Ye-Fong Du Taiwan
Dr. Ye-Fong Du is an Attending Physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at National Cheng Kung University Hospital. He received his graduate training from the Institute of Gerontology at National Cheng Kung University. His work focuses on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) research and implementation. He is also committed to advancing tele-education and support for individuals with type 1 diabetes and for older adults with diabetes, with particular interest in reducing diabetes-related psychosocial burden and enhancing patient support systems.
20 MARCH
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
|
10:30
12:00
|
Preoperative Thyroid Nodule Diagnosis
Chia-Hung LinTaiwan
Moderator
Novel Biomarkers and Treatment Strategies in Thyroid Eye DiseaseThyroid Eye Disease (TED), also known as Graves' orbitopathy, remains a complex autoimmune condition that significantly impacts patients' vision and quality of life. Traditionally, management has relied mainly on non-specific anti-inflammatory therapies. However, as our understanding of its molecular pathogenesis evolves, there is an increasing clinical demand for more precise diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutic interventions.
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future directions in the management of TED. We will discuss the emergence of novel serum and molecular biomarkers that offer potential for earlier diagnosis and more accurate prediction of disease progression. These biomarkers may bridge the gap between clinical observation and underlying immunological activity. Furthermore, we will explore the shift in treatment paradigms, moving from conventional systemic corticosteroids toward innovative biological agents. By targeting specific signaling pathways involved in orbital inflammation and remodeling, these new strategies aim to provide more effective and durable clinical outcomes.
The integration of novel biomarkers and advanced treatment modalities is reshaping the management of TED. Moving toward a more individualized approach will allow clinicians to optimize therapeutic timing and selection, ultimately improving the long-term prognosis for patients with this challenging condition.
102
|
|
13:50
15:20
|
AI in Endocrinology
Miyuki KataiJapan
Moderator
From the Bedside to the Digital World: Precision Medicine in Endocrinology with Al and ICTPrecision medicine in endocrinology must account for biological variability, life-course hormonal transitions, and sociocultural determinants of health. However, in routine clinical practice, endocrine disorders are often detected only after prolonged symptomatic periods, particularly when symptoms are nonspecific or overlap with normal physiological transitions.
Our work originates from bedside clinical challenges. In developing and operating a comprehensive women’s specialty clinic grounded in sex-specific medicine—representing an innovative clinical model in Japan—we evaluated more than 5,000 women. Among patients who presented to our clinic with a prior diagnosis of menopausal disorders, organic diseases were identified in 27%. Thyroid dysfunction accounted for approximately 15% of cases initially attributed to menopausal disorders. These findings suggest that menopausal diagnoses may contribute to delayed recognition of underlying diseases. Among conditions masked by such symptoms, endocrine disorders were frequently identified, likely because many endocrine diseases require additional targeted laboratory testing for definitive diagnosis. Within endocrine disorders, thyroid dysfunction was particularly prevalent in women.
To address this unmet need, we developed the Women’s AI Symptom Evaluator (WaiSE), a digital platform designed to visualize multidimensional symptom patterns using AI-assisted structured questionnaires. WaiSE was developed to support detection of a broad spectrum of underrecognized conditions in women, including endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease. Importantly, these digital tools help women recognize and articulate complex autonomic symptom patterns commonly experienced during menopausal transitions, thereby enabling clinicians to better interpret symptom presentations and facilitating earlier detection of endocrine disorders. The platform is supported by a gender-specific clinical database derived from over 5,000 patients and more than 60,000 consultations, enabling symptom–diagnosis correlation modeling and development of sex-informed diagnostic algorithms.
Building upon this clinical and digital foundation, we have recently initiated an integrated endocrine screening strategy through collaboration with the AI-based Thyroid Screening (AITS) platform. We collaborated with Cosmic Corporation, the developer of the AI-based Thyroid Screening (AITS) system. AITS is an AI-based screening system that analyzes routine blood test results obtained in general screening programs, including health checkups, to estimate the likelihood of thyroid dysfunction. The integrated WaiSE–AITS system combines patient-reported symptom assessment through WaiSE with objective clinical indicators derived from AITS to assist in identifying individuals who may require additional thyroid function testing. The integrated system is being developed with the aim of future regulatory approval as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). This integrated platform can be utilized in clinical practice settings as well as in health screening programs and occupational health settings, demonstrating feasibility in capturing real-world symptom data beyond hospital-centered care. The combined system is designed as a physician-supervised clinical decision-support tool intended to assist healthcare professionals in identifying patients who may benefit from further thyroid evaluation, while maintaining physician responsibility for final diagnostic decisions.
