Endocrinology News and Research

Latest Endocrinology News and Research

Men with erectile dysfunction, low testosterone at higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease

Research presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology shows for the first time that men with erectile dysfunction and low testosterone have a higher than normal risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Further work from the same research group shows that obesity is also associated with an impairment of blood flow to the penis, which in turn is also associated with cardiovascular disease in men with erectile dysfunction.

27 Apr 2010

Researchers suggest association between mood and chocolate

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that women and men eat more chocolate as depressive symptoms increase, suggesting an association between mood and chocolate.

27 Apr 2010

High incidence of MDS among seniors, elderly at increased risk of premature death: Study

Myelodysplastic syndromes - a group of serious blood cancers - are nearly five times more common in seniors than previously thought, according to a new study by researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center.

27 Apr 2010

Phytonutrient intake may help decrease risk for certain chronic diseases: Study

Topping that bowl of cereal with raspberries instead of strawberries, or saut-ing kale instead of spinach for dinner can boost phytonutrient intake, which may help decrease risk for certain chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.

27 Apr 2010

Regular exercise speeds learning, improves blood flow to the brain: Study

Regular exercise speeds learning and improves blood flow to the brain, according to a new study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that is the first to examine these relationships in a non-human primate model. The findings are available in the journal Neuroscience.

27 Apr 2010

Nearly 50% of adult U.S. population at risk from heart disease

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released an alarming new report on Monday. According to the CDC report almost 50% of the adult population of the United States have chronic conditions which could lead to heart disease. The pre-existing diagnosed conditions included high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

27 Apr 2010

A first step in the long road to health reform

Australia provides good health care to the majority of its citizens most of the time and compares well with like countries. The capacity for illness to destroy families financially, seen in the US and in many less economically advanced countries where governments make small or no contributions to the cost of health care, is much diminished by Medicare, public hospitals and subsidised pharmaceuticals.

27 Apr 2010

Dozens of states pass, debate greater restrictions on abortion

Dozens of states are passing or debating new restrictions on abortion, a trend fueled in part by passage of the nation's new health care law. Both sides of the hot-button issue are seeing new approaches to reduce abortions. … So far, 2010 has been 'very successful,' said Mary Spaulding Balch of the National Right to Life Committee.

26 Apr 2010

Exercise helps retain greater bone density: Researchers

The stage for osteoporosis is set well before menopause-but exercise can help rewrite the script, according to Medical College of Georgia researchers.

26 Apr 2010

Caltech biologists offer new insight into causes of IBD and colon cancer

We are not alone-even in our own bodies. The human gut is home to 100 trillion bacteria, which, for millions of years, have co-evolved along with our digestive and immune systems. Most people view bacteria as harmful pathogens that cause infections and disease. Other, more agreeable, microbes (known as symbionts) have taken a different evolutionary path, and have established beneficial relationships with their hosts.

26 Apr 2010

Bayer Diabetes Care launches DIDGET blood glucose monitoring system in the US

Bayer Diabetes Care today announced the introduction of the DIDGET™ blood glucose monitoring system in the United States. The DIDGET meter is unique because it is the only blood glucose meter that connects directly to Nintendo DS™ and DS Lite gaming systems to help kids manage a lifelong disease by rewarding them for building consistent testing habits and meeting personalized blood glucose target ranges. Bayer's DIDGET meter is now available for purchase in the U.S. through CVS.com, Drugstore.com and Walgreens.com.

26 Apr 2010

Grape-enriched diet prevents risk factors for metabolic syndrome: Researchers

Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System are teasing out clues to the effect of grapes in reducing risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The effect is thought to be due to phytochemicals -- naturally occurring antioxidants - that grapes contain.

26 Apr 2010

Santaris Pharma advances into drug development SPC5001 research candidate against PCSK9

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of RNA-targeted therapies, today announced that it has advanced into drug development a discovery research candidate directed against PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), an important new target for the treatment of high cholesterol. Using its proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Drug Platform and Drug Discovery Engine, Santaris Pharma A/S identified and advanced the new drug, SPC5001, in just 18 months.

26 Apr 2010

Delaying puberty can give transgenders time to decide about gender identity

Complications from transgender procedures may be significantly minimized when treatment of a patient with severe gender identity disorder begins prior to puberty, according to expert opinion today at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 19th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress.

26 Apr 2010

Electronic primary care records can help identify untreated patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Using routine data from electronic patient records to select individuals at high risk of developing heart disease, rather than screening all adults aged between 40 and 74 years of age, is just as effective at saving lives but will be cheaper to run, according to research published on bmj.com today.

26 Apr 2010

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

Chokeberry bushes have for centuries been residents of eastern deciduous forests where their bright red and dark purple fruits continue to be favorite snacks of local bird species. Native Americans have also traditionally eaten dried chokeberries and prepared teas from parts of the plant, and several domesticated varieties now grace contemporary lawns and gardens from coast to coast.

26 Apr 2010

Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute presents new findings on heart transplantation rejection factors

Physician scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute are presenting new findings on heart transplantation rejection factors such as race and gender, the effects of pre-transplant smoking and whether homeless organ donors put recipients at higher risk for complications. The presentations will take place April 21 - 24 in Chicago during the 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

26 Apr 2010

Successful full face transplant in a 22 hour long operation: Barcelona

In a recent development a team of 30 Spanish surgeons have succeeded in a World’s first full face transplant. The patient had accidentally injured a large part of his face with a shotgun five years ago. This had left him disfigured an unable to breathe, swallow or talk properly. He has undergone nine unsuccessful operations before this operation was planned. In this operation he received the whole of his facial skin, muscles, nose, lips, teeth and cheek bones from a donor in a 22 hour operation at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital on 20th March. He is on his way to recovery now. This is not the first face transplant but the first full face transplant and also the most complex of its kind.

26 Apr 2010

High nitrate concentrations in drinking water are a potential hazard to human health

A new study exploring the growing worldwide problem of nitrogen pollution from soils to the sea shows that global ratios of nitrogen and carbon in the environment are inexorably linked, a finding that may lead to new strategies to help mitigate regional problems ranging from contaminated waterways to human health.

26 Apr 2010

Serum cortisol levels linked with increased mortality in patients with ACS: Research

Growing evidence suggests that serum cortisol levels are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, research presented at this week's European Congress of Endocrinology shows.

26 Apr 2010