Articles related to Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism

Follow this case study of a 71-year-old man found to have significant, asymptomatic hypokalemia discovered in routine outpatient lab work. How would you manage this patient?

New research into intermittent fasting has found that the practice is generally safe, producing few gastrointestinal, neurologic, hormonal, or metabolic effects. Additionally, the research found that intermittent fasting is on par with traditional calorie-restricted diets for weight loss.

Diabetes medications, such as metformin, have glucose-independent effects on the male reproductive system. However, until now, it was unknown if these effects lead to birth defects in offspring. This study concludes that metformin intake in men is associated with major birth defects, particularly genital birth defects in boys.

At the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) annual meeting, Carina Venter, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, provided the latest data on the role that maternal diet during pregnancy may have on the infant microbiome and the subsequent development of allergies and asthma. The findings are that eating plenty of vegetables and limited fried, low-fiber, and sugary foods may prevent asthma and allergies in unborn children.

Can you figure out the cause of this progressing discoloration on the bilateral anterior thighs of this 48-year-old patient? The patient denies pain, itching, or blistering, but her medical history is relevant for hypothyroidism. Any guesses?

Vitamin D supplementation for five years, with or without omega-3 fatty acids, reduced autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis by 22%, according to the findings of a new study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation with or without vitamin D reduced the autoimmune disease rate by 15%, which was not statistically significant. Both treatment arms showed larger effects than the reference arm (vitamin D placebo and omega-3 fatty acid placebo).