Endocrine Feedback Loop

For our 77th episode, we discuss a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism investigating the role of immune signaling in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), now renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). Using a multiracial case-control design, the authors examined whether PCOS is characterized by chronic inflammation or whether immune dysregulation plays a more central role in its pathophysiology.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt Health, is joined by regular contributor Anna Goldman, MD, from Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Atrius Health, along with guest expert Corrine Welt, MD, Chief of Endocrinology at the University of Utah, to discuss "Multiracial Cytokine Profiling Reveals Immune Dysregulation not Chronic Inflammation in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome." Together, they explore the implications of the syndrome's recent name change, review the study's unexpected findings of lower circulating inflammatory markers in women with PCOS, and discuss the challenges of disentangling the effects of adiposity, metabolism, and immune function. The conversation highlights what these results reveal about the evolving understanding of PCOS and whether they have implications for current clinical practice.

For our 76th episode, we discuss a recent Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism secondary analysis examining pregnancy outcomes among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Drawing on data from the DiGest randomized clinical trial, the study explores whether PCOS influences maternal and neonatal outcomes and whether a reduced-calorie dietary intervention benefits women with these coexisting metabolic conditions.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, is joined by regular contributor Alison Myers, MD, from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, along with guest expert Ellen Seely, MD, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to discuss "Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy outcomes in GDM: A secondary analysis of the DiGest trial" . Together, they examine the challenges of interpreting secondary analyses, the role of PCOS in pregnancy risk, the potential effects of dietary intervention in gestational diabetes, and what these findings mean for the clinical care of women with PCOS and GDM.

How does the severity of Graves disease at presentation affect subsequent methimazole dose titration? Find out more in this month's episode!

For our 75th episode, we review a forthcoming Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism study examining whether the severity of Graves disease at presentation influences methimazole titration and treatment management. Drawing on a retrospective longitudinal cohort of 152 patients, the study provides a real-world look at antithyroid drug dosing and monitoring practices.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MMHC, from Vanderbilt University, is joined by new regular contributor Jonea Lim, MD, from the University of Oklahoma, and guest expert Elizabeth Pearce, MD, MSc, from Boston University. Together, they discuss “Initial disease severity and methimazole titration for Graves' disease: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study” and explore its implications for the clinical management of Graves disease.

Want to learn more? Visit the Episode 75 webpage for additional resources and information about our guests and host.

For our 74th episode, recorded live at ENDO 2026 in Chicago, we review a recent JCEM study that addresses a common clinical question: does levothyroxine need to be taken on an empty stomach?

This randomized clinical trial evaluates a dose-adjusted, non-fasting regimen and finds that a 15% increase with breakfast ingestion achieves TSH stability similar to that with standard fasting dosing. The results also suggest potential improvements in adherence and patient-reported well-being, while highlighting variability in dose adjustments and limitations in generalizability.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, is joined by regular contributor Andy Crawford, MD, from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and guest expert Matt Edelson, MD, from the University of Chicago. Together, they discuss “Fasting versus non-fasting dose-adjusted levothyroxine ingestion in hypothyroidism,” published in the April 2026 issue of JCEM, and consider how these findings may inform patient-centered approaches to medication timing and management.

For our 73rd episode and the start of the seventh season, we review a recent study examining the long-term anti-fracture efficacy of infrequent zoledronate dosing in women with osteopenia. While current clinical approaches typically focus on treating individuals at higher fracture risk, this study explores whether earlier intervention in lower-risk populations may help reduce fracture risk over time.

This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial evaluates the effects of zoledronate administered at extended intervals, with outcomes assessed over a 10-year period. The findings suggest that infrequent dosing may be associated with meaningful reductions in vertebral, major osteoporotic, and overall fracture risk, particularly in the later years of follow-up. The study also examines how fracture risk relates to baseline risk factors and changes in bone mineral density, raising questions about the role of routine monitoring and the timing of preventive therapy.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, talks with regular contributor Amal Shibli Rahhal, MD, from the University of Iowa, and guest expert Thomas Weber, MD, from Duke Health. Together, they discuss “Anti-fracture efficacy of 5 or 10 yearly zoledronate in women aged 50 to 60 years,” published in the April 2026 issue of JCEM, and consider how these findings may inform decisions around early treatment strategies, risk assessment, and long-term fracture prevention in clinical practice.

