MaryO

A variety of coffee mugs, including personalized and travel, are now available in the Cushing's Store ?There are currently 54 different products to choose from, all of which support these websites and CUSH.

I've made some with slogans to put on mugs for endos or other supportive people, but I'm open to other ideas if anyone has any thoughts...

The perfect place!  Thanks, Sarah

I'm going nuts here.  I just ordered another Tshirt for me (Cushing's Survivor), a Support Staff for Tom, a beach hat and... well, I really love my coffee, so I made myself a personalized travel mug.  If anyone else would like something similar, just let me know.

If you're interested, you can see what I did   here

The $3.00 sale is only until the 28th.  I don't know if the hats will go back to normal price then, of if they'll disappear until next summer.

Also done in all 9 shirt styles are Cushing's Support Staff, and Cushing's Survivors.

All 36 shirt styles, the hats, mugs, visors and totebag are on one big page click here for the Cushing's Store

The Golf and Baseball shirts don't have any design on the back.  If anyone wants them on, please let me know.

Also, if you want a special order, with your name printed on it, let me know.

As always, each shirt provides $1.00 to the running of this site and $1.00 to CUSH.

The Cushie Crusader shirts (9 styles) are done now.

View everything here: All Cushie products to date

The first of the Hats and Visors are ready. And, they're on sale! ?$3.00 off each. ?I think that means they're going away soon, since the summer's almost over.

View them in http://www.cafepress.com/cp....support

http://health.yahoo.com/search/healthnews?lb=s&p=id%3A25877

Recent Findings from the Women's Health Initiative Trial Regarding Risks and Benefits of Estrogen-Progestin (Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy) in Healthy Postmenopausal Women

July 26, 2002, Acurian

Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital

On July 10, 2002, the results of a large study looking at the effects of hormone replacement therapy (a combination estrogen-progestin pill, also known as Prempro) on healthy postmenopausal women was published. This study, the Women's Health Initiative, is a federally funded, national study. Brigham and Women's Hospital is one of the 16 Vanguard Centers in this study of about 16,000 healthy postmenopausal women, half of whom took a combination pill of estrogen and progestin and the other half took a placebo, or "dummy" pill.

1. Why is this study in the news at this time?

The study was stopped early (after average follow-up time of 5.2 years) because the risk of invasive breast cancer was found to be slightly increased in the women who were taking the estrogen-progestin pills. In addition, the overall risks of the hormones were found to be greater than the benefits at this point.

2. What were the key findings of the study?

There were slight increases in the rates of heart attacks, breast cancer, blood clots in the lungs, and stroke. The total number of women who had these outcomes was very small, but more women in the hormone group had these events than women in the placebo group. Overall, it was calculated that if 1000 women took the medication for 10 years, there would be 7 more heart attacks, 8 more cases of breast cancer, 8 more strokes, and 8 more blood clots in the women who took the hormones compared to those who did not.

3. If I am taking hormone replacement therapy, should I stop?

This depends on why you are taking the medication and for how long. If you have been taking the medication for over five years, you should talk to your doctor about stopping. If you were started on this medication for hot flashes that were preventing you from performing your daily activities, and you have been taking the medication for less than 5 years, you should discuss staying on the medication with your doctor. This would be a good time to review the risks of the medication once again with your doctor.

4. What if I am taking estrogen only?

There is a separate study being conducted by the Women's Health Initiative that is looking at the effects of taking estrogen only (no progestin, such as Provera). This study has NOT been stopped, since so far, there is no evidence of increased risk of breast cancer. You should only be on estrogen alone if you do not have a uterus (in other words, if you have had a hysterectomy). If you are taking estrogen alone and have a uterus, please talk to your doctor about this, since there is an increased risk of uterine cancer in women who have a uterus taking estrogen without a progestin.

5. What about transdermal estrogens (skin patches), or other forms of hormone replacement therapy?

The Women's Health Initiative specifically studied the effects of the combination premarin (conjugated equine estrogens) and provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) since this is the preparation that was shown to be beneficial in previous observational trials. Although these findings do not directly apply to other types of hormone replacement therapy, such as skin patches, synthetic estrogens, or other forms of progestin, there is very little evidence that these other forms of estrogen provide any benefit and they are not recommended at this time.

