Volume 13 Issue 7, July 2017

Diabetes mellitus is one of the largest epidemics the world faces and is now an important public health challenge. The 'SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth' consortium now reports that, between 2002 and 2012, incidence rates of type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus grew among all youth in the USA, more so in ethnic minorities.

A recent advance has led to the development of microfluidically linked microphysiological culture systems that mimic the complex dynamics and interdependent physiology of the various organs that comprise the female reproductive tract. This microfluidic culture platform offers an unprecedented way to study female reproductive biology and develop new reproductive therapeutics.

Although animal models have been used to understand the aetiologies of polycystic ovary syndrome, these models are possibly not the best tool to study the underlying causes of this syndrome, as the disorder is uniquely human and does not occur naturally in animals. A recent study illustrates this point.

Insulin treatment has advanced considerably since the discovery of insulin. In this Review, Chantal Mathieu and colleagues discuss the established and novel insulin analogues for the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus and consider future developments.

Evidence suggests that early-life exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals might contribute to the development of reproductive disorders. Here, Julie Boberg and colleagues summarize the current knowledge of how environmental chemicals and pharmaceuticals potentially contribute to the development of ovarian dysgenesis syndrome.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology is used to diagnose thyroid cancer and determine the risk of malignancy, but some nodules have indeterminate cytology and thus invasive surgery might be required for a definitive diagnosis. This Review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of molecular approaches to diagnosis, which can either rule in or rule out malignancy to optimize surgical planning.

For decades, HbA_1c has been regarded as the 'gold-standard' measure of glycaemic control. In this Review, Boris P. Kovatchev takes the unconventional view that HbA_1cand glucose variability are expressions of the same underlying physiological process, evident on different timescales.