Selección de Resúmenes de Menopausia

Agosto de 2008

Juan Enrique Blümel. Departamento Medicina Sur. Universidad de Chile

 

Semana del 20 al 26 de Agosto 2008

 

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jul 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Weight Regain and Health-related Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women.

Yankura DJ, Conroy MB, Hess R, Pettee KK, Kuller LH, Kriska AM.

1School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Weight loss improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, regain after loss is common; little is known about the impact of weight regain on HRQoL in postmenopausal women. Woman on the Move through Activity and Nutrition (WOMAN) is a randomized lifestyle intervention trial of diet, physical activity, and weight loss in 508 postmenopausal women aged 52-62 years. This analysis focused on the women who lost >/=5 lb during the initial phase of the study, baseline to 6 months (n = 248). This cohort was divided into three groups based on subsequent weight change between 6 and 18 months: weight loss (WL; >/=5 lb loss), weight stable (WS; <+/-5 lb change), and weight regain (WR; >/=5 lb gain). HRQoL was measured at baseline, 6, and 18 months using the Short Form-36. Of the 248 women studied, 51 (21%) continued to lose weight after initial weight loss, while 127 (51%) maintained a stable weight, and 70 (28%) regained weight. Between baseline and 6 months, women in WR group had decreased mental health and social-functioning scores, while the WL and WS groups improved in these subscales. Between baseline and 18 months, energy improved most significantly in those with continued weight loss (P = 0.0003). Weight loss was correlated with a small to moderate improvement in perceived general health and energy, which was reversed by weight gain. Further study is needed to investigate the impact of a decline in mental health and social functioning on future weight regain.

 

Ann Intern Med. 2008 Aug 19;149(4):242-50

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and risk for hip fractures.

Cauley JA, Lacroix AZ, Wu L, Horwitz M, Danielson ME, Bauer DC, Lee JS, Jackson RD et al

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D] concentration and hip fractures is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To see whether low serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations are associated with hip fractures in community-dwelling women. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. SETTING: 40 clinical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: 400 case-patients with incident hip fracture and 400 control participants matched on the basis of age, race or ethnicity, and date of blood draw. Both groups were selected from 39 795 postmenopausal women who were not using estrogens or other bone-active therapies and who had not had a previous hip fracture. MEASUREMENTS: Serum 25(OH) vitamin D was measured and patients were followed for a median of 7.1 years (range, 0.7 to 9.3 years) to assess fractures. RESULTS: Mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations were lower in case-patients than in control participants (55.95 nmol/L [SD, 20.28] vs. 59.60 nmol/L [SD, 18.05]; P = 0.007), and lower serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations increased hip fracture risk (adjusted odds ratio for each 25-nmol/L decrease, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.06 to 1.68]). Women with the lowest 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations (< or =47.5 nmol/L) had a higher fracture risk than did those with the highest concentrations (> or =70.7 nmol/L) (adjusted odds ratio, 1.71 [CI, 1.05 to 2.79]), and the risk increased statistically significantly across quartiles of serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentration (P for trend = 0.016). This association was independent of number of falls, physical function, frailty, renal function, and sex-steroid hormone levels and seemed to be partially mediated by bone resorption. LIMITATIONS: Few case-patients were nonwhite women. Bone mineral density and parathyroid hormone levels were not accounted for in the analysis. CONCLUSION: Low serum 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations are associated with a higher risk for hip fracture.

 

Hypertens Res. 2008 Jun;31(6):1191-7

Relationship between Carotid Atherosclerosis and Lumbar Spine Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women.

Sumino H, Ichikawa S, Kasama S, Takahashi T, Sakamoto H, Kumakura H, Takayama Y, et al

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare.

Osteoporosis and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) have been associated with atherosclerosis. We investigated the correlation between carotid IMT and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. We studied the carotid IMT in 175 postmenopausal women, including 43 women (control) with normal spinal BMD, 73 women with osteopenia, and 59 women with osteoporosis. Carotid IMT was assessed by ultrasonography. BMD at the lumbar spine (lumbar 2 to 4 vertebrae) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Age, years since menopause, and carotid IMT were significantly greater in the osteoporosis group than in the control (all p<0.01) and osteopenia groups (all p<0.01). Estradiol was significantly lower in the osteoporosis group than in the control group (p<0.05). BMD was significantly lower in the osteoporosis group than in the osteopenia or control group (both p<0.01) and in the osteopenia group than in the control group (p<0.01). After adjusting for age, years since menopause, and estradiol, women with osteoporosis had significantly greater carotid IMT than controls (p<0.05). The univariate linear regression analysis revealed that carotid IMT was significantly positively correlated with age, years since menopause, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (all p<0.05) and was significantly negatively correlated with estradiol and BMD (all p<0.05), but showed no significant association with other clinical variables. In multivariate regression analysis, the carotid IMT was significantly positively correlated with LDL cholesterol (p<0.01) and negatively correlated with BMD (p<0.01), but not with other variables. Carotid atherosclerosis might be associated with lumbar spine bone mass in postmenopausal women, suggesting that postmenopausal women with osteoporosis may have more advanced carotid atherosclerosis than those with a normal bone mass.

 

BMJ. 2008 Aug 21;337:a1190. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1190.

Health related quality of life after combined hormone replacement therapy: randomised controlled trial.

Welton AJ, Vickers MR, Kim J, Ford D, Lawton BA, Maclennan AH, Meredith SK, et al.

