Category Archives: Endocrinology

Endocrinology

Suicidal Thoughts Decline in Endocrinologists: 2023 Survey – Medscape

Rates of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide among endocrinologists declined from 2022 and now rank similar to the average rate among physicians overall, but these rates are still higher than the general public, according to survey findings.

The current report about suicide among endocrinologists, entitled, "Doctors' Burden: Endocrinologist Suicide Report 2023," prepared by Medscape, was recently published.

A report about suicide among physicians overall, based on the same survey, entitled, "Doctors' Burden: Medscape Physician Suicide Report 2023," was published previously.

In the 2022 survey of a representative national sample of 13,069 US physicians, 10% of endocrinologists reported having suicidal thoughts, ranking the specialty sixth among 29 medical specialties that year.

The 2023 survey found that in a representative national sample of 9175 US physicians, 8% of endocrinologists reported having suicidal thoughts, roughly the average rate among clinicians overall,ranking it 20th among 29 medical specialties.

The highest rates of thoughts of suicide in the latest survey were reported by physicians in otolaryngology (13%), followed by physicians in psychiatry, family medicine, anesthesiology, obstetrics/gynecology, and emergency medicine (roughly 12% in each specialty).

The rate of attempted suicide was 1% among endocrinologists, which was also the rate among physicians overall.

More female than male endocrinologists reported contemplating suicide (8% versus 5%). In addition, 1% of male endocrinologists reported that they had attempted suicide and 2% of female endocrinologists replied they preferred not to answer the question about attempted suicide.

In contrast, in 2020, an estimated 4.9% of US adults aged 18 and older had serious thoughts about suicideand 0.5% attempted suicide, according to the National Institutes of Health website, the latest report states.

Rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among physicians overall "are worryingly high numbers," Peter Yellowlees, MBBS, MD, emeritus professor of psychiatry at University of California, Davis Health, and chief executive officer, Asynchealth, said in the report.

In the 2023 survey, half of the endocrinologists who had thought about suicide had confided in a therapist and 41% had spoken to a family member, but none had told a colleague or a friend, or phoned a suicide hotline.

On the other hand, 7% of male and 10% of female endocrinologists, and 9% of male and 11% of female physicians overall reported that a colleague had shared suicidal thoughts with them.

"It's pleasing that physicians overall have shown themselves slightly more likely to bring ideas about suicide to a therapist and less likely to keep their distress entirely to themselves," Yellowlees said.

"It's possible that the need for healthcare is becoming less stigmatized nationally, with large and increasing emphasis on physician well-being during and after the COVID-19 pandemic," he suggested.

Endocrinologists reported that to keep happy and have good mental health, they engaged in activities and hobbies (70%), exercised (66%), spent time with family and friends (63%), got enough sleep (56%), ate healthy (48%), went to therapy (11%), or did other things (8%), which was similar to that reported by physicians overall.

The report lists several resources that are specific for physicians having suicidal thoughts (Physician Support Line, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Peer RxMed, International Association for Suicide Prevention, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) along with contact information.

The 2023 survey was conducted from June 28, 2022, to October 3, 2022, and the 2022 survey was conducted from June 29, 2021, to September 26, 2021.

Doctors' Burden: Endocrinologist Suicide Report 2023.

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Suicidal Thoughts Decline in Endocrinologists: 2023 Survey - Medscape

Endocrinology

More than 210 VCU Health doctors recognized as Richmond Top … – VCU Health

Richmond Magazinehas published its annual list of top doctors in the Richmond region. VCU Health made the top of the list with more than 210 providers being featured. There was also a special recognition for one ofVCU Massey Cancer Centers team members.

Vanessa Sheppard, Ph.D., associate director for community outreach and engagement and health disparities research at Massey Cancer Center, was the magazines cover story for this years special edition. Sheppard was named theAmerican Cancer Societys Researcher of the Yearfor her innovative community studies on health disparities and breast cancer. She is also theinaugural interim deanof the recently announced Virginia Commonwealth UniversitySchool of Population Health.

Of the VCU Health providers named to Richmond Magazines list this year, about 20 were listed as Top Docs in multiple specialties, including those serving patients at theChildrens Hospital of Richmond at VCU,VCU Massey Cancer Center,VCU Hume-Lee Transplant CenterandVCU Health Pauley Heart Center.

This special recognition highlights the compassionate care our doctors provide as well as the innovative technology and inclusive approaches they use to treat our patients.

