News – Page 6 – News & Views

November 18, 2021November 18, 2021

Celebrating 100 Years of Insulin Therapy

Before 1922 type 1 diabetes was a rapidly fatal disease. That changed in the span of a few history-changing months. In the summer of 1921 four scientists at the University of Toronto began studying how to extract insulin from the pancreas and made quick progress. The first injection occurred on January 11, 1922, when an experimental insulin extract was administered to an adolescent who was dying of type 1 diabetes, saving his life. Soon thereafter commercial insulin production began and insulin use became widespread. However, there were many shortcomings of early insulin therapy, which was “regular” insulin extracted from cow and pig pancreases. These insulin preparations did not work in a uniform way from person-to-person. Extreme blood sugar swings were common and complications abounded. Thankfully, in the intervening century numerous improvements to insulin preparations and insulin delivery have been made. Dr. Pinnaro and Dr. Tansey from our division have just published an overview of these improvements in the Journal of Diabetes Mellitus. Their review is entitled “The Evolution of Insulin Administration in Type 1 Diabetes” (click on title for link to the article). Despite these improvements, insulin delivery for patients with type 1 diabetes remains imperfect. Importantly to this end, the article also discusses anticipated improvements that may help future generations of persons with type 1 diabetes. We are thankful for all those who worked to discover and improve insulin therapy, and look forward to future improvements! We thus thank all the diabetes research teams who are working tirelessly to improve diabetes care. This includes the Pediatric Diabetes research team here at the University of Iowa, whose dedication and expertise has helped advance diabetes care through carefully run studies. Finally, to those youth and families affected by type 1 diabetes, know that we look forward to every opportunity to work with you to optimize your insulin delivery and diabetes care. Advances in insulin therapy are happening rapidly. If your diabetes control is not what you think it should be, we would love for you to reach out to us to discuss options.

November 17, 2021

Dr. Pesce Appointed to the American Thyroid Association’s Board of Directors

The American Thyroid Association (ATA; link) is arguably the leading organization worldwide dedicated to advancing care of persons with thyroid disorders through research, education, and promotion of clinical excellence. Dr. Liuska Pesce, of the pediatric endocrinologists in our division, has now been named to the ATA’s Board of Directors. As such, she will serve to help guide the ATA as they seek to improve thyroid care. Dr. Pesce has long-standing expertise in thyroid disorders and their treatment. She trained in part under the mentorship renowned thyroid-researcher Peter Kopp. Dr. Pesce joined the faculty at the University of Iowa Stead Family Department of Pediatrics in 2008. Here, she has established herself a leading expert in treatment of pediatric thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone resistance, and thyroid cancers. We are enthused that she will share her expertise with the ATA.

November 9, 2021October 28, 2021

Dr. Kanner talks at the Healthy LifeStars “Preventing Childhood Obesity” Conference

Today the Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy help its 3rd annual Healthy Lifestars Conference. This year’s topic was “Improving Health Outcomes Through Preventing Childhood Obesity”. Our division’s Dr. Kanner spoke at the conference on her area of expertise. Her talk was entitled “The Impact of Adolescent Polycystic Ovary Syndrome on Obesity and the Accompanying Lifestyle and Medicine Management Requirements“. This is one of her areas of clinical expertise. She heads the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital pediatric polycystic ovary syndrome clinic.

November 1, 2021November 10, 2021

Center of Excellence for Care of Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma.

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has been designated a Center of Excellence for Care of patients with Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma. There are only 6 such other centers across the United States. The designation comes from the Pheo Para Alliance, which is a leader in advocacy regarding patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are neuroendocrine tumors that secrete adrenaline-like hormones. The tumors can usually be successfully treated, but require careful expert care to avoid severe complications. Our center of excellence represents a multidisciplinary collaboration between pediatric endocrinology, adult endocrinology, oncologists, surgical specialists, and clinical genetics. A special thanks to Dr. Liuska Pesce, who is the pediatric endocrinologist for the Center. To learn more, visit the centers webportal.

October 14, 2021November 10, 2021

University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Recognized with National Pancreas Foundation Center Designation for Treatment of Pancreatitis

We are proud to note that the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital has maintained its recognition by the National Pancreas Foundation as a Center of Excellence for treatment of youth with pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is uncommon in children, but requires expert multidisciplinary care including specialists from gastroenterology, endocrinology, radiology, and surgery. Diabetes is a common complication of recurrent pancreatitis. Pancreatitis-related diabetes is not the same as type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and can have specific treatment considerations. As such, it requires expertise from an experienced pediatric endocrinologist, such as Dr. Katie Larson Ode, who is the lead pediatric endocrinologist who works with the pancreatitis clinic here. You can read more about the designation at the original press release here.

