DIVISION OF ENDOCRINOLOGY

 

Endocrinology Faculty

Back Row: Kevin Kaiserman, Annette James, Douglas Frasier, Sherry Franklin, Hsiao-Wang Chen,
Middle Row: Florence Li, Sue Groover,
Front Row: Lawrence Wetterau, Jon Nakamoto, Pinchas Cohen, Mitchell Geffner, Heju Li

Division Highlights 

In 1999, the Division of Endocrinology had several important highlights. First, the Division expanded satellite offices in the Santa Clarita Valley (Henry Mayo Newhall Medical Center), Santa Barbara (now with separate Endocrine and Diabetes programs) Manhattan Beach, and Sherman Oaks. Second, we have expanded our clinical diabetes program here at UCLA, under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Kaiserman. This included a successful, initial fund-raising effort under Dr. Kaiserman's direction that has netted over $140,000 to date. In addition, a database has been established to track our diabetes patients. Third, Dr. Pinchas "Hassy" Cohen, an internationally renowned physician-scientist joined the division in June, 1999 to be the director of research and training. Dr. Cohen's brought two NIH grants to UCLA, along with several others totaling over $2,000,000. Since arriving at UCLA, Dr. Cohen has secured additional funding from the NIH as part of a program project and from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in the amount of over $1,000,000. Dr. Nakamoto was funded to continue studies on the effects of growth hormone on gene expression in lymphocytes. Fourth, on the clinical research front, we are conducting an ongoing multi-center trial, the objective of which is to examine the metabolic effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy in GH-deficient adolescents who are done growing and, otherwise, would be discontinuing treatment (Mitchell Geffner). We are also concluding studies in patients with GH deficiency using a depot form of GH given every two to four weeks, and beginning a study on the use of GH in very young girls with Turner syndrome (Mitchell Geffner). Other notable achievements include Dr. Cohen's appointment as an Executive Council member of the GH Research Society, Dr. Geffner's continuation as the chairman of the Pediatric Endocrine Program Directors of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Dr. Geffner's appointment as the United States observer to the Kabi International Growth Study international advisory board.

 

Faculty Profiles

COHEN PINCHAS
Faculty Member Since: 1999
Rank: Professor 
Research Interests: Insulin-like growth factors, Cancer, Diabetes
Grant Support: 1996-2000 NIH 2RO1 DK47591 "IGF axis abnormalities in BPH"
1998-2000 CaP CURE Award "The IGF/IGFBP-3 axis in CaP"
1998-2001 American cancer Society TPRN-N5 " IGFBP-3 in Prostate Apotosis"
1998-2003 NIH 1RO1 AI40203 "The IGF axis in asthma"
1999-2002 JDF "Novel Approaches to the Prevention of Diabetes Complications"
1996-2001 NIH 1P50 HL 56401 "SCOR in Pathobiology of Lung development"
2000-2003 NCI "Novel Models of Prostate Cancer"
1999-2003 DOD "Signalling pathways in Prostate Cancer"
Teaching: Supervision and teaching of medical students, residents and clinical fellows.
Director, Pediatric Endocrine Research and Training Program.
Cell and Molecular Biology Course: 4 hour per semester
Scientific mentor for graduate students and research fellows
University Service / Committees:  1999 Research Advisory Committee
1999 Grand Rounds Committee
Professional Committees: Member and Chairman of Speaker Selection Committee for the Professional Education Committee of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Diabetes Association California Affiliate (ADACA)
Pediatric Research Council, Endocrine Sciences
Medical Advisor, Turner's Syndrome Society of Southern California
Honors: 1999 CaP Cure Research Award
Organizing Committee: 1999 Organizing Committee: Fifth International IGF-99 Symposium
1999 Organizing Committee: The IGF in Cancer Symposium, Boston 1999
1999 3rd International IGFBP Symposium, Sydney Australia 2000
1999 Member: Advisory Board for the University of Washington Prostate Cancer Program
1999 Organizing Committee: The GRS Consensus Meeting on GHD, Eilat 99
1999 Organizing Committee: The GRS Consensus Meeting on GH safety, Keswick 2000
1999 Organizing Committee: The joint IGF Society and GRS Meeting Boston 2000
1999 Editorial Board Member: Genetics and Metabolism
1999 Editorial Board Member: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
1999 Editorial Board Member: Growth Hormone and IGF Research

