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  • Endocrine Society applauds Ohio governor veto of state ban on gender-affirming care for minors

    Endocrine Society applauds Ohio governor veto of state ban on gender-affirming care for minors

    Newswise — WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society, the world’s oldest and largest professional medical society devoted to the study and treatment of hormone-related conditions, applauds Governor Mike Dewine’s veto of a proposed Ohio law that would have banned gender-affirming care for minors. The bill he vetoed contradicts mainstream medical practice and scientific evidence and would have taken medical decision-making out of the hands of families and their physicians and instead relied upon government officials. 

    More than 2,000 scientific studies have examined aspects of gender-affirming care since 1975, including more than 260 studies cited in the Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline.

    Major medical and scientific organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics are in alignment with the Endocrine Society on the importance of gender-affirming care.

    In June, the Endocrine Society worked with other medical societies in American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates to pass a resolution with overwhelming support to protect access to evidence-based gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. In the resolution, the AMA committed to opposing any criminal and legal penalties against patients seeking gender-affirming care, family members or guardians who support them in seeking medical care, and health care facilities and clinicians who provide gender-affirming care.

    Pediatric gender-affirming care is designed to take a conservative approach. When young children experience feelings that their gender identity does not match the sex recorded at birth, the first course of action is to support the child in exploring their gender identity and to provide mental health support, as needed.

    Medical intervention is reserved for older adolescents and adults, with treatment plans tailored to the individual and designed to maximize the time teenagers and their families have to make decisions about their transitions.

    As Governor DeWine noted, only a small number of Ohio’s children would be impacted by the proposed legislation, but it would have profound and even life-threatening consequences for those affected by gender dysphoria. Around 300,000 teenagers ages 13-17 in the United States, or 1.4% of the population, identify as transgender, according to the Williams Institute. An estimated 4,780 adolescents with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria started puberty-delaying medication between 2017 and 2021, according to an analysis performed by Komodo Health Inc for Reuters.

    Gender-affirming care can be life saving for a population with high suicide rates. For example, a 2020 study analyzed survey data from 89 transgender adults who had access to puberty-delaying medication while adolescents and data from more than 3,400 transgender adults who did not. The study found that those who received puberty-delaying hormone treatment had lower likelihood of lifetime suicidal ideation than those who wanted puberty-delaying treatment but did not receive it, even after adjusting for demographic variables and level of family support. Approximately nine in ten transgender adults who wanted puberty-delaying treatment, but did not receive it, reported lifetime suicidal ideation.

    Medical decisions should be made by patients, their relatives and health care providers, not politicians.

    For more information, please see the Endocrine Society’s Transgender Health fact sheet or our Transgender Health Minors fact sheet.

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    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Primary care intervention reduces hypoglycemia risk from type 2 diabetes overtreatment in older adults

    Primary care intervention reduces hypoglycemia risk from type 2 diabetes overtreatment in older adults

    Newswise — WASHINGTON—A newly published quality improvement study shows how a simple intervention by health care providers reduced the number of older adult patients with type 2 diabetes at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by almost 50% and led to de-escalation of diabetes medications that cause hypoglycemia in 20% of patients.

    Twenty percent of Americans aged 65 and older have diabetes. This age group is particularly at risk for hypoglycemia because older people are often overtreated with insulin and other diabetes medications that can cause hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia episodes in older adults can lead to adverse events such as falls, seizures, coma, and even death.

    Severe hypoglycemia from insulin and certain oral type 2 diabetes medications is the second most common adverse drug event resulting in emergency room visits and hospitalizations in older people with diabetes.

    “This study demonstrates that a low-cost clinical decision support tool, without the additional use of continuous glucose monitoring technology, can decrease the number of patients at high risk for hypoglycemia and reduce overtreatment with insulin and diabetes medications that cause hypoglycemia,” said study author Jeffrey B. Boord M.D., M.P.H., of Parkview Health System in Fort Wayne, Ind. Boord is the Chair of the Endocrine Society’s Hypoglycemia Prevention Initiative Steering Committee. “The patients in our study also reported significant reductions in the negative impact of hypoglycemia on their daily lives.”

    The study included 94 patients at risk of treatment-related hypoglycemia at Pottstown Medical Specialists in Pottstown, Pa. Physicians were trained on how to use a clinical decision support (CDS) tool to facilitate shared decision making with patients and improve health outcomes.

    During three clinic visits over 6 months, the clinicians used the tool to assess hypoglycemic risk, set individualized HbA1c (blood sugar level) goals, and reduce or discontinue the use of diabetes medications that can cause hypoglycemia.

    The use of the clinical decision support tool and shared decision making reduced the at-risk population by 46% and led to the discontinuation of hypoglycemic medications in 20% of participants. Patients also completed a validated patient-reported outcome tool (TRIM-HYPO) to evaluate the impact of non-severe hypoglycemic events on their daily lives. The patients reported improvements in their daily functioning, emotional well-being, diabetes management, sleep disruption and work productivity related to reduction in non-severe hypoglycemic events.

    “Because this intervention was so successful, we hope that our clinical decision support tool could be adopted for use in other primary care settings to lower the risk of hypoglycemia and improve the overall well-being of older adults with diabetes,” Boord said.

    The HypoPrevent study was part of a larger, multi-year joint effort by the Endocrine Society and Avalere Health, known as the Hypoglycemia Prevention Initiative, to determine best practices in primary care to reduce the impact of hypoglycemia on older (65+) people with type 2 diabetes who use medications that cause hypoglycemia and have a recent A1c <7%, both of which put them at increased risk of hypoglycemia.

    In conjunction with HypoPrevent, the Society formed a technical expert panel to develop quality measures—tools that help us measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions and organizational structure—to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia in the outpatient setting. These performance measures are designed to help providers identify opportunities to improve patient care.

    For details about the initiative including an implementation guide for how to use the clinical decision tool and resources on the key role of the diabetes educator, visit: endocrine.org/hypoglycemia-prevention-initiative.

    The other authors of this study are Deborah A. Koehn of VCU Stony Point Women’s Health in Richmond, Va.; Kathleen Marie Dungan of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; Amisha Wallia of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Ill.; Deborah Otcasek Lucas of Avalere Health and BridgingCare LLC in Washington, D.C.; Robert W. Lash and Mila N. Becker of the Endocrine Society in Washington, D.C.; and Lawrence D. Dardick of David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif.

    The study was funded by Abbott Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.

