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Although the mechanisms of β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus remain debated, islet inflammation is implicated and the cytokine interleukin-1β has emerged as a master regulator of this process. The potential role of anakinra—a recombinant human IL-1-receptor antagonist—in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus is discussed.
Statins are traditionally used in patients with hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disorders. More recently, however, statins have been shown to exert pleiotropic effects on cell proliferation, survival, and migration, which suggests they could have chemopreventive properties. The author of this Viewpoint proposes that statins might have therapeutic potential in thyroid proliferative disease.
Glucocorticoids are widely used because they have potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, but they can lead to clinically important complications in many different body systems. In this Review, the different major complications are discussed and recommendations on dosing and durations of therapy are provided. Interactions with other drugs are also considered.
Insulin resistance has a pivotal role in polycystic ovary syndrome. This Review evaluates the clinical implications of findings from several recent studies on the role of insulin-sensitizing drugs, such as metformin and thiazolidinediones in polycystic ovary syndrome, with particular regard to insulin action, cardiovascular disease, hyperandrogenism, infertility and pregnancy.
Injury to the vasculature is an important adverse outcome in diabetes. In this Review, Yan et al. explore how advanced glycation end-products and their main receptor, RAGE, might have roles in the development of diabetes and some of its complications–nephropathy, atherosclerosis and inflammatory response–through activation of inflammatory signaling cascades.
Hirsutism is a common presenting complaint in women of reproductive age and can cause significant psychological distress and embarrassment. This article describes the case of a 20-year-old woman in whom hirsutism was caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, and illustrates the clinical assessment, investigations and management of a patient with hirsutism.
