Search

Lithium is an efficient treatment of bipolar disorder. Besides renal insufficiency, many endocrine side effects are described such as the occurrence of thyroid disorders, hypercalcaemia and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Lithium inhibits the secretion of thyroid hormones. The prevalence of goiter is 4 times more common in Lithium-treated patients compared as to the general population. Hypothyroidism (8-20%) is more frequent in women and in case of pre-existing thyroid autoimmunity. Grave's disease and other hyperthyroidisms are sometimes reported. Lithium stimulates the proliferation of parathyroid cells by activating the Wnt pathway. An increase in serum calcium and PTH is described in patients treated with Lithium with a 4 to 6-fold higher risk of primary hyperparathyroidism than in the general population. Nevertheless, 24-hour urine calcium is not often increased, and the phenotype can mimic a hypercalcemia-hypocalciuria syndrome that may regress with Lithium discontinuation. Surgery should be cautious since parathyroid hyperplasia is more common than parathyroid adenoma. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is frequently reported and may be debilitating, sometimes intricated with severe dehydration, hypernatremia, and acute renal insufficiency. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is not generally reversible after Lithium discontinuation, especially in patients who have chronic kidney disease due to interstitial tubule nephritis. In conclusion, clinical assessment (goiter, diuresis) and biological monitoring of serum calcium, sodium creatinine, TSH and lithium are recommended in patients receiving Lithium therapy. The risk of Lithium discontinuation in case of side effects should be weighed against the psychological risk, and must be discussed with the psychiatrist.

Despite the increased demand and worsening burnout among U.S. endocrinologists, there is a paucity of data on job satisfaction and associated factors. This study examines the factors associated with job satisfaction among a nationally representative sample of U.S. endocrinologists.We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1700 U.S. adult endocrinologists on the Facebook group "Endocrinologists." The survey was conducted over 4 weeks using an anonymous online questionnaire. The 45-question survey assessed job and salary satisfaction scores on a 5-point Likert scale along with multiple job-related variables. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the factors affecting job satisfaction.Out of 1700, 654 adult endocrinologists (504 women and 139 men) completed the survey. The mean job satisfaction score was 3.72 ± 0.86, with 67.5% having high job satisfaction. Comparatively, 339 (52.1%) had high salary satisfaction. There was a statistically significant relationship between the job and salary satisfaction scores (P.01). Factors significantly associated with the job satisfaction score (P.05) included the practice region, gender, number of medical assistants per endocrinologist, self-performance of thyroid ultrasound, and number of patients in the hospital per week. Multivariate analysis showed that full-time employment, along with high salary satisfaction, seeing fewer new patients per day, performing thyroid ultrasounds, and fewer patients in the hospital were associated with the highest job satisfaction.This study found about one-third of endocrinologists to have lower job satisfaction and identified multiple modifiable factors associated with endocrinologists' job satisfaction. Interventions focused on these potentially modifiable factors may improve job satisfaction among U.S. endocrinologists.

Hypothyroidism is a common adverse event of various anticancer treatment modalities, constituting a notable paradigm of the integration of the endocrine perspective into precision oncology.The present narrative review provides a comprehensive and updated overview of anticancer treatment-induced hypothyroidism in patients with solid non-thyroid tumors. A study search was conducted on the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus.com, ClinicalTrials.gov, and European Union Clinical Trials Register from 2011 until August 2021.In patients with solid non-thyroid tumors, hypothyroidism is a common adverse event of radiotherapy, high-dose interleukin 2 (HD IL-2), interferon alpha (IFN-α), bexarotene, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi), and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), while chemotherapy may induce hypothyroidism more often than initially considered. The path forward for the management of anticancer treatment-induced hypothyroidism in patients with solid non-thyroid tumors is an integrated approach grounded on five pillars: prevention, vigilance, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. Current challenges concerning anticancer treatment-induced hypothyroidism await counteraction, namely awareness of the growing list of related anticancer treatments, identification of predictive factors, counteraction of diagnostic pitfalls, tuning of thyroid hormone replacement, and elucidation of its prognostic significance. Close collaboration of oncologists with endocrinologists will provide optimal patient care.

To present our experience in the clinical follow-up of patients undergoing a gastric bypass.Description of six cases under follow-up by our unit after undergoing a gastric bypass at another private centre.The 6 patients presented complications, the most notable being the death of one patient due to severe malnutrition and the need for revision surgery in another for the same reason, destabilisation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in another patient and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in all of them.There are few publications that support the safety of gastric bypass as a treatment for obesity. In our experience, it is a technique associated with a high rate of serious complications. As it is a technique that is not yet standardised, we consider that these cases should be operated on in centres where there is a multidisciplinary team with expertise in the management of possible complications, with close follow-up by surgeons and endocrinologists.

Adrenal schwannomas (AS) are rare tumours arising from Schwann cells. Due to the high prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas, running into very rare adrenal tumours has become a possibility for high volume expert centres. So far, the clinical behaviour and the radiological characteristics of AS make the pre-operative diagnosis of AS extremely challenging. Due to limited information available, we wanted to summarise the main features of this tumours, in order to raise the profile of an uncommon disease.We performed a MEDLINE and EMBASE research to review the literature. We found 57 case reports and case series and a total of 169 cases, including 2 more cases found in our Institutions. We collected data regarding year of publication, sex, age, and, when available, clinical presentation, hormonal data, radiological features, tumour site and size, treatment, histology and follow-up.We analysed and discussed the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics of cases identified, underlying the critical aspects of assessment and management of these tumours which still remain questioned, as, currently, pathologic examination is the only way to make the diagnosis.The pre-operative diagnosis of AS is more than challenging and pathologic examination is so far the only way to make a certain diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to consider also the AS in the list of possible diagnoses when faced with a large not secreting adrenal tumour, with suspicious radiological features.