FRASIER, S. DOUGLAS
Faculty Member Since: 1986
Degrees: MD, BA, University of California, Los Angeles
Rank: Professor Emeritus
Teaching: Pediatric Endocrine Clinic, UCLA Children's Hospital
Pediatric Endocrine Clinic, OVMC-UCLA Medical Center
Department Service: Associate Vice-Chair for Outreach
Pediatric Executive Committee
Clinical Faculty Committee
University Service: School of Medicine Voluntary Clinical
Appointments and Promotions Committee

GEFFNER, MITCHELL E.
Faculty Member Since: 1982
Degrees: MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
BA, Queens College of City University of New York
Rank: Professor 
Research Interests: IGF-I resistance, Clinical uses of depot forms of growth hormone
Grant Support: Genentech, Inc. Genentech National Cooperative Growth Study (NCGS) Post Marketing Surveillance Program for Protropin (Somatrem for injection) and Nutropin [Somatropin (rDNA Origin) for injection]. Pharmacia & Upjohn. A Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone During the Transition from Adolescence to Adulthood.
Alkermes, Inc. Open-Label, Long-Term Extension Study of the Safety and Efficacy of ProLease® hGH in Children with Growth Failure Due to Growth Hormone Deficiency.
Pharmacia & Upjohn. Kabi International Growth Study (KIGS). Post Marketing Surveillance Program for Genotropin.
Teaching: Course Coordinator, Pediatric Endocrinology Elective, PE206
University Service: 1997-present Mortgage origination program
Professional Committees: 1995-present Medical Advisor, Turner's Syndrome Society of Southern California
1996-present Member of Kabi International Growth Study (KIGS) United States National Committee
1998-present Chairman, Pediatric Endocrine Program Directors' Committee (LWPES)
1998-present Member of the Associates Council of the Endocrine Society
1999-present Nutropin Depot Adisory Board (Genentech, Inc.)
1999-present Grant reviewer for the Genentech Center for Clinical Research and Education

KAISERMAN, KEVIN
Faculty Member Since: 1998
Degrees: MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
BA, University of California, Berkeley
Rank: Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Types I and II Diabetes Mellitus in children and adolescents
Teaching: Clinical Application of the Basic Sciences (1st year medical students)
Pediatric Core Lecture (3rd year medical students)
University Service: Admissions Committee, UCLA School of Medicine

NAKAMOTO, JON M.
Faculty Member Since: 1993
Degrees: MD, Yale University
PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
AB, Harvard University
Rank: Assistant Clinical Professor
Research Interests: Effects of growth hormone on gene expression
New clinical approaches to diabetes mellitus and obesity
Current Grant Support: Genentech Center for Clinical Research and Education
Teaching: Clinical Applications of the Basic Sciences
Pediatric Noon conferences and Student Core Lectures
University Service: Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds Committee
Department of Pediatrics Y2K Committee

Division Publications

  1. Barzilai N, Cohen P and Rossetti L. Surgical removal of visceral fat reverses hepatic insulin resistance. Diabetes; 48:94-98, 1999.

  2. Beers-Gibson T and Cohen P. IGFBP proteolytic activity of the neutrophil proteases cathepsin G and elastase. J GH & IGF Res 9: 241-253; 1999.

  3. Burren CP, Wanek D, Mohan S, Cohen P, Guevara-Aguirre J, Rosenfeld RG. Regulation of serum IGFBP-4, IGFBP-5 and ALS by GH but not IGF-I. Acta. Pediatrica; 428[S1]:185-191, 1999.

  4. Cohen P, Nunn S, Peehl DM. Abnormal regulation of IGFBPs by TGFß in prostate stromal cells from BPH patients. In Press, J Endocrinology. 1999.

