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Endocrinology

News, opinions and meeting coverage in endocrinology.

FDA Rules Differ for OTC vs. POC Glucose Monitors

The FDA has released two draft guidances that establish a line between over-the-counter and point-of-care blood glucose monitors.

Colonoscopies: The Longer the Better

Polyp and adenoma detection rates were highest when the colonoscopy withdrawal time was 9 minutes long, near the upper limit of the recommended 6 to 10 minutes withdrawal time, researchers found.

10 Questions: Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-Ga.)

If you could change one thing about the healthcare system, what would it be? Eliminate Obamacare, says Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-Ga.). That's his answer to just one of the 10 Questions the 番茄社区 staff is asking leading clinicians, researchers, and leaders in their community to get their personal views on their chosen profession. In this series we share their uncensored responses.

Testosterone Level Affects Flu Shot Response

Men with high testosterone and a certain genetic cluster may not experience an antibody response after a flu shot, researchers suggested -- a finding that could affect men taking prescription testosterone.

OTC Thyroid 'Boosters' May Harm

Patients who take over-the-counter supplements that promise to enhance thyroid function may get more than they bargained for, endocrinologists warn.

Antidepressant Dressed Up for Menopause

One drug company can now brag about a nonhormonal option for menopausal hos flashes. But Brisdelle is just an old drug dressed up in a new feminine name and packaging -- it's the antidepressant paroxetine, better known by its brand name, Paxil.

B12 Deficiency Tied to Reflux Medications

Vitamin B12 deficiency is significantly more likely among patients taking prescription medications for gastroesophageal reflux disease, researchers found.

Diabetes: TAVI Trumps Heart Surgery

Patients with diabetes who had aortic stenosis fared better in terms of mortality and kidney function during the first year if they underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) rather than surgery, a post-hoc analysis found.

Gastric Artery Embolization Tied to Weight Loss

CHICAGO -- Embolization of the left gastric artery was associated with significant weight loss compared with that seen in patients who underwent a control procedure, researchers found.

Post-Menopause Brain Drain Tied to Progesterone

Estrogen levels after menopause may have no impact on cognitive function, but progesterone levels might, researchers found.

Bone Density Higher in Blacks, Vitamin D Lower

Black Americans had lower levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein than whites, but similar levels of bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and higher bone density.

Testosterone Levels: Middle Range Best in Old Age

Older men whose natural testosterone levels were in the middle range tended to live longer than those with the highest and lowest levels, a study found.

Surgery Beats Medical Tx for Diabetes 'Cure'

ATLANTA -- Bariatric surgery's beneficial effects for type 2 diabetes were significantly greater than even the most rigorous medical and lifestyle interventions, a researcher said here.

Combo Angiotensin Tx Ups Kidney Risks

ATLANTA -- In yet another trial, dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAAS) didn't slow progression of kidney disease in diabetic patients and carried a higher risk of serious adverse events compared with monotherapy, researchers reported here.

Combo Drug Qsymia Tops for Weight Loss

Overweight people who took the phentermine/topiramate combination diet drug Qsymia lost more weight than people taking a placebo or either drug alone in an industry-funded study.

Hyperthyroid Drugs Tied to Birth Defects

SAN JUAN -- Two of the most commonly used drugs for treating hyperthyroidism were linked to birth defects when used in early pregnancy, though they have differing effects, researchers reported here.

TSH Suppression: More Harm Than Good After Cancer Surgery?

SAN JUAN -- Suppressing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) after thyroidectomy for low-risk cancer increases the risk of osteoporosis in women without cutting back on cancer recurrence, researchers reported here.

Daytime Snoozing May Tell Risk of Hypoglycemia

Older patients with diabetes who are overly tired during the day may be at a higher risk for hypoglycemia, researchers reported.

Effects of Early Puberty in Girls Persist as Adults

Women with a history of idiopathic precocious puberty had increased rates of clinical hyperandrogenism, but fertility was normal in adulthood among those who had been treated for the condition, a cross-sectional study found.

