The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 92, No. 3 17a
Copyright © 2007 by The Endocrine Society
Endocrinology & Metabolism News, March 2007
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Endocrine Discovery
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The DPP-IV inhibitor vildagliptin lowered HbA1C as effectively as rosiglitazone (–1.1% vs. –1.3%, respectively), but without weight gain in a 24-week double-blind randomized controlled trial of the agents as alternative monotherapies.
(Diabetes Care (Feb. 2007) 30(2):217)
Among 1,024 adults treated with duloxetine for diabetic neuropathy pain, modest increases in fasting glucose were observed in short- and longer-term studies, as were minimally higher A1C levels (+0.5), but this effect did not diminish the improvement in neuropathic pain in pooled data from three similar clinical trials
(Diabetes Care (Jan. 2007) 30(1):21)
When 626 infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome were treated with clomiphene, metformin, or a combination of the two for up to 6 months, live-birth rates were substantially higher in the clomiphene (23%) and combination therapy (27%) groups than with metformin alone (7%), although there were more multiple births after clomiphene.
(N Engl J Med (Feb. 8, 2007) 356(6):551)
In a systematic review of antihypertensive agent clinical trials including 143,153 individuals, the risks of subsequently developing diabetes were lower with angiotensin blockers (OR 0.6, P < 0.0001) and ACE inhibitors (0.7, P < 0.0001) than when calcium channel blockers, beta-adrenergic blockers, or diuretics were employed. (
Lancet (Jan. 20, 2007) 369(9557):201)
In Drosophila, fasting larvae release large quantities of lipid from the oenocyte, which accumulates lipid during starvation, suggesting that some lipid storage functions in the mammalian liver may have originated in insects.
(Nature (Jan. 18, 2007) 445:275)[CrossRef][Medline]
In rats, a selective increase in brain glucose lowered serum triglycerides by inhibiting hepatic TG-VLDL secretion, a central effect that was rapidly lost in diet-induced obesity, suggesting that defective brain glucose sensing could contribute to development of certain features in the metabolic syndrome model.
(Nat Med (Feb. 2007) 13:171)
Exposing bovine endothelial cells to aldosterone impaired endothelial function by decreasing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which normally modulates vascular function by reducing oxidant stress. The finding may explain why hyperaldosteronism has been known to impair vascular reactivity. (
Nat Med (Feb. 2007) 13:189)
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Endocrine Education & Training
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The AAMC predicted that U.S. medical school enrollment could increase to 20,000, a 17% increase, depending on state and other funding resources. For more information see: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2007/070212.htm
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Endocrinologists
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Louis Sherwood, former Albert Einstein Chair of Medicine and then a senior executive at U.S. Human Health Division of Merck, died at age 69 at his home in Delray Beach, Florida.
Andy Arnold received the Louis V. Avioli Founders Award of the Association for Bone and Mineral Metabolism Research for major scientific contributions in the molecular pathogenesis of primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid cancer.
Hong-Wen Deng has received the Fuller Albright Award of the Association for Bone and Mineral Metabolism Research for his work related to genes that determine bone mass and tendency to fracture.
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Milestones in Endocrinology
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75 years ago, Harvey Cushing linked the syndrome of pituitary basophilism, which he had described in 1912, to hyperactivity of the pituitary-adrenal axis.
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In the Journal 25 Years Ago
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Endoscopic Findings in Sleep Apnea Associated with Acromegaly. Cadieux RJ, Kales Anthony, Santen RJ, Bixler EO, Gordon R. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982; 55:18–22. "... Clinicians should elicit a history for the possible presence of symptoms and signs of acromegaly when a patient is diagnosed as suffering from sleep apnea. Conversely, the clinician should be directed toward a thorough evaluation for the possible presence of sleep apnea in acromegaly patients... "
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In the Journal 50 Years Ago
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Hormonal treatment of thyroid cancer. Thomas, CG, Jr. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1957: 17:232–237. "These observations would seem to have the following significance... . suppression of thyrotropin hormone in such an instance would be of value in 1) inhibiting any tendency of remaining normal thyroid tissue to undergo malignant change because of absence of promoting factor, and 2) inhibiting subsequent growth of any residual neoplasm for the same reason."
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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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