6. Are there any benefits to being on HRT?

The study did find small decreases in the risk of bone fractures and colon cancer, but these benefits are smaller than the risks listed above. The National Cancer Institute has stated specifically in response to this study, however, that HRT should not be used for the purpose of preventing colon cancer.

7. Is there a greater risk of death for people on HRT?

No, this study did not show an increase in death rates in the women taking the medication.

8. If I choose to stop the medication, can I quit "cold turkey"?

Yes. If you have a return of your menopausal symptoms after quitting, you can go back on the medication and discuss with your doctor a slower tapering of the medication.

9. Do I need to quit taking the medication immediately?

No, this is not an emergency. The absolute risk of being on this medication is still quite low, but enough to raise concerns about staying on the medication long-term. You may wait until your annual appointment with your doctor to discuss more fully.

10. What else could I use for my menopausal symptoms?

Other treatments are available for the treatment of hot flashes, including medications called SSRIs, which are also used for depression or (MaryO Note:  They didn't say what went after the "or"). For symptoms of vaginal dryness, vaginal estrogen preparations may be used, which are absorbed only minimally into the bloodstream. Some patients have used soy supplements or increased their dietary soy intake and have found this to be effective in reducing hot flashes, although there are no good studies proving that soy products are really beneficial.

11. What if I was taking HRT to reduce my risk of osteoporosis or heart disease?

There are several other excellent treatment options for osteoporosis which you should discuss with your doctor. At the present time, there is no evidence that combination hormone replacement therapy prevents heart disease. However, there are other medications that have been shown to prevent heart disease (such as aspirin, cholesterol lowering drugs, and others) and you should discuss whether any of these medications would be of benefit to you. Finally, many lifestyle changes, such as getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, quitting smoking, and limiting your alcohol intake have been shown to be very effective in preventing heart disease.

http://hsc.virginia.edu/medcntr....ch.html

Pituitary Research

The following pituitary research is underway at the University of Virginia Health System.

Neural net analysis in Cushing's disease (Reitmeyer)

Visual disturbances in Cushing's disease - corneal edema, lens alterations, glaucoma (Newman)

IGF-1 pre- and postop

Outcome assessments for Gamma Knife radiosurgery (Vance)

Recovery from pit insufficiency after surgery

Metabolic (functional) imaging of pit tumors treated by medical Rx and Gamma Knife

SPECT studies of pit adenomas (octreotide, MIBG)

Intraoperative measurement of ACTH, GH, PRL (Pajewski)

Genomic instability in recurrent adenomas (Clayton)

Genomic comparisons by age within tumor groups (e.g. PRL, GH, NFA's Cushing's)

Genomic comparisons by tumor subtype for acromegaly

Genomic characterization of aggressive (malignant) adenomas

Probe nl pit for nestin (precursor marker) & correlate with tumors

Characterization of DA unresponsive prolactinomas (receptors, genome)

Hypothalamic hormones as ligands for treatment

ER mutations in pit adenomas (Shupnik)

X- inactivation clonality studies in nl pit, 1? tumors and 2? tumors - sheep pits

IGF-1 and IGF-1R in invasive adenomas (consider also EGPR, VEGF) (Lopes)

CMR or CBF studies in Cushing's (correlation with cerebral atrophy)

TRH Stimulated GN adenoma suspects tested for ? su, FSH, LH

POMC to follow silent ACTH tumors - in situ hybridization for D2 receptors -? monoclonal origin of tumor

Time course of cortisol decrease in operated Cushing's disease patients (Simmons-Thorner)

Outcome assessment of pts. with craniopharyngioma (Rogol)

CDNA probes for MEN-1 genes in sporadic pituitary adenomas

Pituitary tumor cell culture and chemosensitivity testing (Kornblith)

Molecular defects in GH adenomas (Cutler & Selman)

Maintenance and cataloging of pituitary tumor tissue and blood bank (Wagner-Lopes)

Pituitary tumor data base project (Thorner-Boyd)

CDNA libraries for aggressive, recurrent and unusual adenomas

Cerebral atrophy on MRI in Cushing's patients and control

Ok... Cushie Crusader and Cushing's Supporter coming up on all 9 of the shirts and Cushing's Expert, Cushie Crusader and Cushing's Supporter each coming up on the 3 types of hats we have...visor, beach hat and baseball cap.

