Prevention: Prophylactic statin therapy in the management of cardiovascular disease | PDF (641 KB)
p351 | doi:10.1038/nrcardio.2009.61
Table of contents
July 2009 Vol 5 No 7
Research Highlights
Diabetes: Postmenopausal hormone therapy prevents diabetes | PDF (54 KB)
p352 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.92
In brief
Diabetes | Bone | Nutrition | PDF (49 KB)
p352 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.97
Diagnosis: Mutation screen improves sensitivity of thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology | PDF (102 KB)
p353 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.88
Bone: Treatment for Addison disease reduces BMD | PDF (55 KB)
p353 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.94
Pancreas: Enteroviral capsid protein detected in pancreatic islets | PDF (57 KB)
p354 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.84
Vitamin B12 and Neural-Tube defects | PDF (50 KB)
p354 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.96
Diabetes: Ethnicity-associated variance in efficacy of pioglitazone as a preventive tool | PDF (73 KB)
p355 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.85
Bone: Quantitative ultrasound is not inferior to DEXA to predict fracture risk | PDF (49 KB)
p355 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.87
Diabetes: Bariatric surgery: a cure for type 2 diabetes mellitus? | PDF (56 KB)
p356 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.83
Bone: Bisphosphonate therapy after cardiac transplant reduces fracture risk | PDF (50 KB)
p356 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.86
Cancer: A new therapeutic target for advanced thyroid cancer | PDF (48 KB)
p357 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.89
Diagnosis: Early prediction of recurrent Cushing disease after surgery | PDF (48 KB)
p357 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.90
Sparing ovaries seems safe | PDF (49 KB)
p357 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.91
News and Views
Reproductive endocrinology: Male hormonal contraceptive passes efficacy test in China
John K. Amory
p359 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.110
Traditional methods of male contraception, such as condoms and vasectomy, are unacceptable to many couples as they can be unreliable or the effects not easily reversed. Depot administration of male hormonal contraception could provide a safe, effective, reliable and reversible alternative, report researchers in China.
Pediatrics: Intensive insulin therapy in critically ill children
Michael S. D. Agus & Eliotte L. Hirshberg
p360 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.111
Intensive insulin therapy to maintain tight glucose control is associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in adult patients hospitalized with critical illnesses. Can the same rationale also be applied to critically ill children admitted to the pediatric intensive-care unit?
Adrenal function: An overlooked cause of glucocorticoid deficiency?
Nils Krone & Paul M. Stewart
p362 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.107
The traditional view of nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia is that affected individuals are not glucocorticoid-deficient. The results of a French study now cast doubts on this assumption, however, and raise important issues for classification and management of patients with this common genetic disorder.
Pancreas: C-peptide reveals possible 
-cell reactivation in pregnancy
Nigel J. Brunskill
p364 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.108
Evidence of gradual increases in serum concentration of C-peptide as pregnancy progresses in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus provides novel insight into mechanisms of 
-cell failure and regeneration, and the potential role of C-peptide in diabetes mellitus and health.
Diabetes: Aspirin and prevention of diabetes still a topic of debate
Guido Lastra & Adam Whaley-Connell
p365 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.109
Aspirin is probably the most commonly used drug worldwide and has major analgesic, antipyretic and antiplatelet activities. Data from the Physicians' Health Study now suggest that regular use of low-dose aspirin might help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus by around 14% in otherwise healthy men.
Reviews
SIRT1 and insulin resistance
Fengxia Liang, Shinji Kume & Daisuke Koya
p367 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.101
SIRT1, a mammalian sirtuin that is known to be involved in the regulation of lifespan, DNA damage response and carcinogenesis, is also likely to influence insulin action. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that decreased SIRT1 expression or activity might contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin-resistance-related diseases. This review explores the effects of SIRT1 on adiponectin and inflammation, the role of SIRT1 in insulin signaling, and the relationship between SIRT1 and mitochondrial function, which is a potential link with insulin resistance.
Stress and disorders of the stress system
George P. Chrousos
p374 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.106
Physical or emotional effects that potentially threaten homeostasis activate various compensatory mechanisms coordinated by the stress system. This article provides an overview of the conceptual evolution and current understanding of homeostasis and stress, the main effectors and targets of the stress response and the effects of stress on the organism.
Peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy for endocrine tumors
Martijn van Essen, Eric P. Krenning, Boen L. R. Kam, Marion de Jong, Roelf Valkema & Dik J. Kwekkeboom
p382 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.105
Peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled somatostatin analogs, such as octreotide, is a promising option for the treatment of somatostatin-receptor-positive endocrine tumors. Here, van Essen et al. evaluate data from preliminary studies of PRRT, and discuss the pros and cons of this approach. The authors propose that PRRT might soon become the treatment of choice for patients with metastatic or inoperable endocrine tumors.
Noninvasive imaging of pancreatic cells
Willy J. Malaisse, Karim Louchami & Abdullah Sener
p394 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.103
Nonvasive imaging of insulin-producing cells, although not currently used in clinical practice, is a useful tool that can complement information gained by other methods to assess the insulin secretory response in patients with diabetes mellitus and in people at high risk of developing this condition. This Review discusses the currently available methods for noninvasive imaging and quantification of insulin-producing cells.
Epigenetic mechanisms that underpin metabolic and cardiovascular diseases
Peter D. Gluckman, Mark A. Hanson, Tatjana Buklijas, Felicia M. Low & Alan S. Beedle
p401 | doi:10.1038/nrendo.2009.102
An organism's ability to adjust its phenotypic development to the environment is partly determined by epigenetic changes that are established in early life and modulate gene expression during development and maturity. A mismatch between the inducing and the mature environment may result in inappropriate patterns of epigenetic marks and of gene expression that increase the organism's susceptibility to chronic noncommunicable disease. The authors review the relationships between environmental influences during mammalian development, epigenetic changes and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and discuss the implications for prevention and treatment.
