FDA Blocks Imports of 30 Generics from Two Plants in India ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 16 - The FDA said today that it will not permit 30 generic drugs, including formulations of acyclovir, ciprofloxacin, and simvastatin, made at two Ranbaxy Laboratories plants in India, to enter the U.S. More PNA Unveils "Hidden Culprit" Behind a Multitude of Symptoms The September 2008 issue of Your Health Connection ~ The Guide for Total Wellbeing features an interview with Pituitary Network Association CEO Robert Knutzen.  The monthly magazine focuses on all aspects of health and wellness, spanning traditional and a variety of alternative practices with an emphasis on Total Wellbeing. Read Article HIGHLIGHTS has a new format! The PNA HIGHLIGHTS e-Newsletter has been expanded with more articles, columns and medical updates; now brandishing the title of HIGHLIGHTS e-Magazine. To be added to our e-mailing list, send your request to debi@pitutiary.org. A Memo From Our Boss Meet the PNA Staff One in Five - Video on the prevelance of pituitary tumors Are You One in Five? Who IS the PNA? Support Groups - Columbia Acromegaly Patient Education Day October 17 New York, NY - Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery Sept. 22-24, Istanbul, Turkey - Clinical Endocrinology Update 2008  Sept. 25-28, Boston, MA - EMORY Pituitary Day October 11, Atlanta, GA - The AAMFT Annual Conference Oct. 30th - Nov 2nd, Memphis, TN - 13th International Congress of Endocrinology Nov. 08 to 12, Rio de Janeiro - December in the Desert  Dec. 15 to 17, Rancho Mirage, CA It is with great appreciation, we acknowledge our recent sponsor to the PNA: Pfizer is proudly sponsoring the PNA Disorders Section (also listed in the left navigation of this homepage.)               Click here to learn about a treatment option for Acromegaly from Pfizer.       PNA's Satellite Website: Acromegaly.org is now sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals   Get quick answers to your questions about Acromegaly:  - What is Acromegaly?  - Symptoms  - Diagnosis  - Treatment Visit www.acromegaly.org Now in Spanish and English.         PNA Featured in Univision Interview with Dr. Daniel Kelly and Guillermo Huesca Pituitary tumors and disease are discussed in this Univision segment aired 072408 Univision Interview (Espanola) CEO Robert Knutzen Interviewed  on CBS Radio Heaven 1580-AM; July 29, 2008   Acromegaly was the focus of a one hour segment on the popular daily radio program “Cross Talk: Urban Style” hosted by radio veteran Marsha Sumner. Listen to the July 29th interview

FDA Report Questions Osteoporosis Drug. The AP (9/5/08, Perrone) reports that, in a review (pdf) posted on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) website ahead of an advisory committee meeting, the regulator stated that while Fablyn (lasofoxifene tartrate) "effectively treats osteoporosis," it is "concerned about deaths, blood clots, and other problems seen in company studies." Read Article Treatment and follow-up of clinically nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 08/12/08 - Dekkers OM et al. In a trial to evaluate evidence of treatment and follow-up strategies for clinically nonfunctioning adenomas, it was found that clinically nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas, although benign in nature, need individualized treatment and life long radiological and endocrinological follow-up. Read Abstract TV News: Obese teen suffers from pituitary tumor Sept. 4th - KABC-TV in Los Angeles recently featured a story about a Southern California teenager with a prolactinoma who received endonasal pituitary surgery at UCLA to remove a prolactinoma. The doctors believe the hormones released by the tumor were increasing his appetite and causing his extreme obesity. The boy says post-surgery his appetite has been slashed in half and he's finally able to lose weight and be free of debilitating headaches. Comment from PNA's CEO: "Obesity comes in many forms, to just presume it is gluttony or laziness is very irresponsible. Remember-Think-test-treat!" KABC included a link to the Pituitary Network Association’s website on their website as well. View the story MED PAGE TODAY / MD LINX AND OTHER NEWS SOURCES Corticotropin Tests for Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal Insufficiency: A Meta-Analysis Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Diagnostic value of tests for detecting hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal insufficiency (HPAI) is controversial. Eligible studies had more than 10 patients; all subjects were evaluated because of suspicion for chronic HPAI; and patient-level data was available. We excluded studies with no accepted reference standard for HPAI (insulin hypoglycemia or metyrapone test), if test subjects were in the intensive care unit, or if only normal healthy subjects were used as controls. More Long-term prognosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Diagnostic value of tests for detecting hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal insufficiency (HPAI) is controversial. Eligible studies had more than 10 patients; all subjects were evaluated because of suspicion for chronic HPAI; and patient-level data was