Endocrinology

According to a recent retrospective study, orlistat is not associated with hepatotoxic effects after one year of use and it contributes to weight loss in obese patients.

In patients previously treated with bisphosponate, denosumab was associated with greater improvements in bone mineral density than ibandronate and risedronate.

Phase III studies show LDMP to be safe and effective for treatment of vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women.

As irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains a complicated condition to treat with an etiology that's still unknown, it's difficult for physicians to find the best proven therapies among new remedies and the variety of pharmacological and nondrug options they have been trying for years.

Growing evidence suggests increased cardiovascular risk in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - in particular nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASN) - but no data exists to support a specific management approach.

Inpatient management of patients with increasingly virulent community acquired and nosocomial infections, ranging from bacteremia to C. difficile colitis, presents hospitalists with challenging choices.

Results from a small study indicate patients with difficult-to-treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) may benefit from therapy with tanezumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against nerve growth factor.

In diagnosing a patient with type 2 diabetes, an endocrinologist or primary care physician may struggle with developing healthy treatment targets when comorbid conditions like obesity and hypoglycemia are at play.

Researchers say that new insight into the microbiome will lead to new opportunities for treating a variety of medical conditions, both within and outside the gut.

Pharmacist and runner Jay Sochoka, BSPharm, RPh, reflects on his experiences competing in the Boston Marathon and shares his thoughts on the tragedy that occurred at this year's race.

Over 10 years, lifestyle intervention and metformin were cost-effective or cost saving compared with placebo.

Researchers in Taiwan report that type 2 diabetes is independently associated with increased risk of peptic ulcer bleeding.

Results from a new pilot study show early lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women cuts their risk of developing gestational diabetes, as well as maternal and fetal complications that can emerge with high blood sugar.

Landmark study results presented at ACC.13 reveal patients with vascular disease treated with niacin therapy face increased risk of myopathy and other adverse events.

Though the causes of acute pancreatitis are unknown in roughly a quarter of its worldwide patient population, a recent analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine has discovered a link between increased risk of the disease and medicines containing cortisone.

Many widely held beliefs about obesity and weight loss have no scientific basis.

The American Diabetes Association revised Standards of Medical Care for patients with diabetes include several changes in recommendations regarding testing and treatment goals.

Brief summaries of research results and other articles on the clinical characteristics, evaluation, and management of patients with hyponatremia.

The FDA has approved cabozantinib, a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of metastatic medullary thyroid cancer.

Although hormonal therapy has been long established in the treatment of breast cancer, novel combinations with targeted agents show promise for improved outcomes and are likely to become part of a new paradigm for managing patients.

Hospitalized patients with cirrhosis who also have hyponatremia often receive no treatment, or ineffective treatment, and are often discharged with their serum sodium too low.

Study results presented at The Liver Meeting (AASLD 2012 annual meeting) show that consuming small amounts of alcohol can have net positive cardiovascular health benefits for some patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Boceprevir and telaprevir offer improved clinical benefits to patients with hepatitis C, but a variety of racial, genetic, and other biological factors can influence treatment outcomes.

Study results presented at The Liver Meeting (2012 AASLD annual meeting) show that treatment with tenofovir disoproxil difumarate is safe and effective in this patient population.

Results from the RELAX-AHF show serelaxin reduces cardiovascular deaths and improves symptoms in patients with heart failure.

Results from a substudy of the PLATO trial show that patients with extensive CAD and high rates of recurrent cardiovascular events, death, and bleeding may benefit from treatment with ticagrelor.

Results from the UMPIRE study show that use of fixed-dose combination cardiovascular drugs improve medication adherence and improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels in patients.

Study results presented at AHA 2012 indicate that revascularization using CABG in diabetic patients with multivessel disease provides better clinical outcomes than PCI and is more cost effective in the long run.

Results from a sub-study of the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) that focused on quality of life issues in patients who had previously suffered a heart attack and were treated with chelation therapy reveal no improvements in these patients' quality of life.

Randomized controlled trials remain the gold standard, but a researcher at Kidney Week 2012 says that new approaches and study designs are needed that reflect real-world drug use and account for confounding variables.