Endocrinology

A recent study looked at the effect from injections of recombinant human growth hormone (HGH) and testosterone to the painful and dysfunctional areas in patients with chronic lower back pain.

New research may help explain the connection between exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, gastric bypass surgery, and oxalate nephropathy in humans.

The benefits of weight loss for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery have been well established, but now researchers are focusing their attention on the procedure's benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A recent study assessed patients with diabetes for the effects of perceived racial discrimination encountered during care, focusing on treatment outcomes such as glycemic control, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol levels.

A research review concludes that older men who receive testosterone replacement via injection may enjoy greater benefits and face fewer risks than those who use transdermal or oral testosterone formulations.

The practice of individualized medicine took another step forward recently when researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that a patient's genetic variations can determine how they respond to anti-diabetic drugs.

Researchers from the University of California-Santa Barbara recently announced they have created an implantable "artificial pancreas" that could potentially eliminate the need for insulin injections and pumps for treating type 1 diabetes.

As more research is done the more it appears brown fat will play a key role in the future treatment of diabetes.

A number of widely reported studies have concluded that the rapid growth in testosterone therapy prescriptions has led to overuse, but an analysis published in Urology indicates that underuse may also be a problem.

Data from two observational registries indicated that long-term testosterone replacement therapy in diabetic men was associated not only with better sexual function and weight loss, but also significant reductions in blood sugar.

This study evaluated the association between alcohol consumption and all-cause mortality, as well as the relevance of age-specific limits for alcohol consumption. Alcohol use, particularly consumption of excessive amounts, is negatively associated with many acute and chronic diseases. The direct and indirect economic burden due to alcohol use is substantial.

Guidelines for the use of testosterone replacement therapy call for initial and ongoing tests of patient testosterone levels, but new research found a significant problem with such recommendations.

Treatment for hemophilia A and B patients with inhibitors to factor VIII or factor IX has been submitted as an Investigational New Drug to the FDA.

This study was a meta-analysis that examined the association between sedentary behavior and hospitalizations, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer in adults.

Pain is widely considered the "fifth vital sign" – and for good reason. By some estimates, pain accounts for as much as 4 out of every 5 doctor visits in the US. Thus, learning more about the correlates and determinants of pain is particularly important.

Patients with diabetes face a variety of health challenges as a result of their condition, including diabetic blindness. A team of researchers at the University of Virginia is working with stem cells to try and prevent loss of vision in these patients due to diabetic retinopathy.

A small study of children with cystic fibrosis found ghrelin and leptin levels correlate with nutritional status and can be an early marker of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

While everyone has the fibroblast 23 hormone there has been some research into whether it can be linked to diseases and other conditions that can make some people sick.

While its base is the same as currently used tests for thyroid cancer a new approach is looking to redefine the specificity and exclusivity to help patients get a better idea of their condition.

New research finds that low testosterone levels are strongly associated with low bone density (BMD) - even in relatively young men.

Patients being tested for thyroid cancer want to know they are receiving the most accurate information possible following the test. A new method could help provide both answers for patients and direction for doctors about the best course of action.

A new analysis has found that low levels of vitamin D are independently associated with low levels of testosterone in healthy middle-aged men.

Diabetes can be a difficult condition for patients to manage no matter how old they are, but it can be especially difficult during adolescence. A recent study looked at whether taking care of a water-loving friend could actually help young patients with diabetes take better care of themselves.

Treatment for patients who are obese or overweight have seen significant improvements in treatment options over the past decade, but there is still much ore work to be done.

Non-viral gene therapy can temporarily reduce painful diabetic neuropathy, according to research from Northwestern Medicine.

Results from a Japanese study show that testosterone replacement therapy may improve nocturia, sleep conditions, and quality of life among men with hypogonadism and nocturia.

In a global community it can be just as important for doctors to remember where their patients come from as where they are now. Understanding different cultures can help provide care to all segments of the population.

A considerable amount of progress has been made in treating diabetes this year both for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The approval of new medications and potential devices in the future have made for a bright outlook for patients.

Hormone therapy has proven a very effective option for many women during menopause but there has also been some evidence that it can increase the likelihood of bleeding disorders. A recent study looked at the link between the two.

A low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test is more sensitive in patients with cases of mild hypoadrenalism, and the high-dose test often misses secondary hypoadrenalism due to pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction. Endocrinologists still debate test result interpretation for the low-dose test, however.