JANUARY 2016 THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR ENDOCRINOLOGISTS JANUARY IS THYROID MONTH: IsIBitiSki Biotin Skewing Your Y Patient’s Test Results? YouYou may be treating them for somethingsome they don’t even have TheT Colorful Saga of Radioiodine Therapy HowHow a legendary thyroid treatment evolved from one man’s simple question Is Thyroid Cancer Screening Going to the Dogs? These pups have a remarkably high success rate in detecting cancer MMENTORINGENTORING IINN TTHEHE LLABAB Cultivating a new generation of researchers 22016016 LLAUREATEAUREATE AAWARDWARD WWINNERSINNERS Meet the new class of endocrinology pioneers Proud to be one of the nation’s largest comprehensive endocrinology programs. We’re one of the largest multidisciplinary programs to offer comprehensive evaluation and management of pediatric obesity. With cutting-edge research and a clinical and academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, our diabetes program is one of the largest in the nation and was the first to receive the Disease Specific Care Certification for Diabetes by The Joint Commission. Home to the only transgender pediatric program in the southwestern United States, our endocrinology team is making major strides in health care. Visit childrens.com/excellence to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY 2016 FEATURE 26 | Clash of the Titans: THE SAGA OF RADIOIODINE THERAPY The history of treating the thyroid with radioiodine is fraught with battles in labs, universities, prestigious medical journals, and even World War II. BY DEREK BAGLEY COVER STORY FEATURE PRACTICE RESOURCES 12 | Beware 17 | 2016 Laureate 34 | Who Let of Biotin Award Winners the Dogs Out? More patients are taking the dietary For more than 70 years, the Endocrine Thyroid cancer-sniffi ng dogs have a supplement biotin, which could be Society has recognized the achievements of remarkable success rate. But will the throwing off a number of test results endocrinologists worldwide. Take a look at this medical community — as well as patients from thyroid cancer to Graves’ disease. year’s distinguished recipients who join the list — accept these canine diagnosticians? of prestigeous practitioners and researchers. BY ERIC SEABORG BY GLENDA FAUNTLEROY ENDOCRINE NEWS | JANUARY 2016 | 1 JANUARY 2016 FROM THE EDITOR 2016: THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR ENDOCRINOLOGISTS The Year of Endocrinology Endocrine News is a registered trademark owned by the Endocrine Society. Endocrine News informs and engages the global ELCOME TO THE 100TH YEAR OF THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY! endocrine community by delivering timely, accurate, Endocrine News is going to use every month of 2016 to celebrate this and trusted content covering the practice, research, W and profession of endocrinology. remarkable milestone. First off , there is a year-long editorial calendar that celebrates Th e mission of the Endocrine Society is to advance the “Year of Endocrinology,” and January is devoted to the thyroid. To that end, excellence in endocrinology and promote its essential and integrative role in scientifi c discovery, medical while we will be showcasing some of the history of thyroid treatment, we are also practice, and human health. featuring some newer developments as well. President: Lisa H. Fish, MD lisafi [email protected] And what better way to kick of this momentous year than with a tribute to our President-Elect: Henry M. Kronenberg, MD 2016 Endocrine Society Laureate Award winners (p. 17)? Here you’ll fi nd all 17 [email protected] laureates as well as the citations written by the professionals who nominated them Past President: Richard J. Santen, MD [email protected] for these prestigious awards. From educators and practicing physicians to scientists Secretary-Treasurer: Kenneth H. Hupart, MD and “endocrine ambassadors,” we are all very fortunate to be able to rub elbows [email protected] with these living legends of endocrinology. Executive Director & CEO: Barabara Byrd Keenan [email protected] Our cover story, “Beware of Biotin” (p. 12) by Eric Seaborg addresses how the use of Chief Publications Offi cer: Richard O’Grady, PhD, CAE this popular dietary supplement can distort the results of a variety of thyroid tests. [email protected] Editor: Mark A. Newman In fact, there have been more than a few cases of misdiagnoses by very experienced [email protected] endocrinologists because the patients didn’t think to mention that they were Associate Editor: Derek Bagley taking biotin. Colorado-based endocrinologist, Carol Greenlee, MD, became so [email protected] concerned about the eff ects of this supplement that her offi ce has huge signs that Art Director/Design: Catherine Neill Juchheim, CNJ Creative, LLC read “Are you taking biotin?” www.cnjcreative.com Production Manager: Cynthia Richardson As we dig into the history of treating thyroid ailments, associate editor Derek [email protected] Bagley looks at the discovery of using radioiodine to diagnose thyroid