The New Endocrinology

THE NEW ENDOCRINOLOGY
November 16-17

Molecular and genetic biology has revolutionized endocrinology.  Practitioners are beginning to expand their methods to encompass these new concepts.  This course re-examines established principles and practices and offers enhanced alternatives resulting from integrating this new research, nutritional and complementary approaches.  Emphasis is placed on “New Endocrinology” concepts such as reappraising the significance of laboratory tests; the importance of adaptation and maladaptive responses; receptor plasticity with up- and down-regulation of responses; pre-hormones and modification of hormone effects at the tissue level and the significance of hormone balance.  Categories of dysfunction to be discussed include stress and adrenal fatigue; autoimmune thyroid disease, iodine and euthyroid sick syndrome; ageing and steroid sex hormone dysfunction, withdrawal and deficiency in both sexes; challenges to healthy bones and a six-point approach to understand, prevent and resolve the ill-consequences of insulin-resistance.  Actual case reports will be presented to demonstrate organized, Environmental Medicine approaches to these problems.   

This CME activity has been designed to change medical knowledge and patient care, two of the six competencies embraced by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

OBJECTIVES:

·        Review new concepts leading to an improved, functional endocrine paradign; aids in identifying clincal stages of endocrine dysfunction prior to overt failure and investigates the rational use of the laboratory.

• Discuss the central regulation of endocrine function, particularly the effects of stress, cytokines and endocrine feedback in producing adaptive and maladaptive responses.
• Improve patient outcomes by updating normal physiology, the correct interpretation of standard laboratory tests for hormones and their function; to improve patient outcomes by recognizing and diagnosing disorders of the thyroid gland and disturbances of the second level of hormone regulation, the metabolism of T4; by safely and effectively treating patients with various thyroid problems and accurately and effectively monitoring the patient’s response to hormone therapy.
• Identify and investigate challenging thyroid conditions and special considerations (advanced levels), to anticipate and avoid complications of thyroid treatment and to change patient outcomes by recognizing, diganosing and correcting causes of thyroid treatment failure.
• Describe the roles of the adrenal gland in health and in distress, the importance of the relationship between adrenals and the gonads and to change patient care through testing and treatment of patients with varying degrees of compromised function with emphasis on depeleted functional reserve.
• Explain the hormone changes of the ovarian cycle; the use of clinical history and laboratory testing to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances and to change patient outcomes by addressing the problems of the menopausal patient, including acute and chronic hormone deficiency, risks and benefits of replacement therapy, synthetic and bio-identical hormones, optimal hormone levels and balance and treatment alternatives, including SERMs and Phytoestrogens.
• Articule knowledge of the pathogenesis of the Metabolic Syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus; the evolutionary benefits of insulin resistance and the negative impact of modern environment, diet and lifestyle; the damaging effects of high insulin; hormone and metabolic imbalances and other problems caused by untreated insulin resistance and to change patient outcomes by sucessful interventions based on six keys to understanding the condition and four effective limbs of prevention and treatment.
• Identify the physiology of testosterone and aging; issues of hormone production and imbalance; natural, nutritional and pharmaceutical treatments with risks and benefits and to improve patient outcomes by thorough testing, rational treatment and safe follow-up.
• Discuss Vitamins D and K, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and renal dysfunction and change patient outcomes with diagnosis and treatment of patients with disordered calcium homeostatsis.
• Describe an orderly, successful approach to complex patients, including the interview and examination, laboratory and allergy work-up and to improve patient outcomes by integrating properly sequenced therapy and extended laboratory evaluations during appropriate follow-up to restore patients' health.