For our 72nd episode and the final episode of the sixth season, we review a recent study examining the perioperative medical management of primary aldosteronism, with a focus on the use of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists before adrenalectomy. Primary aldosteronism is increasingly recognized as a common and clinically important cause of secondary hypertension, yet questions remain about optimal preoperative treatment strategies. This study explores whether pretreatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists influences postoperative outcomes and longer‑term biochemical cure in patients undergoing surgery.

Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, talks with regular contributor Salila Kurra, MD, from Columbia University, and guest expert Jun Yang, MD, PhD, from Monash Health in Melbourne, Australia. Together, they discuss "Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Pre-Adrenalectomy in Primary Aldosteronism," published in the April 2026 issue of JCEM, and consider how these findings may inform perioperative management and surgical decision-making in clinical practice.

For our 71st episode, we review a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that explores how semaglutide may influence taste perception in women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome. While GLP‑1 receptor agonists are widely used for weight loss, the mechanisms underlying changes in food preference remain less well understood. This study takes a multimodal approach to examine whether semaglutide alters taste recognition, tongue gene expression, and brain responses to food-related cues. Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, talks with regular contributor Na Shen, MD, from UCLA, and guest expert Kalpana Muthusamy, M.B.B.S., MD, from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Together, they discuss "Semaglutide and Taste in Women With Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study," published in the January 2026 issue of JCEM.

For our 70th episode, we review a paper that tries to improve our understanding of remission in Graves’ disease. Long-term thionamide treatment has long been the preferred approach internationally in Graves’ disease, and only more recently here in the U.S. So, the more we know about dosing and how that might encourage or predict remission, the better. This report is an observational study, as is often the case with the papers we look at, so we will discuss how these authors approach this question and share our thoughts along the way. Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University, talks with regular contributor Andy Crawford, MD, from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and guest expert Giuseppe Barbesino, MD, from Harvard Medical School in Boston. They discuss "Impact of Minimal Dose Strategy Before Antithyroid Drug Discontinuation on Relapse Risk in Graves' Disease" by Miyamura et al., published in the August 2025 issue of JCEM.

For our 69th episode, we review a paper in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism on the gut microbiome of adolescents with type 1 diabetes, which hopes to understand differences between those with a normal body mass index compared to obesity. Studying gut microbiomes has been a “hot topic” for several years now, and we are excited to take the opportunity to unpack this work and see how it helps us better understand our patients. We both work through the challenges that come with any observational study and learn more about the specific techniques used by these investigators in this study. Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University talks with regular contributor Ashok Balasubramanyam, MD, from Baylor College of Medicine, and guest expert Åke Lernmark, MD, PhD, professor emeritus from Lund University in Malmö, Sweden. They discuss “Gut Microbial Changes Associated With Obesity in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes” by Ismail et al, published in the February 2025 issue of JCEM.

For our 68th episode, we look at a paper in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism that compares the effect on calcium of initial and subsequent doses of denosumab in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Though concerns have arisen over the years about the problems with stopping denosumab therapy, it remains an appealing medication for some of our patients with CKD. So we thought this report had the potential to change our practice and gave us the opportunity to delve into the challenges around osteoporosis in CKD. Host Chase Hendrickson, MD, MPH, MHCC, from Vanderbilt University talks with regular contributor Amal Shibli-Rahhal, MD, from University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and guest expert Kristin Clemens, MD, from St. Joseph’s Hospital and Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. They discuss “Dose-Specific Effects of Denosumab on Serum Calcium Levels in Patients With Osteoporosis and Various Renal Functions” by Sun et al, published in the July 2025 issue of JCEM.