The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting and Expo
The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting and Expo was held from June 4 to 7 in Boston and attracted more than 9,000 participants from around the world, including scientists, physicians, and allied health professionals. The conference highlighted recent advances in the diagnosis and management of endocrine and metabolic disorders and featured 2,600 abstract presentations.
In one study, Andrew Grey, M.D., of the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and colleagues found that zoledronic acid, at lower than standard doses for prevention of bone fractures due to osteoporosis, appeared to increase bone density and may prevent the risk of osteoporotic fractures. The investigators randomized 180 postmenopausal women with osteopenia to receive placebo or 1, 2.5, or 5 mg of zoledronate.
"One mg and 2.5 mg doses of zoledronate increase bone density and decrease markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women," Grey said. "Our results suggest that trials to evaluate the effects of low doses of zoledronic acid, administered once a year, on the incidence of fractures in patients with osteoporosis are justified."
One author disclosed a financial relationship with Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
Barbara Gower, Ph.D., of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues found that a reduction in the intake of carbohydrates may increase the loss of deep abdominal fat. The investigators evaluated 69 overweight but healthy men and women who received food for two consecutive eight-week periods: a weight maintenance intervention followed by a weight loss intervention, which cut the number of calories that each person ate by 1,000 daily. Participants received either a standard lower-fat diet or a diet with a modest reduction in carbohydrates but slightly more fat.
After the weight maintenance phase, the investigators found that individuals who consumed the moderately carb-restricted diet had 11 percent less deep abdominal fat compared to those who followed the standard diet; however, this was restricted to white individuals. During the weight loss phase, those on both diets lost weight; however, the moderately carb-restricted diet was associated with a 4 percent greater loss of total body fat.
"When paired with weight loss, consumption of a moderately reduced carbohydrate diet can help achieve a reduction of total body fat," Gower said in a statement. "These changes could help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, stroke, and coronary artery disease."
The results of another study, led by Shuk-mei Ho, Ph.D., of the University of Cincinnati, suggested that activation of a new therapeutic target, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), using the experimental drug G-1, a GPR30 agonist, may benefit patients with advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer. In a preliminary assessment, the investigators tested G-1 in an animal model of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
"Most importantly, our finding showed that this pro-drug G-1 is highly effective in inhibiting castration-resistant prostate cancer (or hormone refractory prostate cancer) in preclinical studies," Ho said. "Additionally, G-1 has very low or no toxicity in the preclinical model, making it highly conducive for treatment of advanced-stage disease. Further direction is to use these new findings to hasten phase I trials in patients. The therapy has the potential to extend remission and delay the need to use highly toxic chemotherapies."
ENDO: Age Alone Doesn't Reduce Testosterone Levels
TUESDAY, June 7 (HealthDay News) -- Age has no independent effect on testosterone levels in healthy older men, but obesity and fasting do, according to a study presented at ENDO 2011, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 4 to 7 in Boston.
Abstract No. OR35-1 (subscription or payment may be required)
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ENDO: Pregnancy Weight Gain Linked to Baby's Body Fat
TUESDAY, June 7 (HealthDay News) -- Women who gain more than the recommended weight during pregnancy tend to give birth to babies who have a higher amount of body fat, according to a study presented at ENDO 2011, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 4 to 7 in Boston.
Abstract No. OR38-3 (subscription or payment may be required)
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ENDO: Weight Loss May Lower Amyloid Precursor Protein
MONDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- There is a considerable decrease in amyloid precursor protein (APP) and APP mRNA, and in the expression of other genes related to Alzheimer's disease following weight loss after bariatric surgery, according to a study presented at ENDO 2011, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 4 to 7 in Boston.
Abstract No. OR11-3 (subscription or payment may be required)
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ENDO: Obesity May Increase Breast Cancer Mortality Risk
MONDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Being overweight at age 18, or obese at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, is correlated with an increased risk of breast cancer-related mortality, particularly in women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, according to a study presented at ENDO 2011, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 4 to 7 in Boston.
Abstract No. P1-75 (subscription or payment may be required)
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ENDO: Skin Wrinkles and Firmness Tied to Bone Density
MONDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) -- Increased wrinkling or decreased skin firmness in early menopausal women may indicate reduced bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study presented at ENDO 2011, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society, held from June 4 to 7 in Boston.
Abstract No. P3-126 (subscription or payment may be required)
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