(February 3, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

From London - According to a report published in the journal Nature, a significant amount of morbidly obese people are missing genes in their DNA. Researchers studied DNA samples of over 16,000 people, both obese and of normal weight. They found that 7 in every 1000 morbidly obese people shared a genetic deletion that was not found in any of those of normal weight. This genetic deletion becomes the second most frequent genetic cause of obesity.

From Calgary - According to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, elevated levels of protein in the urine and reduced kidney function may lead to heart attack, kidney failure or death. Researchers studied data on over 900,000 individuals, analyzing measurements of protein in the urine as well as eGFR (a measurement of how well the kidney filters and removes waste).  They found that all cause mortality risk was increased when patients had lower eGFR levels or higher proteinuria levels.

And finally, from Michigan - Diabetics prioritize their health concerns differently than their doctors, according to a report published in Journal of General Internal Medicine. Researchers surveyed almost 1,200 diabetic patients and 92 of their doctors, finding that 38% of the doctors ranked high blood pressure as the most important health concern for the patients, while only 18% of the patients agreed. The diabetic patients instead ranked pain and depression as their most important concern.