Changes and Challenges Ahead

Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes was originally named “Endokrinologie” when founded in 1928 and was the first endocrine journal in the German-speaking parts of Europe. In the following decades it developed into a scientific forum for endocrinologists of former East Germany throughout the years of political division.

In 1993, after German reunification Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology became the official scientific organ of the German Society of Endocrinology (DGE) with Karlheinz Voigt as its first Editor-in-Chief. By expanding the scientific scope to also cover diabetes, Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes fulfills the role as the official journal of the German Diabetes Association (DDG) since 1995, when Helmut Schatz joined Karlheinz Voigt as Editor-in-Chief ([Voigt and Schatz, 2001]; [Schatz, 2004 b]; [Gudermann and Schatz, 2004]). Since then, both societies have witnessed the successful development of a highly esteemed scientific journal which has been receiving an ever increasing number of excellent manuscripts from all over the world.

After having served as Editor-in-Chief for more than a decade, Helmut Schatz retired from this position in October 2005. Due to his relentless efforts and his outstanding dedication the journal had a highly productive and successful era under Prof. Schatz's guidance who always wanted the scientific journal also to be an interactive forum for the discussion of hot topics in endocrinology and diabetology. Together with his co-editor Martin Wehling, he commented on the measures taken by the German Society of Endocrinology and the German Diabetes Association to improve conditions for clinical research in Germany ([Wehling and Schatz, 2003]). As a prominent member of both societies, Helmut Schatz always tried to stress the common interests of Endocrinology and Diabetology with regard to research, clinical practice, and the exertion of political influence ([Schatz and Wehling, 2003 b]). It goes without saying that Prof. Schatz's activities - as reflected in the journal - were not restricted to Germany. As President of the Federation of International Danube-Symposia on Diabetes mellitus he tried to bring diabetologists from East and Central Europe closer together ([Schatz, 2004 a]), and he believed that scientists have a special obligation to maintain a reasoned dialogue, especially in times of political controversies ([Schatz and Gudermann, 2005]).

Helmut Schatz studied medicine in Graz (Austria) and Bonn (Germany). After a research period at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm (Sweden), and his doctorate, he worked in Vienna (Austria). Thereafter, he continued his professional training with E. F. Pfeiffer in Ulm (Germany). Since 1989, Schatz was professor at the University of Bochum and retired from this post in 2004.

Over the years, Helmut Schatz has always been an active member of the German Society of Endocrinology and the German Diabetes Association, which he presided from 1990 to 1991. He has been honoured - among others - with the Ferdinand Bertram Award and the Paul Langerhans Award of the German Diabetes Association, and with the Oskar Minkowski Award of the University of Breslau.

Helmut Schatz's main scientific interests centered around the Langerhans islets of the pancreas and diabetes covering a wide range from the metabolic syndrome ([Schatz and Wehling, 2003 a]), medical complications of diabetes mellitus ([Meyer et al., 2003]; [Zimny et al., 2004]) to novel pharmacotherapeutic strategies ([Pfohl and Schatz, 2001]; [Schatz et al., 2003]; [Schatz, 2004 c]), only to mention a few.

During the past 10 years, Helmut Schatz established high standards for Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes. The present Editors-in-Chief as well as Thieme publishers would like to express their gratitude and appreciation for his dedication and his outstanding expertise with benefited the quality of the journal. They are particularly glad that Helmut Schatz will still be present in the journal's Editorial Board as Honorary Editor-in-Chief.

It is a daunting challenge for the current Editors-in-Chief to further improve the scientific impact of the journal in light of its positive development during the past decade. However, meeting a challenge always paves the way for new developments and chances. The editorial team is now complete again, because Peter Nawroth acts as Co-Editor-in-Chief from October 2005 onwards. Professor Nawroth is a clinical endocrinologist and diabetologist with a strong experimental background and currently serves as Director of the Department of Internal Medicine I of the University of Heidelberg. The editors believe that with careful adaptations of the editorial policy to face an altered European environment for journals in the field of endocrinology and metabolism, Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes is well prepared for a successful development. However, nothing can be achieved without the enthusiastic support of our Editorial Board Members and of highly motivated authors from all over the world whom the editors would cordially like to ask for their continuing support.

References

• 1 Gudermann T, Schatz H. More good news for our old journal.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004;  112 547-548
• 2 Meyer M F, Rose C J, Hülsmann J O, Schatz H, Pfohl M. Impairment of cutaneous arterial 0.1 Hs vasomotion in diabetes.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003;  111 104-110
• 3 Pfohl M, Schatz H. Strategies for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2001;  109 (Suppl 2) S240-S249
• 4 Schatz H. Bringing diabetologists from east and central Europe closer together: new tasks for the FID - Federation of International Danube - symposia on diabetes mellitus.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004;  112 73-74
• 5 Schatz H. Good news for our old journal.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004 b;  112 1
• 6 Schatz H. Inhaled insulin and the dream of a needle-free insulin application.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004 c;  112 285-287
• 7 Schatz H, Gudermann T. The German Society of Endocrinology and Endocrinology in the Middle East.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2005;  113 193-194
• 8 Schatz H, Schoppel K, Lehwalder D, Schandry R. Efficacy, tolerability and safety of nateglinide in combination with metformin. Results from a study under general practice conditions.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003;  111 262-266
• 9 Schatz H, Wehling M. Fighting against the “hypertriglyceridaemic waist”: A new international institute for the metabolic syndrome.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003;  111 119-120
• 10 Schatz H, Wehling M. Successful twins - seperated and reunited: German societies for endocrinology and diabetology join.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2003 b;  111 1
• 11 Voigt K, Schatz H. Ernst Friedrich Pfeiffer and Endocrinology & Diabetes.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2001;  109 (Suppl 2) S79-S80
• 12 Wehling M, Schatz H. Clinical research in Germany - quo vadis? New activities of the German Diabetes Association and the German Society of Endocrinology.  Exp Clin Endocrinology Diabetes. 2003;  111 237-238
• 13 Zimny S, Schatz H, Pfohl M. The effects of ulcer size on the wound radius reductions and healing times in neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.  Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2004;  112 191-194