MRC General Practice Research Framework, Stephenson House, London NW1 2ND.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on health related quality of life. DESIGN: Randomised placebo controlled double blind trial. SETTING: General practices in United Kingdom (384), Australia (94), and New Zealand (24). PARTICIPANTS: Postmenopausal women aged 50-69 at randomisation; 3721 women with a uterus were randomised to combined oestrogen and progestogen (n=1862) or placebo (n=1859). Data on health related quality of life at one year were available from 1043 and 1087 women, respectively. INTERVENTIONS: Conjugated equine oestrogen 0.625 mg plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5/5.0 mg or matched placebo orally daily for one year. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Health related quality of life and psychological wellbeing as measured by the women's health questionnaire. Changes in emotional and physical menopausal symptoms as measured by a symptoms questionnaire and depression by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies depression scale (CES-D). Overall health related quality of life and overall quality of life as measured by the European quality of life instrument (EuroQol) and visual analogue scale, respectively. RESULTS: After one year small but significant improvements were observed in three of nine components of the women's health questionnaire for those taking combined HRT compared with those taking placebo: vasomotor symptoms (P<0.001), sexual functioning (P<0.001), and sleep problems (P<0.001). Significantly fewer women in the combined HRT group reported hot flushes (P<0.001), night sweats (P<0.001), aching joints and muscles (P=0.001), insomnia (P<0.001), and vaginal dryness (P<0.001) than in the placebo group, but greater proportions reported breast tenderness (P<0.001) or vaginal discharge (P<0.001). Hot flushes were experienced in the combined HRT and placebo groups by 30% and 29% at trial entry and 9% and 25% at one year, respectively. No significant differences in other menopausal symptoms, depression, or overall quality of life were observed at one year. CONCLUSIONS: Combined HRT started many years after the menopause can improve health related quality of life.

 

J Bone Miner Res. 2008 Aug 20. [Epub ahead of print

Mechanical Stimulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation Promotes Osteogenesis While Preventing Dietary Induced Obesity.

Luu Y, Capilla E, Rosen C, Gilsanz V, Pessin J, Judex S, Rubin CT.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are defined by their ability to self-renew and differentiate into the cells which form mesodermal tissues such as bone and fat. Low magnitude mechanical signals (LMMS) have been shown to be anabolic to bone, and recently reported to suppress the development of fat in normal animals fed a regular diet. Using male C57BL/6J mice, the ability of LMMS (0.2 g, 90 Hz signal applied for 15 mins/day, 5 day/wk) to simultaneously promote bone formation and prevent diet induced obesity was correlated to mechanical influences on the molecular environment of the bone marrow, as indicated by the population dynamics and lineage commitment of MSCs. Six weeks of LMMS increased the overall marrow-based stem cell population by 37% and the number of MSCs by 46%. Concomitant with the increase in stem cell number, the differentiation potential of MSCs in the bone marrow was biased towards osteoblastic and against adipogenic differentiation, as reflected by up-regulation of the transcription factor Runx2 by 72% and down-regulation of PPARgamma by 27%. The phenotypic impact of LMMS on MSC lineage determination was evident at 14w, where visceral adipose tissue formation was suppressed by 28%, while trabecular bone volume fraction in the tibia was increased by 11%. Translating this to the clinic, a one year trial in young women (15-20y; n=48) with osteopenia showed that LMMS increased trabecular bone in the spine and kept visceral fat at baseline levels, while control subjects showed no change in bone density yet an increase in visceral fat. Mechanical modulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation indicates a unique therapeutic target to aid in tissue regeneration and repair, and may represent the basis of a non-pharmacologic strategy to simultaneously prevent obesity and osteoporosis.

 

Menopause Int. 2008 Sep;14(3):123-8

Depression during menopausal transition: a review of treatment strategies and pathophysiological correlates.

Frey BN, Lord C, Soares CN.

MD FRCPC, Director, Women's Health Concerns Clinic (WHCC), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, James Street South, FB 638, Hamilton, Canada.

It has long been recognized that women are at a higher risk than men to develop depression and that such risk is particularly associated with reproductive cycle events. Recent long-term, prospective studies have demonstrated that the transition to menopause is associated with higher risk for new onset and recurrent depression. A number of biological and environmental factors are independent predictors for depression in this population, including the presence of hot flushes, sleep disturbance, history of severe premenstrual syndrome or postpartum blues, ethnicity, history of stressful life events, past history of depression, body mass index, socioeconomic status and the use of hormones and antidepressants. Accumulated evidence suggests that ovarian hormones modulate serotonin and noradrenaline neurotransmission, a process that may be associated with underlying pathophysiological processes involved in the emergence of depressive symptoms during periods of hormonal fluctuation in biologically predisposed subpopulations. Transdermal estradiol and serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressants are efficacious in the treatment of depression and vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic, midlife women. The identification of individuals whom might be at a higher risk for depression during menopausal transition could guide preventive strategies for this population.

 

Menopause Int. 2008 Sep;14(3):111-6

Prophylactic oophorectomy in premenopausal women and long-term health.

Shuster LT, Gostout BS, Grossardt BR, Rocca WA.

MD, FACP, Women's Health Clinic, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To review the data on long-term outcomes in women who underwent prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy, a common surgical procedure that has more than doubled in frequency since the 1960s. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review of the published data on the consequences of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy. Special emphasis was given to the Mayo Clinic Cohort Study of Oophorectomy and Aging. Main outcome measures Overall mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment and dementia, parkinsonism, osteoporosis, psychological wellbeing and sexual function. RESULTS: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the premature loss of ovarian function caused by bilateral oophorectomy performed before natural menopause is associated with several negative outcomes. In particular, studies have revealed an increased risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment or dementia, parkinsonism, osteoporosis and bone fractures, decline in psychological wellbeing and decline in sexual function. The effects involve different organs (e.g. heart, bone, or brain), and different functions within organs (e.g. cognitive, motor, or emotional brain functions). Estrogen treatment may prevent some but not all of these negative outcomes. CONCLUSION: The potential adverse effects of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy on heart health, neurological health, bone health and quality of life should be carefully weighed against its potential benefits for cancer risk reduction in women at average risk of ovarian cancer.

 

Int J Cancer. 2008 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print

Coffee consumption and risk of endometrial cancer: A prospective study in Japan.