Addiction Medicine

Allergy and Immunology

Anesthesiology

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Cardiology (Interventional)

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Family/General Practice

Gastroenterology

Genetics

Geriatric Medicine

Gynecology/Obstetrics (General)

Hematology and Oncology

Hepatology

Gynecologic Oncology

Hospice Care

HospitalistAdult

Infectious Diseases

Intensivist

Internal Medicine

MaternalFetal Medicine/High-Risk Pregnancy

NeonatalPerinatal Medicine

Nephrology

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Nurse Practitioner

Oncologic Surgery

Ophthalmology and Ophthalmologic Surgery

Optometry

OrthopedicsGeneral

Otolaryngology and Otolaryngologic Surgery

Pain Management

Palliative Care

Pathology

Pediatric Adolescent Medicine

Pediatric Allergy/Immunology

Pediatric Cardiology

Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Pediatric Endocrinology

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Pediatric Hospitalist

Pediatric Infectious Disease

Pediatric Intensivist

Pediatric Nephrology

Pediatric Neurology

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care

Pediatric Pulmonology

Pediatric Rheumatology

Pediatrics (General)

Pediatrics Neurodevelopmental/Behavioral

Pediatric Sports Medicine

Pediatric Surgery (General)

Pediatric Surgical Specialist

Pediatric Urology

Pediatrics Child Abuse

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Physician Assistant

Plastic/Cosmetic Surgery

Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery

Podiatry

Psychiatry/Adult

Psychiatry/Child and Adolescent

Psychiatry/Geriatric

Psychology (Doctor of Psychology)

Pulmonology

Radiation Oncology

Radiology Diagnostic

Radiology Interventional

Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility

Rheumatology

Sleep Medicine

Sports Medicine

Surgery (Bariatric)

Surgery (Breast)

Surgery (Cardiac)

Surgery (Colon and Rectal)

Surgery (General)

Surgery (Hand)

Surgery (Mohs, Skin Cancer)

Surgery (Orthopedic)

Surgery (Spine)

Surgery (Thoracic)

Surgery (Transplant)

Surgery (Trauma)

Surgery (Vascular)

Urogynecology

Urology and Urological Surgery

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Endocrinology

Another Epidemic: Pediatric Obesity – McLeod Health

3 APRIL 2023

By Lisa Woodberry, NP, McLeod Pediatric Endocrinology

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has tripled since the 1970s. In Americas health rankings for obesity by state, South Carolina ranked 36th with 36.1% of the adult population in 2021, according to the United Health Foundation.

The American Medical Association declared obesity a disease in 2012. Before that declaration, obesity was not a covered complaint when seeking medical help.

Pediatric Obesity in the modern sense refers to children who are both overweight and obese, as identified by their Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by dividing a childs weight by their height. Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website has a BMI Percentile Calculator for Children and Teens at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html.

Medical Complications

Children who are obese often suffer from depression and bullying. In addition, it can cause endocrine, cardiovascular, orthopedic, renal, pulmonary, neurological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and psychosocial problems in children. It can also increase the risk of developing a hernia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), stress incontinence, and gynecological malignancy.

Additionally, obese children will likely become obese adults. If a preschooler is obese, they have a 33% chance that they will be obese as an adult. A school ager has a 50% risk, and an adolescent has an 80-90% risk. Adult obesity is associated with numerous health problems including Type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension, cancer, joint disease, gallbladder disease, and pulmonary disease.

Causes

There are many causes of pediatric obesity, including a strong family history of obesity. In addition, we know that weight is gained by an energy imbalance when calorie intake is increased and physical activity is decreased. In todays culture, junk food is both easily accessible and heavily promoted by celebrities with sponsorships. Families are on-the-go and often find it easier to get a meal at a fast food drive-through. The lure of electronic devices, television, and video games can outweigh the old-fashioned ways we used to play outside.

Prevention

Prevention is the key, and prevention actually begins prenatally. Gestational diabetes and maternal smoking can predispose children to become obese. After that, we need to be aware of our childrens Body Mass Index (BMI) and raise concerns if it begins to rapidly increase. If your family has a history of obesity, your child also has a greater risk of becoming obese: 30% chance if one parent, 90% chance if both parents are obese.

Nutritional guidance is also important and needs to be a family effort. Encourage children to drink water and limit sweet beverages. Fruits and vegetables are filling and lower-calorie alternatives. Sticking to structured mealtimes and eating as a family also help children stay on track.

Engage children in active play and physical activity instead of more sedentary activities like watching television or playing on the computer or video games.

Parents need to be positive role models. Eating healthy needs to be a family priority, not just something the children stick to. Limit both eating out and eating in front of the television.