    The study, “Reducing Hypoglycemia From Overtreatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Older Adults: The HypoPrevent Study,” was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

    Endocrine Society

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  • 3D Stress Patterns in Capillaries Are Caused by Red Blood Cell Squeezing

    3D Stress Patterns in Capillaries Are Caused by Red Blood Cell Squeezing

    BYLINE: Mario Boone

    Newswise — Rockville, Md. (September 15, 2023)—New and unique shear stress patterns can occur in angiogenic capillary (new blood vessel growth) networks, according to a new study in the journal Function. There was also enhancement of low shear stress regions by red blood cells. Shear stress is the frictional force of the blood on the vessel wall. Researchers from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of Florida found this is due to red blood cells getting squeezed and deformed in these hair-sized blood vessels.   

    The growth and adaptation of new blood vessels in the body is key to many physiological processes in health and disease. This is true from embryonic development and natural changes during the aging process to diabetes, heart disease and tumor growth in cancer.

    High-resolution computer simulations allowed researchers to demonstrate multiple types of 3D shear stress spatial variations which derive from distinct blood vessel surface shapes and structures. The research team was able to identify the existence of shear stress hot and cold spots caused by red blood cells interacting with these unique surface shapes. The researchers identified shear stress spatial patterns, which vary over time and help explain how fluctuations follow timescales of red blood cell “footprints.” 

    “Altogether, this study provides a conceptual framework for understanding how shear stress might regulate the formation of new blood vessels in a living organism,” said Peter Balogh, corresponding author of the study. 

    These findings inspire new research directions with a high potential to improve human health, including helping to predict tumor growth patterns and guiding new treatments. This allows for early detection of problems during embryonic development or developing new ways to improve blood flow in heart disease.

    Read the full article, “Angiogenic microvascular wall shear stress patterns revealed through three-dimensional red blood cell resolved modeling,” published ahead of print in Function. Contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314 to schedule an interview with a member of the research team.

    American Physiological Society (APS)

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  • ASBMB calls for student loan relief

    ASBMB calls for student loan relief

    Newswise — On June 20, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology submitted public hearing testimony to the Department of Education expressing concerns about the growing burden of student loan debt. The society called for expanding debt-relief programs across all educational levels and allowing postdoctoral researchers to defer loan payments until after completion of their training.

    “We are in the midst of a student debt crisis, and it’s hurting the research enterprise and more importantly, the next generation of scientists,” Sarina Neote, ASBMB public affairs director, said. “The average student debt balance has more than doubled in the past two decades, and this increase is coming at the expense of inclusivity. Student debt disproportionately affects underrepresented groups like Black, Latinx and American Indian students; the scientific workforce and enterprise will narrow and suffer if relief doesn’t come soon.”

    Historically marginalized groups such as Black students take on more debt than white students and are more likely to default on their loans.

    Recent Ph.D. graduates and postdocs already struggle to cover basic living costs. The student debt burden causes them to delay important milestones, such as purchasing property, which stifles the national economy, the ASBMB noted.

    To alleviate these financial burdens and allow the scientific workforce to grow, the ASBMB called for the Education Department to expand public and private service programs similar to the successful National Institutes of Health loan-repayment program. This program aims to counteract “financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified education debt in return for commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.”

    Neote said: “Education attainment and fulfillment should not come with such an unattainably high price tag.”

    About the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB): The ASBMB is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with more than 12,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1906 to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology, the society publishes three peer-reviewed journals, advocates for funding of basic research and education, supports science education at all levels, and promotes the diversity of individuals entering the scientific workforce. For more information about the ASBMB, visit www.asbmb.org.

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  • MIND Diet Linked with Better Focus in School-Aged Children

    MIND Diet Linked with Better Focus in School-Aged Children

    Newswise — A diet originally designed to help ward off cognitive decline in adults might also help improve attention in pre-adolescents, according to a new study. The findings could help inform future dietary interventions aimed at improving cognition in children.

    The new study examined two diets: the Healthy Eating Index – 2015 (HEI-2015), which is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, which combines the Mediterranean diet with the heart-healthy Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet to create a dietary pattern that focuses on brain health.

    “We assessed how adherence to these diets was associated with children’s attentional inhibition — the ability to resist distracting stimuli — and found that only the MIND diet was positively linked with children’s performance on a task assessing attentional inhibition,” said Shelby Keye, PhD, who performed the work as a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and will be an assistant professor there this fall. “This suggests that the MIND diet could have the potential to improve children’s cognitive development, which is important for success in school.”

    Keye will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22-25 in Boston.

    Much like the DASH and Mediterranean diets on which it is based, the MIND diet emphasizes fresh fruit, vegetables, and legumes like beans, lentils, and peas. However, it also includes recommendations for specific foods, such as leafy greens and berries, which promote brain health. Although the MIND diet has been shown to have positive effects in adults, very few studies have been performed in children.

    The new research used data collected in a previous cross-sectional study led by Naiman Khan, PhD, a professor of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The study’s 85 participants ranged in age from 7 to 11 years old and completed a seven-day diet record from which the researchers calculated HEI-2015 and MIND diet scores. To assess attentional inhibition, participants also completed a task that requires spatial attention and executive control with their reaction time and accuracy recorded. Children with neurological disorders such as ADHD or autism were excluded from the study to reduce confounding factors.

    The researchers found that MIND diet scores but not HEI-2015 scores were positively related to study participants’ accuracy on the task, meaning that study participants who better adhered to the MIND diet performed better on the task. The researchers caution that although the study shows an association, an intervention study would be necessary to make any causal inferences.

    Next, the researchers would like to study the relationship between the MIND diet and attention in younger children, including preschool age and toddlers, to determine if there are any differences based on age and whether a developmental effect is involved.

    Keye will present this research at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, July 23, during the Dietary Patterns Poster Session in the Hynes Convention Center Hall C (abstract; presentation details).

    Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2023 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

    Images available.

     

    About NUTRITION 2023

    NUTRITION 2023 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2023 will be held July 22-25, 2023 in Boston. https://nutrition.org/N23 #Nutrition2023

     

    About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

    ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals.

     

    Find more news briefs and tipsheets at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2023.

     

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  • These Foods Can Help You Live Longer and Protect the Planet

    These Foods Can Help You Live Longer and Protect the Planet

    Newswise — Eating more planet-friendly foods could help you live a longer, healthier life, according to new research. Researchers found that people who followed a more environmentally sustainable diet were 25% less likely to die during a follow-up period of over 30 years compared to those with a less sustainable diet. 