Shimazu T, Inoue M, Sasazuki S, Iwasaki M, Kurahashi N, et al.

Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan.

Coffee has been proposed to decrease the circulating insulin and estrogen levels, which are related to the development of endometrial cancer. However, few studies have prospectively assessed the association between coffee consumption and endometrial cancer. We conducted a population-based prospective cohort study in 53,724 Japanese women aged 40-69 years with no history of cancer at baseline in 1990-1994. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of endometrial cancer incidence in relation to coffee consumption. All reported p values are 2-tailed. During the 15-year follow-up period, we documented 117 cases of endometrial cancer. Coffee consumption was significantly associated with a decreased risk of endometrial cancer. After adjustment for age, study area, body mass index, menopausal status, age at menopause for postmenopausal women, parity, use of exogenous female hormones, smoking status and by consumption of green vegetables, beef, pork and green tea, the multivariate HRs (95% CI) of endometrial cancer in women who drank coffee </=2 days/week, 3-4 days/week, 1-2 cups/day and >/=3 cups/day were 1.00, 0.97 (0.56-1.68), 0.61 (0.39-0.97) and 0.38 (0.16-0.91), respectively (p for trend = 0.007). In contrast, green tea consumption was not significantly associated with a reduced risk of endometrial cancer (p for trend = 0.22). The inverse association between coffee consumption and risk of endometrial cancer was consistently observed in subgroup analyses stratified by potential confounders. Coffee consumption may be associated with a decreased risk of endometrial cancer.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Pt 1):706-13.

The sexuality of middle-aged women with a sexual partner: a population-based study.

Valadares AL, Pinto-Neto AM, Conde DM, Osis MJ, Sousa MH, Costa-Paiva L.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors associated with the sexuality of middle-aged women with sexual partners. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out using an anonymous, self-response questionnaire completed by Brazilian-born women 40 to 65 years old with 11 years or more of formal education who had a sexual partner. Of the 378 women who agreed to participate in the study, 219 answered all the questions used for calculation of the sexuality score and reported having a sexual partner. The instrument was based on the Short Personal Experiences Questionnaire. Seven components were analyzed: satisfaction in sexual activities, orgasm, intensity of desire, self-classification of sexual life, and frequency of arousal, sexual activity, and sexual fantasies. Sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, reproductive, and partner-related factors were evaluated. Poisson multiple regression analysis was performed, and prevalence ratios (PRs) with their 95% CIs were estimated. RESULTS: The median sexuality score was 9 (range, 2.45-13.77). The prevalence of below-median scores was higher in women who lived with their sexual partner (PR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.17-3.69), who were in the menopausal transition or were postmenopausal (PR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.08-2.65), and who were hypertensive (PR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.19-2.30). Sexual activities involving penetration (PR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31-0.73) and a score of 6 for satisfaction with partner as a lover (PR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.20-0.60) were indicative of a protective effect against poor sexuality. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the sexuality of women in midlife was negatively associated with the factors of living with a sexual partner, being in the menopausal transition or postmenopausal, and being hypertensive. Therefore, greater attention should be paid to identifying these factors, and measures should be adopted to minimize their repercussions on the sexuality of middle-aged women.

 

 

Semana del 13 al 19 de Agosto 2008

 

 N Engl J Med. 2008 Aug 14;359(7):697-708.

The Effects of Tibolone in Older Postmenopausal Women.

Cummings SR, Ettinger B, Delmas PD, Kenemans P, Stathopoulos V, Verweij P, Mol-Arts M, Kloosterboer L, Mosca L, Christiansen C, Bilezikian J, Kerzberg EM, Johnson S, Zanchetta J, Grobbee DE, Seifert W, Eastell R; the LIFT Trial Investigators.

BACKGROUND: Tibolone has estrogenic, progestogenic, and androgenic effects. Although tibolone prevents bone loss, its effects on fractures, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease are uncertain. METHODS: In this randomized study, we assigned 4538 women, who were between the ages of 60 and 85 years and had a bone mineral density T score of -2.5 or less at the hip or spine or a T score of -2.0 or less and radiologic evidence of a vertebral fracture, to receive once-daily tibolone (at a dose of 1.25 mg) or placebo. Annual spine radiographs were used to assess for vertebral fracture. Rates of cardiovascular events and breast cancer were adjudicated by expert panels. RESULTS: During a median of 34 months of treatment, the tibolone group, as compared with the placebo group, had a decreased risk of vertebral fracture, with 70 cases versus 126 cases per 1000 person-years (relative hazard, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41 to 0.74; P<0.001), and a decreased risk of nonvertebral fracture, with 122 cases versus 166 cases per 1000 person-years (relative hazard, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.93; P=0.01). The tibolone group also had a decreased risk of invasive breast cancer (relative hazard, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.80; P=0.02) and colon cancer (relative hazard, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.96; P=0.04). However, the tibolone group had an increased risk of stroke (relative hazard, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.14 to 4.23; P=0.02), for which the study was stopped in February 2006 at the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring board. There were no significant differences in the risk of either coronary heart disease or venous thromboembolism between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tibolone reduced the risk of fracture and breast cancer and possibly colon cancer but increased the risk of stroke in older women with osteoporosis.

 

Menopause. 2009 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]

A personal perspective on fracture risk assessment tools.

Ettinger B.

From the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

The World Health Organization and the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education have each recently posted fracture risk assessment tools on Web sites. To be most useful, these tools need to provide risk data in a form that is easily used by clinicians as they discuss treatment options with their patients. This article critiques these two tools and offers clinicians suggestions for key elements that should be included in fracture risk reports. Reports based on risk assessment tools need to provide data in a meaningful form that patients can easily grasp. Much more than risk numbers are needed, and, ideally, fracture risk tools should be integrated into bone densitometry reporting or placed into comprehensive, user-friendly, decision aids.

