Endocrine News Podcast

Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (ER+ BC) is the most frequently diagnosed subtype of BC with consequent highest mortality. For patients with ER+ BC, standard of care treatments are endocrine therapies targeting ER expression and activity or aromatase inhibitors that block synthesis of estrogens from adrenal androgens. However, it is estimated that nearly 33% of all patients with ER+ BC will relapse within 15 years, underscoring the need for additional therapeutic options

This episode focuses on the role of androgen receptors in breast cancer, as it takes a look at an abstract presented at ENDO 2026, titled, The Impact of...

The Endocrine Society recently released a new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) on Central Precocious Puberty. Among its many recommendations, the CPG says some subgroups of children with precocious puberty—such as older girls with slowly progressing puberty—may not need the same level of testing or treatment.

Central precocious puberty happens when a child’s brain activates puberty-related hormones too early—before age 8 years in girls and before age 9 years in boys. This early hormone signaling triggers physical changes such as breast development in girls, testicular enlargement in boys, rapid growth, and, in some cases, early menstruation.

Hos...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently qualified "total hip bone mineral density" as a surrogate endpoint to support clinical trials for osteoporosis drugs. This decision will significantly impact clinical trials moving forward, as the traditional endpoint of "fracture outcomes" presented many challenges regarding sample size, duration, and cost.

The change came about because of findings from the study to advance bone mineral density as a Regulatory Endpoint Project, also known as the SABRE project.

What is the SABRE project, and how did it arrive at these findings? How will this decision affect the...

The endocrine workforce shortage is affecting the lives of endocrinologists and the patients they treat. Many practices would benefit from any support that would give endocrinologists more capacity to focus where they really need to. Could advance practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, be able to provide that support if they had a little more training?   The Endocrine Society and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners? (AANP) think so. Together they have developed a new program called Clinical Advantage: Endocrinology Certificate for Advanced Practice Providers. What does the certificate represent, how does the program work?   To help an...

There is a lot of interest in automated insulin delivery systems, and they were covered in depth at the Endocrine Society’s Type 1 Diabetes Fellows Series, held earlier this year. Joining host Aaron Lohr to talk about these delivery systems is Grazia Aleppo, MD, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University and a presenter at the T1D Fellows Series. Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp96-automated-insulin-delivery-systems — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

There are plenty of studies showing that chemicals found in the environment can directly impact human health. Some new research finds that certain environmental compounds may trigger early female puberty. Joining host Aaron Lohr to talk about that research is Natalie Shaw, MD, a Lasker clinical research scholar and principal investigator of the pediatric neuroendocrinology group in the Clinical Research Branch of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Shaw and colleagues authored an article recently published in the journal Endocrinology titled, “Identification of Environmental Compounds That May Trigger Early Female Puberty by Activating Human GnRHR and KISS1R.” Show...

It’s been a few years, but we are here with an update on acromegaly, covering prevalence, diagnosis, traditional treatment, new therapies, and current gaps in understanding. Host Aaron Lohr talks again with Maria Fleseriu, MD, professor of medicine and professor of neurological surgery at Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and director of OHSU’s Pituitary Center. Dr. Fleseriu also serves on the Board of Directors of the Endocrine Society. Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp94-update-on-acromegaly — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

Host Aaron Lohr talks with Rita Kalyani, MD, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and president-elect of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association. Earlier this year, Dr. Kalyani and colleagues published a position statement in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism titled, “Prioritizing Patient Experiences in the Management of Diabetes and Its Complications: An Endocrine Society Position Statement.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp93-patience-experience-in-managing-diabetes — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

In this episode, we talk about pheochromocytomas. Host Aaron Lohr talks with Nikhitha Chandrashekar, MD, who recently finished her endocrinology fellowship at University Hospitals Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. Dr. Chandrashekar presented a case study on pheochromocytomas at ENDO 2024. Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp92-pheochromocytomas — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

Our bodies typically do a remarkable job of recovering from certain injuries, and thyroid hormone signaling has an essential role to play there. But what is that process like for someone with hypothyroidism, and is there a unique role in that process for muscle stem cells? Host Aaron Lohr talks with Paola Aguiari, PhD, a senior research specialist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She presented an abstract at ENDO 2024 titled, “Hypothyroidism Impairs Skeletal Muscle Regeneration After Injury.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp91-hypothyroidism-and-muscle-regeneration — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https...

We all know that stress leads to a number of negative outcomes. In this episode, we talk about how early life stress may influence youth substance use initiation and some endocrine factors that may be helping to drive that influence. Host Aaron Lohr talks with Alexandra M. Donovan, PhD, of the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Donovan recently presented an abstract at ENDO 2024 titled, “Early Life Stress and Pubertal Predictors of Youth Substance Use Initiation: Does Sex Moderate the Relationship Between Early Life Stress, Puberty, and Substance Use Initiation?” Show notes are available at https://www.endo...

In this episode, we talk about brown fat and some new discoveries in how it regulates metabolic function. Joining host Aaron Lohr is Marsel Lino, PhD, a research fellow at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Dr. Lino presented an abstract at ENDO 2024 titled, “A New Layer of Endocrine Regulation: Brown Fat Secretes Exosomal MicroRNAs, Which Regulate Metabolic Functions and Distal Organs.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp89-brown-fat-and-metabolic-function — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

Many people take over-the-counter supplements for a variety of reasons, but it isn’t always clear what’s in those supplements. And while they may be intended to help, some may cause harm. In this episode, host Aaron Lohr talks with Kevin Wei, MD, from the University of Southern California/Los Angeles General Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program about the presence of glucocorticoids in some over-the counter supplements and why that may be a concern. Dr. Wei and colleagues presented an abstract at ENDO 2024 titled, “Characterizing the Physiological Side Effects of Over-the-Counter Arthritis Supplements.” Show notes are available at https...

