Endocrinology News and Research

Latest Endocrinology News and Research

Human growth, height, size: Reasons to be small

Almost everybody these days thinks that it is best to be tall, meaning much taller than the average traditional height of Asian populations, and even taller than the current average height of populations in high-income countries. It is also often believed – though people might be shy to admit this – that tall people are intrinsically superior to short people. The expressions 'look up to' and 'look down on' are significant.

15 Mar 2011

Discovery of molecular switch for the secretion of insulin

Johns Hopkins researchers believe they have uncovered the molecular switch for the secretion of insulin — the hormone that regulates blood sugar — providing for the first time an explanation of this process. In a report published online March 1 in Cell Metabolism, the researchers say the work solves a longtime mystery and may lead to better treatments for type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease.

15 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 15, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the pace of legal challenges to the health law as well as ongoing congressional attempts to reach partisan agreement on a short-term budget bill to avert a government shutdown.

15 Mar 2011

DJO Global signs definitive agreement to purchase Rikco for $254.6 million

DJO Global, Inc., a leading provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced that one of its indirect subsidiaries has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Rikco International, LLC, D/B/A Dr. Comfort, for approximately $254.6 million in cash.

15 Mar 2011

Type 2 diabetes drug less likely to cause weight gain, raise cholesterol levels

An inexpensive type 2 diabetes drug that has been around for more than 15 years works just as well and has fewer side effects than a half-dozen other, mostly newer and more expensive classes of medication used to control the chronic disease, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

15 Mar 2011

Animal study suggests antioxidants during pregnancy may prevent obesity in offspring

New biological research may be relevant to the effects of a mother's high-fat diet during pregnancy on the development of obesity in her children.

15 Mar 2011

National clinical DPTT to help improve diabetes control

The Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine is leading a multicenter national clinical trial to evaluate whether treatment of chronic periodontitis will help improve diabetes control. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the Diabetes and Periodontal Therapy Trial monitors blood sugar levels of those with Type 2 diabetes after periodontal therapy.

15 Mar 2011

WHO reports on risk from radiation exposure, Humanitarian Assistance arrives in Japan following earthquake

The WHO on Saturday said the public health risk of a radiation leak resulting from earthquake damage at a nuclear reactor site in Japan "appeared to be 'quite low' but the WHO network of medical experts was ready to assist if requested," Reuters reports.

15 Mar 2011

Global chronic disease burdens are increasing rapidly: Research

Those working for healthier humans around the globe are making headway in fighting communicable diseases such as AIDS, malaria and diarrheal illness, according to research from the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures in the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

15 Mar 2011

Bariatric surgery can lead to long-term weight loss, reduce cardiac risk factors in obese adults

Bariatric surgery can result in long-term weight loss and significant reductions in cardiac and other risk factors for some severely obese adults, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

15 Mar 2011

USPTO grants second patent to Angiochem's EPiC drugs

Angiochem, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, today announced that its second patent has been granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. Patent number 7,902,156, is entitled "Aprotinin Polypeptides for Transporting a Compound Across the Blood-Brain Barrier".

15 Mar 2011

How male puberty begins

Scientists from Monash University have uncovered a new understanding of how male puberty begins.

14 Mar 2011

Biodel selects BIOD-105, BIOD-107 recombinant human insulin formulations for clinical testing, development

Biodel Inc. announced today that it has selected two new formulations of recombinant human insulin for clinical testing and is accelerating clinical development plans of these mealtime insulin drug candidates. The new formulations, BIOD-105 and BIOD-107, are designed to result in more rapid insulin action compared to currently marketed meal time insulin analogs while maintaining an injection site tolerability profile comparable to currently marketed insulins.

14 Mar 2011

Life Technologies receives FDA 510(k) clearance for StemPro MSC SFM device

Life Technologies Corporation today announced it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for StemPro MSC SFM – a first for this next-generation stem cell culture medium that is now cleared as a medical device and satisfies a crucial requirement for researchers involved in clinical trials in the United States.

14 Mar 2011

OICR welcomes Government of Canada's announcement of support for cancer control

Dr. Tom Hudson, President and Scientific Director of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research today welcomed the Government of Canada's announcement of support for cancer control with a renewal of the mandate of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for five years and $250 million in funding.

14 Mar 2011

New study identifies 15 genetic regions underlying primary biliary cirrhosis

Researchers have provided new clues into the genetics underlying a chronic form of liver disease, called primary biliary cirrhosis, which can lead to transplant surgery for patients.

14 Mar 2011

$HIV infection and increased fracture risk: Study$

HIV infection and increased fracture risk: Study

According to a latest study, adults between ages 25 and 54 infected with HIV, are at increased risk for bone fractures compared to the general population. Until now it was known that low bone mineral density was common in people with HIV, but no concrete proof existed.

14 Mar 2011

Coffee reduces stroke risk: Study

A new study involving nearly 35,000 women published Thursday in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that drinking coffee may lower the risk of stroke.

12 Mar 2011

Otelixizumab Phase 3 DEFEND-1 study in new-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes does not meet primary endpoint

Tolerx, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced that the Phase 3 DEFEND-1 study of otelixizumab, an investigational humanized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, did not meet the primary efficacy endpoint of change in C-peptide at month 12 in patients with new-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes.

11 Mar 2011

ChromaDex pTeroPure Pterostilbene receives 2010 Most Promising Ingredient of the Year award

ChromaDex Corporation, announced today that the Company has been awarded the 2010 North American Health Ingredients Most Promising Ingredient of the Year award by the independent research company, Frost & Sullivan, for its proprietary branded ingredient pTeroPure™ Pterostilbene.

11 Mar 2011