    The study builds upon prior research that identified foods that are a win-win for both health and the environment—such as whole grains, fruit, non-starchy vegetables, nuts, and unsaturated oils—as well as foods that could be harmful to the environment and human health, like eggs and red and processed meats. The new findings suggest eating more planet-friendly foods can help reduce a person’s risk of death from causes such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.

    “We proposed a new diet score that incorporates the best current scientific evidence of food effects on both health and the environment,” said Linh Bui, MD, a PhD candidate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The results confirmed our hypothesis that a higher Planetary Health Diet score was associated with a lower risk of mortality.” 

    Bui will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22–25 in Boston. 

    According to existing evidence, plant-based foods are associated with both a lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, colorectal cancer, diabetes, and stroke, and reduced impacts to the environment in terms of factors like water use, land use, nutrient pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

    With the new study, the researchers aimed to create a simple tool that policymakers and public health practitioners could use to develop strategies to improve public health and address the climate crisis.

    “As a millennial, I have always been concerned about mitigating human impacts on the environment,” said Bui. “A sustainable dietary pattern should not only be healthy but also consistent within planetary boundaries for greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental parameters.”

    To create their Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI), researchers reviewed existing research on the relationships between various food groups and health outcomes based on the EAT-Lancet reference diet that accounts for the environmental impacts of food production practices. They then applied the index to analyze outcomes among over 100,000 participants in two large cohort studies conducted in the United States. The data set included over 47,000 deaths during a follow-up period spanning over three decades from 1986-2018. 

    Overall, they found that people in the highest quintile (the top one-fifth of participants) for PHDI had a 25% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those in the lowest quintile. Higher PHDI scores were associated with a 15% lower risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular diseases, a 20% lower risk of death from neurodegenerative disease, and a 50% lower risk of death from respiratory diseases. 

    Bui cautioned that the PHDI does not necessarily reflect all food items and their relationships with all major diseases in all countries. People with specific health conditions, religious restrictions, or different food accessibility due to socioeconomic status or food availability may face challenges with adhering to a more sustainable diet pattern. Further research could help to elucidate and address such barriers. 

    “We hope that researchers can adapt this index to specific food cultures and validate how it is associated with chronic diseases and environmental impacts such as carbon footprint, water footprint, and land use in other populations,” said Bui. 

    Bui will present this research at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday, July 23, during the Dietary Patterns Poster Session in the Hynes Convention Center Hall C (abstract; presentation details).

    NUTRITION 2023 will feature several studies using the Planetary Health Diet Index for which Bui is a co-author. Andrea Romanos-Nanclares, PhD, will present “Planetary Health Diet Index and Risk of Total and Subtypes of Breast Cancer in the Nurses’ Health Studies” at 11:45 a.m. EDT on Sunday, July 23, during the Nutritional Epidemiology (I) Poster Session (abstract; presentation details). Caleigh Sawicki, PhD, will present “Planetary Health Diet and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease: Findings From Two Cohorts of US Women” at 2 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 24, during the Dietary Patterns and Health Outcomes Oral Session (abstract; presentation details).  

    Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2023 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

     

    About NUTRITION 2023

    NUTRITION 2023 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2023 will be held July 22-25, 2023 in Boston. https://nutrition.org/N23 #Nutrition2023

     

    About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

    ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org

     

    Find more news briefs from NUTRITION 2023 at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2023.

     

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    American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

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  • Many Children in Rural Areas Receive High Salt and Sugar Foods Before Age 2

    Many Children in Rural Areas Receive High Salt and Sugar Foods Before Age 2

    Newswise — A study of over 10,000 children in rural Pennsylvania revealed that a large proportion of children were fed foods that are high in sugar and salt in their first years of life.

    Over half (53%) of the children in the study received high-sodium meats such as hot dogs, 37% received salty snacks such as potato chips, and one-third (34%) received cakes, cookies, or pudding before age 2. In addition, over one-quarter (27%) of babies received juice before their first birthday.

    “Given that these foods are not recommended for children, these numbers are concerning,” said Carolyn F. McCabe, PhD, staff scientist in the Department of Population Health Sciences and the Center for Obesity and Metabolic Research at Geisinger. “Early exposure to foods and beverages high in sugar, fat, and sodium can potentially have negative consequences for the healthy growth and development of infants and children.”

    McCabe will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22–25 in Boston.

    Current U.S. dietary guidelines recommend waiting until at least age 1 to introduce 100% fruit or vegetable juices, and that families avoid foods and beverages with added sugars and limit those high in sodium for children younger than 2. These recommendations are designed to lower the risk of overweight and obesity, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic health conditions.

    According to experts, exposing young children to overly sweet or salty foods can shape their taste preferences and lead to unhealthy eating habits in the long term.

    “Early life is such a critical period for establishing eating habits and food preferences, and these preferences and behaviors around food can persist as children grow,” said McCabe. She added that early exposure to these foods may mean some children are not getting enough of the healthy foods they need for proper nutrition. “Infants and toddlers have small stomachs, so it is important to make every bite count.”

    For the study, researchers analyzed questionnaires given at well-child visits for 10,614 children up to 26 months of age who visited Geisinger, a rural-serving health system in Pennsylvania between 2016-2020. In addition to early introduction of foods high in sugar, fat, and sodium, the study revealed that less than half (46%) of babies exclusively consumed human milk and/or formula for the first six months of life as dietary guidelines recommend. Twenty-nine percent of children received sweetened cereal and 1 in 10 received sugar-sweetened beverages before age 2.

    Children living in rural areas face many health and socioeconomic disparities. One in 5 rural children live in poverty and children in rural areas are 25% more likely to experience obesity compared with nonrural children. These disparities make it even more important to ensure rural families are aware of dietary guidelines for children and have the resources they need to follow them, McCabe said.

    McCabe will present this research at 9 a.m. on Sunday, July 23, during the Milk to Meals: Feeding from Birth to Childhood Oral Session in the Sheraton Boston, Constitution B (abstract; presentation details).

    Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2023 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

     

    About NUTRITION 2023

    NUTRITION 2023 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2023 will be held July 22-25, 2023 in Boston. https://nutrition.org/N23 #Nutrition2023

     

    About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

    ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org

     

    Find more news briefs from NUTRITION 2023 at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2023.

     

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    American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

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  • Researchers Identify Genes that Directly Influence What We Eat

    Researchers Identify Genes that Directly Influence What We Eat

    Newswise — In one of the first large-scale studies of genes related to diet, researchers have uncovered almost 500 genes that appear to directly influence the foods we eat. The findings represent an important step toward using a person’s genetics to develop precision nutrition strategies that help improve health or prevent disease.

