Contact: Arlyn G. Riskind
Director, Media Relations
Phone: (301) 941-0240
Email: ariskind@endo-society.org

Aaron Lohr
Manager, Media Relations
Phone: (240) 482-1380
Email: alohr@endo-society.org

1.   One Sleepless Night can Induce Insulin Resistance in Healthy People
2.   Gymnastic Training Improves Bone Health in Girls
3.   New Patient Fact Sheet on Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Available
4.   Media Registration Now Open for ENDO 2010: The 92nd Annual Meeting and Expo in San Diego, Calif.

1. One Sleepless Night can Induce Insulin Resistance in Healthy People

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), just one night of short sleep duration can induce insulin resistance, a component of type 2 diabetes.

“Sleep duration has shortened considerably in western societies in the past decade and simultaneously, there has been an increase in the prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes,” said Esther Donga, MD of the Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands and lead author of the study. “The co-occurring rises in shortened sleep and diabetes prevalence may not be a coincidence. Our findings show a short night of sleep has more profound effects on metabolic regulation than previously appreciated.”

Previous studies have found that reductions in sleep duration over multiple nights result in impaired glucose tolerance, but this is the first study to examine the effects of only a single night of partial sleep restriction on insulin sensitivity.

In this study, researchers examined nine healthy subjects, once after a night of normal sleep duration (approximately eight hours), and once after a night of four hours of sleep. Insulin sensitivity of each study participant was measured using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp method. This method uses catheters to infuse glucose and insulin into the bloodstream and then determines insulin sensitivity by measuring the amount of glucose necessary to compensate for an increased insulin level without causing hypoglycemia.

“Our data indicate that insulin sensitivity is not fixed in healthy subjects, but depends on the duration of sleep in the preceding night,” said Donga. “In fact it is tempting to speculate that the negative effects of multiple nights of shortened sleep on glucose tolerance can be reproduced, at least in part, by just one sleepless night.”

Donga adds that further studies are needed to evaluate whether interventions aimed at improving sleep duration may be beneficial in stabilizing glucose levels in patients with diabetes.

Other researchers working on the study include: Marieke van Dijk, J. Gert van Dijk, Neinke Biermasz, Gert-Jan Lammers, Klaas van Kralingen, Eleonara Corssmit and Johannes Romijn of Leiden University Medical Center in The Netherlands.

The article, “A single night of partial sleep deprivation induces insulin resistance in multiple metabolic pathways in healthy subjects,” will appear in the June 2010 issue of JCEM.

2.  Gymnastic Training Improves Bone Health in Girls

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), long-term elite rhythmic gymnastics exerts positive effects on volumetric bone density and bone geometry in adolescent girls.

“Previous studies of adolescents have found an association between weight-bearing exercise and increased bone density and bone strength,” said Symeon Tournis, MD, of the University of Athens in Greece and lead author of the study. “Our findings show that training in rhythmic gymnastics significantly improves bone health in adolescent girls. Given that osteoporosis traits start in childhood, it is possible to speculate that if girls maintain their gymnastic training beyond adolescence, even if their training is less intensive, they may have a reduced risk of bone fracture later in life.”

In this study, researchers evaluated the bone health of 49 girls between the ages of 9 and
13 years. Twenty-six of the girls were elite rhythmic gymnasts who had trained for at least two years, and 23 girls had only physical-education related activity. Researchers measured volumetric bone density, bone mineral content and cortical thickness (the outer shell of the bone) in each girl and found that girls who had undergone intensive rhythmic gymnastic training had increased cortical thickness and bone strength.

“There are a small number of studies that have evaluated the effect of weight-bearing exercise on bone mineral density and bone geometry,” said Tournis. “However, to our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of long-term elite rhythmic gymnastics on bone geometry using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) along with detailed evaluation of bone turnover markers.”

The pQCT measures volumetric bone mineral density and cross sectional bone dimensions at peripheral skeletal sites such as the radius and tibia. Another common method used to measure bone density, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is affected by skeletal size, and changes in density may be obscured by changes in skeletal size. The pQCT measures volumetric bone density independent of skeletal size.

“The long-term significance of the skeletal benefits gained by intensive exercise remains uncertain,” said Tournis. “Some studies have shown a decline in bone mineral density after the cessation of training while a recent study has found increases in bone mineral content and cortical thickness in female gymnasts six years after retirement.”

Other researchers working on the study include I. Paspati, P. Raptou, V. Zouvelou, A. Galanos, G.P. Lyritis and N. Pappaioannou of the University of Athens in Greece; and E. Michopoulou, I.G. Fatouros, M. Michalopoulou, D. Leontsini, A. Avlonitou, M. Krekoukia, N. Aggelousis, A. Kambas, I. Douroudos and K. Taxildaris of the Democritus University of Thrace in Komotini, Greece.

The article, “Effect of rhythmic gymnastics on volumetric bone mineral density and bone geometry in premenarcheal female athletes and controls,” will appear in the June 2010 issue of JCEM.

3. New Patient Fact Sheet on Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Available

The Hormone Foundation has published a new bilingual (English/Spanish) patient fact sheet on PMS and PMDD.  It defines these disorders and lists the physical and emotional symptoms for each.  Diagnostic criteria, possible causes, and treatments—lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, and drugs—are also covered. The fact sheet is available online at: http://www.hormone.org/Resources/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=3497

4. News Media Registration Now Open for ENDO 2010: The 92nd Annual Meeting & Expo in San Diego, Calif.

Breaking news on endocrine-disrupting chemicals, obesity, diabetes, hormone therapy and weight-loss surgery will be presented in a series of news briefings

The 92nd Annual Meeting & Expo, taking place in San Diego, CA on June 19-22, 2010, is an unique opportunity for journalists to learn about the latest research in fields as diverse as obesity, endocrine disruptors, diabetes, growth hormones, sex steroids, thyroid cancer and much more. For public information officers, ENDO provides a worldwide stage to promote your institution's research to reporters through news releases and participation by your scientists in news conferences.

To register as media for ENDO 2010, visit http://www.endo-society.org/endo2010/audience/media.cfm. Registered news media receive a badge that provides access to all meeting sessions, as well as to the Newsroom and press conferences. No one will be admitted without a valid ENDO badge.

Live webcasts of the news conferences will be available and reporters will be able to ask questions during each conference. Reporters may register for live news conference webcasts via: www.endowebcasting.com.

News Media Registration Information

Registering as media does not guarantee approval in receiving a press pass. The Endocrine Society will review the credentials of all reporters seeking to attend ENDO to ensure eligibility requirements are met. Media approved for attendance will receive official notification via email from Endocrine Society staff.

Reporter Eligibility

• Working press employed by bona fide news media: must present a press card, business card, or letter of introduction from an editor of a recognized publication.

• Freelance writers: must present a current members card from the American Medical Writers Association or the National Association of Science Writers; evidence of by-lined work pertaining to science, health, medicine, or biomedical research intended for the general public and published within the past two years; or a letter of assignment from a recognized publication.

• Public information officers of scientific societies, medical associations, educational institutions, and government agencies: must present a business card.

• Representatives of for-profit corporations and of the business side of news media must register onsite, pay the appropriate fees, and are not accredited as Press at the meeting.

• Researchers and clinicians who are also reporters and who are presenting at this meeting (oral or poster session) may receive news media credentials if they qualify (see above), but must also register for the meeting and pay the appropriate fee as a presenter.

 

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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.