27 new products - AARRGGHH..........................

Should keep me out of trouble

Thanks, Carrie

Abbott Laboratories' SYNTHROID® (Levothyroxine Sodium Tablets, USP) Confirmed Safe and Effective Through FDA approval

FDA Approves 47-Year Old Drug For Use in Managing Thyroid Disease

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott Laboratories announced today it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy, SYNTHROID® (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP), for thyroid disease management, as replacement or supplemental therapy for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and pituitary thyroid stimulating hormone suppression.  Millions of patients and their physicians have relied on SYNTHROID for decades to maintain their thyroid health.   Formal approval by FDA of SYNTHROID validates its safety and efficacy.  With FDA approval, Abbott is now free to meet full market demand.

"Today's FDA approval is good news for the millions of Americans who rely on SYNTHROID every day to control their thyroid disease," said Jeffrey Leiden, M.D., Ph.D., Abbott's chief scientific officer and president, Global Pharmaceuticals.  "This approval confirms that SYNTHROID is safe and effective.   SYNTHROID is the same drug, and patients should continue to take their medication as they always have."

SYNTHROID is the number one prescribed treatment for hypothyroidism and the second most-prescribed medication overall in the United States.  It is the most-studied levothyroxine sodium product, the subject of hundreds of clinical studies and featured in articles in prominent peer-reviewed medical journals. Major medical societies and patient-focused organizations -- including the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the Endocrine Society, the American Thyroid Association, the Thyroid Foundation of America, and the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association -- publicly supported the continued use of SYNTHROID for the millions of patients on the medication during the FDA's review.  Their support reinforces the importance of this product to patients.

"Today's FDA approval ensures that patients will continue to have access to this vital medication, which has been relied upon by physicians and patients for almost 50 years," said Paul Ladenson, M.D., director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

"The approval of SYNTHROID is an important milestone in Abbott's commitment to patients and thyroid disease," said Dr. Leiden.  "Abbott continues to conduct research to bring new and better treatment options to market."

Levothyroxine Products Are Not Therapeutically Equivalent to SYNTHROID  

The FDA publication, Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (Orange Book), does not list any levothyroxine sodium products as therapeutically interchangeable with SYNTHROID.  Switching SYNTHROID patients to another brand of thyroid medication would require testing and retitration, if necessary.  AACE guidelines recommend that patients who are switched must be retested and retitrated, which would be costly, time consuming, and potentially disruptive to patients.

SYNTHROID Approved as Safe and Effective  

Synthroid is indicated as replacement or supplemental therapy for primary, secondary, tertiary and subclinical hypothyroidism.  Synthroid is not indicated for transient hypothyroidism during recovery of subacute thyroiditis.  Thyroid hormones, including SYNTHROID, either alone or with other therapeutic agents, should not be used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss.  In euthyroid patients, doses within the range of daily hormonal requirements are ineffective for weight reduction.

Larger doses may produce serious or even life threatening manifestations of toxicity, particularly when given in association with sympathomimetic amines such as those used for their anorectic effects.  Levothyroxine is contraindicated in patients with untreated subclinical or overt thyrotoxicosis, acute myocardial infarction, uncorrected adrenal insufficiency, or with hypersensitivity to any of the inactive tablet ingredients.

Levothyroxine should not be used in the treatment of male or female infertility unless this condition is associated with hypothyroidism.  Use with caution in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease.

Adverse reactions associated with levothyroxine therapy are primarily those of hyperthyroidism due to therapeutic overdosage.  If a patient experiences any unusual symptoms, a healthcare provider should be contacted.

The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck just below the Adam's apple and above the collarbone, produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in the body.  Thyroid disease affects an estimated 13 million Americans, but approximately half do not know they have the condition.  Women are five times more likely than men to develop hypothyroidism.

