CHECKUP LIVER CELLS REBORN AS INSULIN PRODUCERS.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Scientists have managed to ``grow'' insulin-producing cells from human liver cells, a feat that holds promise for treating - or perhaps curing - type-1 diabetes.

Those with type-1 diabetes - formerly called juvenile-onset diabetes - have an autoimmune disorder that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. As a result, the body's ability to produce insulin, which is essential for transporting and storing glucose, or blood sugar, is shut down. There's no cure for the disease and patients have to manage their condition by injecting insulin before they eat.

In the new study, the researchers used fetal human progenitor liver cells, a type of stem cell obtained from fetuses that had been aborted due to medical necessity. The cells were ``precursor'' cells, meaning they were on their way to becoming a specific type of cell - in this case liver cells - but had not fully developed yet.

To produce large quantities of the cells, the researchers ``immortalized'' them by inserting a gene for telomerase, which repairs the ends of chromosomes and enables them to divide.

The researchers then added a gene called pdx-1, which caused the cells to switch on other genes that are normally found in pancreatic beta cells. The gene then prompted the liver cells to secrete insulin in response to glucose.

When the cells were transplanted into diabetic mice, the cells brought blood-sugar levels down within the normal range and kept them there for several months

GET OFF THE COUCH: A sedentary lifestyle leads to a buildup of dangerous levels of fat deep within the belly, increasing the risk of heart disease and other conditions.

That's the conclusion of a new study by Duke University Medical Center researchers. They say this ``visceral fat'' accumulates at a surprisingly quick rate around organs and deeper in the body than subcutaneous fat, which lies under the skin.

On the upside, the researchers found that months of regular, moderate exercise can prevent the buildup of visceral fat, while vigorous exercise can significantly reduce levels of such fat.

STROKE PATIENTS NEEDED: Researchers at USC are looking for patients to enroll in a study on stroke prevention. The CREST trial at University Hospital will compare two procedures that help to prevent blocked arteries, a condition that can lead to stroke. To qualify, participants must have a significant narrowing of one carotid artery and previously suffered from either a small or temporary stroke. For more information, call [phone].