Objective Obesity is globally recognized as a critically important disease by professional medical organizations in addition to the World Health Organization and American Medical Association, but the health care systems, medical teams, and the public have been slow to embrace this concept. Methods American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) staff drafted the survey, and two endocrinologists independently reviewed the survey questions and modified the survey instrument. The survey included inquiries related to practice and patient demographics, awareness of obesity, treatment of obesity, barriers to improving obesity outcomes, digital health, cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle medicine, anti-obesity medications, weight stigma, and social determinants of health. The survey was emailed to 493 endocrinologists, with 305 completing the study (62%). Results Ninety-eight percent of the responders agree that obesity is a disease, while 2% neither agree nor disagree. 53% of respondents are familiar with the term "adiposity-based chronic disease." 13% of the respondents are certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). 57% of the respondents use published obesity guidelines as a resource for treating patients with obesity. Most endocrinologists recommend dietary and lifestyle changes, but fewer prescribe anti-obesity medication (AOM) or recommend bariatric surgery. ABOM-certified endocrinologists are more likely to use a multidisciplinary approach. Conclusion Self-reported knowledge and practices in the management of obesity highlight the importance of a multimodal approach to obesity and foster collaboration among healthcare professionals. It is necessary to raise awareness about obesity among clinicians, identify knowledge gaps and create educational tools to address those gaps.

To manage of 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), transition medicine from pediatric to adult health care is an important process and requires individually optimized approaches. We sent cross-sectional questionnaire surveys on the current status of transition from pediatric to adult health care in 21-OHD patients to all councillors of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology. Many pediatric departments (42.2%) experienced adult 21-OHD patients, and 115 patients (53 males, mean age of 26) in 46 institutions were identified. Whereas almost two-thirds of pediatric endocrinologists regarded the problems of counterparts and cooperation as hindrance of transition medicine, the major reason for continuing to be treated in pediatrics was the patient's own request. The prevalence of long-term complications including obesity, osteoporosis, infertility, menstrual disorder, gender dysphoria, and testicular adrenal rest tumor were 27.5%, 8.8%, 11.1%, 26.3%, 7.1%, 12.5%, respectively, which is comparable to those of other cohorts previously reported. However, several items, especially infertility and osteoporosis were not checked well enough in adult 21-OHD patients treated in pediatrics. Though 44 of 62 female patients had genital reconstructive surgery, more than half of them were not followed up by gynecologists or pediatric urologists. Quite a few adult 21-OHD patients had been followed up in pediatrics even after coming of age; however, surveillance by pediatric endocrinologists of gynecological, reproductive, and mental problems may be insufficient. Therefore, multidisciplinary approaches should be required in transition medicine for 21-OHD and prerequisite for graduation of pediatrics. Pediatric endocrinologists will need to play a leading role in the development of transition systems.

Background To support the primary care sector in delivering high-quality type 2 diabetes (T2D), literature reviews emphasize the need for implementing models of collaboration that in a simple and effective way facilitate clinical dialogue between general practitioners (GPs) and endocrinologists. The overall aim of the project is to evaluate if virtual specialist conferences between GPs and endocrinologists about patients living with T2D is clinically effective and improves diabetes competences and organization in general practice in comparison to usual practice. Methods A prospective, pragmatic, and superiority RCT with two parallel arms of general practices in the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark. All general practices are invited (n = 100). The intervention runs for 12 months and consists of four virtual conferences between endocrinologists and an individual general practice. Before the first conference, an introductory webinar teaches GPs about how to use an IT-platform to identify and manage T2D patients. The main analysis (month 12) concerns the difference between the intervention and control arm. It is expected that the virtual conferences at the patient level will improve adherence to international recommendations on diabetes medication for T2D patients and improve the risk profile with a reduction in glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The study design allows for identifying a significant difference between the intervention (n = 15) and control group (n = 15) regarding the three primary clinical outcomes with a power of 0.8870–0.9941. At the general practice level, it is expected that general practitioners and practice staff in the intervention group will improve self-reported diabetes competence and organization. The control arm will get the intervention when the primary intervention ends (months 12–24), and the intervention arm transitions to a maintenance phase. Discussion The potential of virtual conferences is yet to be fully tapped because of methodological limitations. Studies have also not yet systematically evaluated virtual conferences in the context of chronic care using a high-quality research design. Given the nature of this real-life intervention, general practitioners and endocrinologists cannot be blinded to their allocation to either the intervention or comparison arm. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, United States National Institutes of Health trial ID: NCT05268081. Registered on 4 March 2022.

Two guidelines-one by the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA)/The Obesity Society (TOS), and the other by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)/American College of Endocrinology (ACE)-remain the standard of care in the management of overweight and obesity in adults. However, since the publication of the ACC/AHA/TOS document, several relevant pharmacotherapies have been approved by the FDA, a medication was withdrawn from the market, and several procedures and device types for weight loss have been recommended or FDA-approved. Simultaneously, research in obesity treatment has advanced, and leaders in the field have issued complementary guidance. This article summarizes and synthesizes the 2013 ACC/AHA/TOS and the 2016 AACE/ACE guidelines and includes updates from more recent professional association guidance. Measurement of body mass index is recommended to initiate evaluation for overweight and obesity and determine disease classification. To stage disease severity, weight-related conditions should be assessed. Although lifestyle therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for this disease, both pharmacotherapy and metabolic and bariatric surgery produce greater and more sustained weight loss in treatment-approved populations as compared with lifestyle modifications alone. An ongoing partnership between the patient and clinician is highly recommended to manage this serious, progressive, chronic disease.