  5. Cohen P, Rajah R, Rosenbloom J, Herrick DH. IGFBP-3 mediates the TGF-ß-induced proliferation in human bronchial smooth muscle cells. In Press, AJP. 1999.

  6. Cohen P, Rosenfeld RG: Growth regulation. In: Textbook of Endocrine Physiology, 2nd edition, Editors: Griffin and Ojeda. Oxford University Press, In Press. 1999.

  7. Cohen P. Hyperpituitarism, Tall Stature, and Overgrowth Syndromes. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, Behrman, Kliegman. Jenson, Barlow, eds. W. B. Saunders, 1999.

  8. Collett-Solberg PF, Rajah R, Weinzimer SA, and Cohen P. The impact of IGF-binding proteins and IGFBP proteases on tissue growth. In: Johnston FE, Eveleth PB, Zemel B (ed). Human Growth in Context. London: Smith-Gordon, 1999.

  9. Dreimane D, Gallagher K, Nielsen K, Krogstad P, Stiehm R, Bryson Y, Geffner ME. Growth hormone exerts potent anabolic effects in an adolescent with HIV wasting. Pediatr Infect Dis J 18:167-69, 1999.
  10. Dreimane D, Velten NJ, Geffner ME, Nakamoto JM. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) acutely increases expression of a novel messenger RNA in human lymphoblasts. Pediatr Res;45(4, pt 2): 88A, 1999.

  11. Ferry Jr RJ, Cohen P. The Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis in Pediatric. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol; 8:1-10, 1999.

  12. Ferry RJ Jr, Katz LE, Grimberg A, Cohen P, Weinzimer SA. Cellular actions of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins. Horm Metab Res; 31:192-202, 1999.

  13. Frasier, S.D. A red flag unfurled? Growth hormone treatment and testicular function. Editorial J. Pediatr. 135:278-279, 1999.
  14. Geffner ME. Effects of growth hormone and IGF-I on T- and B-lymphocytes and immune function. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 8(suppl 12):19-28, 1999.
  15. Geffner ME. Endocrine, growth, and development: evaluation and therapy. In Zeichner SL, Read JS (eds), Handbook of Pediatric HIV Care. Lippincott-Raven, pp 443-39, 1999.

  16. Grimberg A, Cohen P. Growth hormone and prostate cancer: Guilty by association? J Enocrinol Invest, 22:64-73, 1999.

  17. Grimberg A, Cohen P. Role of IGFs in growth control and carcinogenesis. In press, J Cell Physiol. 1999.

  18. Grimberg A, Satin Smith M, Cerri R, Cohen P. The "two-bag system" for variable intravenous dextrose and fluid administration: Benefits in diabetic ketoacidosis management. J Pediatrics, 134:376-380; 1999.

  19. Hasdai D, Nielsen MF, Rizza RA, Holmes DR Jr, Richardson DM, Cohen P, Lerman A. Attenuated in vitro coronary arteriolar vasorelaxation to insulin-like growth factor I in experimental hypercholesterolemia. Hypertension; 34:89-95, 1999.

  20. Hintz RL, Attie KM, Baptista J, Roche A, and the Genentech Collaborative Group. Effect of growth hormone treatment on adult height of children with idiopathic short stature. N Engl J Med 340:502-07, 1999.

  21. Kaplan PJ, Mohan S, Cohen P, Foster BA, Greenberg NM. The insulin-like growth factor axis and prostate cancer: lessons from the transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Cancer Res, 59:2203-9, 1999.

  22. Katz LEL, Ferry RJ Jr, Stanley CA, Collett-Solberg PF, Baker L, Cohen P. Suppression of insulin over-secretion by subcutaneous recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I in children with congenital hyperinsulinism due to defective ß-cell sulfonylurea receptor. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism; 84:3117-3124, 1999.

