A Survey of Public Funding of Cancer Research in the European Union

The European Cancer Research Funding Survey found inadequate public funding of cancer research, say Sullivan and Eckhouse

Effects of diet versus gastric bypass on metabolic function in diabetes

BackgroundSome studies have suggested that in people with type 2 diabetes, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has therapeutic effects on metabolic function that are independent of weight loss.MethodsWe evaluated metabolic regulators of glucose homeostasis before and after matched (approximately 18%) weight loss induced by gastric bypass (surgery group) or diet alone (diet group) in 22 patients with obesity and diabetes. The primary outcome was the change in hepatic insulin sensitivity, assessed by infusion of insulin at low rates (stages 1 and 2 of a 3-stage hyperinsulinemic euglycemic pancreatic clamp). Secondary outcomes were changes in muscle insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and 24-hour plasma glucose and insulin profiles.ResultsWeight loss was associated with increases in mean suppression of glucose production from baseline, by 7.04 μmol per kilogram of fat-free mass per minute (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.74 to 9.33) in the diet group and by 7.02 μmol per kilogram of fat-free mass per minute (95% CI, 3.21 to 10.84) in the surgery group during clamp stage 1, and by 5.39 (95% CI, 2.44 to 8.34) and 5.37 (95% CI, 2.41 to 8.33) μmol per kilogram of fat-free mass per minute in the two groups, respectively, during clamp stage 2; there were no significant differences between the groups. Weight loss was associated with increased insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, from 30.5±15.9 to 61.6±13.0 μmol per kilogram of fat-free mass per minute in the diet group and from 29.4±12.6 to 54.5±10.4 μmol per kilogram of fat-free mass per minute in the surgery group; there was no significant difference between the groups. Weight loss increased beta-cell function (insulin secretion relative to insulin sensitivity) by 1.83 units (95% CI, 1.22 to 2.44) in the diet group and by 1.11 units (95% CI, 0.08 to 2.15) in the surgery group, with no significant difference between the groups, and it decreased the areas under the curve for 24-hour plasma glucose and insulin levels in both groups, with no significant difference between the groups. No major complications occurred in either group.ConclusionsIn this study involving patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, the metabolic benefits of gastric bypass surgery and diet were similar and were apparently related to weight loss itself, with no evident clinically important effects independent of weight loss. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02207777.)

Inservice Education of High School Computer Science Teachers

The United States urgently needs strong high school computer science programs. Our economy and the technological level of our society depend upon a continuing supply of high quality scientists, mathematicians, engineers, business people, computer scientists, and technicians, all equipped with a solid foundation in computer science. This supply depends upon a strong computer science program that begins in high school..

Percentage Spending by CSO: EU versus US

<p>The relative sizes of the two pie charts are proportional to the sizes of the two budgets.</p

Comparison of Direct Cancer Research Spending between EU-15 Only and the US, as a Percentage of GDP and as Spending per Capita

<p>Comparison of Direct Cancer Research Spending between EU-15 Only and the US, as a Percentage of GDP and as Spending per Capita</p

Direct Cancer Research Spending by Type of Funding Organisation

<p>Direct Cancer Research Spending by Type of Funding Organisation</p

Direct Cancer Research Spending by Country, including European Commission and Trans-European Organisations

<p>Direct Cancer Research Spending by Country, including European Commission and Trans-European Organisations</p

Funding By Political Grouping

<p>Current member states are all member states as of May 1, 2004. Accession countries are those member states which joined the EU in May 2004, or which are considered “applicant states”. EFTA countries include Iceland and Norway. Associate state is Israel.</p