Endocrinology News and Research

Latest Endocrinology News and Research

Joslin Diabetes Center completes a major overhaul of its website

Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's preeminent diabetes research and clinical care organization, has completed a major overhaul of its website, to provide more easily accessible information and interactions for patients, researchers, healthcare professionals and the public.

16 Nov 2009

Phase I clinical study for ETC-1002 commenced

Esperion Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company working to discover, develop and commercialize treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, today announced that the company has initiated a Phase I clinical study for ETC-1002, the company's novel small molecule compound designed to beneficially regulate the levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

16 Nov 2009

Study confirms that people with severe mental disorders more at risk of dying from heart disease

A large new study confirms that people with severe mental disorders — such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders — are 25 percent to 40 percent more prone to die from heart disease than people without mental illness are.

13 Nov 2009

Decreased heart functions associated with fat collection in different body locations: Study

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that fat collection in different body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver, are associated with certain decreased heart functions. The study, which appears on-line in Obesity, also found that measuring a person's body mass index (BMI) does not reliably predict the amount of undesired fat in and around these vital organs.

13 Nov 2009

Canadians to celebrate World Diabetes Day in recognition of people who live with diabetes

In recognition of the ongoing commitment by millions of Canadians who build awareness of, and live with diabetes, World Diabetes Day will be celebrated on November 14. An official United Nation's World Health Day, World Diabetes Day marks the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Dr. Charles Best, co-discovered insulin in 1921.

13 Nov 2009

Diabetic retinopathy on the rise; dilated eye exam can help prevent vision loss

The incidence of diabetes continues to increase, particularly among adolescents and young adults. The CDC projects the number of diabetic retinopathy cases will double by 2050. On World Diabetes Day, November 14, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy), through its EyeSmart™ campaign, is reminding the public that an annual dilated eye exam can help prevent vision loss in people with diabetes.

13 Nov 2009

Easy and affordable genetic test from Pathway Genomics

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company, today announced an exclusive agreement to partner with OptumHealthSM Allies and offer the organization’s 15 million members a 20% discount on Pathway’s Health and Ancestry genetic test.

13 Nov 2009

Regence BlueCross recognized as Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company

Regence BlueCross BlueShield has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company by the American Heart Association's Start! movement for helping employees eat better and move more.

13 Nov 2009

"Make Our Food Safe" coalition urges Senate to enact stronger food safety laws

Over the next several weeks, the U. S. Senate has an historic opportunity to take a major step toward improving food safety for all Americans. That is why a coalition of public health professionals, consumer organizations and groups representing victims of foodborne illness is sending the message that it is time to "Make Our Food Safe for the Holidays!"

13 Nov 2009

Low-level physical activity has beneficial effects on materno-foetal health: Study

Contrary to more conservative customs, exercising up to the end of pregnancy has no harmful effect on the weight or size of the foetus. This is what has been indicated in a study carried out by researchers of the Universidad Polit-cnica de Madrid (Polytechnic University of Madrid), which also shows the positive relationship between the weight of sedentary mothers before pregnancy and the body size of their babies. The conclusions appear in the International Journal of Obesity.

13 Nov 2009

New knowledge of basic science may be applied in future medical treatments

How does the developing pancreas in an embryo 'know' which cells are to produce insulin and which cells are to have other assignments? Researchers need to understand this if they want to be able to treat type-1 diabetes with stem cells developed into insulin-producing beta cells. At Lund University scientists have uncovered pioneering new knowledge, and are publishing it in the journal Cell.

13 Nov 2009

Exercise during pregnancy does not harm the health of foetus

Contrary to more conservative customs, exercising up to the end of pregnancy has no harmful effect on the weight or size of the foetus. This is what has been indicated in a study carried out by researchers of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Polytechnic University of Madrid), which also shows the positive relationship between the weight of sedentary mothers before pregnancy and the body size of their babies.

13 Nov 2009

NQF releases the QDS framework for defining data necessary to measure performance in patient care

The National Quality Forum (NQF) announced today the release of the Quality Data Set (QDS), a common technological framework for defining clinical data necessary to measure performance and accelerate improvement in patients' quality of care. The QDS framework provides a standardized set of data that should be captured in patients' electronic health records and is applicable to all care settings a patient is likely to use in his or her lifetime.

13 Nov 2009

RemedyMD launches first nationwide diabetes registry

RemedyMD (www.RemedyMD.com), the leading provider of Patient registry software, today announced the first nationwide Type 2 Diabetes registry to help clinicians and researchers identify which interventions are most appropriate for specific patient populations.

13 Nov 2009

Health Canada approves ONGLYZA for type 2 diabetes treatment

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada and AstraZeneca Canada today announced that Health Canada has approved ONGLYZA(TM) (saxagliptin) which improves all three key measures of glycemic control - hemoglobin A1c (A1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post-prandial glucose (PPG) - when taken in combination with other commonly used oral anti-diabetic agents (metformin or a sulfonylurea).

13 Nov 2009

New and effective medicines underway for treating a wide range of diseases affecting women

Women's Health Weekly recently reported that America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on nearly 1,000 life-changing medicines for diseases affecting women, according to a new report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The medicines are awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or are in human clinical trials.

13 Nov 2009

CMS approves FDG PET for initial staging of cervical cancer

SNM applauds the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services- (CMS) decision to expand coverage of FDG PET for the initial staging of cervical cancer without previously imposed restrictions.

13 Nov 2009

Ipsen receives marketing authorization in France for its 6-month sustained-release formulation of Decapeptyl

Ipsen, an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical Group announces that the French regulatory authorities (Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé, AFSSAPS) have today granted the marketing authorization to the 6-month sustained-release formulation of Decapeptyl® (triptorelin embonate 22.5 mg) for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer.

13 Nov 2009

Positive results from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' LX1031 Phase 2 study for IBS

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the company's investigational new drug, LX1031, a tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitor, demonstrated positive results in clinically important parameters for the treatment of non-constipating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

13 Nov 2009

Report on the epidemiology of PAD, TAO and CLI in India

A new analysis published by THE SAGE GROUP concludes that atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) afflicts over 20 million in India. Both PAD and CLI represent major and significantly underestimated problems for the Indian economy and healthcare system.

13 Nov 2009