 

Cancer Treat Rev. 2008;34 Suppl 1:S3-18. Epub 2008 Jun 2.

Guidance for the management of breast cancer treatment-induced bone loss: a consensus position statement from a UK Expert Group.

Reid DM, Doughty J, Eastell R, Heys SD, Howell A, McCloskey EV, Powles T, Selby P, Coleman RE.

Department of Rheumatology, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. d.m.reid@abdn.ac.uk

In postmenopausal women, the use of aromatase inhibitors increases bone turnover and induces bone loss at sites rich in trabecular bone at an average rate of 1-3% per year leading to an increase in fracture incidence compared to that seen during tamoxifen use. The bone loss is much more marked in young women with treatment-induced ovarian suppression followed by aromatase inhibitor therapy (average 7-8% per annum). Pre-treatment with tamoxifen for 2-5 years may reduce the clinical significance of the adverse bone effects associated with aromatase inhibitors, particularly if this leads to a shortening in the duration of exposure to an aromatase inhibitor. However, skeletal status should still be assessed at the commencement of aromatase inhibitor therapy. The rate of bone loss in women who experience a premature menopause before the age of 45 or are receiving ovarian suppression therapy is accelerated by the concomitant use of aromatase inhibitors. These patients are considered to be at high risk of clinically important bone loss and should have a baseline dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) assessment of bone mineral density (BMD). Randomised clinical trials in postmenopausal women indicate that bisphosphonates prevent the bone loss and accelerated bone turnover associated with aromatase inhibitor therapy and are a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in this setting. Treatment initiation recommendations are based on a combination of risk factors for osteoporotic fracture and BMD levels. Bisphosphonates, along with a healthy lifestyle and adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D are the treatments of choice to prevent bone loss. Due to the rate of bone loss associated with breast cancer treatments, and uncertainties about the interaction between aromatase inhibitor use and BMD for fracture risk, the threshold for intervention has been set at a higher level than that generally recommended for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Management recommendations have been summarised in two algorithms, one for women experiencing a premature menopause and the other for postmenopausal women requiring adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy.

 

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2008 Aug 11. [Epub ahead of print]

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral lactobacilli to improve the vaginal flora of postmenopausal women.

Petricevic L, Unger FM, Viernstein H, Kiss H.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the influence of the orally administered probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 on the quality of the vaginal flora in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: Postmenopausal women with Nugent scores between 4 and 6 in initial vaginal swab, were randomized into two groups. Women in the intervention group received probiotic capsules containing 2.5x10(9)CFU (colony forming units) each of lyophilized L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri RC-14 and women in the control group received an oral placebo once daily, in both groups for 14 days. Final vaginal swabs were taken 1 day after the last administration of the medication. The primary efficacy variable was a change in the Nugent score between baseline and the end of the study of at least two grades in each individual patient. RESULTS: Seventy two women were recruited in the study, 35 assigned to the intervention group and 37 to the control group. Twenty-one of the 35 subjects (60%) in the intervention group and 6 of the 37 subjects (16%) in the control group showed a reduction in the Nugent score by at least two grades. The difference in the number of patients with improvement was highly significant (p=0.0001). The median difference in Nugent scores between baseline and the end of the study was 3 in the intervention group and 0 in the control group (p=0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence for an alternative modality to restore the normal vaginal flora using specific probiotic strains administered orally.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Suppl):810-5.

Chemoprevention in postmenopausal women.

Rastogi P.

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. rastogip@upmc.edu

Several large, prospective trials have evaluated tamoxifen compared with placebo for breast cancer risk reduction in women at increased risk of breast cancer. Combined results from these trials demonstrate that tamoxifen at 20 mg/d reduced the incidence of breast cancer by 38%. The risk of developing breast cancer is the primary determinant of net benefit, with greater benefits accrued to women with the highest risk of breast cancer. Age and the presence of risk factors for increased toxicity also have an effect on the net benefit associated with tamoxifen. The greatest clinical benefit from tamoxifen is evident for younger women who are at lower risk of thromboembolic complications and uterine cancer, women without a uterus, and women with breast biopsy results indicative of atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ. Raloxifene has also been shown to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer in women with osteoporosis and is as effective as tamoxifen for reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer. In high-risk younger, postmenopausal women, raloxifene seems to offer a net benefit when comparing the reduction of risk of breast cancer and prevention of fractures with the risk of stroke, venous thromboembolic events, uterine events, and symptomatic side effects. Raloxifene offers an acceptable option for breast cancer risk reduction in postmenopausal women.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Suppl):804-9.

Risks and benefits of therapy with menopausal hormones versus selective estrogen-receptor modulators in peri- and postmenopausal women at increased breast cancer risk.

Col NF, Chlebowski RT.

Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME 04101, USA. coln@mmc.org

Decision making about menopausal therapies is complex because of the number of clinical factors that must be considered. Menopausal hormone therapy can relieve the vasomotor symptoms of menopause, but the most common preparation, combination estrogen and progesterone, increases the risk of breast cancer. Both tamoxifen and raloxifene can reduce the risk of developing invasive breast cancer, but the adverse effects of these drugs differ substantially. Risk models have been built to identify women at high risk for developing breast cancer, but their application in clinical practice has been develop disappointingly low. We propose an approach for identifying and managing menopausal women at high risk for breast cancer that can be readily implemented in clinical practice. The first step is to identify women at sufficiently high risk for breast cancer to merit treatment. For women aged 45 or older, the presence of one or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer and one or more previous breast biopsies will identify those whose 5-year risk is 2% or higher. For women 55 years or older, the presence of either one of these risk factors is sufficient. Any woman with a family history of breast cancer should be assessed as to whether she is likely to carry a BRCA mutation and referred for genetic counseling and possible genetic testing. Decisions about treatment options should be based on the presence or absence of bothersome vasomotor symptoms, an intact uterus, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. A simple algorithm is presented to streamline identification and management of menopausal women at high risk for breast cancer.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4 Suppl):782-9.

