The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 92, No. 2 17a
Copyright © 2007 by The Endocrine Society
Endocrinology & Metabolism News, February 2007
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Endocrine Discovery
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Multibotanical therapy for vasomotor menopausal symptoms with either black cohosh or dietary soy, or black cohosh alone, was no more effective than placebo over 12 months in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial.
(Ann Intern Med (Dec. 19, 2006) 145(12):869)
Among 3209 participants followed for first major cardiovascular events or death over a median 7 years, 10 biomarkers (including C-reactive protein, B-type natriuretic peptide, N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, aldosterone, renin, fibrinogen, D-dimer, plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1, homocysteine, and the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio) minimally improved risk classification beyond that predicted by conventional risk factors
(N Engl J Med (Dec. 21, 2006) 355(25):2631)
Among 1099 postmenopausal women randomized after five years of alendronate therapy to either continued alendronate or switched to placebo for another five years, those who discontinued alendronate had greater risk of clinical vertebral fractures, but not non-vertebral fractures. Placebo-treated women had minor, but significant, decrements in bone density, although their levels remained greater than before treatment levels 10 years earlier.
(JAMA (Dec. 27, 2006) 296(24):2927)
Users of proton pump inhibitors had greater risk of hip fracture (odds ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.3–1.6) than non-users in a case-control study. Hip fracture risk was particularly high in long-term high-dose PPI users.
(JAMA (Dec. 27, 2006) 296(24):2947)
An inverse relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of developing multiple sclerosis was observed in prospectively collected serum samples in a case-control study. The relationship was especially strong for Caucasians less than 20 years with low vitamin D levels.
(JAMA (Dec 20, 2006) 296(23):2832)
Daily use of an infrared skin thermometer to detect potential foot infections was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of foot ulcers compared to usual care or care with regular self-examination in a prospective randomized controlled trial of patients with a previous history of diabetic foot ulceration.
(Diabetes Care (Jan. 2007) 30(1):14)
Among patients treated for Parkinson’s disease with relatively high-dose pergolide and cabergoline, occurrence of cardiac-valve regurgitation was significantly more common (incidence-rate ratios, 7.1 and 4.9, respectively), although the doses of these agents employed exceeded those prescribed for the vast majority of patients treated for hyperprolactinemia.
(N Engl J Med (Jan. 4, 2007) 356(1):29)
Use of an Internet-based blood sugar monitoring system in 80 type 2 diabetes patients over 30 months resulted in lower hemoglobin A1C levels and lesser A1C fluctuation than did making regular visits to a doctor’s office in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
(Diabetes Care (Dec. 2006) 29(12):2625)
Among 300 individuals with hyperphagia and early-onset obesity, 8 (3%) were found to have mutations of the leptin receptor (7 homozygous and 1 compound heterozygous) without disproportionately elevated serum leptin levels that indicated their presence.
(N Engl J Med (Jan. 18, 2007) 356(3):237)
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Endocrine Practice
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FDA has proposed new labeling to assist consumers in selecting foods, beverages, and dietary supplements that provide adequate calcium and vitamin D intake for prevention of osteoporosis by amending a 1993 regulation. (For more information, see http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01543.html).
Dirlotapide (Slentrol®) was approved by FDA as the first drug for management of canine obesity. The agent blocks lipoprotein assembly and release into the bloodstream and may produce weight loss by reducing fat absorption and/or generating a satiety signal from lipid-filled intestine cells. (For more information, see http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/2006-141-260-fois001.pdf and www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E6-22542.htm).
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Endocrinologists
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George Eisenbarth, director of the University of Colorado’s Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, has become the second recipient of the Pasteur-Weizmann/Servier International Prize in Biomedical Research for his pioneering work in type 1 diabetes.
Eric Orwoll has become director of the Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute and Associate Vice President for Research at Oregon Health & Science University.
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Milestones in Endocrinology
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75 years ago, Anderson and Collip reported that the anterior pituitary contained a thyrotrophic hormone.
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In the Journal 25 Years Ago
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The importance of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (Somatomedin) Measurements in the Diagnosis and Surveillance of Acromegaly. Rieu M, Girard F, Bricaire H, Binoux M. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982;55:147–153. "Of the 15 subjects with high IGF levels, 12 exhibited two or more of the criteria for clinical activity, and only four had GH levels above 10 ng/ml at 0 and/or 60 minutes of the OGTT. These results suggest that IGF levels more faithfully reflect the activity of the disease than do GH levels."
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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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