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Entera Bio’s investigational parathyroid hormone compound called Oral PTH (1-34) appears to be able to increase calcium levels in patients with hypoparathyroidism, interim results from a Phase 2 trial show. It can also increase blood levels of active vitamin D and reduce phosphate levels — two other hallmarks…

People with chronic hypoparathyroidism are at higher risk of developing other illnesses — including heart disease, stroke, infections, and epilepsy — than the general population, especially those whose disease did not result from neck surgery,  a study finds. The study, “Increased Mortality and Morbidity in Patients with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism: A population…

With the U.S. midterm elections now less than two weeks away, patient advocacy groups are solidly focused on a range of hot-button issues, from the Orphan Drug Tax Creditand affordable health insurance to future funding for rare disease research. Yet “whether Democrats take over the House or Senate, or…

Advanced age does not increase the risk of postoperative complications in patients older than 70 who undergo a total thyroidectomy — a surgical procedure that removes the entire thyroid gland — a prospective study shows. The study, “Advanced age does not increase morbidity after total thyroidectomy. Result of…

A renowned expert on metabolic bone disorders, including hypoparathyroidism, Michael A. Levine’s groundbreaking professional achievements earned him the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2018 Frederic C. Bartter Award. Levine, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and medical director of the Center for Bone Health at Children’s Hospital…

Half a year has gone by since disgraced pharma executive Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for securities and wire fraud while heading San Diego-based Retrophin. As founder and CEO of another company (then known as Turing Pharmaceuticals), in late 2015 Shkreli bought the rights…

Post-surgical hypoparathyroidism is a common temporary complication in patients who undergo thyroid removal surgery, occurring more frequently in patients with inflammation of the thyroid, known as thyroiditis, a study has found. However, permanent hypoparathyroidism, lasting more than six months after…

The injection of carbon nanoparticles during surgery to remove thyroid cancer and central lymph nodes is helpful to protect the parathyroid glands from damage and prevent temporary hypoparathyroidism, a recent study suggests. The study, “Short and Long-Term Potential Role of Carbon Nanoparticles in Total Thyroidectomy with Central…

More than 700 medical experts, pharmaceutical executives, patient advocates, and others are expected to converge on Washington, D.C., next month for the 2018 NORD Rare Diseases & Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit. The Oct. 15-16 event, sponsored by the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), takes place at the…

Measuring the levels of parathyroid hormone and blood calcium levels 24 hours after a total thyroidectomy (the surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland) can predict which patients may develop permanent hypoparathyroidism, according to researchers from China. Their study, “Prediction of permanent hypoparathyroidism by parathyroid hormone and serum…