Further information, including SYNTHROID full prescribing information, is available at www.SYNTHROID.com or by calling 1 (800) 255-5162.

Abbott Laboratories is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals, nutritionals, and medical products, including devices and diagnostics.  The company employs approximately 70,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com .

07/24/2002 17:38 EDT

My shirt and totebag came today.  I thought I'd ordered more shirts, so now I have to go back and get some more.  I ordered mine before the change in the back, so I don't have the tollfree number there.

I was thinking about a couple other designs today.  Cushie Crusader on the front and maybe Cushing's Supporter for the others in our lives.

Thoughts?

http://www.acurian.com/patient....lcthtml

Trial Information

Summary: Long-Acting Growth Hormone Study Protocol

The purpose of this Phase I research study is to determine if an investigational, long-acting growth hormone preparation is safe for human use, to measure its levels in blood, and to determine the most effective dose to give to patients who produce less growth hormone than normal.

If you qualify for this study, you would receive either a single dose of the long-acting growth hormone or two doses 7 or 14 days apart. If you receive a single dose, you would spend 24 hours immediately thereafter as an inpatient in the Clinical Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania and then make 12 or 13 outpatient visits there during the next 27 days. If you receive two doses, you would spend 24 hours as an inpatient at the Clinical Research Center after each of the two doses and then make 17 or 18 outpatient visits there during the next 34 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

Ages 18 - 65 years

Pituitary or hypothalamic disease causing deficiencies of thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal hormones

Replacement of thyroid, adrenal, and gonadal hormones

Exclusion Criteria:

Acromegaly

Active significant acute or chronic disease

Diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus erythematosus or carpal tunnel syndrome

Cancer within the last 5 years except for adequately treated skin cancer

Allergy to yeast products

Pituitary surgery within the last 3 months

Pregnancy or nursing

Contact:

Louise Loh, RN, Research Coordinator

University of Pennsylvania Health System

Division of Endocrinology

First Floor Maloney Building

36th and Spruce Streets

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Telephone: 215-898-5664

Fax: 215-662-4500

Email: lohl@mail.med.upenn.edu

http://www.acurian.com/patient....lcthtml

Summary: Hypopituitary Control and Complications Study

Dr. Stanley Korenman of UCLA's Division of Endocrinology is conducting a study to look at the effects of the long-term use of Growth Hormone Therapy (Humatrope, an FDA approved medication). The study involves measurements of blood levels of hormones, bone density and body fat every 6 months for 5 years (a total of 11 visits).

Study Criteria:

Be over 18 years of age

Have known pituitary disease, either as a child or as a result of pituitary tumors

Be taking hormone replacement

Have health insurance

Be interested in Growth Hormone Therapy

Contact:

Care Felix, Clinical Research Coordinator

UCLA Medical Center

Office of Clinical Trials

10900 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 170

Los Angeles, CA 90024

Telephone: 310-794-8900

Fax: 310-794-8902

Email: cfelix@mednet.ucla.edu

Ok...toll-free number added, but I don't know how legible it is

I was going to, and I might add it later, but I'm having trouble geting volunteers to answer it.  You know I can't do that all the time...or often

Here's the front and back of most of them.

http://www.cafeshops.com/cp....es#zoom

Some have the front centered, and some are over to the side.  Some, like the golf shirt and the baseball shirt are front only.

The baseball one has black, red or blue sleeves.

T-shirts are now here!  See them at http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=cushings

Size Chart

Jr. Baby Doll T-shirts

Small (0-2)

Medium (2-6)

Large (6-12)

T-shirt, Long Sleeve, Sweatshirt, Tank Tops

Small (34-36)

Medium (38-40)

Large (42-44)

X-large (46-48)

2X-large (50-52)

3X-large (54-56)

4X-large (58-60)

Each provides $1 profit to CUSH and $1 for the running of these boards and websites.

Available are:

White T-Shirt, $15.99 each, Perfect for wearing to the Convention!

Product Number: 1853115

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

Product Information:

The most comfortable t-shirt ever! Our 100% cotton, Hanes Beefy-T is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.

