The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 90, No. 1 16a
Copyright © 2005 by The Endocrine Society
Endocrinology & Metabolism News, January 2005
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Endocrine Discovery
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Short sleep duration in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, increased ghrelin levels, and greater hunger and appetite.
(Ann Intern Med (Dec. 7) 2004;141:846)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Among more than 250,000 patients on lipid-lowering drugs, approximately one case of rhabdomyolysis occurred per 23,000 individuals on statin monotherapy, one case per 500 older diabetic patients treated with both a statin and fibrate, and one case per 12 persons treated with cerivastatin plus a fibrate.
(JAMA (Dec. 1) 2004;292:2585–2590)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Elderly individuals with high thyrotropin levels of do not experience adverse effects and may have a prolonged life span.
(JAMA (Dec. 1) 2004;292:2591)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
In persons exposed to 131-I from the Hanford Nuclear Site, there were no higher prevalences of thyroid neoplasia, auto-immune thyroiditis, or hypothyroidism.
(JAMA (Dec. 1) 2004;292:2600)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
In women less than 36 years old, transferring one fresh embryo and then, if needed, one frozen-and-thawed embryo dramatically reduced the rate of multiple births compared to the rate that is seen with a double-embryo transfer.
(NEJM (Dec. 2) 2004;351:2392)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Among 68,781 glucocorticoid users, there were 17 new cardiovascular events per 1000 person-years, representing a 6.9-fold higher risk than 82,202 nonusers.
(Ann Intern Med (Nov. 16) 2004;141:764[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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Endocrine Practice
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A program permitting Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes to have a free eye examination was launched by CMS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Optometric Association. Patients 65 years or older with no eye exam within three years can be seen by a volunteer ophthalmologist (for information, call 800-222-3937).
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Endocrine Policy
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In passing the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, Congress made androstenedione and certain other testosterone precursors controlled substances regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency.
(http://www.theorator.com/bills108/s2195.html)
The U.S. Surgeon General warned that one in two Americans over age 50 years old will be at fracture risk from osteoporosis by 2020. The report seeks to educate the public about ways that bone health can be improved, and encourages collaborative action by doctors, health systems, and policy makers to address the problem.
(http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/content.html)
AACE, Endocrine Society, and ATA issued a joint position statement on thyroxine product interchangeability, advising physicians and patients to employ a single named thyroxine formulation and reassess TSH six weeks after any change in product.
(http://www.endo-society.org/news/thyroxine-position-statement.cfm)
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Endocrine Education & Training
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The electronic residency application system (ERAS) will be used to select endocrine fellows applying for training in July, 2007. APDEM approved implementation of the internet-based system, which has been long-employed by internal medicine residency programs and, more recently, by other subspecialties.
The Residency Review Committee for Internal Medicine posted new subspecialty program requirements for endocrine fellowship training programs, effective July 1, 2005. Highlights include: 1. elimination of the requirement that an institution sponsor at least three fellowship programs; 2. a "suggested" requirement that the institution support 25–50% of the program director’s salary; 3. clarification of required research activities by faculty and fellows; and 4. a requirement that program "must have at least 30% of training in endocrine subspecialty related ambulatory care settings."
(http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/downloads/RRC_progReq/143pr79.99.pdf)
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Endocrine Research Funding
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NIDDK and NHLBI announced new fellowship awards for human embryonic stem cell research to support junior and mid-career investigators in characterizing molecular events in differentiation of specific cell types and tissues, establishing model systems for study of specific diseases, and exploring the cells’ therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine.
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-05-013.html)
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Endocrinologists
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Pierre Chambon, Ronald Evans, and Elwood Jensen received the Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research for their discovery of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and elucidation of a unifying mechanism regulating embryonic development and diverse metabolic pathways.
Sylvia Christakos become president of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Eli Adashi will become Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences at Brown University this month.
Stephen Davis from Vanderbilt, John Leahy from the University of Vermont, and Susan Mandel from the University of Pennsylvania have been elected to two-year terms as APDEM Councilors.
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Milestones in Endocrinology
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150 years ago, Claude Bernard characterized the release of glucose into blood as a "sécretion interne," distinguishing it from hepatic excretion of bile as a "sécretion externe" and introducing the term that he and others would later apply to the process of hormonal secretion by the ductless glands.
20 years ago, Michael S. Brown and Joseph Goldstein were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for elucidating the process of cholesterol metabolism in man.
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In the Journal 25 Years Ago
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Effectiveness of Long-Term Human Growth Hormone Therapy for Short Stature in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency. Soyka LF, Bode HH, Crawford JD, Flynn Jr. FJ.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1970:30;1[Medline]
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"Our cumulative experience indicates that substantial gains in childhood stature and probably ultimate adult height were achieved through long-term HGH therapy."
Potency of United States Pharmacopeia Desiccated Thyroid Tablets As Determined By The Anti-Goitrogenic Assay In Rats. Mangeri CN, Lund MH.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1970:30;102[Medline]
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"In the case of the tablet which was twice the labeled potency, or the case of the tablet which contained almost no detectable metabolic activity, a life-threatening, iatrogenic state could be created, particularly in elderly patients who are either grossly over-dosed . . . or left without treatment."
Release of TSH By Oral Administration of Synthetic Peptide Derivatives with TRF Activity. Vale W, Burgus R, Dunn TF, Guillemin R.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1970:30;148–150[Medline]
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"Acute stimulation of the release of TSH follows administration ...of the synthetic peptide derivatives; increasing the dose of peptide... .increases the [TSH] response as judged by 
thyroidal 125-I release."
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