Since the first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ongoing efforts have been made to discover an efficacious vaccine against COVID-19 to combat the pandemic. In most countries, both mRNA and DNA vaccines have been administered, and their side effects have also been reported. The clinical course of COVID-19 and the effects of vaccination against COVID-19 are both influenced by patients’ health status and involve a systemic physiological response. In view of the systemic function of endocrine hormones, endocrine disorders themselves and the therapeutics used to treat them can influence the outcomes of vaccination for COVID-19. However, there are very limited data to support the development of clinical guidelines for patients with specific medical backgrounds based on large clinical trials. In the current severe circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, position statements made by clinical specialists are essential to provide appropriate recommendations based on both medical evidence and clinical experiences. As endocrinologists, we would like to present the medical background of COVID-19 vaccination, as well as precautions to prevent the side effects of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with specific endocrine disorders, including adrenal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, autoimmune thyroid disease, hypogonadism, and pituitary disorders.

Changes that COVID-19 induced in endocrine daily practice as well as the role of endocrine and metabolic comorbidities in COVID-19 outcomes were among the striking features of this last year. The aim of this statement is to illustrate the major characteristics of the response of European endocrinologists to the pandemic including the disclosure of the endocrine phenotype of COVID-19 with diabetes, obesity and hypovitaminosis D playing a key role in this clinical setting with its huge implication for the prevention and management of the disease. The role of the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) as a reference point of the endocrine community during the pandemic will also be highlighted, including the refocusing of its educational and advocacy activities.

BACKGROUND: The 2015 American Thyroid Association endorsed less aggressive management for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (LR-PTC). We aimed to identify factors influencing physicians’ recommendations for LR-PTC. METHODS: We surveyed members of three professional societies and assessed respondents’ recommendations for managing LR-PTC using patient scenarios. Multivariable logistic regression models identified clinical and non-clinical factors associated with recommending total thyroidectomy (TT) and active surveillance (AS). RESULTS: The 345 respondents included 246 surgeons and 99 endocrinologists. Physicians’ preference for their own management if diagnosed with LR-PTC had the strongest association with their recommendation for TT and AS (TT: OR 12.3; AS: OR 7.5, p

Objectives To examine main factors that influence the decision to choose pediatric endocrinology as a career among pediatric endocrinologists and assess their work satisfaction or stress level and suggested strategies to increase interest in subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology. Methods A workforce survey was distributed among 1470 members of the Pediatric Endocrine Society. Results The response rate was 37.4%, with 550 members responding. The most common reasons for the respondents choosing pediatric endocrinology were intellectual stimulation (79%), exposure to endocrinology during residency (57%) or medical school (43%), and ability to establish relationships with patients with chronic disorders (54%). Of the respondents, 97% considered intellectual stimulation as the most favorable aspect of the specialty, and 84% considered financial compensation as the most unfavorable aspect of pediatric endocrinology. Majority (77%) were satisfied or very satisfied with their work environment. The mean work-related stress score (0 [none] to 10 [worst]) was 5.7, standard deviation was 2.1, and median was 6 (Q1, Q3: 4, 7). Increased financial compensation for the services and loan payment or forgiveness option were the top strategies suggested to enhance interest among residents for training in the subspecialty. One third (37%) felt that reducing the duration of the fellowship to 2 years would increase interest in training in pediatric endocrinology. Conclusion The pediatric endocrinologists reported overall excellent career satisfaction, indicating the potential to attract high-quality doctors to the specialty. Improving reimbursement and loan forgiveness were the top strategies suggested for increasing interest in subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology.

Objective: Arterial stiffness (ArSt) describes a loss of arterial wall elasticity and is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events. A cardiometabolic-based chronic disease model integrates concepts of adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD), dysglycemia-based chronic disease (DBCD), and cardiovascular disease. We assessed if ABCD and DBCD models detect more people with high ArSt compared with traditional adiposity and dysglycemia classifiers using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). Methods: We evaluated 2070 subjects aged 25 to 64 years from a random population-based sample. Those with type 1 diabetes were excluded. ABCD and DBCD were defined, and ArSt risk was stratified based on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists criteria. Results: The highest prevalence of a high CAVI was in stage 2 ABCD (18.5%) and stage 4 DBCD (31.8%), and the lowest prevalence was in stage 0 ABCD (2.2%). In univariate analysis, stage 2 ABCD and all DBCD stages increased the risk of having a high CAVI compared with traditional classifiers. After adjusting for age and gender, only an inverse association between obesity (body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2)) and CAVI remained significant. Nevertheless, body mass index was responsible for only 0.3% of CAVI variability. Conclusion: The ABCD and DBCD models showed better performance than traditional classifiers to detect subjects with ArSt; however, the variables were not independently associated with age and gender, which might be explained by the complexity and multifactoriality of the relationship of CAVI with the ABCD and DBCD models, mediated by insulin resistance. (C) 2021 AACE. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In the original definition by Klinefelter, Albright and Griswold, the expression “hypothalamic hypoestrogenism” was used to describe functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA). Given the well-known effects of estrogens on bone, the physiopathology of skeletal fragility in this condition may appear self-explanatory. Actually, a growing body of evidence has clarified that estrogens are only part of the story. FHA occurs in eating disorders, overtraining, and during psychological or physical stress. Despite some specific characteristics which differentiate these conditions, relative energy deficiency is a common trigger that initiates the metabolic and endocrine derangements contributing to bone loss. Conversely, data on the impact of amenorrhoea on bone density or microarchitecture are controversial, and reduced bone mass is observed even in patients with preserved menstrual cycle. Consistently, oral estrogen-progestin combinations have not proven beneficial on bone density of amenorrheic women. Low bone density is a highly prevalent finding in these patients and entails an increased risk of stress or fragility fractures, and failure to achieve peak bone mass and target height in young girls. Pharmacological treatments have been studied, including androgens, insulin-like growth factor-1, bisphosphonates, denosumab, teriparatide, leptin, but none of them is currently approved for use in FHA. A timely screening for bone complications and a multidisciplinary, customized approach aiming to restore energy balance, ensure adequate protein, calcium and vitamin D intake, and reverse the detrimental metabolic-endocrine changes typical of this condition, should be the preferred approach until further studies are available.