  23. Kjellin IB, Kaiserman KB, Curran JG, Geffner ME. Aplasia of right internal carotid artery and congenital hypopituitarism. Pediatr Radiol 29:586-88, 1999.
  24. Murashita M, Tajima T, Nakae J, Shinohara N, Geffner ME, Fujieda K. Near-normal linear growth in the setting of markedly reduced growth hormone and IGF-I: a case report. Horm Res 51:184-88, 1999.

  25. Rajah R, Khare A, Lee PDK, and Cohen P. IGFBP-3 is partially responsible for high serum induced apoptosis of PC-3 prostate cells. J Endocrinol. 163:487-494, 1999.

  26. Rajah R, Nachajon RV, Collins MH, Hakonarson H, Grunstein MM, Cohen P. Elevated levels of the IGF-binding protein protease MMP-1 in asthmatic airway smooth muscle. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol; 20:199-208, 1999.

  27. Shim M, Cohen P. Growth hormone, IGFs IGFBPs and cancer. Horm Res; 51[supp3]:42-51, 1999.

  28. Shim M, Geffner ME. Insulin resistance in children. The Endocrinologist 9:270-76, 1999.

  29. Sutkowski DM, Goode RL, Baniel J, Teater C,Cohen P, McNulty AM, Hsiung HM, Becker GW, Neubauer BL. Growth regulation of prostatic stromal cells by PSA. J Natl Cancer Inst; 91:1663-9, 1999.

  30. Wetterau LA, Moore MG, Lee KW, Shim ML, Cohen P. Novel Aspects of the Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins. Mol Genet Metab 68:161-181, 1999.

  31. Wojcik J, Berg MA, Esposito N, Geffner ME, Sakati N, Reiter EO, Dower S, Francke U, Postel-Vinay M-C, Finidori J. Four contiguous amino-acid substitutions, identified in patients with Laron syndrome, affect differently the binding affinity and intracellular trafficking of the growth hormone receptor. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 83:4481-89, 1999.

 

