News in brief - March 13, 2000

Stem cells used to reverse diabetes in mice

New York -- Scientists reported using mice stem cells to generate insulin-producing cells that were then transplanted into the animals. The islet cells reversed type 1 diabetes in the mice for up to 55 days.

The technique could relieve the shortage of islet cells for transplantation in humans. In fact, the scientists said that preliminary experiments indicate that human pancreatic duct cells can differentiate into islet cells.

New York -- Philip Morris, the nation's largest cigarette maker, signaled a willingness late last month to retreat from the cigarette industry's long-held opposition to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Senior Vice President Steven Parrish allowed for "some level of acceptable regulation," while still opposing regulation of nicotine as a drug and cigarettes as drug-delivery devices. Still, President Clinton called it "an important step forward." The tobacco executive listed tobacco marketing and selling to young people, ingredient disclosure and safer product research as areas that could appropriately fall under government jurisdiction.

Chicago -- More than 13 million Americans may have an undiagnosed thyroid condition -- double the number previously suspected, according to a study in the Feb. 28 Archives of Internal Medicine. It also found that subclinical hypothyroidism may increase cholesterol levels, prompting a recommendation that all adults be tested for thyroid disease.

"The link between hypothyroidism and cardiovascular health and the vague correlation between symptoms and disease state points to the need for widespread ... testing," said Chester Ridgway, MD, head of endocrinology, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Of 25,862 people, 9.5% had hypothyroidism and 2.2% hyperthyroidism.