NEWS Body clock link to diabetes


A study has found new evidence for a link between the body clock hormone melatonin and type 2 diabetes. The study found that people who carry rare genetic mutations in the receptor for melatonin have a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings should help scientists to more accurately assess personal diabetes risk and could lead to the development of personalised treatments. Previous research has found that people who


work night shifts have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Studies have also found that if volunteers have their sleep disrupted repeatedly for three days, they temporarily develop symptoms of diabetes. The body’s sleep-wake cycle is controlled by


the hormone melatonin, which has effects including drowsiness and lowering body temperature. In 2008, a genetic study led by Imperial College London discovered that people with common variations in the gene for MT2, a receptor for melatonin, have a slightly higher risk of type 2 diabetes. The new study reveals that carrying any of


four rare mutations in the MT2 gene increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes six times. The release of insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels, is known to be regulated by melatonin. The researchers suggest that mutations in the MT2 gene may disrupt the link between the body clock and insulin release, leading to abnormal control of blood sugar. Professor Philippe Froguel, from the School


National bowel cancer campaign


The Government has launched a national cancer campaign to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. Featuring real GPs, the Be Clear on Cancer bowel cancer campaign encourages people who have had blood in their stools or loose stools for more than three weeks to see their doctor. The new adverts aim to make people aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and make it easier for them to discuss this with their GP. The Be Clear on Cancer campaign


adverts will appear on TV, radio, online and in newspapers in England for a period of nine weeks. The campaign was piloted in the SouthWest and East of England in January 2011. In those areas, GPs saw the number of people over the age of 50 presenting with the relevant symptoms increase by 48% – about one extra patient per practice per week.


MARCH 2012


of Public Health at Imperial College London, who led the study, said: “Blood sugar control is one of the many processes regulated by the body’s biological clock. This study adds to our understanding of how the gene that carries the blueprint for a key component in the clock can influence people’s risk of diabetes. “We found very rare variants of the MT2


gene that have a much larger effect than more common variants discovered before. Although each mutation is rare, they are common in the sense that everyone has a lot of very rare mutations in their DNA. Cataloguing these mutations will enable us to much more accurately assess a person’s risk of disease based on their genetics.”


Heart attack deaths down


Statistics show heart attack death rates dropped dramatically in the early years of the new millennium, falling by more than half. The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation, looked at the number of people who had a heart attack in each year, between 2002 and 2010. The figures show the rate of heart attacks fell by an impressive 5% each year. For people who did have a heart attack, the chance of dying fell even more dramatically, by 9% a year. The study was was published in the British


Medical Journal.


Patient Handling Equipment


A new way to care for patient and nurse.


Demands on healthcare professionals are now greater than ever: heavier patients, long transports, targets to meet and an expectation to do more with less. Musculoskeletal injuries are now a leading cause


of NHS staff sickness (Boorman 09).* *Boorman, S (2009). NHS Health andWell-Being Review. Leeds: COI for the Department of Health. P29.


Help reduce the risk of injuries - Prime , the new powered stretcher from Stryker. For more info please contact: 01635 262444 www.stryker.co.uk phe@stryker.com


THE CLINICAL SERVICES JOURNAL 13


Are you BackSmart ? TM


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