Division Presentations

  1. Cohen P. Annual Kaplan Lecture. UCLA. Lecture: "IGFs: past, present and future". 2/99
  2. Cohen P. 10th hGH Symposium, Seville Spain. Lecture: "IGFs and cancer, where are we?" 4/99
  3. Cohen P. 3ed HYPOCS meeting, Venice, Italy. Lecture: "Prostatic Endocrinology" 4/99
  4. Cohen P. 5th International Trans-Pacific Endocrine Symposium, San Diego. Lecture: "New advances in IGF biology" 6/99
  5. Cohen P. The Sapporo Summer Symposium, Japan. Lecture: "How to write a scientific paper" 8/99
  6. Cohen P. Annual Growth Hormone Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark Lecture: " Effects of dose and gender on GH responsiveness in GHD." 9/99
  7. Cohen P. The GRS consensus meeting on growth hormone deficiency, Eilat, Israel. "Algorithms for the diagnosis of GHD" and "optimizing GH therapy" 10/99.
  8. Cohen P. The First International Symposium on GH, IGF, and Cancer, Boston. Lecture: "Cancer risk-reduction by Monitoring IGF-I during GH therapy" 9/99.
  9. Cohen P. The Fifth International IGF Symposium. Brighton, England. Lecture: "IGFBP-3: new partners, new functions." 11/99.
  10. Dreimane D, Nielsen K, Bryson YJ, Geffner ME. Effect of protease inhibitors combined with standard antiretroviral therapy on linear growth and weight gain in HIV-1-infected children. Pediatr Res 45 (part 2):88A, 1999. Poster presentation by Dr. Dreimane at the American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research Meeting. 5/2/99.
  11. Dreimane D, Velten NJ, Geffner ME, Nakamoto JM. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) acutely increases expression of a novel messenger RNA in human lymphoblasts. Pediatr Res 45 (part 2):88A, 1999.
  12. Dreimane D. The American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research Meeting. 5/2/99.
  13. Geffner ME. Nutropin Regional Advisory Board. Growth hormone deficiency. San Diego CA. 1/16/99.
  14. Geffner ME. ADA/PADRE Family Retreat, Type 1 diabetes in the next millenium. Lake Arrowhead, 2/7/99.
  15. Geffner ME. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Endocrine Grand Rounds. Growth, growth hormone, and HIV-1 infection. 3/2/99.
  16. Geffner ME. White Memorial Medical Center Pediatric Grand Rounds. Childhood thyroid disease. 3/11/99.
  17. Geffner ME. University of Maine Medical Center Pediatric Grand Rounds. Turner syndrome: from short genes to tall jeans. Portland ME. 3/22/99.
  18. Geffner ME. Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center Pediatric Grand Rounds: The child with short stature. Las Vegas NV. 5/28/99.
  19. Geffner ME. The Endocrine Society Career Development Workshop for Trainees: Entering clinical practice - issues facing the beginning practitioner. San Diego CA. 6/11/99.
  20. Geffner ME. Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Perinatal Biology Research Conference. IGF-I resistance in African Pygmies. 6/28/99.
  21. Geffner ME. UCLA Fourth Annual Board Review Course: Growth and puberty and Diabetes and thyroid. 9/2/99.
  22. Geffner ME. King/Drew Medical Center. Turner syndrome: from short genes to tall jeans. 8/8/99.
  23. Geffner ME. Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Pediatric Grand Rounds. Pediatric endocrine emergencies. Monterey CA. 9/14/99.
  24. Geffner ME. Serono Symposia USA, Inc.: Growth Hormone in Immune Reconstitution: Basic and Clinical Studies. The slowly growing child with HIV-1 infection and the Efe Pygmy: two distinct models of combined GH and IGF-1 resistance. St. Petersburg Beach FL. 10/10/99.
  25. Geffner ME. Baystate Medical Center Pediatric Grand Rounds. Turner syndrome: from short genes to tall jeans. Springfield MA. 11/9/99.
  26. Geffner ME. The Greater Boston Pediatric Endocrine Community. The African Efe Pygmy: a human model of genetically regulated IGF-1resistance. Boston MA. 11/9/99.
  27. Kaiserman KB. Bakersfield Family Medical Center, 3/99.
  28. Kaiserman KB. Pediatric Grand Rounds, Torrance Memorial Hospital, 8/99.
  29. Kaiserman KB. UCLA Medi-Cal Primary Care Conference, 8/99.
  30. Kaiserman KB. UCLA Pediatric Update CME Lecture, 10/99.
  31. Kaiserman KB. Pediatric Grand Rounds, Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas, 12/99.
  32. Nakamoto JM. White Memorial Pediatric Grand Rounds, "Use of Growth Hormone in Children Who are Not Growth-Hormone Deficient", 1/14/99.
  33. Nakamoto JM. King-Drew (UCLA) Pediatric Grand Rounds, "Internet for the Pediatric Scientist and Clinician: What's In It for Me?" 2/2/99.
  34. Nakamoto JM. Harbor-UCLA Clinical Endocrine Conference, "Precocious Puberty", 3/99.
  35. Nakamoto JM. Harbor-UCLA OB-GYN Grand Rounds, "Precocious Puberty: New Views of a Rapidly-changing Subject", 4/5/99.
  36. Nakamoto JM. UCLA/Harvard Pri-Med Conference, "Endocrine Emergencies for the Generalist", Long Beach Convention Center, 4/10/99.
  37. Nakamoto JM. LAC/USC Pediatric Grand Rounds, "Precocious Puberty: New Views of a Rapidly-changing Subject", 7/27/99.
  38. Nakamoto JM. UCLA Pediatric Board Review Course, "Endocrine Emergencies", 9/2/99.
  39. Nakamoto JM. Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Pediatric Conference, "Fetal and Neonatal Thyroid Disease", 12/13/99.

  40. Shim ML, Kaiserman KB, Geffner ME. Home blood glucose data and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in a pediatric diabetes center: adolescent girls are in a league of their own. Diabetes 48(suppl 1):A85, 1999. Poster presentation by Dr. Shim at 59th Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association. 6/21/99.

 

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