Abstract: In this review, we compare major points given in the 2021 American Diabetes Association and the 2020 American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology guidelines, in particular, the assessment and management of cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes with a focus on dyslipidemia, blood pressure, and pharmacotherapy in diabetes.

Background A Turner Syndrome (TS) Transition clinic, Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow (RHCG), with paediatric and adult endocrinology/gynaecology teams was established in 1998 with an aim of improving health outcomes in TS throughout the lifespan. Objective To evaluate the success of our TS transition service, focussing on evaluating established follow-up after transfer to adult services. Methods Girls attending the TS Transition clinic at Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow, 1998–2017, were identified. Attendance data were obtained from patient records and an electronic appointment system. We assessed good and late early attendance in our cohort of TS patients as well as established endocrine follow-up, defined as those still attending adult endocrine services 3 years after transfer. Success of TS transition was determined by the proportion of girls in established endocrine follow-up. Results Forty-six girls (median age 18.3 yrs) were identified. Thirty-six, 36/46 girls transferred prior to 2015 and 26 of those (72%) were in established follow-up at 3 years, 22/36 girls had met with an Adult specialist prior to transfer and 14/36 had not met with an adult specialist prior to transfer. Twenty-one (80.7%) were good early attenders (p = 0.10). In the early attenders’ cohort, there was no significant difference between those that had and had not met an adult specialist prior to transfer. Conclusion A significant proportion of girls with TS are currently lost to endocrine follow-up following transfer to adult clinics. Early attendance at an adult clinic appears to predict established long-term follow-up. Strategies to improve early attendance and long-term endocrine follow-up are needed to ensure lifelong health needs are addressed.

On February 12, 2021, Ivan I. Dedov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, an outstanding scientist with a worldwide reputation, celebrates his anniversary. Ivan I. Dedov is a leading clinician, endocrinologist, teacher, experienced organizer of healthcare in Russia. Ivan I. Dedov headed the Russian endocrinology at a difficult stage of its development. Under his leadership, clinical endocrinology, a narrow, largely secondary field, has now acquired the significance of a fundamental and priority clinical discipline.The editorial board of the journal «Problems of Endocrinology» cordially congratulates its editor-in-chief and wishes him good health and many fruitful years for the benefit of Russian endocrinology.

Objectives: To assessed the current practices for the management of thyroid nodules in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Methods : We conducted a descriptive web-based survey to physicians and surgeons involved in the management of thyroid nodules. The survey included questions on referral, ultrasound (US) reporting, fine needle aspiration (FNA), management of thyroid nodules including the approach for indeterminate FNA results, and usage of molecular testing. Results : A total of 311 responders, 155 (49.8%) were endocrinologists. Results showed that referrals and US report lack a number of valuable information including family history (84.9%) and high-risk US features (92.9%). Approximately 263 (84.6%) preferred to include a scoring system or protocol to assess the nodule risk in US report. Approximately 193 (62.1%) sent the patient to interventional radiologists for FNA. Almost half (n=147, 47.3%) repeat the FNA in 2-3 months if the FNA result was a follicular lesion or atypia of undetermined significance and 142 (45.7%) opted for lobectomy for follicular neoplasm or suspicious of follicular neoplasm result. Only 44 (14.1%) performed molecular testing; however, 174 (55.9%) preferred it available. Significant variations in the approach were seen between endocrinologists versus non-endocrinologists. Conclusion: Practices variation in the management of thyroid nodules mandate a common practical guideline. Molecular testing is a preferable test for indeterminate FNA results by most of the responders though it is not widely available. Saudi Med J 2021; Vol. 42 (1): 66-74 doi: 10.15537/smj.2021.1.25591 How to cite this article: Jammah AA. Practice of thyroid nodule management in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Saudi Med J. 2021 Jan;42(1):66-74. doi: 10.15537/smj.2021.1.25591.

Acromegaly is a rare disease. Improvements in lifespan in these patients have recently been reported due to transsphenoidal surgery (TSS), advances in medical therapy, and strict criteria for defining disease remission. This document reports the opinions of a group of Italian experts who have gathered together their prolonged clinical experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of acromegaly patients. Both GH and IGF-I (only IGF-I in those treated with Pegvisomant) are needed in the diagnosis and follow-up. Comorbidities (cardio-cerebrovascular disease, sleep apnea, metabolic derangement, neoplasms, and bone/joint disease) should be specifically addressed. Any newly diagnosed patient should be referred to a multidisciplinary team experienced in the treatment of pituitary adenomas.

Allgrove syndrome (Alacrimia, Achalasia, Adrenal insufficiency, AAAS) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystem disease characterized by chronic adrenal insufficiency, alacrimia and achalasia of the cardia. This disease is often associated with various neurological disorders, amyotrophy, in such cases, it is named 4A and 5A syndrome, but sometimes there is also 2A syndrom. The occurrence of the disease is due to a mutation in the gene AAAS (12q13), which encodes the protein ALADIN. Here is a clinical observation of a patient with Allgrove syndrome. The patient had a typical clinic: alacrimia, achalasia, adrenal insufficiency, convulsive syndrome. However, a neurological disorder, manifested by convulsive syndrome, passed with time. Despite the full clinical picture, the diagnosis was made only after 14 years. Allgrove syndrome was verified through genetic analysis revealed a pathogenic mutation c.43CT gene AAAS. Progression of the severity of alacrimia and need of glucocorticoids over time was noted. We shown the difficulty of diagnosis is due to the lack of awareness of clinicians about the disease, the importance of interdisciplinary interaction, as well as the need for follow-up of such patients.

