PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Study indicates the potential of new tests in long-term diabetes complications

2014-01-15
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Tim Parsons
tmparson@jhsph.edu
410-955-7619
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Study indicates the potential of new tests in long-term diabetes complications Monitoring glucose levels is imperative for diabetes patients, but for some the standard Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test is not valid. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota have determined that the fructosamine tests and a novel assay for glycated albumin may be useful for predicting complications related to diabetes. The results will be published in the latest edition of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

HbA1c, which is also used to diagnose diabetes, reflects exposure to glucose in the blood over the previous 2-3 months. However, this test will not work in patients with anemia, kidney disease, hemoglobinopathies, HIV, and other conditions. The study measured HbA1c, fructosamine and glycated albumin in blood samples from over 12,000 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. The ARIC Study is a community-based cohort of persons from Washington County, MD; Jackson, MS; Forsyth County, NC; and suburban Minneapolis, MN who have been followed for clinical outcomes since 1987. Fructosamine is approved for clinical use in the United States but rarely used. The glycated albumin test is widely used in Japan but not approved for use in the United States. A major barrier to using these non-traditional markers is that they have not been related to the clinical outcomes of diabetes or compared to HbA1c.

"We compared the associations of HbA1c, fructosamine, and glycated albumin with two of the most important clinical outcomes related to diabetes: retinopathy (eye disease) and kidney disease," notes lead author Elizabeth Selvin, PhD, MPH, associate professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "We found that fructosamine and glycated albumin were strongly associated with retinopathy and kidney disease. [T]hese associations were similar to those observed for HbA1c with these outcomes."

The results of the study suggest that fructosamine and glycated albumin may be useful substitutes for monitoring glucose control in patients with diabetes when HbA1c is not available or not valid. Because fructosamine and glycated albumin are measures of short-term (2-4 week) glucose control and change more rapidly than HbA1c, they could also be useful for monitoring changes in diabetes treatments.

"Further studies are needed to understand the value of these tests in the clinic," Selvin added.

### END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Vanderbilt study reveals senses of sight and sound separated in children with autism

2014-01-15
Vanderbilt study reveals senses of sight and sound separated in children with autism Like watching a foreign movie that was badly dubbed, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have trouble integrating simultaneous information from their ...

Screening helps prevent cervical cancer in older women

2014-01-15
Screening helps prevent cervical cancer in older women New research from Queen Mary University of London reveals women over the age of 50 who don't attend cervical screening are four times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer in later ...

World's tiniest drug cabinets could be attached to cancerous cells for long term treatment

2014-01-15
World's tiniest drug cabinets could be attached to cancerous cells for long term treatment Novel method for slow release drugs As if being sick weren't bad enough, there's also the fear of frequent injections, side effects and overdosing on you medication. Now a team of ...

Microbes swap for tiny goods in minuscule markets, researchers find

2014-01-15
Microbes swap for tiny goods in minuscule markets, researchers find A closer look at microbes reveals there is big business going on in their very small world, and sometimes we are part of the transaction. An international team of researchers, including ...

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Colin coming 'unwound'

2014-01-15
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Colin coming 'unwound' Tropical Cyclone Colin is not as tightly wrapped as it was a day ago. Satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites show Colin is not as organized as it was, and most of the strongest precipitation was occurring ...

New patent mapping system helps find innovation pathways

2014-01-15
New patent mapping system helps find innovation pathways What's likely to be the "next big thing?" What might be the most fertile areas for innovation? Where should countries and companies invest their limited research funds? What technology areas are a company's ...

Top scientists ask UN leaders to act on nuclear weapons, climate change

2014-01-15
Top scientists ask UN leaders to act on nuclear weapons, climate change Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: It is still 5 minutes to midnight and much too close to doomsday The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists today called on the ...

Bacterial 'syringe' necessary for marine animal development

2014-01-15
Bacterial 'syringe' necessary for marine animal development If you've ever slipped on a slimy wet rock at the beach, you have bacteria to thank. Those bacteria, nestled in a supportive extracellular matrix, form bacterial biofilms—often slimy substances ...

Researchers identify key components linking circadian rhythms and cell division cycles

2014-01-15
Researchers identify key components linking circadian rhythms and cell division cycles CINCINNATI—Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have identified key molecular components linking circadian rhythms and cell division cycles ...

In dyslexia, less brain tissue not to blame for reading difficulties

2014-01-15
In dyslexia, less brain tissue not to blame for reading difficulties WASHINGTON — In people with dyslexia, less gray matter in the brain has been linked to reading disabilities, but now new evidence suggests this is a consequence of poorer reading experiences and ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Study indicates the potential of new tests in long-term diabetes complications