Managing Pediatric Obesity

Treatment can start with a physical exam by the childs physician and setting obtainable goals. Education is necessary to achieve those goals, and counseling may help as well. Your child may also be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for specialized care tailored to your childs goals and needs.

Know your childs health risks and stay proactive in keeping them healthy.

Commonly Treated Conditions by Pediatric Endocrinologists

Pediatric Endocrinologists also treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, pre-diabetes (insulin resistance), hypoglycemia, growth problems (such as short stature), early or delayed puberty, enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), underactive or overactive thyroid gland, pituitary gland hypo/hyper function, adrenal gland hypo/hyper function, Ambiguous genitals/intersex, ovarian and testicular dysfunction and obesity.

Lisa Woodberry is a Nurse Practitioner with McLeod Pediatric Endocrinology, located in McLeod Medical Park East at 101 William H. Johnson Street, Suite 300. They can be reached by calling (843) 777-5701.

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Another Epidemic: Pediatric Obesity - McLeod Health

Endocrinology

Im a Reproductive Endocrinologist, and Heres What To Expect During a Fertility Consultation – Well+Good

The journey to get pregnant isnt easy for everyone. Infertility is generally defined as not being able to get pregnant after one year of unprotected sex. For women over age 35, its often six months of trying. But the good news is that a reproductive endocrinologist, an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) with special training in reproductive medicine, has more medical options available to help you conceive, and knowing what to expect at a fertility consultation can help you feel prepared for your first visit.

Roughly nine percent of men and 11 percent of women experience fertility problemsin the U.S., reportsto the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As we age, fertility declines for both women and men, but it happens faster with women. For most women,by their mid-30s fertility starts to decline compared to their teens and early 20s, and the chance of conception drops significantly after age 45, according to The American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists.

Though generalist doctors can order some fertility medication to increase egg production, they dont always know when to move on from front-line treatment, according to Elisabeth Ginsburg, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Program at Brigham and Womens Hospital and a Harvard Medical School professor in obstetrics/gynecology. The tricky thing is knowing what treatment is appropriate for what patients and it depends on what is happening to the couple. It is not one size fits all. If you havent tested the partners sperm, you dont know if a treatment will be appropriate yet. To find out three, six months, or a year later that the sperm count is significantly low can be frustrating to think of all that time wasted.

During the consult youll share your timeline of how long youve been trying to conceive and other personal information. Its helpful to bring the medical and surgical history for you and your partner, any medication and supplements you each may take, and results of any previous testing. Youll dolab work, which may involve blood and urine tests.

We go through what testing needs to be done, and we explain each test, Dr. Ginsburg says. If your doctor is rattling off information quickly, ask what you can learn from each test.

Keep in mind that the reproductive endocrinologist may go over various possible tests and procedures, but that does not mean that you would have all of them.

I often ask women if there are any specific concerns or factors that may be impacting their fertility, Dr. Ginsburg says. Some have worries from the past. If a woman had a termination of a pregnancy for example, she may think that she did damage to her body that would impact fertility, which is not the case, but its a common concern.

Other women assume that they need to stop taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicine if they are trying to get pregnant. But they dont, says Dr. Ginsburg. Infertility can heighten the anxiety or depression on top of a career and the part time job of fertility treatment.We worry about the health risks if you take the medicine away.

Testing will often include a uterine exam, screening for infectious diseases, and a semen analysis if youre exploring fertility treatment with a male partner.

Blood tests

These can determine the quantity and quality of your eggs. Your doctor will look at the levels of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen) hormone level, and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in your blood roughly the first few days of your period. Other hormones we look at are thyroid function, says Dr. Ginsburg. We also make sure youre immune to German measles, chicken pox, and have no sexually transmitted diseases.

Hysterosalpingography

An X-ray procedure of the uterus and fallopian tubes to check for blockages. A radiologist injects dye into the uterus through the cervix and if the dye moves freely the fallopian tubes are open.

Sonohysterography

A procedure to check the inside of the uterus. Sterile fluid is injected into the uterus through the cervix while ultrasound images are taken.

When you have your follow up visit, your doctor will go over the findings of the tests, what the results mean, and what the appropriate treatments are. A high percentage of the time the tests find a reason for problem, for example, a large polyp in the uterus that can be an easy surgical correction, or maybe the sperm is not moving as well as should be, says Dr. Ginsburg. About 20 percent of time everything looks fine according to tests, and we are not showing a cause [for infertility].