Despite evidence that pregnancy planning improves outcomes, in Italy, as in many other countries worldwide,50% of women with diabetes prepare their pregnancy. The aim of this study was to document training and knowledge on diabetes and pregnancy (DP) among diabetes professionals.We administered an anonymous online questionnaire, focused on diabetes and pregnancy planning, to diabetes team members. Between Nov-2017 and Jul-2018, n = 395 professionals (60% diabetes/endocrinology/internal medicine specialists, 28% fellows) completed the survey. Fifty-nine percent of the specialists, mainly (78%) those completing their fellowship after 2006, reported having received training on DP during fellowship. Considering specialists reporting training, 43% correctly identified fetal risks of inadequate preconceptional glucose control and 55% maternal risks, 38% identified risks associated with overweight/obesity, and 39% would prescribe hormonal contraception to women with diabetes only if glucose control is good.The results of our survey suggest the need to improve training and awareness of professionals in the area of diabetes and pregnancy.

Objectives Engaging young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the self-management of daily tasks and decision-making provides opportunities for positive health outcomes. However, emerging adulthood and care transitions are associated with decreased clinic attendance and diabetes complications. Shared decision-making (SDM) is an optimal approach for health decisions; however, it has been difficult to implement in practice. Personal health record (PHR) technology is a promising approach for overcoming such barriers. Still, today, PHRs have yet to root themselves into care and present an opportunity for improvement in SDM and engagement in self-management decision-making. The objective of this study was to confirm a functional model of an integrated shared decision-making-personal health record system (e-PHR) by young adults with T1D and care providers. Methods User-centred design approach whereby young adults with T1D, 18 to 24 years of age, and care providers matched PHR functions for the SDM process to confirm an e-PHR functional model. Results An e-PHR functional model justified by young adults (n=7) and providers (n=15) was confirmed. The conceptual design was architected within an interconnected digital health ecosystem and integrated 23 PHR functionalities for SDM with a moderate level of agreement between patients and providers (Cohen kappa 0.60 to 0.74). Conclusions The establishment of an e-PHR functional model is a precursor to system design requirements. Results highlight the conceivable value of integrating SDM into PHRs for engagement of young adults with T1D in self-management decision-making. Design implications highlight key challenges for future research and system development, including information exchange across disparate systems, usability considerations and system intelligence for information personalization and decision-support tools.

AIM To evaluate how many people with type 2 diabetes receive a treatment regimen with insulin as a first-line therapy and the factors associated with this. METHODS This retrospective study was based on data from the Disease Analyzer database and included 10 497 people with type 2 diabetes with an initial prescription of anti-hyperglycaemic therapy from 859 general and diabetologist practices in Germany between January 2014 and December 2018. The main outcome of the study was the prevalence of insulin as a first-line therapy. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to investigate the association between predefined variables and the probability of receiving insulin as a first-line therapy. RESULTS A total of 7.1% of participants received insulin as a first-line therapy. Diabetologist practice [odds ratio (OR) 2.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81-4.06], age > 80 years (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.20-4.61) compared with age ≤ 40 years, HbA1c ≥ 86 mmol/mol (10%) (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.81-4.95) compared with HbA1c

The world is entering an era of disaster and chaos due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Since its first emergence in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, COVID-19 has swept through Asia and propagated throughout the world to Europe and North America. As of April 13, 1,773,084 people were infected and 111,652 people had died from COVID-19 globally, and new record levels of infection are being reported every day. Based on the data that have been amassed so far, the primary risk factors for a severe disease course or even mortality from COVID-19 are underlying diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. As the global prevalence of diabetes continues to increase, patients with endocrine diseases such as diabetes mellitus and those who are on long-term corticosteroid therapy due to adrenal insufficiency or hypopituitarism are at risk for a poor prognosis of COVID-19. As endocrinologists, we would like to briefly review the current knowledge about the relationship between COVID-19 and endocrine diseases and to discuss what we can do for the safety and health of our patients with endocrine diseases in this globally threatening situation.

Context Physician burnout is a national problem that has gained increasing attention among the medical community. Many organizations like the American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine are taking action. Evidence Acquisition Endocrinologists and other members of the endocrine community are not immune to burnout. Approximately 47% of endocrinologists report feeling burnt out or have experienced symptoms of burnout, and this number is rising. Evidence Synthesis The consequences of burnout include personal factors such as stress, depression, and risk of suicide as well as organizational impacts like decreased quality of care, increased clinical errors, reduced empathy for patients, decreased patient satisfaction, and higher turnover rates, with some physicians leaving practice altogether. Burnout has substantial economic impacts at an organizational level, and high costs are associated with replacing, recruiting, and retraining endocrinologists. Endocrinologists identified feeling a lack of respect from administration, excessive bureaucratic tasks, increased computerization, emphasis on profit that has contributed to loss of control over schedules, and insufficient compensation as top contributors to burnout. One strategy to address burnout is to focus on the promotion of joy in work. Joy in work is guided by 4 key themes: meaning, camaraderie, choice, and equity. Each of these themes can be implemented through cocreating solutions. We discuss how each theme can be addressed among endocrine practices. Conclusion Ultimately, initiatives need to be implemented across the endocrinology community to cultivate joy and reduce burnout.

