8月8日

Fending Off Type 1 Diabetes

Research aims to stave off diabetes by tripping up the immune system with the help of mouse cells

That’s where the mice come in

Researchers at PNRI will test the type 1 treatment on 13 newly diagnosed patients, ages 15 to 30. They will be among a total of 70 patients nationwide planning to join the study.

The treatment relies on rodents to help make a drug containing the protective antibodies: These “monoclonal antibodies” are taken from laboratory-preserved mouse cells, then altered to prevent a human allergic reaction and tailored to seek out key human immune cells, The antibodies then are mass-produced and injected into the patients, where they “neutralize” the cells that otherwise would orchestrate a wide attack on the insulin-producing beta cells.

Scientists believe that protecting those remaining beta cells will decrease the chances of long-term complications of diabetes, especially with repeated treatments. They also hope that the therapy eventually many “reset” the immune system, permanently ending the attacks on beta cells. In a best-case scenario, the beta cells then would begin to multiply slowly, perhaps with the help of hormonal treatments, and eventually return to normal levels, essentially curing the diabetes, Hagopian said.

Procedure of the medical research

Of the 13 patients to be treated at the PNRI, eight will receive the antibody-containing drug and five will continue to receive standard diabetes treatment, including intensive counseling about managing the condition. The patients who receive the antibodies will get them for up to 30 minutes a day for 14 days, including spending five of those days in a hospital. Side effects may include fever, headache, nausea and a one-day rash.

After a year, the antibody group will receive another dose. Over the course of five years, the two groups will be compared to see whose diabetes is best controlled. If the antibody treatments are successful, the researchers will launch a wider-scale trial involving hundreds of patients.

Vocabulary Focus

Rodent (n) 啮齿目动物（如鼠﹑ 松鼠或海狸）

Monoclonal (adj) derived asexually from a single individual or cell

Tailor (v) to make something for a particular purpose

Orchestrate (v) to arrange something carefully, and sometimes unfairly, so as to achieve a desired result

Rash (n) 疹子

Discussion Question

Suppose, just suppose, someday you get a stubborn disease, would you choose to do experimental treatment? Why or why not

Extra Exercise

1. Translate the following sentence into Chinese, ‘the antibodies then are mass-produced and injected into the patients, where they “neutralize” the cells that otherwise would orchestrate a wide attack on the insulin-producing beta cells.’

2. According to the recording, why is exercise good for a diabetic?

说明：

1.文本摘自《Advanced 彭蒙惠英语》，由chandler30亲自录入。

2.回帖内容为大家讨论类话题，如非个人隐私，请不要选中“只有楼主可见”，以便大家交流。

3.参考答案在二楼，回复可见。

4.参与讨论问题奖励50沪元，回答问题奖励50沪元，本栏目谢绝灌水!