After any potential hinderences are addressed, your doctor may suggest intrauterine insemination (IUI). Often called artificial insemination, the procedure is done near the time of ovulation and places the sperm directly into the uterus through the cervix using a catheter. It may be tried for six months, depending on the womans age.

Dr. Ginsburg says common reasons to go the IUI route,along with oral fertility medication to increase the number of eggs released, include mild male factor infertility, sexual dysfunction, unexplained infertility, or if the woman had small amount of endometriosis.

If thats unsuccessful, the next move is usually to invitro fertilization (IVF) so eggs can be surgically removed from the body and mixed with sperm in a lab to createfertilized eggs (embryos). After about 40 hours, the embryos are placed in the womens uterus, without having to travel through the fallopian tubes. Reason to go right to IVF may include, poor sperm quality, blocked fallopian tubes, and sometimes advanced maternal age.

At this point if a woman is 40 or over, its best to go to IVF, Dr. Ginsburg says. There is even a difference between age 40 and 41. Population studies of live birth rates are lower at 41 than 40. As women get older in general the number of eggs is lower. The drop-off of eggs is rapid in the 40s, and the older the egg, the greater the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

Finding a doctor that is a good fit for you is important. Knowing if they are the right fit can be determined by a few key factors. Firstly, they should be willing to teach you during your consult and make sure that you understand what is going on. They should also make you feel comfortable and provide you with the time to voice any of your concerns that you have. Finally, they should be happy to answer any questions that you have without hesitation.

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Im a Reproductive Endocrinologist, and Heres What To Expect During a Fertility Consultation - Well+Good

Endocrinology

Why Did Type 1 Diabetes Rise Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic? – Medscape

Both the incidence of type 1 diabetesand the severity at presentationrose among children and adolescents in Finland during the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's unclear whether this was due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, as few had confirmed infections prior to diagnosis.

"Our results suggest that the increase in the disease rate and in the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis are related to the preventive measures introduced at the start of the pandemic, such as lockdown and physical distancing, rather than a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2," Mikael Knip, MD, of New Children's Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues write in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

However, in an accompanying editorial, Daniel Chan, MBBS, and Jan Hau Lee, MBBS, of KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, point out that up to a quarter of the study population didn't undergo SARS-CoV-2 testing.

Andthey note that the virus has been linked to the development of type 1 diabetes in previous studies, which have also shown that "children might not necessarily have 100% seropositivity because of T-cell response heterogeneity."

Asked for comment, Paul Zimmet, MBBS, MD, PhD, professor of diabetes at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, said: "It's a very interesting study in the light of Finland having the highest incidence of type 1 diabetes globally, so it is a great place to address the relationship of SARS-CoV-2 with new diabetes."

However, he added, "While the authors' interpretation of causation is that lockdowns may play a role, my own view is that there is also an effect of the virus, either through inflammation or even a direct destructive effect on the pancreatic beta cells."

Zimmet, who co-chairs a global registry aimed at establishing the links between COVID-19 and diabetes, also noted:"There is still much to learn about SARS-CoV-2 and its destructive ways, and there is a lot of disagreement between 'experts' on the diabetes and COVID issue and the extent to which the virus has a role."

"There is certainly evidence that even mild SARS-CoV-2 infections increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. That in itself needs close longitudinal monitoring over time."

Knip and colleagues compared data from the Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Register for the period of March 1, 2020, through August 31, 2021, with those of the same periods for the years 2014-2019. A total of 785 children younger than 15 years old were diagnosed during the 18-month pandemic period, and a total of 2096 were diagnosed during the combined 54-month reference period.

The incidence of type 1 diabetes was 61.0 per 100,000 population younger than 15 years during the pandemic, significantly higher than the 52.3 per 100,000 seen during the reference period. Comparing the two periods, the age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate ratio was 1.16, which was significant (P < .0006).

Significantly more children had diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis during the pandemic(30.8% vs 22.6%; P < .001), with a significantly greater frequency of severe ketoacidosis at type 1 diabetes presentation (8.8% vs 5.6%; P = .009).

More of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during the pandemic tested positive for glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies at diagnosis (P < .001) compared with those diagnosed prepandemic.

Of the 583 children in whom SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were analyzed, comprising 25.7% of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, only 5 (1%) were considered to have had an acute COVID-19 infection prior to the diagnosis based on two different antibody tests.

In the discussion section, Knip and colleagues point to previous studies showing no association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and type 1 diabetes-related islet autoimmunity.

And, they add, preliminary data suggest that the rate of type 1 diabetes has decreased in Finnish children since the pandemic lockdown was lifted in the summer of 2021. There were 211 new cases registered between September 2021 and February 2022, compared with 301 from March 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021.