Background Video consultations are promoted as a tool to effectively supplement paediatric diabetes outpatient care. However, knowledge about attitudes of diabetes professionals towards this new technology is lagging behind. Diabetologists and diabetes nurses participating in a controlled study (the VIDIKI study) with monthly video consultations for children with type 1 diabetes were interviewed about their experience with this type of communication. Research Design and Methods Guideline-based qualitative interviews with 9 telemedicine experts (7 paediatric diabetologists and 2 diabetes nurses) and 7 paediatric diabetologists who agreed to the telemedical co-treatment of their patients were analysed using qualitative content analysis, in particular inductive category formation. Results Diabetes experts reported generally positive attitudes towards video consultations. They identified a number of unique benefits of telemedical interventions, including higher frequency of contacts, greater sense of patient´s safety, ability to interact with patients in their own homes, more timely and accurate medical monitoring, and improved data management. Additionally, it was important to the experts to maintain regular face-to-face consultations and to ensure close communication between telemedicine and outpatient clinical experts. Conclusions Prerequisites for successful video consultations include a comprehensive initial technical training and an agreement on treatment responsibilities of all health care professionals involved in the patient’s care. Under these conditions, the experts reported significant advantages of video consultation in the treatment of children with type 1 diabetes.

Introduction: The optimal management for patients with small, low-risk thyroid cancer is often debated. We aimed to characterize the attitudes and beliefs of providers and patients about management of small, low-risk thyroid cancer and how they relate to overtreatment. Methods: We conducted 34 semi-structured interviews with surgeons (n = 12), endocrinologists (n = 12), and patients with

Some recent clinic and population-based studies suggest that severe short stature is not associated with significant behavioral and psychological problems, however collectively studies on this topic are variable and frequently contradictory. In light of these contradictory sources, it is important to recognize that there may be some children for whom growth failure is disabling. Many of such children can respond to counseling and support, but there may be occasions in which therapy can be recommended. Resiliency can be defined as a pattern of positive adaptation in the context of past or present adversity with resiliency in childhood defined as typical development in the face of adverse circumstances that propel others to deleterious outcomes. Several strategies for promoting resilience in short stature patients and their families include 1) conducting a comprehensive psychosocial assessment; 2) recommending psychological strategies to directly address predictable social challenges associated with short stature; 3) discouraging the expectation that taller stature is associated with improvement in quality of life and; 4) discussing treatment efficacy in terms of the degree of certainty and magnitude of effects. Recognizing time constraints in clinical settings, these approaches can be carried out across multiple visits. Being aware of, honoring, and addressing factors the parent and patient use in making their treatment decisions has the potential to promote resiliency in patients and families. This approach to clinical care can serve to promote resiliency in clinicians as well.

BACKGROUND Studies demonstrate that children with type 1 diabetes may not be meeting exercise recommendations. This, coupled with the lack of data on the determinants of exercise promotion in youth, may indicate a need for additional focus on exercise guidelines and promotion in youth with type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to understand provider perspectives regarding exercise promotion in children with type 1 diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS An online survey regarding perspectives on exercise was emailed to Pediatric Endocrine Society members. RESULTS Of the 84 respondents, 85.5% believe counseling regarding exercise recommendations is a priority. However, 87.8% did not identify Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) guidelines correctly and 79.3% did not identify American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines correctly. Providers who exercised regularly (P = .009) and providers who identified ODPHP guidelines correctly (P = .004) were more likely to identify ADA guidelines correctly. Providers who identified ADA guidelines correctly were 4.21 times (OR 4.21; 95% CI 1.30-13.7) more likely to make good recommendations and those who discussed recommendations at diagnosis were 6.10 times (OR 6.10; 95% CI 1.76-21.2) more likely to make good recommendations. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate provider perspectives of exercise promotion in children with type 1 diabetes. We found provider recommendations were not consistent with ADA exercise guidelines and most providers were not fully aware of the recommendations. Future research should address increasing provider education regarding exercise guidelines and developing exercise promotion tools.

Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a complex disease. The best outcomes are reported with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach, where each member works collaboratively according to his/her expertise. However, which health provider should act as the team leader (TL) has not been determined. The TL should be familiar with the management of diabetes, related complications and comorbidities. He/she should be able to diagnose and manage foot infections, including prompt surgical treatment of local lesions, such as abscesses or phlegmons, in an emergent way in the first meeting with the patient. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports, Italy is one of countries with a low amputation rate in diabetic patients. Many factors might have contributed to this result, including 1)the special attention directed to diabetes by the public health system, which has defined diabetes as a "protected disease", and accordingly, offers diabetic patients, at no charge, the best specialist care, including specific devices, and 2)the presence of a network of diabetic foot (DF) clinics managed by diabetologists with medical and surgical expertise. The health care providers all share a "patient centred model" of care, for which they use their internal medicine background and skills in podiatric surgery to manage acute or chronic needs in a timely manner. Therefore, according to Italian experiences, which are fully reported in this document, we believe that only a skilled diabetologist/endocrinologist should act as a TL. Courses and university master's degree programmes focused on DF should guarantee specific training for physicians to become a TL.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing number of trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals are seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy for gender transition. Little is known about the levels of training, experience and confidence of endocrinologists in providing care and lack of training and experience is a potential barrier to individuals seeking appropriate and timely health care. We aimed to assess the level of training and confidence of Australian endocrinologists and trainees in the endocrine management of trans and gender diverse individuals in a representative sample. DESIGN: Endocrinologist and trainee members of the Endocrine Society of Australia were invited to participate in an anonymous 14-item survey. Of the 545 members, 147 clinicians (95 adult endocrinologists, 2 paediatric endocrinologists and 50 endocrinology trainees) responded. RESULTS: When presented with a scenario regarding commencement of gender-affirming hormone therapy, only 19% felt confident providing clinical care to TGD individuals. Compared to other areas of endocrinology, 75% felt less or not at all confident in commencing hormone therapy in a TGD patient. No training in transgender medicine during medical school or during their endocrinology training was reported by 96% and 60%, respectively. There were significantly higher levels of confidence in all aspects including performing a consultation in those who had previously seen a TGD patient. The desire for more training was high (91%). CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the shortfall in training in TGD health care amongst endocrinologists and show that prior clinical experience is associated with higher levels of confidence. Medical schools and endocrinology fellowship training programmes will need to adapt to meet the increasing demand for quality TGD health services.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a polygenic endocrine disorder caused by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Depending on the period of a woman’s life, the clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment tactics of the disease are different. PCOS has a complex of reproductive, metabolic and psychological characteristics. The target audience of these clinical recommendations are obstetrician-gynecologists, endocrinologists, general practitioners, general practitioners. In these clinical guidelines, all information is ranked according to the level of persuasiveness of recommendations and the reliability of evidence, depending on the number and quality of studies on this issue.

