The Endocrine Society, June 21-24

The Endocrine Society's 96th Annual Meeting and Expo

The joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society (ICE/ENDO 2014) was held from June 21 to 24 in Chicago, and attracted more than 9,000 participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in endocrine and metabolic disorders. The conference highlighted recent advances in the diagnosis and management of various endocrinology conditions including obesity, diabetes, growth hormone and sex steroid dysregulation and thyroid cancer.

In one study, E. Michael Lewiecki, M.D., of the New Mexico Clinical Research and Osteoporosis Center in Albuquerque, and colleagues found continuing increases in bone mineral density and low fracture rates in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with denosumab for up to eight years, with a favorable balance of benefits and risks.

"With eight years of continuous treatment with denosumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, there was an 18.4 percent increase in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and an 8.3 percent increase in bone mineral density at the total hip. The rate of vertebral fractures and non-vertebral fractures remained low for up to eight years of continuous treatment," said Lewiecki. "This study provides reassurance for patients of persistence of anti-fracture effect with a favorable balance of benefits and risks with up to eight years of continuous therapy with denosumab."

Multiple authors disclosed financial relationships with various pharmaceutical companies including but not limited to Amgen, Merck, Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, etc.

Abstract No. OR22-1

In the SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity - Liraglutide Evidence in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic Subjects) Phase 3 study, F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer, M.D., of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, and colleagues evaluated the safety and efficacy of liraglutide 3.0 mg in weight management.

"At week 56, individuals on liraglutide 3.0 mg (n = 2,432) had lost 8.0 percent of body weight compared to 2.6 percent on placebo," said Pi-Sunyer.

The investigators also found that liraglutide improved glycemic parameters. Of those with prediabetes at screening, more individuals reverted to normoglycemia on liraglutide 3.0 mg (69.7 percent) than on placebo (32.1 percent) at week 56.

"Of those with normoglycemia at screening, more individuals had progressed to prediabetes on placebo (19.9 percent) than on liraglutide 3.0 mg (6.9 percent) at week 56," said Pi-Sunyer. "Few individuals developed type 2 diabetes during treatment, but more did so on placebo (14 individuals) than on liraglutide 3.0 mg (4 individuals)."

Abstract No. SAT0925

In another study, Kenneth Ain, M.D., of the University of Kentucky and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lexington, and colleagues found that hypothyroid individuals operating motor vehicles were found to be impaired drivers, performing driving skills at a level comparable to someone over the legal limit of alcohol intoxication for driving. This impairment was reversible when thyroid hormone levels were restored to normal.

"We studied thyroid cancer patients before and after they had been taken off of their thyroid hormones in preparation for radioactive iodine scanning. They underwent extensive neurological, psychological and driving simulator testing. We documented significant changes in mood, fine motor skills, and braking reaction time that reflected significant impairments in hypothyroid people," said Ain. "Just as neurologists must warn patients with seizure disorders from driving and diabetologists warn brittle diabetics with frequent hypoglycemia from driving, physicians must warn their hypothyroid patients against operating motor vehicles until they are completely back on thyroid hormone. Failing to do this puts the patient and the public at risk and may constitute a liability risk for the physician."

Abstract No. SUN-0482

Nasreen Alfaris, M.D., of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Center for Weight and Eating Disorders in Philadelphia, and colleagues found that losing greater than or equal to five percent of weight was associated with short-term (six-month) improvement in sleep quality and sleep duration.

"At month six, sleep duration increased by 21.6 minutes in subjects who lost great than or equal to five percent, compared with 1.2 minutes for those losing less than five percent," said Alfaris. "Similarly favorable changes, with weight loss of great than or equal to five percent, were observed on sleep quality and mood at month six. Only differences between groups on mood remained statistically significant at 24 months."

Abstract No. OR07-1

Ali Abbara, M.B.B.S., of the Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, and colleagues found that a novel blood test for kisspeptin was able to identify asymptomatic pregnant women who were at increased risk of subsequent miscarriage.

"Blood kisspeptin levels may be a useful screening test to identify women at increased risk of miscarriage," said Abbara. "This study opens up a novel avenue of research which will assess whether identifying women at increased risk of miscarriage at an early enough stage in the miscarriage process would allow us to target investigations and treatments which may alter the course of pregnancy in these women. "

Abstract No. OR04-2

Cooler Indoor Temps May Help 'Good Fat' Grow

WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cooler indoor temperatures may stimulate the growth of healthy brown fat, while warm temperatures could cause the loss of this beneficial type of fat, according to a study published online June 22 in the journal Diabetes to coincide with presentation at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago.

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Gut Microbes Differ in Obesity, Diabetes

TUESDAY, June 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obese people and those with type 2 diabetes have lower levels of common types of "good" intestinal bacteria than healthy people, a new study reveals. The study was presented Sunday at the annual joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago.

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