The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 90, No. 5 16a
Copyright © 2005 by The Endocrine Society
Endocrinology & Metabolism News, May 2005
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Endocrine Discovery
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A U-shaped relationship was found between drinking and risk of diabetes, with a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption. In a meta-analysis of 15 prospective studies, there was a 30% lesser risk for those consuming less than 48 g of alcohol per day, but no risk reduction in those drinking more.
(Diabetes Care (Mar. 2005) 28:719)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Waist size, particularly when 40 inches or more, was as strong a predictor of type 2 diabetes as BMI in a study of 51,529 men.
(Am J Clin Nutr (Mar. 2005) 81:555)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Meta-analyses examining pharmacologic and surgical treatments of obesity found that drugs (including sibutramine, orlistat, phentermine, bupropion, topiramate) can produce modest weight loss when prescribed with diet, while surgery is more effective in patients with a BMI 40 or more.
(Ann Intern Med (Apr. 5, 2005) 142:532 and 142:547)[Abstract/Free Full Text]
Angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) secreted from the liver antagonizes obesity and insulin resistance. AGF-deficient mice exhibited reduced energy expenditure and developed obesity and insulin resistance; whereas mice with AGF activation had increased energy expenditure and were leaner with increased insulin sensitivity.
(Nat Med (Apr. 2005) 11:400; Published online Mar. 20, 2005)[CrossRef][Medline]
A novel regulatory scaffold molecule, Gab2, controls certain RANK signaling pathways in osteoclasts and is essential for osteoclastogenesis and bone homeostasis. Inactivation of the murine Gab2 gene caused osteopetrosis and decreased bone resorption.
(Nat Med (Apr. 2005) 11:394; Published online March 6, 2005)[CrossRef][Medline]
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Endocrine Practice
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The injectable diabetes drug pramlintide acetate (Symlin®, Amylin) was approved by FDA for use with insulin in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The drug will carry a boxed warning regarding risk of severe hypoglycemia.
The long-acting bisphosphonate ibandronate (Boniva®, Roche), which can be given as a single monthly dose, was approved by FDA for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Nearly 60% of adults with employer-based medical coverage would prefer reducing out-of-pocket medical costs to seeing the physician of their choice. (See: http://hschange.org/CONTENT/735/)
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Endocrine Education & Training
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Match 2005: The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) reported a 97% fill rate for Internal Medicine programs, with 23% of US medical graduates choosing the specialty. Since 2001, the number of U.S. medical graduates applying has remained stable, while the number of non-U.S. foreign medical graduate applicants has fallen. (For more information, see: http://www.im.org/AAIM/PublicPolicy/Docs/2005MatchData.htm)
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Endocrine Policy
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Department of Commerce is seeking comment on "export control" regulations that could have significant effects on biomedical and biological research and training. Proposed revisions would require universities to restrict access to controlled technologies, including some types of genetically engineered microorganisms and commonplace equipment. (For more information, contact Susan Ehringhaus, AAMC Division of Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, 202.828.0543, sehringhaus{at}aamc.org, or Stephen Heinig, AAMC Division of Biomedical and Health Sciences Research 202.828.0488; sheinig{at}aamc.org)
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Endocrinologists
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Georgeanna Seegar Jones, former professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Johns Hopkins and East Virginia University and pioneer in the field of in vitro fertilization, died at the age of 92. With her surviving husband, Howard Jones, she established the program that produced the first in vitro baby in the United States. Dr. Jones also became the first gynecological endocrinologist on a U.S. medical school faculty when she assumed leadership of the Gynecologic Endocrine Unit at Hopkins in 1939.
Judith Vaitukaitis will step down as director of the NIH’s National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) to become senior advisor to the NIH director on scientific infrastructure and resources. Barbara Alving, deputy director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, will serve as acting director of NCRR.
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Milestones in Endocrinology
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Franke and Fuchs (Berlin) described the hypoglycemic effect of sulphonylureas after Joachim Fuchs, then a young assistant studying the antibiotic effects of sulfonamides, experienced typical hypoglycemic symptoms that were relieved by eating lunch, and reported these to his professor, Hans Franke.
(Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1955;80:1452)[Medline]
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In the Journal 25 Years Ago
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Evolution of toxicity in autonomous thyroid nodules. Hamburger JH. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1980;50:1089. "It can be estimated now that about 1 patient in 5 with a nontoxic autonomously functioning nodule 3 cm or larger will develop hyperthyroidism within 1–6 years."
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In the Journal 50 Years Ago
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Extractable glucagon of the human pancreas. Kenny AJ. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1955;15:1089. "The lack of positive findings [i.e., higher levels in diabetics] does not rule out the possibility that glucagon may play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, but at present this will remain a matter of speculation until elucidation as possible further direct experimentation."
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Footnotes
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Readers are encouraged to suggest items for Endocrinology and Metabolism News by email (sherman{at}endo-society.org). Submissions will be considered based on their significance and timeliness.
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