available. We excluded studies with no accepted reference standard for HPAI (insulin hypoglycemia or metyrapone test), if test subjects were in the intensive care unit, or if only normal healthy subjects were used as controls. More Predictors of level V metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid cancer Cervical lymphadenectomy is frequently performed in patients with lateral cervical lymph node metastases to improve regional control of disease. However, there is no consensus regarding the appropriate levels of the neck that need to be dissected. Treatment options that have been advocated include the modified radical neck dissection, limited neck dissections, and selective nodal excisions. In particular, the routine dissection of level V remains controversial due to the attendant morbidity to the spinal accessory nerve. To identify clinical and pathological predictors of cervical node metastases to level V in differentiated thyroid carcinoma, we reviewed our experience at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for the management of metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer. More Prevalence of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Subclinical primary hypothyroidism is highly prevalent in the general population, especially in the elderly. However, the prevalence of subclinical primary hypothyroidism in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not requiring chronic dialysis is not well defined. More ______________________ Undetected Pituitary Tumors Cause Debilitating Disease The Medical Director at the UCSF California Center for Pituitary Disorders, Dr. Lewis Blevins, M.D., has written an excellent article on Undiagnosed pituitary tumors and the havoc they wreak on patients’ lives. It begins, "Radiologic images, MRI studies and autopsy reports show that one in five people worldwide has a pituitary tumor. These benign neoplasms often remain undetected because they present with a vast array of nonspecific symptoms that physicians attribute to depression, anxiety or malingering. Many patients spend years misdiagnosed as their tumors grow." U.S. Ads Push Patients To Shop For Hospitals The PNA is a big proponent of healthcare accountability. We are working hard to establish the criteria for pituitary centers of excellence. So we took note when USA Today recently published an article about a federal government campaign to rate hospitals. The government is now urging consumers to check the website: hospitalcompare.hhs.gov before they choose a hospital. $300 Million Health Initiative Time Magazine and CNN recently published an article about a new initiative to treat patients before their conditions worsen into an all-out health crisis. The $300 million initiative announced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will fund community health centers in 14 cities. They will target chronic illnesses like asthma and diabetes in an effort to reduce crippling costs from emergency room visits. They hope to provide a model for national health reform. Are Americans failing to get recommended health care? Landmark study finds American adults often fail to get recommended care, posing 'serious threats' to health. The Journal of Neurosurgery publishes an on line peer reviewed journal called NeurosurgicalFocus.  The format of this journal is to present a new "Topic" each month that contains numerous peer reviewed articles.  The Topic for September 2007 is The Diagnosis and Management of Cushing's Disease edited by Dr. William Couldwell. Disability Rights Online News   is a bi-monthly update about the Civil Rights Division's activities in the area of diability rights.  The Division enforces laws prohibiting discrimination based on disability in employment, housing, access to businesses serving the public, access to government programs and services, including voting and public transportation, and unconstitutional conditions in institutions of confinement. Newsletter The September 2008 NIH Public Bulletin has the latest on public events, activities, and health information resources from the National Institutes of Health.  Medscape Newsletters Staying informed of new developments in the world of medicine has never been easier or more convenient. Put your mind at ease This U.S. government health portal, will assure you of legitimate information. HSCNews Bulletin The PNA would like to recommend an excellent organization called the Health and Social Campaigners’ Network International. ______________________ ONCE A PITUITARY PATIENT, ALWAYS A PITUITARY PATIENT. Only through your continued support, can the PNA continue to reach millions with our mission in helping others with pituitary illnesses. With your membership and donations, we will keep the information coming to you, your family and loved ones. All of us at the PNA thank you for coming to our website. If you are not a member of our organization, we encourage you to become a member, take charge of your health and continue to learn how to cope emotionally, mentally and physically with pituitary / hormonal disorders. Stay in touch, and visit often. The PNA website is E X P A N D I N G ! Watch for our new state of the art website, launching at www.pituitary.org in December 2008.