Volume 14 Issue 5, May 2018

Culturing bone marrow stromal cells on 3D silk scaffolds supports their proliferation and adipogenesis, while minimizing the activation of inflammatory pathways. Therefore, differentiation of bone marrow adipocytes in 3D culture might provide a more representative model for the study of bone marrow adipose tissue than is offered by traditional 2D cell cultures.

High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HRpQCT) provides more detailed information than older methods. A new study shows that radial and tibial HRpQCT measurements are associated with incident fracture in postmenopausal women. However, it is unclear whether HRpQCT improves fracture risk prediction enough to justify its use in clinical practice.

A recent randomized controlled clinical trial with 5-year follow-up demonstrates the impressive effectiveness of the combination of metabolic surgery with medical therapies and shifts the paradigm in the care of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Thyroid hormones can affect hepatic fatty acid metabolism and cholesterol synthesis. Here, Paul Yen and colleagues describe and summarize the key features of direct thyroid hormone regulation of lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, cholesterol synthesis and the reverse cholesterol transport pathway in normal and altered thyroid states.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder in premenopausal women. Here, Héctor F. Escobar-Morreale reviews the newest advances and limitations of current knowledge regarding PCOS and provides principles for the diagnosis and management of women with PCOS.

In this Review, the authors chart the history of growth hormone, from discovery to clinical development and therapeutic approval, and discuss the emerging pathophysiology and treatment of its related growth disorders, particularly in childhood. Finally, more recent developments and future strategies are highlighted.

Iodine nutrition is a key determinant of thyroid disease risk, and continued vigilance against iodine deficiency remains essential. Here, Peter Taylor and colleagues review the global incidence and prevalence of thyroid disease, highlighting geographical differences and the effect of environmental factors, such as iodine supplementation, on these data.