6.1 oz. fabric - luxuriously soft 100% cotton ring-spun yarn

Double-needle coverseamed neck

Taped shoulder-to-shoulder

Double needle sleeve and bottom hems

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

Jr. Baby Doll T-Shirt, $16.99 each

Product Information:

Our super soft 100% combed cotton, ribbed baby doll T-shirt from American Apparel will keep you in style. Special details include 1/2" binding on neck and sleeve with 1" bottom hem.

Size Note: Small fits women sizes 0-2, medium fits women sizes 2-6, and large fits women sizes 6-12.

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

Tank Top, $15.99 each

Product Information:

When the temperature rises, our 100% cotton Hanes Tank Top will help keep you cool. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.

5.5 oz. fabric made with 100% cotton open-end yarn

Durable binding around the neck and armholes prevents stretching

Double-needle bottom hem

Preshrunk to minimize shrinkage

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

Ladies Tank Top, $15.99 each

Product Number: 2691569

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

Product Information:

Always in style, our 100% cotton ladies tank top from Anvil will keep you cool when the temperature rises. Preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.

Pre-shrunk heavyweight 5.6 oz. 100% cotton.

Fashion cut for ladies.

Bound-on rib around neck and armhole.

Double needle bottom hem.

Golf Shirt, $18.99 each

The back is blank.

Product Number: 2691576

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

Product Information:

The perfect casual wear for the office, our Anvil golf shirts are made of 100% preshrunk, heavyweight cotton. Soft fashion knit collar and rib sleeve bands. Two woodtone buttons on a clean finished placket with 1/4" reinforced box. Double needle bottom hem.

5.6 oz preshrunk heavyweight cotton

Knit collar

Banded sleeves

Two woodtone buttons

Baseball Jersey, $18.99 each

No image on the back

Product Number: 2691591

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

Product Information:

Our 100% Cotton Baseball Jerseys are popular with both men and women. Choose either Red or Black sleeves.

100% Preshrunk Cotton

5.9 oz Jersey (Tubular)

? Raglan Sleeves

Double Needle Sleeves

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

Long Sleeve T-Shirt, $20.99 each

Product Number: 2691608

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

The most comfortable t-shirt ever! Our 100% cotton, Hanes Beefy-T is preshrunk, durable and guaranteed.

6.1 oz. fabric ? luxuriously soft 100% cotton ring-spun yarn

Double-needle coverseamed neck

Taped shoulder-to-shoulder

Double needle sleeve and bottom hems

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

Sweatshirt

$22.99 each

For the winter

Product Number: 2691617

In Stock: Will ship in 2-3 business days.

Product Information:

Stay warm with our Hanes Heavyweight 50/50 cotton/polyester sweatshirts. Thick (but not bulky), comfortable, durable and guaranteed.

9 oz. patented PrintPro? fabric in a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend

Double-needle coverseamed collars, armholes and waistband

Densely knit fabric for a smooth printing and embroidery surface

Spandex trim in the neck, cuffs and waistband

Preshrunk to minimize shrinkage

Our printing is better than ever ? full of detail and color ? and virtually fade resistant wash after wash.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm....ne_dc_1

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The image of hormone replacement therapy, battered by last week's revelation that the risks can outweigh the benefits in the long term, received another blow from researchers on Tuesday.

They report that women who take estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for a long period of time have a higher-than-average risk of developing ovarian cancer.

However, Dr. James V. Lacey, Jr. and his colleagues at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland found that women who take short rounds of estrogen that is combined with progestin seem to have no higher risk of ovarian cancer than women who have never taken HRT.

Typically, only women who have had their uterus removed take estrogen alone because the hormone is known to increase the risk of cancer of the uterine lining. Women who have a uterus take estrogen in combination with progestin, which cuts the cancer risk.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Lacey stressed that these results only suggest a link between ovarian cancer and estrogen replacement therapy and do not prove that ovarian cancer is a direct result of the estrogen.

Previous research into long-term use of estrogen did not connect it with an increased risk of ovarian cancer, the authors note, which demonstrates how easily the state of knowledge can change.

