Prior studies of cancer risk among diabetic men have reported inconsistent findings. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of cancer among a large cohort (n 5 4,501,578) of black and white U.S. veterans admitted to Veterans Affairs hospitals. The cancer risk among men with diabetes (n 5 594,815) was compared to the risk among men without diabetes (n 5 3,906,763). Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Overall, men with diabetes had a significantly lower risk of cancer (RR 5 These findings indicate that black and white men with diabetes are at significantly lower risk of total cancer and of two of the most common cancers among U.S. males; lung and prostate cancers. These decreased risks were offset, however, by increased risks of cancer at several sites. Hyperinsulinemia may explain the increased risks of the digestive cancers, while lower testosterone levels, in the case of prostate cancer, and higher BMI, in the case of lung cancer, may explain the decreased risks of those tumors.

Various contributors of total water intake differed in their association with dietary characteristics and body weight in the adult US population.

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Diabetic retinopathy is an increasingly common medical issue in the United States. The risk of developing the disease or having the disease progress is caused by many systemic health factors. This article examines the existing literature on the links between glycemic control, arterial hypertension, high cholesterol and hyperlipidemia, obesity, inflammatory markers, sleep-disordered breathing, and exercise with risk of diabetic retinopathy development and prevention. The literature shows benefit for good glycemic and blood pressure control. The effects of cholesterol, and lipid control, inflammatory markers, sleep-disordered breathing, obesity, and exercise are less well established.

High-dose (HD) IL-2 is approved to treat renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with modest response rates and significant toxicity. Enhancement of cytotoxic T-cell activity by IL-2 is 1 mechanism of action. IL-2 also stimulates regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs), which are associated with poor prognosis. Favorable outcomes are associated with greater rebound absolute lymphocyte count (Fumagalli 2003). DD depletes IL-2 receptor (CD25 component) expressing cells. We hypothesized that sequential therapy could complement each other; DD would deplete Tregs so IL-2 could more effectively stimulate proliferation and activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Patients (n=18) received standard HD IL-2 and 1 dose of DD daily for 3 days; periodic flow cytometry and complete blood counts were performed. Group A included 3 patients to assess safety only with DD 6 μg/kg between the IL-2 courses. Group B included 9 patients at 9 μg/kg DD before the IL-2 courses. Group C included 6 patients at 9 μg/kg DD between the IL-2 courses. Efficacy using the RECIST criteria was assessed after the treatment. Fifteen patients from a study of IL-2 without DD served as controls for toxicity comparison and 13 of these for flow cytometry comparisons. No unusual toxicity was noted. For group B/C patients receiving DD, the median decline in Tregs was 56.3% from pre-DD to post-DD (P=0.013). Peak absolute lymphocyte count change from baseline was +9980/μL for group B, +4470/μL for group C, and +4720/μL for the controls (P=0.005 B vs. C). The overall response rate was 5 of 15 (33%); 3 of 9 (33%) and 2 of 6 (33%) for groups B and C, respectively, including 2 patients with sarcomatoid RCC and 1 with earlier sunitinib therapy.

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