"According to what is known as the biodiversity hypothesis, microbial exposure and infections in early childhood can boost the protection against autoimmune diseases. The reduction in contacts in connection with the societal lockdown significantly reduced acute infections in children, which may have increased the risk of developing [type 1] diabetes," Knip explainedin a press release from his institution.

On the other hand, Chan and Lee write, "The association observed in the study should not be equated to being causative, especially without biomarkers or comparisons of microbiota that could potentially substantiate the biological plausibility of this observation. The exact mechanisms to explain how social isolation measures affect biodiversity have yet to be examined."

Knip, Chan, Lee, and Zimmet have reported no relevant financial relationships.

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023;11:251-260, 220-222. Full text, Editorial

Miriam E. Tucker is a freelance journalist based in the Washington, DC, area. She is a regular contributor to Medscape, with other work appearing in The Washington Post, NPR's Shots blog, and Diabetes Forecast magazine. She is on Twitter: @MiriamETucker.

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Why Did Type 1 Diabetes Rise Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic? - Medscape

Endocrinology

Pancreatic cancer researchers take out-of-the-box approaches … – Boston Children’s Discoveries

Pancreatic cancers are deadly and hard to treat, in part because they are so often detected at an advanced stage; overall five-year survival rates are about 11 percent. Two separate labs at Boston Childrens Hospital took out-of-the-box approaches to this difficult cancer, and both uncovered some very promising leads.

Randolph Watnick, PhD, an investigator in the Vascular Biology Program, started with the insight that immunotherapy, an emerging approach for a variety of cancers, has largely failed in pancreatic cancer because the tumor microenvironment a protective cocoon surrounding the tumor secretes multiple factors that block immune responses.

Watnicks team previously showed that a naturally occurring protein, thrombospondin-1 (Tsp-1), strongly inhibits growth of various tumors. They also showed that a compound called prosaposin, and compounds derived from it, can stimulate Tsp-1 to block tumor growth. (Watnick has licensed these to Vigeo Therapeutics.) But pancreatic tumors are smart: They secrete a molecule called PRSS2 that suppresses Tsp-1.

Without Tsp-1, the tumor microenvironment throws up a slew of defenses that prevent the immune system from curbing the cancer. These cells secrete so many agents that kill or inhibit activation of immune cells that its hard to target all of them, Watnick says. The tumor can grow without fear of the immune system.

But when Watnicks team blocked PRSS2 in human cancer cell lines and in mice, they restored Tsp-1 expression, disabling many of the tumors defenses in one stroke. This enabled the immune system to suppress tumor growth.

Even more exciting, PRSS2 circulates in the blood, making it an ideal candidate to target with antibodies. And because it doesnt normally mutate (it is merely over-expressed by tumor cells), the cancer is less likely to develop resistance to the treatment. This approach, described in Nature Communications, might also work for ovarian and triple-negative breast cancer, which have similar self-protection strategies, says Watnick.

If we can make an antibody against PRSS2, it could potentially be a new lifeline for patients, he says. His lab is now working to develop an antibody and is considering strategies that would combine it with prosaposin and/or immunotherapies like PD1 inhibitors.

Nada Kalaany, PhD, an investigator in the Division of Endocrinology, took a completely different tack, asking the question, What do pancreatic tumors need to grow? She focused on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer that relies on unusual metabolic pathways to obtain nutrients.

To support their growth, pancreatic tumors must make large amounts of compounds called polyamines. Kalaanys team showed that the tumor microenvironment lacks a key ingredient, arginine, forcing the tumors to resort to another metabolic pathway. That pathway, predominantly used in infancy and in the fasting adult intestine, requires an enzyme known as ornithine aminotransferase or OAT.

The cancer overcomes a challenging, arginine-depleted microenvironment by using OAT to make polyamines, explains Kalaany, who is also an associate member of the Broad Institute. If we target OAT, we can suppress tumor growth.

Indeed, when Kalaanys team inhibited OAT with a drug called 5-FMO, they curbed cancer growth both in a dish and in mouse models.

The findings, reported in Nature last month, add another potential option for pancreatic cancer treatment. Targeting OAT avoids toxicity, since normal pancreatic cells dont need OAT to make polyamines. Since 5-FMO has been used experimentally for other purposes, Kalaany sees strong potential to translate the findings to the clinic.

Cancers always figure out a way of getting around things, says Kalaany. But if we target this pathway, they may not have a way to go around it.

Learn more about research in the Kalaany and Watnick labs.

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