Given the recent report that estrogen/progestin combinations can increase the risk of heart disease and breast cancer when taken for more than 4 years, the choice of whether or not to take HRT can be quite complicated, Lacey added. That study found that estrogen/progestin decreased the risk of colon cancer and hip fractures, but the risks of other problems outweighed the benefits.

A second study due in 2005 will determine if estrogen alone increases the risk of heart disease and breast cancer.

"Because hormone therapy may influence so many conditions that affect women after menopause--cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, breast cancer, uterine cancer, gallbladder disease, blood clots, and now potentially ovarian cancer--we should no longer think of a woman basing her decision to use hormones on the potential risk of just one condition," he said.

While millions of women choose HRT to reduce menopausal symptoms, many used it as a preventative therapy to reduce their risk of heart disease or the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis.

The findings, reported in the July 17th issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, are based on a follow-up of 44,241 women who began taking HRT when they were an average of 57 years old. Some of the women had a hysterectomy but still had one or both of their ovaries.

During the study period, 329 women developed ovarian cancer. Women who took estrogen for longer periods of time had a higher risk of the disease, and the researchers noted a 7% increase in risk associated with every extra year of estrogen use.

Those who took estrogen for at least 10 years were twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer and those who used the drugs for 20 or more years were three times as likely to develop ovarian cancer as those who did not take the hormone, the report indicates.

An important caveat, Lacey and his team note, is that this study included women who began taking HRT in the 1970s, when the therapies contained higher doses of estrogen than what is in use today. "Whether long-term use of lower-dose estrogen replacement therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer is not known," they write.

Women who took estrogen/progestin alone, or after using estrogen alone, appeared to be no more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not take hormones, the study reports. However, the jury is still out on whether estrogen/progestin combinations can have an impact on ovarian cancer risk, the authors note.

"This recent emergence of an increased risk (of ovarian cancer) in long-term (estrogen) users should remind investigators that it is premature to conclude that estrogen/progestin replacement therapy has no association with ovarian cancer until other large studies specifically assess ovarian cancer risk among persons with short-term or long-term estrogen/progestin replacement therapy use," they write.

In an interview with Reuters Health, Dr. Kenneth L. Noller of Tufts University and the New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts, who wrote an accompanying editorial, said that there is no obvious biological explanation for why estrogen might cause ovarian cancer.

"In general, this is one of those times when we have an observation without a good biological basis," he said. "There seems to be a clear-cut increase in ovarian cancer, but we really don't know why."

The finding is especially puzzling given that long-term use of oral contraceptives, which contain hormones similar to HRT, can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, he noted.

He emphasized that the increased cancer risks reside with women who take HRT for long periods of time. As such, women who have "terrible menopausal symptoms should not be afraid to take HRT for a short period of time," he said.

However, for women with less severe symptoms, the answer is less clear. "With all of the new information about HRT, it seems to me that we must take a new approach to its use," Noller said.

SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;288:334-341, 368-369.

Hi, Susan!  I was wondering how Bernie was doing...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm....es_dc_1

New Cause of Inherited Low Thyroid Disorder Found

Thu Jul 11, 9:28 AM ET

By Alison McCook

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Changes in one gene involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormone may explain some cases of inherited hypothyroidism, or abnormally low levels of thyroid hormone, Dutch researchers report.

The investigators found that a child with a severe thyroid hormone deficiency had inherited mutated forms of both copies of a gene called thyroid oxidase 2 (THOX2), which is involved in the process of producing thyroid hormone. Furthermore, three of eight patients with milder, temporary forms of the condition carried one mutated and one normal copy of THOX2.

"We have found a new cause of congenital hypothyroidism," lead author Dr. Jose C. Moreno of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands told Reuters Health.

The thyroid is a gland in the neck that regulates heart rate, metabolism, growth, mental function, energy and mood. During the first months of life, babies need a lot of thyroid hormone to help their brain develop and mature. However, after around 6 months, the need for thyroid hormone drops significantly, and falls to normal, adult levels a few years later.

Hypothyroidism, the most common form of inherited endocrine disorder, is diagnosed in 1 of every 3,000 to 4,000 babies. The condition is treated by administering extra doses of thyroid hormone.

