Christian M. Cohrs

TL;DR: In type 1 and type 2 diabetes impairment of beta cell function is an early feature of disease pathogenesis while a substantial decrease in beta cell mass occurs more closely to clinical manifestation, which suggests that the development of novel strategies for protection and recovery ofBeta cell function could be most promising for successful diabetes treatment and prevention.

TL;DR: In vivo performance of a camera-based hybrid fluorescence molecular tomography system for 360° imaging combined with X-ray computed tomography (XCT) resulted in the most accurate FMT performance to date, indicating that addition of FMT optics into the XCT gantry may be a potent upgrade for small-animal XCT systems.

TL;DR: A detailed protocol for the preparation of pancreas tissue slices is presented that enables the in situ study of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cell physiology in a conserved environment and less damaging to the tissue and faster than alternative approaches.

TL;DR: It is shown that, in tissue of pre-diabetic, impaired glucose-tolerant subjects, β cell volume is unchanged, but function significantly deteriorates, exhibiting increased basal release and loss of first-phase insulin secretion, and in individuals with type 2 diabetes, function within the sustainedβ cell volume further declines.

TL;DR: The data reveal a predominant role of islet function with distinct contributions of triggering and amplifying pathway in the in vivo processes preceding diabetes onset and support protection and recovery of β-cell function as primary goals for prevention and treatment of diabetes and provide insight into potential therapeutic targets.