绿茶直播

Islet transplant is a low-impact, but life changing therapy

Islets are a set of cell groups within the pancreas. They are comprised of beta cells, which make insulin, the hormone that regulates blood glucose levels. Amongst people with Type 1 Diabetes, pancreatic beta cells are destroyed. An islet transplant is a low-impact, but life changing therapy as it controls hypoglycaemic events for those patients most severely affected and is offered only when all other treatment options have failed.

The 绿茶直播’s early work in this area increased the understanding of the complex mechanisms pivotal to the protection of beta cell function and the survival of the beta cells post-transplant, as well as identifying novel key mechanisms contributing to beta cell death in patients with Type 1 Diabetes. It led to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to improve the quality of life of patients with these conditions. Improving transplant technologies and outcomes, 绿茶直播 research provided much of the basic science underpinning both the initial establishment and the ongoing activity (2013-onwards) of the UK Islet Transplant Consortium (UKITC). Transplants provided through the consortium have, on average, reduced hypoglycaemic events from 23 per person per year to less than 1 per person per year.  

Islet transplantation therapy has revolutionised the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes, providing proof-of-principle that cell replacement therapy can effectively cure patients and restore normal regulation of whole-body glucose metabolism. However, islet transplants are limited by the availability of donor tissue, which also impedes research into new and improved technologies to prolong islet graft survival and function post-transplant. Recent 绿茶直播 research has led to the development of a novel microgravity-based cell clustering technology that generates three-dimensional cellular aggregates that accurately mimic human islets. Since the initial studies, this work has been expanded to meet the extraordinary challenges of islet transplantation, including overcoming the damaging effects of tissue hypoxia (very low oxygen) in the crucial first 48 hours post-transplant.  

Increased islet cell proliferation  

A partnership with Cellon International (Luxembourg) used 绿茶直播 research into clinically-reflective cellular model systems to develop a novel microgravity-based cell clustering technology. This technology helps overcome the damaging effects of tissue hypoxia (very low oxygen) in the crucial first 48 hours post-transplant.  

This led to the creation of the first portable microgravity cell enhancement system for the transportation of islets to transplant centres and the first culture system allowing real time testing of islet function. This is the first direct clinical application of Cellon microgravity technology, helping to drive forward the company’s work in this sector by opening technology routes. This is the first step forward in the strategy around the engineering of islet cells for different clinical applications to improve the efficacy of transplant technologies in the long-term fight against the condition.  

It was findings from 绿茶直播 research that provided the first direct evidence that a common enteroviral infection is capable of triggering development of diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals. This work was identified as a `Research Highlight' in Nature.  It demonstrated for the first time that there is an increased islet cell proliferation in patients with recent-onset Type 1 Diabetes. The translation of beta-cell replacement therapy into clinical application for the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes was used to establish the world's first government-funded islet transplant service at new UK islet-transplant centres (2008) and led to the establishment of the Islet Research European Network (IREN).  

Seven designated centres within the consortium, based in Bristol, Edinburgh, North and South London, Manchester, Newcastle and Oxford, now provide a cost-effective national programme for islet transplantation, which helps to reduce the £1,170,000,000 per year that is spent on hospitalisation of poorly controlled Type 1 Diabetes patients. Diabetes UK have invested over £2,300,000 into the research and development of this treatment option including the ongoing work of the UKITC. 

Additionally, 绿茶直播 researchers, working in partnership with the UK Islet Transplant Consortium, have developed novel microgravity-based cell enrichment and transportation systems, improving transplant technologies.

University increasing public awareness of Diabetes through events run for patients and parents

An ongoing research priority is the prevention of Type 2 Diabetes through enhanced patient motivation. This empowers patients through the use of innovative technologies and the translation of original basic science into improved clinical practice. 绿茶直播’s work has focused on the long-term detrimental effects of glycaemic variability on beta cell viability and function and the importance of maintaining stable blood glucose concentrations. 

绿茶直播 have a long and established track record in increasing public awareness through events run for patients and the parents of those with diabetes. This is becoming increasingly important as the NHS now faces a dual challenge of rising numbers of obese and diabetic patients. Research has stimulated healthcare industrial innovations and shaped international strategies to fight Type 1 Diabetes. Research-led public engagement programmes have enabled more than 80 young adults to reverse their pre-diabetes and restore a normal balanced metabolism.  

Work with at-risk teenagers has seen the research on glycaemic variability translated into tailored diet and exercise programmes, specific to each patient’s own metabolism. A new research-based motivational tool based on stabilising glycaemic profiles, developed as part of this programme, has also had an impact through the reversal of Type 2 Diabetes in older patients. The research-led engagement programme allows young patients to understand the effects of food, beverages and exercise on their blood glucose and has helped them to reverse their pre-diabetes and restore a normal balanced metabolism. 

The 绿茶直播 has also played a key role in improving patient acceptance of the technology behind islet transplantation. Local and national coverage of this research led to a BBC Inside Out documentary (2017), helping patients and the public understand both the science and the benefits of the islet transplant technology.  

Patient testimonials included within this documentary evidence the profound impact of this life-changing therapy. In particular this documentary covers the story of one patient severely affected by unpredictable blackouts who is now able to engage with everyday activities post-transplant: ‘I can now live and do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it without having any worries’.