This presentation highlights the clinical background, digital innovation process, and emerging collaborative screening strategies, demonstrating how bedside endocrinology can evolve into digitally supported precision care incorporating a life-course approach for women.
Acknowledgements:This research was supported by AMED (Grant Number: JP21gk0210024h9903) and by grants from METI, Japan.
Ye-Fong DuTaiwan
Moderator
Psychological Burden in Diabetes: Understanding Distress and Its Clinical ImpactDiabetes distress represents the emotional burden arising from the daily demands of diabetes self-management and is conceptually distinct from major depressive disorder. Large-scale epidemiological studies indicate that 20–40% of people with diabetes experience clinically significant distress, making it one of the most prevalent psychological complications of diabetes.
A growing body of longitudinal evidence demonstrates that diabetes distress is strongly associated with poor glycemic control, reduced treatment adherence, unhealthy dietary and physical activity patterns, and lower engagement with healthcare services. Importantly, diabetes distress predicts future deterioration in HbA1c independent of depressive symptoms, suggesting that it is a direct and modifiable determinant of metabolic outcomes rather than a mere emotional comorbidity.
Interventional studies show that structured diabetes education, psychosocial counseling, and digital health–based self-management support can significantly reduce diabetes distress and are accompanied by improvements in glycemic control and self-efficacy. These findings highlight the bidirectional relationship between psychological burden and metabolic regulation.
In the era of precision medicine and digital diabetes care, systematic screening and targeted management of diabetes distress should be integrated into routine clinical practice to optimize both psychological well-being and long-term cardiometabolic outcomes.
201DE
|
|
15:40
16:20
|
Hendra ZufryIndonesia
Moderator
The Efficacy and Safety of Thyroid RFA: The Latest UpdatesRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the thyroid has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for benign cystic and solid nodules, low risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and recurrent thyroid cancer. Standardized training and international guidelines have facilitated its global adoption. Long term efficacy and safety data position thyroid RFA as a primary treatment compared with other thermal techniques.
In recurrent thyroid cysts, RFA achieves a mean volume reduction ratio (VRR) of 87 ± 11.6 % after one session, outperforming ethanol ablation. For benign solid nodules, a single treatment yields 98.8 % VRR at ten year follow up. Larger nodules (> 20 mL) or multinodular goiters often require multiple sessions to optimize shrinkage, cosmesis, and symptom relief.
Autonomous thyroid nodules (ATNs) under 30 mL demonstrate rapid VRR and early TSH normalization, while larger ATNs reach approximately 70 % VRR by six months, correlating with euthyroidism. In indeterminate Bethesda III nodules with low suspicion ultrasound features, RFA delivers 87.4 % VRR at one year in surgery averse patients; Bethesda IV lesions achieve 94.9 ± 6.1 % VRR.
In low risk PTMC, RFA produces 100 % VRR without disrupting thyroid function over two years, offering an alternative to active surveillance. Early stage papillary thyroid cancers (T1a/T1b) show 99.31 % VRR at 48 months, with higher disappearance rates in T1a. In recurrent papillary carcinoma, RFA attains 100 % VRR and comparable disease free survival to reoperation, with fewer complications. A case of recurrent cervical medullary carcinoma reported 68.6 % VRR at six months.
Complication rates are low. Pre procedural risks include lidocaine toxicity; intra procedural events comprise pain, hematoma, burns, and transient voice changes; post procedural issues may involve mild thyroid dysfunction, discomfort, or rare nodule rupture. These events are generally mild and non–life threatening. Optimal outcomes depend on meticulous patient preparation, advanced electrode design, precise anatomic knowledge, judicious anesthesia, and high operator proficiency in basic and advanced RFA techniques. Patient satisfaction scores are consistently high, reflecting improved quality of life and favorable aesthetic outcomes.
Key Word : Thyroid RFA, Efficacy, Safety Profile, Long term Data.
101
|
|
16:30
17:10
|
Vincent WuTaiwan
Moderator
From Taiwan to the World: The TAIPAI Journey Transforming Primary AldosteronismPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is an increasingly recognized cause of secondary hypertension, affecting an estimated 5%-15% of hypertensive patients. This condition, once thought to be rare, is now understood to be a relatively common contributor to high blood pressure, particularly in cases resistant to standard antihypertensive therapies. PA arises primarily from either bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or an aldosterone-producing adenoma. The pathophysiology of PA is characterized by excessive and autonomous secretion of aldosterone, an adrenal hormone that plays a critical role in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance.
