The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 92, No. 9 17a
Copyright © 2007 by The Endocrine Society
Endocrinology & Metabolism News, September 2007
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Endocrine Discovery
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Individuals’ dietary glycemic index was related to risk of age-related macular degeneration in a cross-sectional analysis at baseline of 4099 male and female study participants aged 55–80.
(Am J Clin Nutr [July 2007] 86:180)
A systematic literature review of published data regarding oral medications for type 2 diabetes concluded that older agents (i.e., second-generation sulfonylureas and metformin) have similar or superior effects on glycemic control, lipoprotein levels, and other intermediate end points than newer and more expensive therapeutic agents (i.e., thiazolidinediones, 
-glucosidase inhibitors, and meglitinides).
(Ann Intern Med [ePub ahead of print July 16, 2007])
In a prospective study of 3121 cardiac patients, the adjusted risks of cardiovascular death were greater with both subclinical hypothyroidism (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4–4.2) and subclinical thyrotoxicosis (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1–4.9; P = .02); risks for overall death were also higher for subclinical hypothyroidism (HRs, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.3–3.0), but not for subclinical thyrotoxicosis.
(Arch Intern Med [July 23, 2007] 167:1526)[CrossRef]
Mortality rates have decreased among men with diabetes, but not women, in recent decades, based on analysis of three consecutive, nationally representative cohorts.
(Ann Intern Med [August 7, 2007] 147:149)
Social networks were found to have a greater impact on a person’s risk of being obese than genetic factors in a densely interconnected network of 12,067 people repeatedly assessed from 1971 to 2003 as part of the Framingham Heart Study.
(N Engl J Med [July 26, 2007] 357 (4):370)
Urinary albumin excretion was associated with nonvertebral fractures in women without diabetes, but not in men, in a prospective study of 4497 subjects (2267 men and 2230 women) 55 to 74 years old followed a mean of 8.4 years.
(Arch Intern Med [July 9, 2007] 167:1379)[CrossRef]
In a prospective study of 100 consecutive newly diagnosed diabetic patients, screening for occult Cushing’s syndrome yielded 5 patients with biochemical evidence of Cushing’s syndrome and one with a surgically proven pituitary tumor, suggesting that screening for Cushing’s syndrome may be cost effective in this higher risk population.
(Clin Endocrinol [August 2007] 67:225)[CrossRef]
Two years of testosterone therapy did not improve carbohydrate tolerance or alter insulin secretion, insulin action, glucose effectiveness, or the pattern of postprandial glucose metabolism in a cohort of 55 elderly hypogonadal men.
(Diabetes Care [August 2007] 30:1972)[CrossRef]
Triglyceride levels in the nonfasting, but not the fasting state were associated with incident cardiovascular events, independent of traditional cardiac risk factors in a prospective study of 26,509 initially healthy US women.
(JAMA [July 18, 2007] 298:309)
Lesser insulin receptor substrate–2 (Irs2) signaling in the whole body extended the life span of mice by as much as 18%. Although brain-specific Irs2 knockout mice were overweight, hyperinsulinemic, and glucose intolerant, they were also more active and had greater glucose oxidation with no increase in hypothalamic superoxide dismutase–2 concentrations–suggesting attenuation of meal-induced oxidative stress.
(Science [July 20, 2007] 317:369)[CrossRef]
Functional MRI measurements in two individuals with congenital leptin deficiency demonstrated that leptin decreased perception of food reward and augmented satiety signals during food consumption med in a study during which the subjects were shown pictures of food before and after leptin replacement and their patterns of mesolimbic neural activation were assessed.
(Science [Published online ahead of print August 9])
A genome-wide association study in a large pediatric cohort found strong linkage disequilibrium with type 1 diabetes for three common non-coding variants of the gene KIAA0350, the product of which is predicted to be a sugar-binding, C-type lectin.
(Nature [August 2, 2007] 448:591)[CrossRef]
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Endocrine Practice
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Bone densitometry followed by bisphosphonate therapy for men with proven osteoporosis may be cost-effective in men aged 65 years or older with self-reported previous clinical fracture and those 80–85 years old with no prior fracture.
(JAMA [August 8, 2007] 298:597)[CrossRef]
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Endocrine Policy
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The House of Representatives passed a bill (HR 3043) requiring free public online access to NIH-funded research findings within 12 months of their publication in a peer-reviewed journal, a change from the current policy of simply requesting that researchers voluntarily submit their manuscripts. The bill would need passage by the Senate and signature by President Bush.
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Endocrinologists
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Paul Walfish received the Canadian Medical Association 2007 Medal of Service award for his pioneering contributions to neonatal screening for thyroid dysfunction. The Medal of Service is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of health care in Canada.
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Milestones in Endocrinology
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150 years ago, Wilhelm Petters (Berlin) demonstrated that acetone was in the urine of patients with diabetes.
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In the Journal 25 Years Ago
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Hypocitraturia in Calcium Nephrolithiasis. Rudman D, Kutner MH, Redd II, SC, Waters IV WC, Gerron GG, Bleier J.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1982;55:1052–1057.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
"These data suggest that in adult men, hypocitraturia may be a common predisposing factor for calcific nephrolithiasis."
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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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