Background The 2021 Year in Thyroidology- Recent Developments and Future Challenges: Clinical Science Review featured key clinical research within five categories: Thyroid Nodules and Cancer, Thyroid Function and Thyroid Eye Disease, Thyroid and Pregnancy, Thyroid and Pediatrics, and Disparities in Thyroid. Methods A literature search of PubMed from November 2019 to August 2021 was performed to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles published in English and with a focus on human subjects. Results There were three nominees for each of the five categories and one featured manuscript per category. The featured manuscripts had the most potential to change clinical practice, focused on a novel topic, and/or included of strong methodology. Conclusions There were many strong publications on thyroid between November 2019 and August 2021; the 15 nominees and five featured manuscripts span a breadth of topics and methodologic approaches. The featured manuscripts all have potential to change practice patterns or to stimulate further research that will ultimately change practice patterns.

Adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a syndrome characterized by adverse phenotypic, metabolic, and quality-of-life features. Over the past 2 decades, there is accumulating evidence demonstrating improvement of most of these parameters when GH is optimally replaced. Appropriate selection of patients at risk of GHD is crucial when considering and performing testing to establish the diagnosis. While generally safe, GH replacement requires careful dose initiation and monitoring to assure effectiveness and tolerance in treated patients. Several consensus clinical practice guidelines recommend evaluation of adults presenting with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders for GHD. However, the clinical practice of managing such patients varies among countries largely due to lack of recognition of the condition, lack of GH availability, and lack of reimbursement of the drug, as demonstrated from a large online survey prepared by the European Society of Endocrinology involving 2148 patients from Europe and Australia. These data reinforce the notion of the large variability of disease recognition, clinical practice and education of adult GHD amongst healthcare professionals, and the lack of availability and reimbursement of the drug contributing to the under-utilization of GH replacement therapy in several countries. This commentary article highlights the fact that despite the publication of several guideline recommendations and positive long-term safety and efficacy data of GH replacement, there is still a need for increased education to enhance the awareness in the general population and improve the knowledge of healthcare professionals and administrators of adult GHD as a disease state to allow for early identification and treatment optimization.

This committee opinion provides practitioners with suggestions for optimizing the likelihood of achieving pregnancy in couples or individuals attempting conception who have no evidence of infertility. This document replaces the document of the same name previously published in 2013 (Fertil Steril 2013;100:631-7).

It is well accepted by the medical literature that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an extremely heterogeneous condition and that a multidisciplinary approach, involving gynecologists, endocrinologists, primary healthcare providers, mental health professionals, and nutritional professionals, especially dietitians, is fundamental to provide an immediate care and to counteract long-term risk factors related to the comorbidity of PCOS. Although lifestyle modifications are the first step intervention in the treatment of PCOS, unfortunately, the involvement of dietitian in clinical practice remains sporadic. The goal of this viewpoint is to put a greater emphasis on the role of dietitian in the management of PCOS by highlighting frequently faced difficulties in the clinical settings and the importance of a three-step nutritional care: accurate assessment; lifestyle, nutritional, and supplementary intervention; long-term follow-up. The intention is to raise awareness among dietitians themselves and other health providers as well as to express an exceeding necessity of evidence-based guidelines formulated specifically for nutritional professionals, which would allow a uniform approach with respect to heterogeneity and complexity of PCOS at the international level.

Context Little is known about provider specialties involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and management. Objective Characterize providers involved in diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. Design/Setting/Participants We surveyed patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from the Georgia and Los Angeles County Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries (N = 2632, 63% response rate). Patients identified their primary care physicians (PCPs), who were also surveyed (N = 162, 56% response rate). Main outcome measures (1) Patient-reported provider involvement (endocrinologist, surgeon, PCP) at diagnosis and treatment; (2) PCP-reported involvement (more vs less) and comfort (more vs less) with discussing diagnosis and treatment. Results Among thyroid cancer patients, 40.6% reported being informed of their diagnosis by their surgeon, 37.9% by their endocrinologist, and 13.5% by their PCP. Patients reported discussing their treatment with their surgeon (71.7%), endocrinologist (69.6%), and PCP (33.3%). Physician specialty involvement in diagnosis and treatment varied by patient race/ethnicity and age. For example, Hispanic patients (vs non-Hispanic White) were more likely to report their PCP informed them of their diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.68; 95% CI, 1.24-2.27). Patients ≥65 years (vs Conclusions PCPs were involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment, and their involvement was greater among older patients and patients of minority race/ethnicity. This suggests an opportunity to leverage PCP involvement in thyroid cancer management to improve health and quality of care outcomes for vulnerable patients.

