San Diego, CA - June 7, 2005- Leading researchers on cardiovascular diseases are gathering today at the 87th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society in San Diego to present the latest findings on promising new treatments for various cardiovascular ailments.

Research to be presented includes new trends in Chinese medicine, new uses for growth hormone replacement therapies, risk factors of polycystic ovary syndrome and treatment for atherosclerosis. These four new studies will be presented in a press conference on Tuesday, June 7, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the San Diego Convention Center.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Catches On in Western Culture

Australian researchers report that Chinese medical herbs, or their pharmaceutical byproducts, are becoming increasingly popular in Western countries for the purposes of cardiovascular disease prevention and management, requiring further study of their efficacy.

According to the Monash University research, mixtures of traditional Chinese herbs have been employed for the treatment of Chinese medicine syndromes and are overlapping with cardiovascular syndromes of Western medicine. In particular, the cardiotonic pill (CP) is an example where the medical herb Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge, widely used in Chinese hospitals for the prevention and management of ischemic cardiovascular diseases, has been developed.

The CP is said to confer an extensive range of benefits, but there is little data to support such a conclusion. The Australian team explored possible cellular mechanisms of CP on the cardiovascular system by exposing cultured human vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells to CP at various concentrations for hours to days.

Dr. Paul Komesaroff of Monash University in Victoria concludes that, “While further study is required, there have been beneficial effects. CP appeared to exert a mild inhibitory effect on DNA synthesis and proliferation of endothelial cells. Further, CP inhibits expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in EC and inhibits proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.”

Endothelial Dysfunction in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Greek research finds endothelial dysfunction in young female patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS, increases a woman’s risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, include excess hair growth, irregular menstruation and central body obesity.

Endothelial dysfunction, which is caused by disease and environmental factors, such as smoking, occurs when the normal biochemical process in the cells lining blood vessels fail to work properly.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between markers of endothelial activation, low-grade chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in young women with PCOS. The study involved 25 PCOS women between the ages of 25 and 64 as well as 25 control women. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation on the brachial artery and by ET-1 plasma levels.

Dr. Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis of the Laiko University Hospital, Medical School of Athens, Greece said, “One of the culprits of PCOS may not only be endothelial dysfunction but its association with low-grade chronic inflammatory markers and metabolic and hormonal aberrations.”

Growth Hormone Replacement Effective in Treating Indicator of Clogged Arteries

New research indicates that growth hormone replacement is effective for reducing carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), an indicator of clogged arteries, in healthy adults.

Researchers at the College of Medicine, Kyunghee University in Seoul believe that the elderly are in a functionally deficient growth hormone state due to endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease as well as declining secretion of growth hormone by 14.4% per decade of life.

Using Doppler ultrasonography, 90 healthy elderly patients and six growth hormone deficient patients were injected six times per week for 52 weeks with a dose of recombinant human growth hormone.

“Human growth hormone treatment proved effective in reducing CIMT in the adults we studied.” said Dr. Suk Chon & Sung-Woon Kim of Kyunghee University.

Growth Hormone Treatment Effective in Treating Dangerous Fatty Deposits in Arteries

Norwegian scientists have new research suggesting that growth hormone replacement has a salient impact on the various cardiovascular risks associated with growth hormone deficiency.

Patients with growth hormone deficiency are at increased risk of death and often display a cluster of vascular risk factors. They present visceral fat deposits, lipoprotein disturbances, endothelial dysfunction, and insulin resistance, as well as increased carotid intima-media thickness.

A team at The National Hospital in Oslo studied 55 patients – at a mean age of 49 – with previously untreated adult-onset growth hormone deficiency. They were enrolled in a placebo-controlled crossover study where growth hormone therapy and a placebo were administered for nine months, each separated by a four-month washout period.

“Replacement proved especially beneficial in treating at-risk growth hormone deficient patients who had never been treated this way in the past. The treatment proved particularly favorable in achieving significant reductions in atherogenic lipoprotein and CRP concentrations,” said Dr. Jens Bollerslev of The National Hospital.

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Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world’s oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society’s membership consists of over 12,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.

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Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.