Low E Not Low T May Be the Problem

Some symptoms traditionally attributed to low testosterone may actually be due to estrogen deficiency, researchers found.

In Some Patients Metformin Impairs Thinking

The widely acclaimed diabetes drug metformin was linked with impaired brain function in patients who took the drug, although supplementation with vitamin B12 may alleviate metformin-induced deficiencies, according to new research.

Baldness Drug May Depress Sperm Count

Men men using finasteride to treat baldness had a dramatic increase in sperm count following discontinuation of the drug, according to a review of records at a male infertility clinic.

Antidepressants Have No Effect on Bone Loss

The use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or tricyclic antidepressants among women in midlife didn't lead to a greater rate of bone loss, a prospective cohort study found.

Xenical Helps PCOS Patients Slim Down

Lifestyle changes plus the weight-loss drug orlistat (Xenical) helped women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) shed pounds, leading to metabolic improvements, researchers found.

Medicare's DME Bidding Program Criticized

Despite complaints from multiple parties, Medicare's bidding program for durable medical equipment -- including diabetes supplies -- now includes suppliers to half of all program beneficiaries.

Vitamin D, IGF-1, Growth Hormone Have Deep Ties

Vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are involved in a complex interplay that may have implications for growth hormone dosing, researchers found.

Range of Due Dates Better for Expectant Moms

Pregnant women may be better off with a range of delivery dates rather than a set date due to variability in gestation times, researchers found.

Growth Hormone May Boost Heart Function, Too

Giving growth hormone to deficient patients with chronic heart failure may slow progression of the condition, researchers found.

FDA Goes After Fake Diabetes Therapies

The FDA has sent letters to 15 companies warning them to stop marketing products that falsely claim to treat diabetes, the agency announced.

A Little Estrogen Goes a Long Way in Preventing UTI

Short-term estrogen therapy induced cellular changes in urothelium consistent with improved ability to fight off urinary tract infection, results from clinical and preclinical studies suggested.

Society Seconds Call for Incretin Data

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Endocrine Society has joined its voice to the recent call for incretin drugmakers to release all patient-level data on their products, the group announced at its annual meeting.

AMA House Votes Against Council, Calls Obesity a Disease

CHICAGO -- Obesity should be called a disease and not simply a condition, the American Medical Association's policy-making House of Delegates voted on Tuesday, ignoring a recommendation by one of its own councils.

Obesity Not a Disease, AMA Council Says

CHICAGO -- Obesity is hard to define and diagnose, and partly because of that is not a disease, an American Medical Association council said in a report issued here Monday.

Diabetes Experts Divided About 'Lone Wolf' Butler

Top experts in diabetes and endocrinology have offered mixed reactions to a profile of Peter Butler, MD, chair of endocrinology at the University of California Los Angeles, in the New York Times.

Shots Best Way to Give B12 After Bariatric Surgery

Vitamin B12 injections are the preferred treatment for patients who develop a deficiency following bariatric surgery, researchers found.

Hypothyroidism Hikes Death Risk in Blacks

African Americans with hypothyroidism face an increased risk of death, and in patients with congestive heart failure, even mild underactive thyroid disease raises mortality risk, a retrospective cohort study found.

Low Potassium Linked with Liver Disease

Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also had low potassium levels, researchers in China found.

High-Salt Diet May Boost Cortisol

Eating a diet high in sodium increased levels of cortisol and other metabolites, potentially giving rise to metabolic syndrome, researchers found.

Withdrawal Not a Problem with Phentermine

Patients taking phentermine long-term to treat obesity don't have to worry about withdrawal when they come off it, researchers found.

Protein Rich Diet May Boost IVF Success

Results from a small study suggest that women whose diets consist of at least 25% protein may have more successful outcomes when undergoing assisted reproduction.

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