver.

The findings suggest that inhibiting or reducing production of phosphatidic acids may do the opposite.

"This study establishes a role for phosphatidic acids in enhancing glucose production by the liver and identifies enzymes involved in the synthesis of phosphatidic acids as potential drug targets," explained Anil Agarwal, a professor of internal medicine at University of Texas' Southwestern Medical Centre.

These observations were made while studying a mouse model of lipodystrophy, a rare metabolic disease in which the body is devoid of fat.

Lipodystrophy patients often develop diabetes and accumulate fat in the liver because of an imbalance in the body's ability to properly regulate lipids and glucose.

The causal gene 'AGPAT2' which is involved in the synthesis of phosphatidic acid and triglycerides, was removed in the mice - resulting in rodents with generalised lipodystrophy.

The research team then examined what impact this genetic manipulation had on phosphatidic acids and glucose production.

"We expected the levels of phosphatidic acids to go down. However, in examining the livers of these lipodystrophic mice, we unexpectedly found high levels of this lipid class," added lead author Shireesha Sankella, a post-doctoral researcher in the division of nutrition and metabolic diseases.

This led to the identification of new targets involved in the production of phosphatidic acids.

The buildup of these lipid molecules was due to an increase in the levels of two enzymes in the liver - diacylglycerol kinase and phospholipase D.

Researchers also discovered a marked increase in glucose production in the livers of the lipodystrophic mice.

The lack of normal insulin signaling in these lipodystrophic mice led to unrestricted production of phosphatidic acid, contributing to development of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.

"Besides revealing a new potential therapy to test for treatment of diabetes, the findings may have implications in understanding how cancer develops," Agarwal noted.

Increased phosphatidic acid levels may play an important role in a metabolic pathway that supplies energy to cancer cells, said the study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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Brown rice helps to hydrate skin

Brown rice for well-hydrated skin: Brown is definitely better than white rice. The fiber-packed brown rice and other whole grains work like a charm in getting blemish free and firm skin. Whole grains contain ceramides, the lipid molecules which help your skin maintain its moisture. Naturally occurring ceramides get incorporated into the outer layer of skin and help in maintaining its hydration.