Table of contents
April 2006 Volume 2 No 4
Editorial
Viewpoint
Significance of BRAF mutations in papillary thyroid carcinoma: prognostic and therapeutic implications
180Molecular analysis has transformed our current understanding of the etiology of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Activating mutations of components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway, including the serine/threonine kinase B-RAF, are frequently detected. The prognostic significance of these BRAF mutations and the therapeutic implications for managing PTC are discussed.
doi:10.1038/ncpendmet0161 | Full Text | PDF (102K)
Research Highlights
Vitamin D supplementation given to pregnant women could enhance child bone mass
182Efficacy of raloxifene and teriparatide in patients with osteoporosis
182Intravenous glucose without insulin regulation is a predictor of death in critically ill patients
183Discovery of MEN1 mutations in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism
183Bright lights and melatonin help jetsetters adjust
184Effects of long-term HRT use on risk of death from breast cancer
184MRI used to image human pancreatic islets in vivo
184Corticotropin test recommended as first-line diagnostic tool
185Falling levels of leptin increase appetite in humans given a calorie-restricted diet
185Longitudinal study links television viewing habits to childhood obesity
186Early use of combination therapy improves outcome of patients with type 2 diabetes
186Type 3 deiodinase activity is crucial for normal thyroid axis development
186Practice Points
Long-term, low-dose flutamide does not cause hepatotoxicity in hyperandrogenic women
188Which lipid measures are prognostic indicators of cardiovascular disease in women?
190Discontinuation of menopausal hormone therapy: what are the symptoms and how should they be managed?
192Do glucocorticoids affect outcome in Graves' disease following radioiodine therapy?
194How generally applicable is a simple diabetes detection questionnaire?
196Reviews
Drug Insight: cabergoline and bromocriptine in the treatment of hyperprolactinemia in men and women
200The authors compare the treatment of hyperprolactinemic men and women using dopamine-receptor agonists bromocriptine and the newer drug cabergoline. They describe similarities and differences in treatment responses between genders, the pharmacological profile and safety of the two drugs, and new treatment algorithms in hyperprolactinemic syndromes.
doi:10.1038/ncpendmet0160 | Full Text | PDF (288K)
Drug Insight: bisphosphonates for postmenopausal osteoporosis
211Bisphosphonates are the drugs most widely used to treat osteoporosis, and can halve the vertebral fracture rate in postmenopausal women. This review details recent work that refines the dosing schedules of established drugs, alendronate and risedronate, and describes two new and potent bisphosphonates, ibandronate and zoledronate.
doi:10.1038/ncpendmet0121 | Full Text | PDF (196K)
Mechanisms of Disease: the pathogenesis of pituitary tumors
220Pituitary tumors exhibit variable growth and hormonal behaviors. The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the neoplastic process include altered hormone regulation, growth factor stimulation, cell-cycle control and cell–stromal interactions due to genetic mutations or epigenetic changes of gene expression. These alterations are targets for the development of novel therapies.
doi:10.1038/ncpendmet0159 | Full Text | PDF (233K)
Mechanisms of Disease: transcription factors in sex determination—relevance to human disorders of sex development
231Disorders of sex development are poorly understood at the molecular level, which reflects in the outdated patient classification still in use. This review focuses on the extreme functional diversity of mutations affecting the main genes of the sex determination pathway (SRY, SOX9 and NR5A1) and the need for improved nomenclature.
doi:10.1038/ncpendmet0143 | Full Text | PDF (181K)