    “Some genes we identified are related to sensory pathways — including those for taste, smell, and texture — and may also increase the reward response in the brain,” said research team leader Joanne Cole, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Because some of these genes may have clear paths toward influencing whether someone likes a food or not, they could potentially be used to create sensory genetic profiles for fine-tuning a person’s dietary recommendations based on foods they like to eat.”

    For the study, the researchers used the UK Biobank, which contains data from 500,000 people, to perform a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) that identified genes more strongly associated with diet than with any health or lifestyle factor. PheWAS studies are used to find associations between gene variants of interest and a spectrum of human traits and behaviors, including dietary intake.

    “The foods we choose to eat are largely influenced by environmental factors such as our culture, socioeconomic status, and food accessibility,” said Cole. “Because genetics plays a much smaller role in influencing dietary intake than all the environmental factors, we need to study hundreds of thousands of individuals to detect genetic influences amid the environmental factors. The data necessary to do this hasn’t been available until recently.”

    Cole will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22-25 in Boston.

    One challenge in identifying diet-related genes is that what people eat correlates with many other factors, including health factors such as high cholesterol or body weight and even socioeconomic status. In the new work, the researchers applied computational methods to tease out direct effects of genetic variants impacting diet and separate those from indirect effects such as ones where a gene impacts diabetes and having diabetes requires a person to eat less sugar.

    This study design was possible because the UK Biobank not only contains in-depth genetic information but also detailed health and socioeconomic data. This allowed the researchers to test individual genetic variants for associations with thousands of traits and then eliminate indirect gene variants that were more strongly associated with other factors, such as diabetes.

    The analysis revealed around 300 genes directly associated with eating specific foods and almost 200 genes linked to dietary patterns which group various foods together — for example, overall fish intake or fruit consumption.

    “The study showed that dietary patterns tend to have more indirect genetic effects, meaning they were correlated with a lot of other factors,” said Cole. “This shows how important it is to not study dietary patterns in a vacuum, because the eating pattern’s impact on human health may be completely mediated or confounded by other factors.”

    In the short term, Cole is studying the newly identified diet-related genes to better understand their function while also working to identify even more genes that directly influence food preferences. She would like to pursue several lines of translational research based on these findings. For example, she is interested in studying whether using a person’s genetics to adapt the flavor profile of a diet designed for weight loss could improve adherence.

    It might also be possible to use these new insights to tailor foods to a person’s genetic predisposition. “If we know that a gene encoding an olfactory receptor in the nose increases a person’s liking of fruit and boosts the reward response in the brain, then molecular studies of this receptor could be used to identify natural or synthetic compounds that bind to it,” Cole said. “Then, we could see if adding one of those compounds to healthy foods makes those foods more appealing to that person.”

    Cole will present this research at 2:55 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, during the Personalizing Nutrition – Genetics and Dietary Pattern Interactions Poster Theater Flash Session in the Sheraton Boston, Fairfax (abstract; presentation details).

    Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2023 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

     

    About NUTRITION 2023

    NUTRITION 2023 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2023 will be held July 22-25, 2023 in Boston. https://nutrition.org/N23 #Nutrition2023

     

    About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

    ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals.

     

    Find more news briefs and tipsheets at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2023.

     

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    American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

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  • Scientists Name Top Five Foods Rich in Prebiotics

    Scientists Name Top Five Foods Rich in Prebiotics

    Newswise — There is growing evidence that consuming prebiotics — certain types of fiber often found in plants that stimulate beneficial bacteria in your gut — can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. In a new study, scientists estimated the prebiotic content of thousands of food types by using preexisting literature to find out which foods offer the highest prebiotic content.

    According to the study, foods that pack the greatest prebiotic punch are dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, leeks, and onions. In addition to supporting gut microbes, prebiotic rich foods contain high amounts of fiber — something most Americans do not get enough of.

    “Eating prebiotic dense foods has been indicated by previous research to benefit health,” said Cassandra Boyd, a master’s student at San José State University who conducted the research with Assistant Professor John Gieng, PhD. “Eating in a way to promote microbiome wellness while eating more fiber may be more attainable and accessible than you think.”

    Boyd will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22–25 in Boston.

    Prebiotics, which can be thought of as food for the microbiome, are different from probiotics, which contain live microorganisms. Both can potentially benefit microbiome health, but they work in different ways.

    Studies have linked higher prebiotic intake with improved blood glucose regulation, better absorption of minerals like calcium, and markers of improved digestive and immune function. Although most dietary guidelines do not currently specify a recommended daily allowance for prebiotics, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics — a non-profit scientific organization that established the currently held definition of prebiotics — recommends an intake of 5 grams per day.

    For the study, researchers used previously published scientific findings to analyze the prebiotic content of 8,690 foods contained in the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies, a resource many scientists use to study nutrition and health.

    About 37% of the foods in the database were found to contain prebiotics. Dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, leeks, and onions had the greatest amounts, ranging from about 100-240 milligrams of prebiotics per gram of food (mg/g). Other prebiotic rich foods included onion rings, creamed onions, cowpeas, asparagus, and Kellogg’s All-Bran cereal, each containing around 50-60 mg/g.

    “The findings from our preliminary literature review suggest that onions and related foods contain multiple forms of prebiotics, leading to a larger total prebiotic content,” said Boyd. “Multiple forms of onions and related foods appear in a variety of dishes as both flavoring and main ingredients. These foods are commonly consumed by Americans and thus would be a feasible target for people to increase their prebiotic consumption.”

    Based on the team’s findings, Boyd said a person would need to consume approximately half of a small (4-ounce) onion to get 5 grams of prebiotics.

    Wheat-containing items rank lower on the list. Foods with little or no prebiotic content include dairy products, eggs, oils, and meats.

    The researchers hope the study will provide a basis to help other scientists assess the health impacts of prebiotics and inform future dietary guidelines. They noted that more research is needed to understand how cooking impacts prebiotic content and to better assess foods that contain multiple ingredients.

    Boyd will present this research at noon EDT on Saturday, July 22, during the Food Science and Nutrition Poster Session in the Hynes Convention Center Hall C (abstract; presentation details).

    Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2023 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.

     

    About NUTRITION 2023

    NUTRITION 2023 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2023 will be held July 22-25, 2023 in Boston. https://nutrition.org/N23 #Nutrition2023

     

    About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

    ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org

     

    Find more news briefs from NUTRITION 2023 at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2023.

