http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/fat_diabetes_dc
Scientists find something good about a big bottom By Julie Steenhuysen
Tue May 6, 2:44 PM ET


CHICAGO (Reuters) - A type of fat that accumulates around the hips and bottom may actually offer some protection against diabetes, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

They said subcutaneous fat, or fat that collects under the skin, helped to improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar.

Mice that got transplants of this type of fat deep into their abdomens lost weight and their fat cells shrank, even though they made no changes in their diet or activity levels.

"It was a surprising result," said Dr. Ronald Kahn of Harvard Medical School in Boston, whose study appears in the journal Cell Metabolism.

"We actually found it had a beneficial effect, and it was especially true when you put it inside the abdomen," Kahn said in a telephone interview.

Kahn said he started the study to find out why fat located in different parts of the body seems to have different risks of metabolic disease such as diabetes.

Researchers have known for some time that fat that collects in the abdomen -- known as visceral fat -- can raise a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease, while people with pear-shaped bodies, with fat deposits in the buttocks and hips, are less prone to these disorders.

Now it turns out that subcutaneous fat -- fat found just under the skin -- may be actively protecting people from metabolic disease.

Kahn and colleagues conducted a series of experiments on mice where they transplanted subcutaneous fat from donor mice into the bellies and under the skin of mice.

Mice that got subcutaneous fat transplanted into their bellies started to slim down after several weeks, and they also showed improved blood sugar and insulin levels compared to mice that underwent a sham procedure.

"What we found was that when we put it in either place, there was some improvement in metabolism," Kahn said.

"I think it's an important result because not only does it say that not all fat is bad, but I think it points to a special aspect of fat where we need to do more research," he said.

Kahn's team is working to find the substances produced in subcutaneous fat that provide the benefit with the hope of developing a drug that might copy this effect. Although fat is known to produce several hormones, Kahn said none of the known hormones appeared to be involved in this process.

"If we can capture those (substances), we might have an opportunity to convert them into drugs or use them as guides to help develop drugs," he said.

(Editing by Maggie Fox and Doina Chiacu)

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...om-pincher.html

Police hunt serial bottom-pincher
Last Updated: 10:49AM BST 07/05/2008
Police are hunting a serial bottom-pincher who has targeted women and girls in a city centre.

CCTV footage showing a man pinching a woman's bottom in Tib Street, Manchester
The Turkish or Greek-looking man has indecently touched 19 victims, aged 13 to 43, in Manchester over the past 12 months.

The incidents were reported to have happened mainly between 7am and 8am in the Tib Street area.

Police said that in most instances the man approached his victims from behind and tried to sexually assault them by grabbing their bottom.

He is described as being 5ft 6in to 5ft 10in, of slim to medium build and in his late 20s or early 30s. He has olive skin and short black hair and is clean-shaven.

Detective Sergeant Kay Dennison, from North Manchester CID, said: "This man has struck a number of times over the last 12 months and there is often a large gap between incidents.

"They have not increased in severity; however, the man has put his victims in extremely uncomfortable situations.

"I want to reassure the public that we are following a number of lines of inquiry and I am determined to identify and catch this man.

"We have been able to get hold of CCTV of one of the incidents and I would appeal to anyone that may have witnessed any of the assaults or who knows who is responsible to contact police.

"The footage shows the man loitering in the area before the assault. If anyone remembers seeing him, please get in touch.

"I would also appeal to women that use Tib Street and the adjoining streets to remain vigilant and avoid walking alone if at all possible."

Anyone who recognises the description of the offender or who has any further information about the incidents is asked to contact North Manchester CID on 0161 856 3240 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.