October 1, 2021September 29, 2021

New Research Grant Award: Studying the Mechanisms that Cause Diabetes in Children with Pancreatitis

Congratulations to Dr. Katie Larson Ode, who was just named the recipient of a research grant award. The award comes from the joint Minnesota-Iowa Diabetes Research Center (MIDRC) as part of an initiative to foster collaborative diabetes research between the two institutions. For the research project, Dr. Larson Ode has teamed up with Univ of Minnesota physician Dr. Melena Bellin, whom is also a pediatric endocrinologist. A portion of children who develop chronic or recurrent acute pancreatitis will develop diabetes. However, the reasons for this are poorly understood. To better understand why, and hopefully delineate preventative strategies, Drs. Larson Ode and Bellin will enroll children with pancreatitis into a study in which glucose monitors and meal tests will be used to determine how well their pancreases are functioning to produce insulin and control blood sugar.

September 8, 2021September 8, 2021

Fetal and Newborn Glucose Metabolism: New Textbook Chapter

Recently, Dr. Norris co-authored a new chapter entitled “Glucose Metabolism in the Fetus and Newborn, and Methods for Its Investigation“. The chapter is part of the newly published Fetal and Neonatal Physiology textbook, 6th edition, edited by Polin, Abman, Rowitch & Benitz (Hardcover ISBN: 9780323712842). This is one of the leading standard textbooks for perinatal and neonatal physicians. Dr. Norris co-authored the chapter with Dr. Sarah A. Wernimont, who is an maternal-fetal medicine faculty physician at the University of Minnesota. Both Dr. Wernimont and Dr. Norris have directed research aimed at better understanding glucose metabolism in the maternal-fetal system. The textbook is available from publisher Elsevier and also at commercial book outlets.

August 5, 2021September 8, 2021

Dr. Curtis Provides Expertise to the Taylor Hooton Foundation

Testosterone is a powerful hormone and has potential for abuse for a variety of reasons, including use for physical appearance and sports performance enhancement. The same is true for testosterone-like synthetic chemicals, termed anabolic steroids. The Taylor Hooton Foundation aims to educate the public about the dangers of these substances when used for physical appearance and sports performance enhancement. Testosterone and FDA approved anabolic steroids are important treatments for some medical conditions, when prescribed at proper dosages and carefully monitored. On July 28th, Dr. Curtis, who has expertise on these topics, spoke to the Taylor Hooton Foundation about the abuses of these compounds.

July 1, 2021April 15, 2021

Dr. Pesce Promoted to Full Professor

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Liuska Pesce for her well earned promotion to full professor!! In brief, Dr. Pesce has been promoted in recognition of her being a master clinician, an award-winning teacher, a highly compassionate physician, and a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of thyroid disorders in children. She joined the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2008. As a trainee, she performed cutting-edge research leading to several publications in the area of molecular transport in thyroid cells. Although she could have joined the faculty on the tenure track, she instead felt that her calling was clinical care. Her clinical expertise and thoughtfulness is cherished by her peer faculty, who often seek out her clinical opinion. Her patients satisfaction ratings are superlative and among the very top tier at the entire institution. In this area of medicine, Dr. Pesce has gained national recognition and prominence. She, with other members of her pediatric thyroid clinic team, have published several peer reviewed research articles. She, with colleagues at other institutions, has published opinion pieces related to thyroid care, as well as related national teaching modules. She also has published numerous opinion pieces in Clinical Thyroidology for the Public. She has been invited to give lectures on pediatric thyroid disease at national conferences for the past several years. Also in recognition of her expertise, she has been named to the American Thyroid Association Patient Affairs & Education national Committee. Once again, congratulations Dr. Pesce!

July 1, 2021April 7, 2021

Announcing New Pediatric Endocrine Fellow: Dr. Parra Villasmil

Today we are thrilled to announce that Dr. Graciela Parra Villasmil has joined our division as a new pediatric endocrine fellow. She will serve three years in this role, after which she will be a full fledged board eligible pediatric endocrinologist. Dr. Parra Villasmil received her Medical Degree from the Universidad del Zulia in Venezuela where she was an award winning student. She then completed a pediatric residency at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. While a resident she demonstrated an aptitude for and interest in pediatric endocrinology, and was highly involved in diabetes camp (see picture below) at Camp Herkto Hollow. She has assisted with pediatric endocrine clinical research both in Venezuela and while a pediatric resident at the University of Iowa, and has published her scholarship in the field of endocrinology (link 1 and link 2). Welcome Dr. Parra Villasmil!! We are also proud to announce that Dr. Sriya Subramani, who was a pediatric resident here, is also starting a Pediatric Fellowship, at University of Washington / Seattle Children’s Hospital. Congratulations Dr. Subramani!!