cancer in Prepress & Printing: Cenveo Publishing Services www.cadmus.com “Clash of the Titans: Th e Saga of Radioiodine Th erapy” (p. 26). From one simple Endocrine News® is published 12 times a year question being asked by a curious young physician in 1936, a therapy that has by the Endocrine Society, 2055 L Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 saved thousands of lives was born. From the past to the future, we look at the Phone 202-971-3636 • Fax 202-736-9708 phenomenon of using dogs to sniff out thyroid cancer (“Who Let the Dogs Out?” www.endocrine.org. p. 34). Sure, a pooch is a lot less invasive than a fi ne needle aspiration biopsy, but Print ISSN 2157-2089 Online ISSN 2157-2097 Copyright © 2016 by the Endocrine Society. will the medical community — and patients — accept this four-legged method? All rights reserved. Th e results have been promising, but a lot more studies are needed before this • For reprints, please contact [email protected]. becomes commonplace. • Please send letters to the editor, comments, and suggestions for Endocrine News® to [email protected]. • Product print and product online display advertising, In honor of the Society’s 100th year, we are debuting a couple of new features with by Pharmaceutical Media, Inc., contact Joe Schuldner, this issue. One of our goals for 2016 was to get the membership more involved [email protected], or John Alberto, [email protected]. • For classifi ed print advertising by Pharmaceutical Media, Inc., with Endocrine News, and to that end we have a new monthly column called “Why Dan Simone, [email protected] Endocrinology?” where your colleagues speak from the heart about what led • For classifi ed online advertising by [email protected] Th e statements and opinions expressed in Endocrine News® are those them to choose this amazing and exciting fi eld. In this month’s installment, Vin of individual authors and do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Tanchpricha, MD, from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, talks Endocrine Society. Advertising appearing in this publication does not constitute about his father’s infl uence on his career choice (p. 6). And check out the Endocrine endorsement of its content by Endocrine News or the Endocrine Society. News Dashboard (p. 5) for some quick bits of info. Enjoy the Year of Endocrinology; it’s going to be an exciting 12 months! — Mark A. Newman, Editor, Endocrine News 2 | JANUARY 2016 | ENDOCRINENEWS.ORG IN THIS ISSUE JANUARY 2016 6 7 31 12 34 2 | FROM THE EDITOR 7 | TRENDS & INSIGHTS 38 | ADVOCACY Celebrating thyroid treatment’s A look at the latest research: low Society supports USPSTF’s women’s past, present, and future. selenium linked to increased thyroid health research; Congress approves www.endocrine.org disease risk; developmental progestin $2 billion research increase; 4 | PRESIDENT’S VIEWPOINT exposure linked to impaired Changes to MOC Follow us on Twitter: The centennial countdown has cognitive function; incretin agents @Endocrine_News started! 2016 will be a year-long and pancreatic cancer risk, viagra 40 | INTOUCH celebration of endocrinology as improves insulin sensitivity New senior staff ; PCOS scientifi c well as the Endocrine Society. statement published; NYT praises 31 | LABORATORY NOTES Society’s EDC work. 5 | DASHBOARD BACK TO SCHOOL A snapshot at what’s trending in Endocrine News takes a look at 45 | CLASSIFIEDS the world of endocrinology. how one lab took mentorship to a Career opportunities new level by recruiting both grad 6 | WHY ENDOCRINOLOGY? students and a high school student. 47 | HORMONE HEALTH A father’s profound infl uence results BY DEREK BAGLEY NETWORK in a renowned endocrinologist. An informative handout for patients BY VIN TANGPRICHA, MD, PHD about thyroid cancer. ENDOCRINE NEWS | JANUARY 2016 | 3 PRESIDENT’S VIEWPOINT The Centennial Countdown Has Started! HE SOCIETY HAS COME A LONG WAY FROM JUNE Th e Sawin Memorial Lecture is titled, “A Biographical Tof 1916 when a group gathered at the American History of Endocrinology,” and will be presented by D. Lynn Medical Association’s meeting to explore creating a Loriaux, MD, PhD. Several Meet-the-Professor speakers will professional society for those working in the fl edgling fi eld provide a historical overview of their topics, and a debate on of endocrinology. Th at discussion resulted in the founding of the safety of growth hormone therapy in children will open the Association for the Study of Internal Secretions with 300 with a special historical review. Th e Society’s booth will charter members. Do you know when the name was changed have areas dedicated to the Centennial, and a History Wall to the Endocrine Society? (See below for the answer!) will be prominently displayed in the Convention Center. In January, the celebration for the Society’s 100th birthday Th e celebration will continue at the Clinical Endocrinology kicks off with the launch of a new Centennial website, Update program, September 8 – 10, 2016, in Seattle where www.ESCentennial.org.