     

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  • Lauren G. Gross Named Chief Program and Policy Officer of The American Association of Immunologists

    Lauren G. Gross Named Chief Program and Policy Officer of The American Association of Immunologists

    Newswise — ROCKVILLE, MD (July 17, 2023) — The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Lauren G. Gross, J.D., as its new chief program and policy officer. With her deep knowledge of AAI and extensive experience in science policy and federal advocacy, Gross is exceptionally well qualified to lead and strengthen AAI’s excellent programs, including its educational offerings, scientific journals, policy efforts, and legislative activities.

    In her new position, Gross will apply her extensive knowledge and nuanced understanding of AAI, its members, and the needs of the immunology community broadly across her areas of responsibility, helping to integrate AAI’s programmatic functions and enhance the association’s educational and career offerings. She also will serve as an integral member of the newly established staff senior leadership team, working with her peers to advise AAI’s CEO Dr. Loretta Doan and to guide and implement strategic priorities to be established by the AAI Council.

    Gross has served AAI as director of public policy and government affairs for nearly 23 years. In that role, she led AAI activities on Capitol Hill and worked with officials from four presidential administrations. Gross has worked closely with numerous AAI presidents and the AAI Council, and in 2022 was appointed by then-AAI President Gary Koretzky, M.D., Ph.D., to head the interim leadership team that managed the association as it searched, successfully, for a new CEO.

    Prior to joining AAI, Gross was the director of health and economic policy for the American Nurses Association, where she led initiatives related to health care reform, access to care, and Medicare reform. She previously served as counsel to the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee (now, the “Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee”) and legislative assistant to the late Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) for health and human services, civil rights, and judiciary. Gross is a former litigation attorney with the Boston law firm Nutter, McClennen & Fish.

    “I am beyond excited that Lauren has agreed to step into this role,” Doan said. “Her long history with the organization and deep understanding of members and their needs, coupled with her analytical yet empathetic approach to problem-solving, uniquely qualify her to help guide AAI through this pivotal moment. We will all benefit greatly from having Lauren’s insights as AAI moves with intention into its future. It will be essential to have the right staff leadership team in place so that we can bring to life the Council’s vision for the association; Lauren is an integral member of that team.”

    “I am thrilled to be able to serve AAI in a new way and to advise and support Dr. Doan in her efforts to address the needs and concerns of AAI members and the broader immunology community,” Gross said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the many wonderful AAI members I have come to know over the years and to working with the many more I have yet to meet.”

    Gross earned her J.D. from New York University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University. She is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     

    Public Affairs Staff Promoted

    AAI is also pleased to announce the appointment of Jacob (Jake) Schumacher as director, government affairs, and of Emily Kansler, Ph.D., as senior science policy analyst.

    Schumacher has served AAI in various public affairs roles since 2009, most recently as senior manager of science policy and legislative affairs. Having worked closely with many AAI leaders and members over the years, and with extensive experience working with federal agency officials and Capitol Hill staff, Schumacher is uniquely qualified to seamlessly assume the position of director, leading the organization’s robust public affairs program and bringing a fresh take on efforts to advance AAI policy and legislative initiatives in an increasingly complex and challenging political environment. Prior to joining AAI, he served on Capitol Hill as a legislative correspondent to then-Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). Schumacher is a graduate of the University of Oregon.

    Kansler joined AAI in 2021 as a science policy analyst, quickly establishing herself as an expert on federal scientific policies, particularly those issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that affect immunologists and the broader biomedical research community. She closely analyzes and recommends action regarding relevant science policy issues, including those related to data management and sharing, public access to scholarly publication, peer review, and the trainee and postdoc ecosystem, enabling the Committee on Public Affairs to provide feedback to NIH on these and other topics. Kansler received her Ph.D. from the Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the field of tumor immunology and her master’s degree of science in molecular microbiology and immunology, with a certificate in vaccine policy, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Kansler’s scientific expertise has been critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic as AAI addressed issues related to vaccines and therapeutics.

    “With AAI’s increased focus on elevating the understanding of immunology across lay audiences, Jake and Emily are exactly the right team to guide us into new, impactful, externally facing policy issues, while also preserving the important work this team has always done on behalf of AAI members, immunology, and the greater biomedical research enterprise,” Doan said. “I am excited to embark on this new era for AAI public affairs and to see where this stellar team takes us.”

     

    About The American Association of Immunologists

    Founded in 1913, The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) (www.aai.org) is an association of professionally trained scientists from all over the world dedicated to advancing the knowledge of immunology and its related disciplines. AAI members have been responsible for some of the most significant immunological discoveries of the past century, including the development of cancer immunotherapies, monoclonal antibodies, transplant technologies, and dozens of life-saving vaccines. The organization counts 27 Nobel Laureates among its members. AAI owns and publishes The Journal of Immunology, the oldest and most established journal in the field, as well as ImmunoHorizons, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the science of immunology.

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  • OSU’s Loren Wold Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal

    OSU’s Loren Wold Appointed Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal

    Newswise — Rockville, MD—The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) today announced the appointment of Loren E. Wold, PhD, FAHA, FAPS, as the new editor-in-chief of the flagship The FASEB Journal. Wold’s term will begin August 1, 2023.

    Wold holds joint appointments at the Ohio State University as associate dean for research operations and compliance in the College of Medicine, professor in the Division of Cardiac Surgery of the Department of Surgery, and as The John G. and Jeanne Bonnet McCoy Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine.  His laboratory is currently focused on environmental triggers of cardiac disease, with an emphasis on air pollution exposure and electronic cigarette exposure. The Wold lab is funded by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the American Heart Association. 

    “FASEB is delighted to welcome Loren E. Wold as the editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal,” says Mary-Ann Bjornsti, PhD, Professor and former Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and FASEB President. “Dr. Wold’s extensive research, leadership, and editorial experience across a breadth of basic and clinical research position him well for taking the journal to the next level. Under his leadership, the journal will continue to focus on advancing four of the key values scholarly societies provide in the communication of biological and biomedical science: diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion; expanding open science; ensuring research integrity; and increasing our reach and impact around the globe.”

    Wold has a long history of service to scholarly societies in the biological and biomedical sciences space. He is an elected fellow of both the American Physiological Society and the American Heart Association, and an active member in the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, International Society for Heart Research, American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Endocrine Society, Society of Toxicology, the American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association. He is frequently featured in interviews with major media across a range of specialty topics, including COVID-19, secondhand smoke, vaping, and home air quality.