In some patients born with permanent or temporary hypothyroidism, doctors can pinpoint the cause of the disorder, but in many cases, there is no clear explanation.

In the present study, published in the July 11th issue of The New England Journal of Medicine ( news - web sites), Moreno and his team performed DNA analysis on nine patients with unexplained congenital hypothyroidism and their relatives.

The researchers found that four of the nine patients carried mutations in the THOX2 gene that affect the functioning of the protein it encoded.

However, in the five remaining patients, all of whom carried the mild, transient form of the disease, the investigators did not identify any genetic links to their condition. In an interview with Reuters Health, Moreno said that this lack of finding does not mean no genetic link exists.

"It might be that these five kids have mutations in genes that have not yet been discovered," he suggested.

One striking aspect of these results is that even a temporary form of hypothyroidism can have a genetic basis, Moreno added. Having only one good copy of THOX2 means patients produce lower than needed amounts of thyroid hormone, a problem that seems to disappear later in life once the patient's need for thyroid hormone decreases.

However, the genetic defect that caused the condition never disappears, and some patients may experience a resurgence in symptoms at some point during adulthood, such as during pregnancy, when mothers need more thyroid hormone to feed the brain of the developing fetus, Moreno noted.

Currently, children diagnosed with hypothyroidism are given thyroid hormone for many years. However, if they have only one mutated copy of THOX2, their need for extra hormone may significantly decrease earlier in life. These results may help identify those infants who will no longer need extra doses of the drug after the first several months of life, Moreno said.

And, of course, researchers may one day be able to correct the genetic defect that is causing the condition. "Gene therapy--replacing defective copies of genes by normal genes--remains a possibility in the long-term perspective," Moreno noted.

SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine 2002;347:95-102.

Sunday July 14, 11:33 am Eastern Time

Press Release

SOURCE: Newsweek

Newsweek Cover: 'Beyond Hormone Therapy'

Alternatives to Estrogen Include Diet Changes, Exercise, Cutting Back on Caffeine and Alcohol

NEW YORK, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For many women who choose to stop taking hormone replacement therapy, a host of options are available to treat menopausal symptoms and help ward of disease, reports General Editor Claudia Kalb in the July 22 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, July 15). From diet and exercise changes to herbs and medications, women have many alternatives to estrogen. The age of one-stop shopping may be over, but a new tailored approach to treatment could be even better for women's health in the long run.

For decades, women were told that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) would protect their hearts and preserve their youth. But when federal health officials announced last week that HRT drugs cause significantly more harm than good when taken for long periods, the results sparked a near panic among the estimated 13 million American women now using the drugs. Still, the news may have positively illuminated a fact that could improve future treatment: every woman experiences menopause differently, some sail through, while others spiral into a sweaty, moody exhaustion. "We can never look for one golden scientific truth," says Dr. Christine Northrup***, a holistic gynecologist. "One size does not fit all and never will."

While there are few, if any, long-term conclusive studies on HRT alternatives to combat the symptoms of menopause, some women have noticed improvements after trying other options, some of them quite simple. Cutting back on spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, and increasing aerobic exercise, vitamin E and soy (through foods like tofu and soy milk) can reduce hot flashes. And herbs have been used for hot flashes and night sweats for years. Foods rich in calcium -- milk, nuts, and dark leafy vegetables -- build bone density. And a diet low in saturated fats lowers the risk of cancer and helps reduce cholesterol levels, protecting against heart disease.

Still, last week's findings don't rule out the use of the drug as a short-term remedy for menopausal symptoms and they don't apply to women who take estrogen without progestin following hysterectomy. But for millions of women, juggling the pros and cons of long-term HRT, the new findings offer something virtually unprecedented, which is clarity, report Senior Editor Geoffrey Cowley and Correspondent Karen Springen. But how could it take so long to assess the risks of estrogen? "The incestuous relationship between the pharmaceutical companies and the medical establishment is part of it," says Dr. Susan Love***, a prominent women's health specialist and longtime critic of HRT. "A lot of information doctors get is channeled through the companies. I would bet the average doctor thought this was already proven."

*** Power Surge guests - read their transcripts in the Power Surge Library at http://www.power-surge.com/library.htm