Kemal Atlay TESTOSTERONE treatment may |
fracture incidence in those given testosterone compared with placebo . |
participants in the respective groups . The fracture incidence was also |
context of potential benefits and other risks of testosterone treat- |
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increase fracture risk in middle-aged |
“ We did not expect these |
numerically higher in the testosterone |
ment ” for male hypogonadism . |
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and older men with hypogonadism , |
results ,” they wrote in The New |
group for all other end points , while |
While the exact mechanism for the |
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according to new research that con- |
England Journal of Medicine . |
ribs , wrist and ankle were the most |
increased fracture risk was unclear , |
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tradicts conventional wisdom . |
The AbbVie-funded trial included |
common anatomical sites of fracture . |
two independent endocrinologists said |
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While exogenous testosterone has |
5204 men with hypogonadism , aged |
“ These sites are of clinical signifi- |
testosterone treatment was unlikely to |
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been shown to improve bone mineral |
45-80 , randomly assigned to apply |
cance because fractures at these sites |
inhibit bone structure or strength . |
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density in men with hypogonadism , |
testosterone or placebo gel daily . |
are associated with low bone mineral |
“ The rapid divergence between |
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US doctors say this benefit may not |
During an average three years ’ |
density and with previous fractures |
trial groups is more likely to be related |
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translate into a lower incidence of |
follow-up , a clinical fracture — |
and are therefore considered osteo- |
to behavioural changes … such as |
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clinical fractures . |
excluding those of the sternum , fin- |
porotic fractures ,” the authors said . |
engaging in physical activities associ- |
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Instead , the University of Pennsylvania – led team found a 43 % higher |
gers , toes , facial bones and skull — was reported in 3.5 % and 2.5 % of |
But they added that their findings “ should be considered in the |
ated with fracture risk ,” they wrote . N Engl J Med 2024 ; 18 Jan . |
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Dr Scolyer ’ s journey into the unknown |
ICS / LABA / LAMA IN A pMDI 1 |
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PAGE 3 |
60km and running |
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16-18km a couple of | ||||
times a week . | ||||
Australian Doctor : The story of you and Professor Long seems to have touched a public nerve . | ||||
Professor Scolyer : Having just one patient | ||||
respond to treatment does | ||||
not prove anything works . | ||||
At this stage , we do not | ||||
know whether it works or | ||||
not . | ||||
But we have generated | ||||
some scientific data that | ||||
are very promising . | ||||
I know there will be a | ||||
clinical trial that will start | ||||
in the not-too-distant | ||||
future for other patients | ||||
with the subtype of glioblastoma | ||||
I have . | ||||
From an honest perspective | ||||
, this is risky . | ||||
We still need more | ||||
detailed knowledge of the | ||||
treatments . | ||||
This does not mean I | ||||
am going to live longer or | ||||
things will be better , but | ||||
it does give hope , and it | ||||
really highlights this idea | ||||
that we need to push the | ||||
field forward . | ||||
As I have said before , | ||||
treatment has not changed | ||||
in about 19 years . | ||||
We have got to do | ||||
something . | ||||
About 12 years ago , | ||||
most patients who had | ||||
stage 4 melanoma were | ||||
dead within a year ; the | ||||
five-year survival was less | ||||
than 5 %. | ||||
And thanks to the therapies | ||||
we can offer , particularly | ||||
immunotherapy , | ||||
the five-year survival is | ||||
now 55 %. | ||||
We think most of those | ||||
patients have been cured . | ||||
So it feels right to me to | ||||
be part of that journey to | ||||
have a crack and see if we | ||||
can make a difference to | ||||
brain cancer too . Professor Scolyer spoke with Carmel Sparke . |