Fulminant liver failure due to usnic acid for weight loss.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in developed countries has increased significantly over the years. Among the most popular are the weight loss supplements or "fat burners." Liver failure due to these popular remedies has been widely recognized.

New insulin sensitivity adjusted beta cell indices: validation according to a genetic study.

Purpose: The role of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF1alpha) in the maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3) is well established. A common polymorphism, I27L that is not linked to MODY3, has been demonstrated to affect beta cell function. To facilitate the identification of subjects with a low beta cell reserve, we developed beta cell indices and validated according to a genetic study.