    “It is an honor and privilege to be named editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal, and I look forward to continuing to raise the impact of the journal by publishing only the most rigorously reviewed papers in all aspects of biology and medicine. My goal is to have all authors consider the journal for submission of their best work, and I am committed to work tirelessly to ensure that all manuscripts are reviewed with the utmost integrity by a panel of diverse and inclusive peer reviewers,” says Wold.

    Wold served as an editorial board member, associate editor, and most recently as editor-in-chief of two prominent life science journals, both flourishing in submissions and impact under his leadership. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University, a Master of Science and PhD in Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Before launching his independent research career, he completed fellowships and postdoctoral training with Robert A. Kloner at the Good Samaritan Hospital of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and Amy J. Davidoff at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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    About FASEB

    FASEB is comprised of 26 scientific member societies with 110,000 members, making it the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States. FASEB’s mission is to advance health and well-being by promoting research and education in biological and biomedical sciences through collaborative advocacy and service to member societies and their members.

    Find FASEB Online

    Website: www.faseb.org
    Twitter: @FASEBorg
    LinkedIn: FASEB
    Instagram: @FASEBofficial

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  • Prompt testosterone treatment improves mental health of transgender, gender-diverse people

    Prompt testosterone treatment improves mental health of transgender, gender-diverse people

    Newswise — Receiving rapid access to testosterone therapy reduced feelings of gender dysphoria and led to a clinically significant reduction in depression as well as a 50% reduction in suicidality among transgender and gender diverse adults, according to research being presented Sunday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.

    “This is the world-first randomized clinical trial supporting the significant benefits of testosterone in reducing gender dysphoria, depression and suicidality in trans individuals desiring commencement of testosterone,” said Brendan Nolan, M.B.B.S., F.R.A.C.P., a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Melbourne (Austin Health) in Melbourne, Australia. 

    Gender dysphoria occurs when a person feels distressed that their gender identity does not align with the sex assigned at birth. When an individual’s gender identity is not respected and the individual cannot access medical care, it can result in higher psychological problem scores and can raise the person’s risk of committing suicide or other acts of self-harm.

    Nolan and colleagues sought to understand the impact of testosterone therapy compared with no treatment on gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidality in trans adults seeking masculinization.

    The three-month open-label randomized controlled trial included 64 transgender adults who were able to start testosterone therapy immediately (intervention group) compared with those who were on a standard waiting list of three months prior to beginning testosterone. The purpose of this segmentation was to ensure no person would have to prolong waiting to begin treatment beyond standard care practices.

    People who were able to begin treatment immediately showed decreased gender dysphoria and a clinically significant decrease in depression and suicidal ideation compared with study participants on the wait list.

    Suicidal ideation resolved in 11 (52%) people with immediate testosterone therapy, compared with 1 (5%) given standard care, according to results from the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

    “Our findings illustrate the significant mental health benefits of early access to testosterone treatment and should provide an impetus for clinicians to ensure timely access to gender-affirming hormone therapy,” Nolan said. 

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Single hospital study finds transgender teenagers rarely choose to discontinue hormone therapy

    Single hospital study finds transgender teenagers rarely choose to discontinue hormone therapy

    Newswise — A three-year-long retrospective cohort study of a single Atlanta hospital’s patient population found transgender and gender-diverse teenagers rarely chose to discontinue gender-affirming hormone therapy, according to a study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    Among 82 transgender and gender-diverse adolescents treated at an academic pediatric endocrinology center from beginning of 2016 to end of 2018, only three chose to halt gender-affirming hormone therapy. None of them resumed identifying as their assigned sex at birth. One participant stopped hormonal therapy due to insurance issues, one participant stopped treatment temporarily to conceive a baby, and one stopped testosterone to transition to a nonbinary gender.

    “In the infrequent cases in which a person discontinues their gender-affirming hormone therapy, it is often due to external factors as opposed to true retransitioning to the sex assigned at birth,” said lead researcher Pranav Gupta, M.D., a fellow at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. “This research may help address questions by the families as to what factors could lead to discontinuation of gender-affirming hormones in the future till more robust data is available.”

    Feminizing or masculinizing hormone therapy can help transgender and gender-diverse adolescents to affirm their gender identity and avoid the distress of experiencing puberty in a way that does not match their gender identity. While gender-affirming hormone therapy has been associated with improved quality of life and well-being, the incidence of discontinuation of the therapy and the reasons for discontinuation are not well known, Gupta said.

    The researchers reviewed 263 adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria (strong, persistent feelings of identification with another gender and discomfort with one’s own assigned gender and sex) who were seen at the pediatric endocrinology clinic between 2016 and 2019. Out of these teens, only 82 (31.2%) were prescribed hormones (estradiol or testosterone). The group prescribed hormone therapy included 36 (43.9%) transgender girls, 45 (54.9%) transgender boys, and 1 (1.2%) nonbinary adolescent.

    In addition to retrospective review, those who were lost to follow up or referred to adult endocrinologists were contacted. Out of 21 eligible participants, 14 were able to be contacted and only three participants had discontinued therapy. No participant re-transitioned to the gender of sex assigned at birth. Seven patients were unable to be contacted.

    “Only a small proportion of gender-diverse adolescents decide to pursue gender affirming hormone therapy. If they do, qualified pediatric providers should prescribe therapy in accordance with the established Endocrine Society guidelines, given the adolescent needing therapy meets the diagnosis of gender dysphoria, provides assent, has parental consent and has gone through puberty,” Gupta said.

    A related study was published in the Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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  • Social isolation linked to reduced bone quality in males, mouse study finds

    Social isolation linked to reduced bone quality in males, mouse study finds

    Newswise — Social isolation may negatively impact bone health, suggests a study conducted in mice being presented Sunday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    “Social isolation is a potent form of psychosocial stress and is a growing public health concern, particularly among older adults,” said lead researcher Rebecca Mountain, Ph.D., of MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, Maine. “Even prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly increased the prevalence of isolation and loneliness, researchers have been concerned about a rising ‘epidemic of loneliness.’”

    Mountain noted that social isolation is associated with increased risk for many health conditions in people, including mental health disorders, as well as higher overall rates of illness and death.

    “Previous clinical research has demonstrated that psychosocial stressors, and subsequent mental health disorders, are major risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture, which disproportionally affect older adults,” Mountain said. “The effects of social isolation on bone, however, have not been thoroughly investigated.”