Epidemiology, genetics, and risk evaluation of postmenopausal women at risk of breast cancer.

Vogel VG.

Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. vvogel@magee.edu

Breast cancer risk factors have been studied for the past three decades, and the single most important risk factor is age. Hormonally linked adult reproductive and anthropometric risk factors contribute to the etiology of postmenopausal breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer increases among women older than 50 years of age who have benign breast disease, especially those with atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia. Lobular carcinoma in situ increases risk significantly, as do a family history of breast cancer in first-degree relatives and the presence of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Diet, exercise, and environmental factors play a very small role in overall risk. Mammographic breast density increases relative risk fivefold among women with the highest density, and breast cancer risk is two to three times greater in women with elevated serum levels of estradiol or testosterone. Multivariate risk models allow determination of composite relative risks and cumulative lifetime risk, although improved models for African American women are required. For postmenopausal women, newer risk models are being developed and validated that include age, breast density, race, ethnicity, family history of breast cancer, a previous breast biopsy, body mass index, age at onset of natural menopause, hormone therapy, and previous false-positive mammography. A simpler model that includes only age, breast cancer in first-degree relatives, and previous breast biopsy performs well for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. As many as 10 million women in the United States are at increased risk, and clinicians are obligated to identify these women and manage their risk appropriately.

 

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008 Aug 9. [Epub ahead of print]

Evaluation of the sexual function and quality of life in raloxifene treated postmenopausal women.

Biri A, Korucuoglu U, Ilhan MN, Ciftci B, Bozkurt N, Guner H.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Besevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the net effect of raloxifene on overall quality of life and sexual function in postmenopausal women. METHODS: The study was performed in the Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinic of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine between January 2002 and February 2005. Fifty postmenopausal women, in whom raloxifene was indicated for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, were considered the study group. Fifty postmenopausal women who were not osteoporotic were enrolled as the control group. Participants completed a questionnaire composed of several parts (GRISS, BDI and ISI), at the beginning and end of the 12-month treatment period. RESULTS: Two groups were similar to each other with respect to total GRISS scores at the beginning and at the end of the study (P = 0.929 and P = 0.508; respectively). Raloxifene was associated with a significant improvement from baseline in the total scores of BDI (P = 0.0001), whereas this improvement was not significantly different from the control group (P = 0.216). With regard to ISI scores, there were no differences between groups in total scores. Raloxifene use did not seem to affect subscores of ISI either. CONCLUSIONS: This study failed to prove any deleterious effect of raloxifene on quality of life and sexual functions.

 

Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):513S-519S.

Summary of evidence-based review on vitamin D efficacy and safety in relation to bone health.

Cranney A, Weiler HA, O'Donnell S, Puil L.

Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa Hospital, and The University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ancranney@ohri.ca

The objective of this evidence review was to synthesize the literature on the effectiveness and safety of nutritional and ultraviolet radiation sources of vitamin D with respect to bone health outcomes at all stages of life. The goals were to identify knowledge gaps for the research community and to highlight areas that required further research. We completed an extensive literature search of multiple databases and a multilevel selection process with synthesis of results from 167 included studies. We included a variety of outcomes (eg, falls, bone mineral density, fractures, and adverse events). This report provides an overview of the methods and a summary of the key findings. In addition, we discuss areas where the evidence is inconclusive, as well as methodologic issues that we encountered. We found inconsistent evidence of an association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration and bone mineral content in infants and fair evidence of an association with bone mineral content or density in older children and older adults. The evidence of an association between serum 25(OH)D concentration and some clinical outcomes (fractures, performance measures) in postmenopausal women and older men was inconsistent, and the evidence of an association with falls was fair. We found good evidence of a positive effect of consuming vitamin D-fortified foods on 25(OH)D concentrations. The evidence for a benefit of vitamin D on falls and fractures varied. We found fair evidence that adults tolerated vitamin D at doses above current dietary reference intake levels, but we had no data on the association between long-term harms and higher doses of vitamin D.

 

Cancer Causes Control. 2008 Aug 14. [Epub ahead of print]

Coffee and caffeine intake and the risk of ovarian cancer: the Iowa Women's Health Study.

Lueth NA, Anderson KE, Harnack LJ, Fulkerson JA, Robien K.

Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Laboratory data suggest that caffeine or some components of coffee may cause DNA mutations and inhibit tumor suppressor mechanisms, leading to neoplastic growth. However, coffee consumption has not been clearly implicated in the etiology of human postmenopausal ovarian cancer. This study evaluated the relationship of coffee and caffeine intake with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in a prospective cohort study of 29,060 postmenopausal women. The participants completed a mailed questionnaire that assessed diet and health history and were followed for ovarian cancer incidence from 1986 to 2004. Age-adjusted and multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios were calculated for four exposure variables: caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, total coffee, and total caffeine to assess whether or not coffee or caffeine influences the risk of ovarian cancer. An increased risk was observed in the multivariate model for women who reported drinking five or more cups/day of caffeinated coffee compared to women who reported drinking none (HR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.10-2.95). Decaffeinated coffee, total coffee, and caffeine were not statistically significantly associated with ovarian cancer incidence. Our results suggest that a component of coffee other than caffeine, or in combination with caffeine, may be associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women who drink five or more cups of coffee a day.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Trend in incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures among 40- to 69-year-old women: analysis of a large insurance claims database, 2000-2005.

Islam S, Liu Q, Chines A, Helzner E.

From Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, PA.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine the trend in incidence of fractures among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women during the periods immediately before and after publication of the Women's Health Initiative and Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) II data. DESIGN:: This was an ecological study using a claims database for multiple healthcare plans. The cohort of women aged 40 to 69 years was included. Diagnostic codes for fractures likely to be osteoporosis related and prescriptions for hormone therapy and other bone-modifying medications were identified. Annual incidence rates and trends in incidence over time for fractures and prescriptions were determined for the period 2000 through 2005. RESULTS:: Enrollment among women aged 40 to 69 years increased from 919,389 in 2000 to 2,872,372 in 2005. A total of 43,017 new fractures were identified. There was a significant increasing trend in age-adjusted rates of radius and ulna, vertebra, ribs, hip, pelvis, multiple, and pathologic fractures during the period from 2003 through 2005 (P < 0.03). The incidence of each fracture type was significantly greater during 2004 to 2005 than 2000 to 2001 (P < 0.04). The use of estrogen, estrogen plus progestin, and other hormones declined over the period from 2000 to 2003, whereas the use of other bone-modifying drugs increased from 2003 through 2005. CONCLUSIONS:: The incidence of fractures among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women increased significantly in the 3 years after publication of Women's Health Initiative and Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study II results. This trend followed a decline in the use of hormone therapy, concurrent with an increase in the use of other bone-modifying agents.

 

Endocrinology. 2008 Aug 14. [Epub ahead of print]

The Pairing of a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator, Bazedoxifene, With Conjugated Estrogens as a New Paradigm for the Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms and Osteoporosis Prevention.

Kharode Y, Bodine PV, Miller CP, Lyttle CR, Komm BS.

Wyeth Research, WHMSB, Collegeville, PA, USA.

The menopausal transition is associated with decreased ovarian function and concomitant decline in estrogen production, which may result in physiologic effects such as hot flashes, reduced bone mass, and altered lipid profile. It is well established that these unfavorable changes are effectively offset with estrogen therapy (ET) or, in women with a uterus, estrogens in combination with a progestin (hormone therapy [HT]). Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), which exhibit both estrogen receptor (ER) agonist and antagonist activities depending on the target tissue, have been regarded as offering the potential to provide the benefits of ET and HT with an improved safety and tolerability profile. To date, no SERM alone has demonstrated an ideal benefit-risk profile for menopausal therapy. The tissue selective estrogen complex (TSEC), or the pairing of a SERM with estrogens, may provide an optimal blend of ER agonist and antagonist activities. We evaluated the physiologic profile of this novel therapeutic paradigm by using various in vivo models to assess uterine, vasomotor, lipid, and skeletal responses to a TSEC partnering bazedoxifene with conjugated estrogens (CE). Bazedoxifene 3.0 mg/kg effectively antagonized CE-induced uterine stimulation without reversing the positive effects of CE on vasomotor instability. When paired with CE, bazedoxifene 3.0 mg/kg reduced total cholesterol levels by up to 20% compared with CE alone and significantly increased total bone density relative to control. These preclinical findings showed that the appropriate dose combination of bazedoxifene/CE exhibits positive vasomotor, lipid, and skeletal responses with minimal uterine stimulation.

 

Semana del 30 de Julio al 5 de Agosto 2008

 

Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jul 28;168(14):1568-75

Menopause and the metabolic syndrome: the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Janssen I, Powell LH, Crawford S, Lasley B, Sutton-Tyrrell K.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies suggest that prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases from premenopause to postmenopause in women, independent of age. Little is known about why. We hypothesized that the incidence of the MetS increases with progression through menopause and that this increase is explained by the progressive androgenicity of the hormonal milieu. METHODS: This longitudinal, 9-year study of 949 participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation investigates the natural history of the menopausal transition. Participants of 5 ethnicities at 7 geographic sites were recruited when they were premenopausal or early perimenopausal and were eligible for this study if they (1) reached menopause during the study; (2) had never taken hormone therapy, and (3) did not have diabetes mellitus or the MetS at baseline. The primary outcome was the presence of MetS using National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Secondary outcomes were the components of the MetS. RESULTS: By the final menstrual period, 13.7% of the women had new-onset MetS. Longitudinal analyses, centered at the final menstrual period, were adjusted for age at menopause, ethnicity, study site, marital status, education, body mass index, smoking, and aging. Odds of developing the MetS per year in perimenopause were 1.45 (95% confidence interval, 1.35-1.56); after menopause, 1.24 (95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.30). These odds were significantly different (P < .001). An increase in bioavailable testosterone or a decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin levels increased the odds. CONCLUSIONS: As testosterone progressively dominates the hormonal milieu during the menopausal transition, the prevalence of MetS increases, independent of aging and other important covariates. This may be a pathway by which cardiovascular disease increases during menopause.

 

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print

Venlafaxine versus clonidine for the treatment of hot flashes in breast cancer patients: a double-blind, randomized cross-over study.

Buijs C, Mom CH, Willemse PH, Marike Boezen H, Maurer JM, Wymenga AN, de Jong RS, et al.

Department of Medical Oncology,  University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Purpose Breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopause experience frequent and severe hot flashes (HF). We compared venlafaxine and clonidine for the treatment of HF with regard to side effects, efficacy, quality of life and sexual functioning. Methods In a double-blind, cross-over study, 60 breast cancer patients experiencing HF were randomized to 8 weeks venlafaxine followed by 2 weeks wash-out, and 8 weeks clonidine or vice versa. HF frequency and severity, side effects, quality of life and sexuality were assessed. Results Thirty patients started with venlafaxine and 30 with clonidine. Premature discontinuation for toxicity occurred in 14/59 during venlafaxine and 5/53 during clonidine (P = .038). Venlafaxine induced more side effects. Median reduction in HF score was 49% for venlafaxine and 55% for clonidine (ns). Conclusion Venlafaxine and clonidine are equally, but moderately effective in HF reduction. Side effects are the main reason for drug discontinuation, occurring more often with venlafaxine.

 

Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jul 28;168(14):1500-11

Low-fat dietary pattern and risk of treated diabetes mellitus in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled dietary modification trial.

Tinker LF, Bonds DE, Margolis KL, Manson JE, Howard BV, Larson J, et al; Women's Health Initiative.

