Endocrinology News and Research Articles

Dentists can aid in identifying individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes

07/27/2011 - Enlisting dentists in the fight against type 2 diabetes could lead to earlier diagnosis of many individuals who are unaware that they have the metabolic condition, according to a new study out of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

Researchers find no benefit to aggressive blood sugar lowering

07/25/2011 - Excessively high blood sugar is one of the main reasons for complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but aggressively lowering these levels may not be necessary. A new study from a team of German researchers shows that bringing glucose levels to near normal levels has few health benefits.

Doctors may one day use toenail clippings to diagnose osteoporosis

07/22/2011 - Dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans are currently the gold standard for osteoporosis detection, but new bone health exams are developed each year, like a toenail clipping-based test being created by an Irish medical technology firm.

Researchers say seizures related to osteoporosis medication are rare, caused by mitigating factors

07/21/2011 - The potential side effects of zoledronic acid, a prescription medication used to treat or prevent osteoporosis, include seizures, but research has found that these are exceedingly rare and usually the result of unanticipated drug interactions, hypoglycemia or a history of epilepsy.

Researchers find way to create stem cells for type 1 diabetes treatment

07/21/2011 - Fully developed adult cells may retain a "memory" of their past as pluripotent stem cells, which could potentially enable them to be re-engineered to serve multiple purposes, including treatments for type 1 diabetes, according to a new study out of Tel Aviv University.

Likelihood of wrist fractures varies by age, season, presence of osteoporosis

07/20/2011 - Individuals who suffer a wrist fracture may have a higher risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis, and recent research has suggested that the risk of such an injury may hinge on a person's age and the time of the year.

Patient centered medical homes reduce costs and improve outcomes for type 2 diabetics, study finds

07/20/2011 - Anyone who suffers from type 2 diabetes knows that it can be an extremely expensive condition to live with. The frequent testing and constant need to take medications drive up costs significantly. Additionally, the complications that often occur add fuel to an already incendiary situation.

Rifle shooting ace qualifies for Olympics after recovering from thyroid cancer

07/19/2011 -

Researchers identify process that prevents type 1 diabetes from progressing

07/19/2011 - Promoting levels of a certain protein may prevent the immune system of a person with type 1 diabetes from attacking the pancreas, which could prevent the disease from progressing in individuals newly diagnosed, according to a new study from a team of University of British Columbia researchers.

Age, tumor size affect metastasis, prognosis for patients with follicular thyroid cancer

07/18/2011 - Though it is not the most virulent form of thyroid carcinoma, follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) is more likely than the papillary variety to spread to distant sites in the body, which is one reason why Japanese researchers recently analyzed the factors affecting the metastasis of FTC.

Researchers uncover why TZDs cause weight gain in type 2 diabetics

07/18/2011 - The class of type 2 diabetes medications known as thiazolidinediones, or TZDs, is very effective at lowering blood sugar levels in most people.

People get tested for osteoporosis when institutes have dedicated bone health clinicians

07/15/2011 - Getting tested for osteoporosis is not always as simple as going to a doctor and asking for a bone mass density scan, which is one reason why researchers from Toronto analyzed the effects that stem from a fracture clinic's having a dedicated bone health technician.

Daily high-dose aspirin therapy may support heart health in type 2 diabetics

07/15/2011 - Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among individuals with type 2 diabetes, but a simple over-the-counter medication may significantly reduce an individual's risk of experiencing a heart attack.

Common amino acid may help prevent type 2 diabetes

07/14/2011 - Adding more leucine, a common amino acid, to the diets of individuals at risk for developing type 2 diabetes may help them avoid the condition completely, according to a new study from researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center.

Researchers find way to prevent excess fat storage, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes in mice

07/13/2011 - Excessive fat buildup is one of the leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes, but a team of researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases may have found a way to get the body to burn excess calories rather than store them as fat.

Phthalates, BPA may alter the body's thyroid hormone levels

07/12/2011 - Researchers have announced that exposure to phthalates or bisphenol A (BPA), which are common industrial chemicals, may alter thyroid hormone levels and potentially aggravate or even lead to thyroid disease.

Key to inflammation-related diseases like type 2 diabetes may lie in fat tissue

07/12/2011 - Obesity, and more specifically excess body fat, is a well known risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Bone protein analysis may augment osteoporosis testing technology

07/11/2011 - Healthcare professionals looking for the signs of osteoporosis typically test bone for its density and calcium content, but new innovations in the field of proteomics may lead to an expansion of such testing to incorporate bone protein exams.

Poor diet before pregnancy could lead to metabolic problems including type 2 diabetes for offspring

07/11/2011 - It is well established that eating an unhealthy diet during pregnancy may impact the health of a woman's unborn child, but a new study suggests that this effect may extend to before conception.

Zinc found to be critical for preserving insulin production

07/07/2011 - Zinc may play a crucial role in preventing molecular reactions that lead to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells and the development of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from a team of University of Michigan researchers.

Reoperation for persistent papillary thyroid cancer is relatively effective

07/07/2011 - Though it is a fairly non-aggressive form of the disease, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) occasionally reappears in the lymph nodes of the neck following a thyroidectomy, which is why a team of Korean researchers recently assessed the viability of reoperating for persistent PTC.

Osteoporosis experiment will go up in final space shuttle mission

07/06/2011 - As part of an experiment related to progressive bone loss and osteoporosis, 30 mice are slated to be aboard the final space shuttle mission scheduled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Antioxidant may protect type 1 diabetics from health complications

07/06/2011 - An antioxidant commonly found in strawberries may hold the key to preventing health complications related to type 1 diabetes, according to a new study out of the Salk Institute.

Existing medication may reverse symptoms of type 1 diabetes

07/06/2011 - A medication that has long been used as a vaccination against tuberculosis and a treatment for bladder cancer may alleviate symptoms of type 1 diabetes, according to results from a clinical trial, which were presented recently at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

Parathyroid tissue glows brighter than thyroid cancer under near-infrared light

07/05/2011 - Surgeons often complain about how difficult it is to leave the parathyroid glands intact while removing thyroid cancer or lymph nodes from the neck, but a recent study suggested a novel way to spot them.