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Concerns about the use of calcium supplementation in the elderly and its effects on cardiovascular events are growing. A novel study published in JAMA Internal Medicine further highlights the dangers of calcium supplementation, raising the question whether the detrimental effects of these supplements are worth their supposed benefits on bone.
Biochemical screening of neonates for congenital hypothyroidism permits early initiation of levothyroxine treatment and thus prevents the development of intellectual disability. Two novel studies now address whether brand-name and generic levothyroxine are interchangeable in this context.
Three major studies have made a brave attempt to quantify mortality and disability worldwide from 289 diseases and their sequelae. Striking data are presented that confirm the rising tide of noncommunicable diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus. The predictions for diabetes mellitus are, however, probably underestimated owing to underdiagnosis and under-reporting.
HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy have long been associated with an increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. This predisposition has now been shown to result in a significantly increased risk of osteoporotic fractures in the HIV-infected population even after controlling for known risk factors.
Makani and colleagues report that dual blockade of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system is associated with harm despite previous studies showing that this approach decreases blood pressure and albuminuria. Do these results imply that we should abandon surrogate markers? Or should we become more creative in using them?
If a child has diabetic keotacidosis and the type of diabetes mellitus is unclear, immediately start them on insulin. This recommendation is one of a number from a recent guideline on paediatric type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, differences in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus between the USA and Europe remain.
In this Review, Gherardo Mazziotti and Andrea Giustina discuss the latest advances in our understanding of how glucocorticoids affect the secretion of growth hormone. The implications for diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency in patients with a lack or excess of glucocorticoids will also be outlined.
Determining the genetic contribution to autoimmune thyroid disease has helped unravel how immune disruption leads to disease onset. Breakthroughs in genome-wide association studies have facilitated screening of a greater proportion of the genome. This Review will focus on the new susceptibility loci identified by genome-wide association studies and what insights these loci provide into disease pathogenesis.
Age-related bone loss can eventually result in osteoporosis. In this Review, Pierre Marie describes an emerging therapy that involves targeting certain integrin transmembrane proteins to promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells into osteoblasts, thereby counteracting bone loss.
In this Review, the authors discuss the auditory system as an example of how T3 is involved in the development of the sensory systems. Sensory defects in human genetic disorders featuring impaired T3signalling are also outlined.
For >30 years, HDL's association with protection from atherosclerosis has been unquestioned. However, in the past 5 years, powerful new human genetic data together with negative clinical trials have cast doubt on the HDL hypothesis. This Perspectives examines evidence for and against HDL's direct role in atherosclerosis and considers reasons why the HDL hypothesis seems to be 'too big to fail'.
