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Data from clinical trials have suggested that short-term treatment with estrogen (<10 years) results in a reduced incidence of breast cancer, whereas long-term treatment (>20 years) is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The authors of this Viewpoint describe possible mechanisms to account for these seemingly paradoxical effects.
Simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplantation (SKPT) is the preferred treatment for patients with diabetes and end-stage diabetic nephropathy. Both immunologic and non-immunologic factors can affect patient outcome after SKPT. In this Viewpoint, the role of the metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for chronic renal transplant dysfunction is discussed.
This article reviews the role of physical activity in producing and maintaining weight loss. The focus is on prospective randomized controlled trials; however, other prospective trials, meta-analyses and large systematic reviews are included. The limitations of the current body of literature are identified and discussed, and future research directions suggested.
Examination of triglyceride metabolism and lipoprotein profiles in different ethnic groups reveals a range of potential risk factors for heart disease, especially when related to conditions such as insulin resistance. Further study should allow greater understanding of the role of triglycerides in the development of, or protection from, heart disease.
Epigenetic mechanisms alter gene expression without changing the nucleotide sequence; nevertheless, they can transmit through generations of cells. This article discusses how the fetal environment might affect the epigenotype of the fetus and how this might affect subsequent development of diseases, such as diabetes, later in life and perhaps in subsequent generations.
