Salk Institute Announces New Findings that Could Advance Diabetes Drugs

1. Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have found out how a hormone in the pancreas turns on molecular switches to increase production of insulin, according to findings published Monday that could lead to new medications for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The hormone, GLP-1, helps keep "islet cells,'' which produce insulin in the pancreas, strong and healthy, according to the researchers. They believe the cells can be manipulated to treat or even prevent diabetes.

2. A male African elephant calf was born Monday at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, , zoo officials announced. The calf born at 5:45 a.m. to Umngani was her third offspring. Visitors to the park were able to see the mother and her two other calves, 5-year-old Khosi and 2-year-old Ingadze, watching over the as-yet unnamed newborn. Zoo officials said Khosi kept the the new calf from straying from his mother and positioned her body between the baby and the rest of the curious herd, which now numbers 18. The adults at the Safari Park were acquired from Swaziland, where they were being culled, in 2003.

3. Investigators determined that pieces of human bone found behind a North County home last week are "very old'' and are not evidence of any kind of crime, a police lieutenant said Monday. Personnel with the county Medical Examiner's Office made the determination after analyzing the remains and visiting the Oceanside home where they turned up during a construction project, Lt. Leonard Mata said.