Women's Health Initiative, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.

BACKGROUND: Decreased fat intake with weight loss and increased exercise may reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus in persons with impaired glucose tolerance. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of a low-fat dietary pattern on incidence of treated diabetes among generally healthy postmenopausal women. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at 40 US clinical centers from 1993 to 2005, including 48,835 postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years. Women were randomly assigned to a usual-diet comparison group (n = 29,294 [60.0%]) or an intervention group with a 20% low-fat dietary pattern with increased vegetables, fruits, and grains (n = 19,541 [40.0%]). Self-reported incident diabetes treated with oral agents or insulin was assessed. RESULTS: Incident treated diabetes was reported by 1303 intervention participants (7.1%) and 2039 comparison participants (7.4%) (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-1.03; P = .25). Weight loss occurred in the intervention group, with a difference between intervention and comparison groups of 1.9 kg after 7.5 years (P < .001). Subgroup analysis suggested that greater decreases in percentage of energy from total fat reduced diabetes risk (P for trend = .04), which was not statistically significant after adjusting for weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: A low-fat dietary pattern among generally healthy postmenopausal women showed no evidence of reducing diabetes risk after 8.1 years. Trends toward reduced incidence were greater with greater decreases in total fat intake and weight loss. Weight loss, rather than macronutrient composition, may be the dominant predictor of reduced risk of diabetes.

 

Cancer. 2008 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print

Hip bone density predicts breast cancer risk independently of Gail score: results From the Women's Health Initiative.

Chen Z, Arendell L, Aickin M, Cauley J, Lewis CE, Chlebowski R.

Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Arizona College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona.

BACKGROUND.: The Gail model has been commonly used to estimate a woman's risk of breast cancer within a certain time period. High bone mineral density (BMD) is also a significant risk factor for breast cancer, but it appears to play no role in the Gail model. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether hip BMD predicts postmenopausal breast cancer risk independently of the Gail score. METHODS.: In this prospective study, 9941 postmenopausal women who had a baseline hip BMD and Gail score from the Women's Health Initiative were included in the analysis. Their average age was 63.0 +/- 7.4 years at baseline. RESULTS.: After an average of 8.43 years of follow-up, 327 incident breast cancer cases were reported and adjudicated. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, the hazards ratios (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) for incident breast cancer were 1.35 (95% CI, 1.05-1.73) for high Gail score (>/=1.67%) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.11-1.40) for each unit of increase in the total hip BMD T-score. Restricting the analysis to women with both BMD and a Gail score above the median, a sharp increase in incident breast cancer for women with the highest BMD and Gail scores was found (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS.: The contribution of BMD to the prediction of incident postmenopausal breast cancer across the entire population was found to be independent of the Gail score. However, among women with both high BMD and a high Gail score, there appears to be an interaction between these 2 factors. These findings suggest that BMD and Gail score may be used together to better quantify the risk of breast cancer.

 

J Bone Miner Res. 2008 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print

Hormone Therapy Improves Femur Geometry Among Ethnically Diverse Postmenopausal Participants in the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Intervention Trials.

Chen Z, Beck T, Cauley JA, Lewis CE, Lacroix A, Bassford T, Wu G, Sherrill D, Going S.

Abstract Loss of bone strength underlies osteoporotic fragility fractures. We hypothesized that hormone interventions significantly improve the structural geometry of proximal femur cross-sections. Study participants were from the Women's Health Initiative hormone intervention trials: either the conjugated equine estrogen only (N(placebo) = 447, N(CEE) =422) trial or the estrogen plus progestin (N(placebo) = 441, N(E+P) = 503) trial, who were 50-79 years old at baseline and were followed up to 6 years. Bone density scans by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were conducted at baseline, year1, year 3, and year 6. Femur geometry was derived from hip DXA scans using the hip structural analysis (HSA) method. Mixed effect models with the intent-to-treat analysis approach were used. There were no significant differences in treatment effects between the E-alone and the E+P trial, so the analyses were conducted with participants combined from both trials. Treatment benefits (p<0.05) on femur geometry were observed as early as one year after the intervention. From baseline to year 6, section modulus (a measure of maximum bending stress) was preserved and buckling ratio (an index of cortical instability under compression) was reduced by hormone interventions (p<0.05); the differences in the percent changes from baseline to year 6 between women on hormone intervention vs. women on placebo were 2.3% to 3.6% for section modulus and - 5.3% to - 4.3 % for buckling ratio. Hormone interventions led to favorable changes in femur geometry, which may help explain the reduced fracture risk observed in hormone interventions.

 

J Bone Miner Res. 2008 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print

Efficacy of Bazedoxifene in Reducing New Vertebral Fracture Risk in Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis: Results From a 3-Year, Randomized, Placebo- and Active-Controlled Clinical Trial*

Silverman SL, Christiansen C, Genant HK, Vukicevic S, Zanchetta JR, de Villiers TJ, et al

In this 3-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled study, healthy postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (aged 55-85 years) were treated with bazedoxifene 20 or 40 mg/day, raloxifene 60 mg/day, or placebo. The primary endpoint was incidence of new vertebral fractures after 36 months; secondary endpoints included nonvertebral fractures, bone mineral density (BMD), and bone turnover markers. Among 6,847 subjects in the intent-to-treat population, the incidence of new vertebral fractures was significantly lower (P<0.05) with bazedoxifene 20 mg (2.3%), bazedoxifene 40 mg (2.5%), and raloxifene 60 mg (2.3%) compared with placebo (4.1%), with relative risk reductions of 42%, 37%, and 42%, respectively. The treatment effect was similar among subjects with or without prevalent vertebral fracture (P=0.89 for treatment by baseline fracture status interaction). The incidence of nonvertebral fractures with bazedoxifene or raloxifene was not significantly different from placebo. In a post-hoc analysis of a subgroup of women at higher fracture risk (femoral neck T-score </=-3.0 and/or >/=1 moderate or severe vertebral fracture or multiple mild vertebral fractures; n=1,772), bazedoxifene 20 mg showed a 50% and 44% reduction in nonvertebral fracture risk relative to placebo (P=0.02) and raloxifene 60 mg (P=0.05), respectively. Bazedoxifene significantly improved BMD and reduced bone marker levels (P<0.001 vs placebo). The incidence of vasodilatation, leg cramps, and venous thromboembolic events was higher with bazedoxifene or raloxifene compared with placebo. In conclusion, bazedoxifene significantly reduced the risk of new vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and decreased the risk of nonvertebral fracture in subjects at higher fracture risk.