To identify changes in current practice patterns, salaries, and satisfaction by gender and by years in practice among board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) subspecialists in the United States.Cross-sectional web-based survey including 37 questions conducted by the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.Not applicable.None.None.The primary outcome measures were total compensation and practice patterns compared by gender and the type of practice. The secondary outcomes included demographics, the number of in vitro fertilization cycles, surgeries performed, and the morale of survey respondents.There were 370 respondents (48.4% women and 51.4% men). Compared with a similar survey conducted 6 years earlier, a 27% increase in the number of female respondents was observed in this survey. There was a marginally significant trend toward lower compensation for female than male REI subspecialists (17% lower, $472,807 vs. $571,969). The gap was seen for responders with ≥10 years' experience, which is also when there was the largest gap between private and academic practice (mean $820,997 vs, $391,600). Most (77%) felt positively about the current state of the reproductive endocrinology field, and90% would choose the subspecialty again.There has been a substantial increase in the number of recent female REI subspecialists showing less disparity in compensation, and the gap appears to be closing. There is an increasing gap in compensation between private and academic practices with ≥5 years of experience. Reproductive endocrinology and infertility remains a high morale specialty.

To date, there is a lack of international guidelines regarding the management of the endocrine features of individuals with Noonan syndrome (NS). The aim was to develop a clinical practice survey to gather information on current treatment and management of these patients across Europe.A group of 10 experts from three clinical specialities involved in the management of NS patients (clinical geneticists, paediatric endocrinologists, and paediatric cardiologists) developed a 60-question clinical practice survey. The questionnaire was implemented in Survey Monkey and sent to physicians from these three specialities via European/national societies. Contingency tables and the Chi-Squared test for independence were used to examine differences between specialities and countries.In total, responses of 364 specialists (paediatric endocrinologists, 40%; geneticists, 30%; paediatric cardiologists, 30%) from 20 European countries were analysed. While endocrinologists mostly referred to national growth charts for the general population, geneticists mostly referred to NS-specific growth charts. Approximately half of the endocrinologists perform growth hormone (GH) stimulation tests in short patients with low IGF1 levels. Two thirds of endocrinologists begin GH treatment for short patients in early childhood (4-6.9 years), and over half of them selected a threshold of -2 standard deviation score (SDS) according to national growth charts. The main concerns about GH treatment appear to be presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (59%), increased risk of malignancy (46%), and limited efficacy (31%). When asked if they consider HCM as a contraindication for GH treatment, one third of respondents skipped this question, and among those who replied, two thirds selected 'cannot answer', suggesting a high level of uncertainty. A total of 21 adverse cardiac responses to GH treatment were reported. Although most respondents had not encountered any malignancy during GH treatment, six malignancies were reported. Finally, about half of the endocrinologists expected a typical final height gain of 1-1.5 SDS with GH treatment.This survey describes for the first time the current clinical practice of endocrine aspects of NS across Europe and helps us to identify gaps in the management but also in the knowledge of this genetic disorder.

Significant development has occurred in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. We review the most recent guidelines from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology, Endocrine Society, and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis/International Osteoporosis Foundation Guidelines.

Objective Thyroid hormone use is widespread, and prior studies have shown that over- and undertreatment with thyroid hormone are common. Our objective was to understand physician worry regarding risks associated with thyroid hormone therapy, specifically overtreatment or undertreatment. Methods A nationwide survey was administered to physician members of the Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Family Practice, and the American Geriatrics Society. Participants were asked how often they were worried about various risks that may be associated with thyroid hormone over- or undertreatment, that is, cardiovascular complications, bone complications, and poor quality of life due to overtreatment or undertreatment with thyroid hormone. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to determine physician characteristics associated with each worry. Results The response rate was 63% (359 of 566); of those who responded, 128 (36%) were primary care physicians, 114 (32%) were endocrinologists, and 113 (32%) were geriatricians. Overall, 74 (21%) physicians reported that they frequently or always worried about cardiovascular complications, 74 (21%) about bone complications, 111 (31%) about the poor quality of life due to symptoms from undertreatment with thyroid hormone, and 87 (24%) about the poor quality of life due to symptoms from overtreatment with thyroid hormone. Endocrinologists were more likely to frequently or always worry about the patients' poor quality of life due to symptoms from overtreatment (odds ratio, 2.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-3.93) compared with primary care physicians. Conclusion Up to one third of the physicians frequently or always worried about risks resulting from the thyroid hormone overtreatment or undertreatment. More research is needed across specialties to understand physician perceptions of how thyroid hormone therapy impacts the patients' quality of life.

Do-It-Yourself closed loop systems are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative choice for managing type 1 diabetes. In this commentary, the issues that are faced by both the clinician and the person with diabetes are discussed from my perspective.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) offers multiple data features that can be leveraged to assess glucose management. However, how diabetes healthcare professionals (HCPs) actually assess CGM data and the extent to which they agree in assessing glycemic management are not well understood. Methods: We asked HCPs to assess ten de-identified CGM datasets (each spanning seven days) and rank order each day by relative glycemic management (from “best” to “worst”). We also asked HCPs to endorse features of CGM data that were important in making such assessments. Results: In the study, 57 HCPs (29 endocrinologists; 28 diabetes educators) participated. Hypoglycemia and glycemic variance were endorsed by nearly all HCPs to be important (91% and 88%, respectively). Time in range and daily lows and highs were endorsed more frequently by educators (all Ps < .05). On average, HCPs endorsed 3.7 of eight data features. Overall, HCPs demonstrated agreement in ranking days by relative glycemic control (Kendall’s W = .52, P < .001). Rankings were similar between endocrinologists and educators ( R2 = .90, Cohen’s kappa = .95, mean absolute error = .4 [all Ps < .05]; Mann-Whitney U = 41, P = .53). Conclusions: Consensus in the endorsement of certain data features and agreement in assessing glycemic management were observed. While some practice-specific differences in feature endorsement were found, no differences between educators and endocrinologists were observed in assessing glycemic management. Overall, HCPs tended to consider CGM data holistically, in alignment with published recommendations, and made converging assessments regardless of practice.

A crisis is occurring in that reproductive endocrinologists are not doing the surgeries that are a part of their discipline. We list those procedures as a blueprint for training reproductive endocrinologists.