For those of us who try to lose weight at some point in time, we know the frustration of losing weight and feeling good about that, only to see that weight return. Why does that happen? Is the process the same for adults and adolescents? Is there any way to mitigate that weight regain? Joining host Aaron Lohr is Eric Bomberg, MD, assistant professor at the Center for Pediatric Obesity Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Bomberg recently presented an abstract at ENDO 2024 titled, “Hormonal and Physiological Changes Following Short-Term Weight Loss in Adolescents With Obesity and the Role of...

In this episode, we focus on the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act legislation and the obesity epidemic. Host Aaron Lohr talks with U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD, a physician and currently the U.S. Representative for California’s 25th congressional district. Rep. Ruiz received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and a fellowship in international emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Massachusetts. He worked as an emergency room doctor at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., until he was elected to Congress in 2012. Rep...

In a special episode, we discuss a complex, rare disease, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, or FOP. Host Aaron Lohr talks with three guests: Eileen M. Shore, PhD, Cali and Weldon Research Professor in FOP and co-director of the Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Elisabeth Marelise W. Eekhoff, MD, PhD, endocrinologist, principal investigator, and medical specialist at Amsterdam University Medical Center in the Netherlands; and Michelle Davis, executive director of the International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association. This episode is certified for 0.5 American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1™ cred...

We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is not healthy for anyone, but just how strongly is physical activity connected to lipid levels in childhood? Host Aaron Lohr talks with Andrew Agbaje, MD, PhD, a physician and pediatric clinical epidemiologist at the University of Eastern Finland. He has authored a study recently published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism titled, “Associations of Sedentary Time and Physical Activity From Childhood With Lipids: A 13-Year Mediation and Temporal Study.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp83-sedentary-time-and-physical-activity-effects-on-childhood-lipid-levels — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https...

In this episode, we learn about endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which break down so slowly that they have been called “forever chemicals.” Where can PFAS be found? What exactly is their effect on human health? What are manufacturers doing to limit exposure, and is it enough? Host Aaron Lohr talks with Benson T. Akingbemi, PhD, professor of anatomy and developmental biology at Auburn University. Dr. Akingbemi and colleagues recently published an article on PFAS in the journal Endocrinology titled, “Legacy and Emerging Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Regulate Steroidogenesis in the Male Gonad.” Show notes are availabl...

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than two in five adults have obesity in the United States, and nearly one in three is overweight. To equip health care practitioners with the resources they need to treat patients with obesity, the Endocrine Society recently held its innaugual obesity fellows program, an exclusive, application-based, educational activity for current fellows. The program covered a wealth of information, and host Aaron Lohr talks with Amy Rothberg, MD, DABOM, program chair and a clinical professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. If you weren’t able to a...

We all know that sleep is important, but sometimes we just don’t get enough. We also know the normal side effects from lack of sleep, but are there other, metabolic, and neuronendocrine effects from short sleep that we don’t know about. Host Aaron Lohr talks about this with Iris CM Pelsma, an academic researcher at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. She and her colleagues presented a study earlier this year, at ENDO 2023, titled, “Metabolic and Neuroendocrine Adaptability Following One Night of Partial Sleep Restriction in Dutch Males.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast...

Today’s topic is type 1 diabetes. What are some of the biggest challenges facing us today when it comes to diagnosing and treating type 1 diabetes, and how can we meet those challenges? Host Aaron Lohr talks with Irl Hirsch, MD, from the UW Diabetes Institute at the University of Washington. Dr. Hirsch and Davida Kruger, NP, from Henry Ford Health in Detroit co-chaired the Endocrine Society’s type 1 diabetes fellows series. That program and this podcast episode were both made possible by unrestricted, educational grants from Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., CeQur Corp., Dexcom, Insulet, JDRF, Lilly USA LLC, MannKind Corp., Novo...

We know that illicit use of anabolic-androgenic steroids is dangerous, but cessation comes with its own challenges. Today we’re talking about a study presented at ENDO 2023 titled, “Self-Administration of Post-Cycle Therapy Is Associated With Increased Probability of Subsequent Normalisation of Reproductive Hormones Following Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Cessation in Men.” Joining host Aaron Lohr to talk about it is one of the study authors, Channa Jayasena, MD, PhD, a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and a research team lead at Imperial College London. Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp78-post-cycle-therapy-following-anabolic-androgenic-steroid-cessation — for helpful links or to hear more podcast...

We look at a study, presented at ENDO 2023, about the endocrine-disrupting chemicals known as phthalates, or plasticizers, and their effects on fetal and neonatal endocrine puberty. Host Aaron Lohr talks with Mary Bunnell from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, co-author of the study, titled, “Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Alters the Pattern of Fetal and Neonatal Endocrine Puberty in a Sex-specific Manner.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp77-phthalates-and-endocrine-puberty — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast

From ENDO 2023, host Aaron Lohr talks with Jayalakshmi Udayasankar, MD, from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, about her team’s research presented at the meeting, titled, “Tingling Over Cheek: An Atypical Presentation of Invasive Fungal Sinusitis in an Ambulatory Patient With Type 2 Diabetes.” Show notes are available at https://www.endocrine.org/podcast/enp75-a-case-study-on-fungal-sinusitis-in-t2d — for helpful links or to hear more podcast episodes, visit https://www.endocrine.org/podcast