 

Menopause. 2008 Jul 24. [Epub ahead of print

A long-term user of cosmetic cream containing estrogen developed breast cancer and endometrial hyperplasia.

Komori S, Ito Y, Nakamura Y, Aoki M, Takashi T, Kinuta T, Tanaka H, Koyama K.

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan.

A 93-year-old woman was referred to our clinic for abnormal genital bleeding. It was found that she had endometrial hyperplasia and breast cancer. Her uterus was as large as that of a normal adult menstruating woman. She indicated that she had been applying cosmetic cream containing a low concentration of ethynylestradiol to her face and body three times a day for 75 years. It is possible that this long-term use of the ethynylestradiol-containing cream is related to the development of breast cancer and endometrial hyperplasia.

 

Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Jul 25. [Epub ahead of print

Elevated Neuroimmune Biomarkers in Sweat Patches and Plasma of Premenopausal Women with Major Depressive Disorder in Remission: The POWER Study.

Cizza G, Marques AH, Eskandari F, Christie IC, Torvik S, Silverman MN, Phillips TM, Sternberg EM.

Clinical Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is inconsistently associated with elevations in proinflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides. We used a skin sweat patch, recently validated in healthy control subjects, and recycling immunoaffinity chromatography to measure neuroimmune biomarkers in patients with MDD mostly in remission. METHODS: We collected blood at 8:00 am and applied skin sweat patches for 24 hours in 21- to 45-year-old premenopausal women (n = 19) with MDD (17/19 in remission) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 17) participating in the POWER (Premenopausal, Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Women, Alendronate, Depression) Study. RESULTS: Proinflammatory cytokines, neuropeptide Y, substance P, and calcitonin-gene-related peptide were significantly higher and vasoactive intestinal peptide, a marker of parasympathetic activity, was significantly lower in patients compared to controls, and depressive symptomatology strongly correlated with biomarker levels. All analytes were strongly correlated in the skin sweat patch and plasma in patients (r = .73 to .99; p < .0004). CONCLUSIONS: The skin sweat patch allows detection of disrupted patterns of proinflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides in women with MDD in clinical remission, which could predispose to medical consequences such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. This method permits measurement of cytokines in ambulatory settings where blood collection is not feasible.

 

Open Clin Cancer J. 2008 Jan 18;2:1-6.

Metabolic profile of breast cancer in a population of women in southern Spain.

Lopez-Saez JB, Martinez-Rubio JA, Alvarez MM, Carrera CG, Dominguez Villar M, et al.

Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.

Background: There are indications that mortality in breast cancer is related with dietary factors, but no study has been large enough to characterise reliably how, this risk is influenced. To establish a logistic regression equation that would predict breast cancer from factors in the endocrinological and metabolic profile, we studied endocrinological and metabolic risk factors that are modified by the diet, in a population of women with breast cancer in southern Spain.Patients and Methods: We carried out a simple a case-control study comparing 204 women with breast cancer (96 premenopausal and 108 postmenopausal women) and 250 healthy control subjects. The predictive variables were basal glycaemia, insulin, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), C-peptide, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-c (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-c (LDL-C), selenium and Quetelet index (BMI).Results: The metabolic profile differed between pre- and postmenopausal patients, and metabolic alterations were greater in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. The differences between healthy subjects and breast cancer patients were clearly significant.Conclusions: Our findings have several potential practical applications in the early detection of breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women; in primary prevention; and in the development of a mathematical model of breast carcinogenesis.

 

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Jul 29. [Epub ahead of print

Correlates of low testosterone and symptomatic androgen deficiency in a population-based sample.

Hall SA, Esche GR, Araujo AB, Travison TG, Clark RV, Williams RE, McKinlay JB.

New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA, 02474 USA

Risk factors for low testosterone and symptomatic androgen deficiency (AD) may be modifiable. Objective: To examine demographic, anthropometric, and medical correlates of low testosterone and symptomatic AD. Design: Data were used from the Boston Area Community Health Survey, an epidemiologic study conducted from 2002-2005. Setting: Community-based random sample of racially and ethnically diverse men. Patients or other Participants: Data were available for 1,822 men. Interventions: N/A Main outcome measures: Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of covariates with 1) low testosterone and 2) symptomatic AD. The operational definition of \'low testosterone' was serum total testosterone <300 ng/dl and free testosterone <5 ng/dl; symptomatic AD was defined as the additional presence of symptoms: any of low libido, erectile dysfunction, or osteoporosis; or 2 or more of sleep disturbance, depressed mood, lethargy, or diminished physical performance. Results: Factors associated with low testosterone included age (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.66, per decade); low per-capita income (</=$6,000 per household member vs. >$30,000) (OR=2.86, 95% CI: 1.39, 5.87); and waist circumference (per 10-cm increase) (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.45, 2.12). Only age (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.77), waist circumference (OR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.44, 2.47) and health status (OR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.92, excellent vs. fair/poor) were associated with our construct of symptomatic AD. Of all variables, waist circumference was the most important contributor in both models. Conclusions: Waist circumference is a potentially modifiable risk factor for low testosterone and symptomatic AD. Manifestation of symptoms may be a consequence of generally poor health status.