    In the new study, researchers exposed adult mice to either social isolation (one mouse per cage) or grouped housing (four mice per cage) for four weeks. They found that social isolation caused significant reductions in bone quality, including reduced bone mineral density, in male, but not female mice.

    “Overall, our data suggest that social isolation has a dramatic negative effect on bone in male mice, but it may operate through different mechanisms or in a different time frame in female mice,” Mountain said. “Future research is needed to understand how these findings translate to human populations.”

    In addition to exploring the effects of social isolation in human datasets, her research team will also investigate the mechanisms of how social isolation contributes to bone loss using mouse models.

    “Our work provides critical insight into the effects of isolation on bone and has key clinical implications as we grapple with the long-term health impacts of the rise in social isolation related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mountain said

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

    Endocrine Society

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  • Radioactive iodine or surgery associated with increased survival in hyperthyroidism

    Radioactive iodine or surgery associated with increased survival in hyperthyroidism

    Newswise — Hyperthyroidism treatment like radioactive iodine or surgery was associated with a decreased risk for death, according to research being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago.

    “Hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid gland is common, affecting up to 3% of the population, and is associated with long-term adverse cardiac and metabolic consequences. The optimal treatment choice remains unclear,” said Kristien Boelaert, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of endocrinology from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

    Boelaert and colleagues identified 55,318 patients with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism, treated with antithyroid drugs (ATD; 77.6%), radioiodine (14.6%), or thyroidectomy (7.8%) from a U.K. population-based electronic health record database for the EGRET Study.

    They examined all-cause mortality, major cardiovascular events (MACE: cardiovascular death, heart failure, or stroke), and post-treatment obesity. The average follow-up was roughly 12 years.

    Those treated with antithyroid drugs had an estimated mean survival of 12 years, according to the data. Survival increased in those treated with radioiodine by 1.7 years and thyroidectomy by 1.1 years. People treated with antithyroid drugs had an estimated 10.2% risk of MACE, which significantly increased by an additional 1.3% with radioiodine but not with thyroidectomy.

    These definitive treatments were associated with a significantly increased survival, despite a small increased risk for overall weight gain. For example, thyroidectomy was associated with an increased likelihood of obesity in both men and women. Radioiodine treatment led to increased obesity risk in women, but not in men.

    “Our findings are important and will inform decision-making processes for patients and clinicians when considering optimal treatment options and are likely to impact clinical practice guidelines in the future,” Boelaert said.

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

    Endocrine Society

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  • Transgender people seen in the ER much more likely than cisgender people to be admitted to hospital

    Transgender people seen in the ER much more likely than cisgender people to be admitted to hospital

    Newswise — Transgender people who come to the emergency room for care tend to be sicker than cisgender people who are otherwise similar to them and are much more likely to be admitted to the hospital once they visit the ER, according to a study being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    “Our findings suggest that decreasing discrimination against transgender people in society and in health care, and improving the outpatient care they are able to access in the community, may keep them healthier and help them avoid visits to the ER,” said lead researcher Daphna Stroumsa, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. “Improving access to transgender-friendly health care can improve the health of this population, and help decrease the burden on emergency rooms and hospitals.”

    More than 1.6 million people over the age of 13 in the United States are transgender and gender diverse. Because of social discrimination, they face many difficulties getting the health care they need, Stroumsa said. Fearing discrimination from some medical providers—a common experience among transgender people—they often avoid getting care until they are very sick. Transgender people may need to use emergency room services for basic services, or because their chronic conditions were not treated. The study examined ER visits unrelated to gender-affirming medical care.

    In the new study, the researchers analyzed data from a group of databases known as the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. A total of 66,382 visits were made by people identified as transgender between 2006 and 2018.

    The researchers found a rapid increase in the proportion of visits by people who identified as transgender, from 0.001% of visits in 2006 to 0.016% in 2018. There were significant demographic differences between transgender and cisgender patients. Transgender and gender-diverse people were significantly more likely to be admitted, adjusting for payment, age group, region, income and mental health condition (overall 52.4% vs. 17.3%). A large proportion of ED visits by transgender and gender-diverse individuals was associated with a chronic condition (58.2% vs. 19.2%) and/or with a mental health diagnosis (28.7%, compared with 3.9% for others). Hospital admission among transgender and gender-diverse people was much more likely to be linked to a chronic condition (67.3% vs 41.3%) or a mental health condition (37.2% vs. 5.3%).

    “The high admission rates, and the high proportion of transgender and gender-diverse people with a chronic condition or with mental health condition, may represent worse overall health due lack of primary care, or a delay in seeking emergency care among transgender and gender-diverse people,” Stroumsa said. “Discrimination and transphobia have direct consequences, worsen the health of transgender people, and lead to poor use of health care resources. There is a need for increasing access to affirming primary and mental health care among transgender and gender-diverse people.”

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Employees with obesity may have higher loss of work productivity than those with normal weight

    Employees with obesity may have higher loss of work productivity than those with normal weight

    Newswise — CHICAGO—People with obesity may have lower work productivity due to increased risk of illness, contributing to increased costs for employers, according to industry-supported research being presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, in Chicago, Ill.

    Obesity is a significant public health issue affecting approximately 42% of people in the United States. Employees with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop weight-related comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, which all contribute to lower work productivity.

    “Employees with overweight and obesity may have higher loss of work productivity as measured by absenteeism, short and long-term disability, and worker’s compensation compared to employees with normal weight,” said Clare J. Lee, M.D., of Eli Lilly & Company in Indianapolis, Ind.

    Co-author Shraddha Shinde M.B.A, also of Eli Lilly & Company, added that, “Given the substantial burden of overweight and obesity on employee health and function that was demonstrated by this study, employers should focus on building tailored interventions that could be beneficial in improving the health of these individuals.”

    The researchers evaluated 719,482 employees with and without obesity in the MarketScan databases. They determined the percentage of employees with work loss, number of hours/days lost from work, and costs associated with productivity loss were higher among people with overweight or obesity. The loss of work productivity was greater with each higher Body Mass Index (BMI) category.

    The researchers found costs associated with absenteeism, short and long-term disability, and worker’s compensation were $891, $623, $41, and $112 higher per year (respectively) for people with obesity compared to those with normal weight.

    Funding for this study was provided by Eli Lilly and Company.