Diagnosing PA involves a multi-step process, beginning with screening tests to identify at-risk individuals, followed by confirmatory tests, and finally, subtype differentiation to determine the specific cause of the condition. Screening is especially recommended for patients who present with certain risk factors, such as resistant hypertension, unexplained hypokalemia, or an onset of hypertension at a young age (under 40 years). Family history of PA, early signs of target organ damage, the presence of an adrenal incidentaloma, obstructive sleep apnea, unexplained atrial fibrillation, and psychosomatic symptoms are also significant indicators warranting screening. Additionally, patients with hypertension but no other comorbidities should be evaluated for PA, as it could be the underlying cause.
PA does not occur in isolation; it is often found to coexist with Mild Autonomous Cortisol Secretion (MACS). This co-occurrence presents a more complex clinical picture, as MACS can further aggravate the cardio-renal-vascular complications already associated with PA. Moreover, it can contribute to abnormalities in glucose metabolism, increasing the risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders. One of the key challenges in the diagnosis and management of PA, particularly when MACS is present, lies in accurately interpreting the aldosterone-to-cortisol ratios during adrenal venous sampling, a critical step in subtype differentiation.
|
21 MARCH
| Time | Session | |
|---|---|---|
|
08:30
10:00
|
Addressing Psychological Burden and Enhancing Well-Being
103
|
|
|
11:10
11:50
|
Vivien LimSingapore
Moderator
The Danger of Obesity in South East Asia and Practical Tips in the Clinic Obesity is steadily increasing in South East Asia (SEA) and with it comes complications naturally follow from it - metabolic, physical and mental. The talk will touch on the following:
- the prevalence of this and the changes over time
- the rising burden of it
- practical tips that can aid in the clinic including busting myths and misconceptions that hamper its management
101
|
|
|
11:50
12:30
|
101
|
|
|
13:30
15:00
|
Practical Updates for Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Edith ChowHong Kong, China
Moderator
Personalizing Hypertension Treatment through Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Physiology: Are We There Yet?Hypertension is the leading cardiovascular risk factor accounting for the global burden of cardiovascular disease and death. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system takes a crucial role as the regulator in maintaining the body’s electrolyte homeostasis. RAAS overactivity is a key pathophysiological mechanism in hypertension. Dysregulation of the RAAS is closely tied to development of hypertension.
Primary aldosteronism is a disorder characterised by renin-independent aldosterone excess, manifesting as hypertension with greater risk of end-organ damage compared to individuals with essential hypertension. Recent guidelines for hypertension and primary aldosteronism have uniformly advocated for an expanded screening strategy for primary aldosteronism to improve awareness and detection of this treatable secondary cause of hypertension.
Traditionally, screening for primary aldosteronism has relied on the conception that it is a dichotomous condition. However, increasing evidence have suggested that renin and aldosterone abnormalities may exist on a continuum of clinical severity. In individuals with elevated blood pressure and family history of hypertension, higher levels of aldosterone are associated with greater risks of incident hypertension. Among normotensive individuals, the association between high aldosterone and incident hypertension were only evident among those with a suppressed renin, suggesting a phenotype of subclinical aldosterone excess. On the other hand, among individuals with resistant hypertension, targeting RAAS overactivity with mineralocorticoid antagonists have demonstrated superior blood pressure reduction compared to beta-blockers or alpha-blockers, especially in those with lower renin levels. With the development of novel treatments for hypertension that target RAAS, including aldosterone synthase inhibitors and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid inhibitors, there is growing interest in the role of RAAS hormones or metabolites as biomarkers to guide diagnosis, prognostication and management of hypertension.
Building upon this foundation, this talk will explore the potential role of aldosterone, renin and their metabolites as biomarkers in diagnosing and treating individuals with hypertension.
Hirotaka ShibataJapan
Moderator
2026 Update in Primary AldosteronismPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most prevalent causes for secondary hypertension. Early diagnosis and treatment are mandatory, because patients with PA present markedly higher morbidity of cardiovascular diseases than those with essential hypertension whose blood pressure levels are equally managed. A recently published Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline of PA emphasizes several points. First, screening for PA with serum/plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin (concentration or activity) is recommended in all individuals with hypertension. Second, in individuals who screen positive for PA, aldosterone suppression testing is suggested when screening results suggest an intermediate probability for lateralizing PA, but not all cases. Third, in individuals with PA, medical therapy or surgical therapy with the choice of therapy based on lateralization of aldosterone hypersecretion and candidacy for surgery. Fourth, in individuals with PA considering surgery, adrenal lateralization with CT scanning and adrenal venous sampling prior to deciding the treatment approach is suggested. Fifth, in individuals with PA receiving PA-specific medical therapy, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are suggested as the dose is titrated by monitoring potassium, renal function, renin (concentration or activity) and blood pressure response during follow-up. We should be aware that diversity exists with respect to aldosterone assays, cut-off values for screening and aldosterone suppression tests, AVS standardization issues, and choice of MRAs depending on countries.