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Gaps remain in identifying, treating obesity despite new treatment options

    Gaps remain in identifying, treating obesity despite new treatment options

    Newswise — CHICAGO—By being undiagnosed or untreated, a significant fraction of people with obesity or overweight are not getting the recommended care, despite an increase in new treatment options, according to research being presented on June 17 at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    “The number of people with obesity is high and rising in the adult U.S. population. Obesity is a complex and expensive disease that has been implicated in many chronic conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases,” said Kyrian Ezendu, Ph.D., an Eli Lilly and Company advisor on benefit-risk research. “Medications to treat obesity are an integral part of long-term care for people with excess weight and are recommended for people with obesity or people with overweight and at least one obesity-related condition.”

    Ezendu and colleagues used data from linked electronic health records and insurance claims of people ages 18 to 80 years who were eligible for obesity medications each year from 2016 to 2021. The anti-obesity medications included phentermine-topiramate, lorcaserin, orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide and semaglutide.

    There were approximately 1.6 million to 2.2 million adults with overweight or obesity, eligible for obesity medications in the study cohort for each year.

    The overall obesity diagnosis rate based on both electronic health records and claims increased from 39.4% in 2016 to 57.2% in 2021. However, diagnosis rates from insurance claims alone were only 33.5% in 2016 and 47.3% in 2021.

    Similarly, the overweight diagnosis rate grew from 18.1% in 2016 to 31.2% in 2021. Meanwhile, the claims-based rate was 15.4% in 2016 and 29.2% in 2021.

    Prescribing rates for anti-obesity medications were low, according to the researchers, ranging from 0.4% to 0.5% across all years. Much like the obesity diagnosis and overweight diagnosis rates, the prescription fill rates showed an increase from 0.4% in 2016 to 0.6% in 2021.

    Of note, the prescribing and fill rates from 2016 to 2021 for liraglutide doubled (from 0.1% to 0.2%). For semaglutide, it quadrupled (from 0.1% to 0.4%).

    “This research demonstrates a potential gap in clinical care for people with obesity and overweight. Proper documentation of the clinical diagnosis may facilitate guideline-based treatment of obesity and overweight, particularly with the availability of several FDA-approved medications for use as an adjunct to lifestyle changes in managing obesity or overweight,” Ezendu said.

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  • Closed-loop insulin delivery systems may improve blood sugar control in children with type 1 diabetes

    Closed-loop insulin delivery systems may improve blood sugar control in children with type 1 diabetes

    Newswise — CHICAGO—Closed-loop insulin delivery systems improve glucose control in children with type 1 diabetes without causing adverse effects, according to a study presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    A closed-loop system consists of devices that use a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump to automatically regulate blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. The system operates “closed-loop” because it continuously monitors and adjusts (starting and stopping) insulin delivery based on the person’s blood sugar levels, without the need for manual intervention.

    The first closed-loop system was approved for pediatric use in the United States in 2020. Since then, many randomized clinical trials have been performed on closed-loop systems. However, according to study researcher Amanda Godoi from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, until now no review of studies evaluating the effect of prolonged use of closed-loop systems on glucose levels in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes has been performed.

    “Treatment of type 1 diabetes in children is a clinical challenge,” Godoi said. “We found using closed-loop systems led to improved glucose control, which represents an important treatment opportunity to reduce complications and morbidity in children with type 1 diabetes.”

    The researchers reviewed nine studies of randomized controlled trials lasting at least 12 weeks comparing closed-loop systems to usual care in a total of 892 children with type 1 diabetes. Usual care is the delivery of insulin through multiple daily insulin injections or sensor augmented pumps, which are commonly used in treating diabetes. These are not automated and thus require the patient to monitor blood sugar levels and adjust the insulin delivery accordingly.

    The children and teens using a closed-loop system had a small important 0.35% reduction in HbA1c levels—a blood test that measures average blood sugar levels over the past three months. They also had an average 9.96% increase in time in an optimal glucose range, without increasing the risk of adverse effects such as hypoglycemia (too-low blood sugar) and diabetic ketoacidosis (a serious complication of diabetes that develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin).

    “Our results show that closed-loop technology seems to be safe and superior to usual care in controlling glucose levels,” Godoi said.

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    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

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  • Study finds “robotic pill” can safely deliver injectable osteoporosis drug

    Study finds “robotic pill” can safely deliver injectable osteoporosis drug

    Newswise — A proven and effective medication for osteoporosis, which is currently only available as an injection, can be administered orally using a novel “robotic pill,” according to a study presented Saturday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

    “We believe this study provides the first clinical evidence of safe and successful delivery of the osteoporosis drug teriparatide through an oral robotic pill,” said Arvinder Dhalla, Ph.D., who leads Clinical Development at Rani Therapeutics, the San Jose, Calif.-based company that developed the technology and funded the study. “Data from this study are very encouraging and should give hope to those suffering from chronic conditions that require painful injections, like osteoporosis, that an oral alternative could be on the way.”

    When a person swallows the robotic pill, it moves through the stomach intact. In the intestine the pill releases a self-inflating balloon with a microsyringe, which injects a drug-filled microneedle and delivers the medication.

    “The intestines do not have pain response to needles, so the injection is painless,” Dhalla said. The needle rapidly dissolves, and the medication is absorbed while the delivery mechanism deflates and is safely passed out of the body.

    “The robotic pill, which is essentially a swallowable auto-injector in the form of a pill, is designed to deliver the drug safely and efficiently as a painless intestinal injection,” she said. 

    The Phase I study of 39 healthy women evaluated the safety, tolerability and movement through the body of the robotic pill known as RT-102, containing a dose of the drug teriparatide (PTH 1-34). Teriparatide is a synthetic form of the natural human parathyroid hormone. It has been in clinical use for decades as an injectable medication (under the brand name Forteo®) for rebuilding brittle bones of osteoporosis patients. It is taken as a daily injection for up to two years.

    Study participants were divided into three groups. Two groups received either a lower or higher dose delivered with the robotic pill, and the third group received a standard injection of teriparatide. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to track the robotic pill through and out the body. Drug concentrations were measured in blood samples collected over six hours. The study found the bioavailability (the ability of the drug to be absorbed and used by the body) of the drug delivered by the robotic pill was comparable to or better than the drug given via the injection.

    “This breakthrough technology of converting injections into oral pills is a significant step forward towards ending the burden of painful injections for millions of patients suffering from chronic diseases,” Dhalla said.

    Dhalla is scheduled to present at the Society’s ENDO 2023 hormones and technology news conference at 9 AM Central on Saturday, June 17. Register to view the news conference livestream at endomediastream.com. 

    # # #

    Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

    The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

    Endocrine Society

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