Diagnosis and Management of Adrenal InsufficiencyThe diagnosis and management of adrenal insufficiency presents major clinical challenges. It is often unrecognized, which can lead to adrenal crisis and, if not identified and treated, death. There is a lack of understanding on who is at risk of adrenal insufficiency, how to test for it, and how to manage a life threatening adrenal crisis promptly. While primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency can be regarded as rare conditions, glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency might be quite common. One should consider glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome that may occur during glucocorticoid taper. Patient education in raising awareness of glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome, such as fatigue and reduced appetite, is important when tapering glucocorticoid doses. The symptoms of glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome may resemble adrenal insufficiency, but HPA axis is normally functional. The degree and persistence of adrenal suppression after cessation of glucocorticoid therapy are dependent on overall exposure and recovery of adrenal function varies greatly among individuals. Upcoming ICE2026/JES2026: Enlightened Endocrinology in Unprecedented TimesWe are pleased to announce that the 22nd International Congress of Endocrinology (ICE2026) and the 99th Annual Congress of the Japan Endocrine Society (JES2026) will be held together at the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC Kyoto) over five days from June 2 (Tue) to 6 (Sat), 2026 (ICE2026/JES2026).
The International Congress of Endocrinology (ICE) is held every two years, and after 1988 and 2010, this will be the third time that the Congress will be held in Japan. The Japan Endocrine Society (JES) has been actively involved in the International Society of Endocrinology (ISE) since its establishment, and as the JES will celebrate its 100th anniversary in fiscal year 2026, hosting the congress in Japan will be an especially valuable opportunity for JES members.
The theme of ICE2026/JES2026 is: Enlightened Endocrinology in Unprecedented Times. Globally, we are entering an unprecedented era, including digitalization, which has been rapidly accelerated by the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic; a super-aging society, which is mainly faced by developed countries; and extreme weather events, as exemplified by global warming. In the midst of these unprecedented times, we will gather in Kyoto - the birthplace of the Japan Endocrine Society - to discuss the new century of clinical and basic research in various fields of endocrinology.
Participants from all over the world are encouraged to present cutting-edge science from their respective countries, and through active discussions, we hope that you will experience the “Enlightened Endocrinology” of endocrinology in this unprecedented era.
In June, flowers bloom profusely at shrines and temples in Kyoto with the blessings of water, and shrine gardens and hydrangea gardens are open to the public.
We look forward to welcoming participants from all over the world to Kyoto - the ancient capital of Japan - and discussing the future of endocrinology!
103
|
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Shyang-Rong ShihTaiwan
Moderator
The impact of mutational status on the heterogeneity of MEN1Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare syndromic disease primarily characterized by parathyroid adenomas, duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (dpNENs), and pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (pitNETs). Although over 750 germline MEN1 mutations have been identified, there is no definitive genotype-phenotype correlation, and specific mutations cannot reliably predict clinical presentations. However, the overall presence or absence of a germline mutation fundamentally alters the disease trajectory. This presentation investigates the clinical heterogeneity between germline mutation-positive (GP-MEN1) and mutation-negative (GN-MEN1) patients.
Approximately 10-30% of patients meeting clinical MEN1 criteria are GN-MEN1, which may represent phenocopies (e.g., MEN4, MEN5) or sporadic co-occurrences. Distinct clinical disparities exist between the two cohorts. GP-MEN1 patients exhibit an earlier median onset (33-35 years), aggressive and multiglandular disease, and a high probability of developing a third cardinal tumor, leading to a poorer prognosis. Conversely, GN-MEN1 patients present significantly later (46-52 years), rarely develop a third cardinal tumor, and experience a more indolent course with a life expectancy comparable to the general population.
In a cohort analysis from National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), the paradigm of pitNETs in MEN1 has shifted towards non-functioning microadenomas due to modern screening. GP-MEN1 patients with pitNETs were diagnosed at a younger age, showed higher sellar floor involvement, and had a higher prevalence of adrenal tumors and non-functioning GEP-NENs. In contrast, GN-MEN1 patients were older and more frequently presented with insulinomas.
In conclusion, germline mutational status is a critical determinant of MEN1 clinical heterogeneity. Genetic testing is essential not only for confirming diagnoses and facilitating targeted therapies but also for exonerating non-carriers. Although current guidelines recommend uniform surveillance for all MEN1 diagnostic categories, the distinctively indolent phenotype of GN-MEN1 suggests that a modified, de-escalated surveillance approach may be more appropriate and warrants further formal investigation.
201BC
|
|
17:30
18:00
|
||
22 MARCH
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
|
12:40
13:30
|