Selección de Resúmenes de Menopausia

 

Semana del 6 al 12 de Agosto 2008

Juan Enrique Blümel. Departamento Medicina Sur. Universidad de Chile

 

 

  

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2008 Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print]

The diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia on curettage: how reliable is it?

Obeidat B, Mohtaseb A, Matalka I.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 2954, Irbid, 21110, Jordan, b_obeidat@hotmail.com.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the consistency of preoperative and postoperative histological findings in cases of endometrial hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with endometrial hyperplasia detected by surgical curettage were treated by hysterectomy. The histopathological diagnoses found on curettage specimens were compared and correlated with those found on hysterectomy. Endometrial hyperplasia was classified according to the classification scheme of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia on curettage specimens performed for evaluation of various bleeding abnormalities. The average age of the patients was 51.8 years (range 35-74). Thirty patients (55%) were postmenopausal. The interval between curettage and hysterectomy was 1-33 weeks. Of the patients, 26 (47%) had simple hyperplasia, 24 (44%) complex hyperplasia and 5 patients (9%) had complex atypical hyperplasia. Histopathological evaluation of hysterectomy specimens of these patients showed a total number of 35 cases (64%) with endometrial hyperplasia, 1 case of endometrial carcinoma and 19 cases with other pathological findings. The consistency rate between curettage and hysterectomy specimens was 45% (25/55 cases). Following hysterectomy, we found that none of the 26 simple hyperplasia cases and only one of the 24 complex hyperplasia cases coexisted with endometrial carcinoma. On the other hand, three of the five cases of complex atypical carcinoma coexisted with endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Curettage endometrial pathology tends to be more consistent with final hysterectomy pathology in simple hyperplasia. However, in cases of complex hyperplasia with atypia, curettage seems to under diagnose the real pathology.

 

 

Optom Vis Sci. 2008 Aug;85(8):668-74.

Long-term Incidence of Dry Eye in an Older Population.

Moss SE, Klein R, Klein BE.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.

PURPOSE.: To estimate the ten-year incidence of dry eye in an older population and examine its association with various risk factors. METHODS.: The 43 to 86 year old population of Beaver Dam, WI, was examined in 1988 to 1990 (n = 4926) and 1993 to 1995 (n = 3722). Dry eye data were first collected in 1993 to 1995. Subsequent examinations or interviews occurred in 1998 to 2000 (n = 2827) and 2003 to 2005 (n = 2124). The incidence cohort comprised 2414 subjects not reporting dry eye in 1993 to 1995. Risk factor information, ascertained in 1993 to 1995, included demographics, medical history, cardiovascular disease risk factors, medications, and life-style factors. Ten-year cumulative incidence was estimated by the product-limit method. RESULTS.: Over the 10-year period, 482 subjects developed a history of dry eye for an incidence of 21.6% (95% confidence interval, 19.9 to 23.3%). Incidence increased significantly (p < 0.001) with age. Incidence was greater in women (25.0%) than men (17.2%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, incidence was greater (p < 0.05) in subjects with arthritis, allergy or thyroid disease not treated with hormone, using antihistamines, antianxiety medications, antidepressants, oral steroids or vitamins, and poorer self-rated health. Incidence was less (p < 0.05) in subjects consuming alcohol. It was not significantly associated with blood pressure, hypertension, serum total or high density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass, diabetes, gout, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, smoking, caffeine use, or taking calcium channel blockers or anticholesterol medications. In a multivariable model with time-varying covariates, increased incidence was associated with age, female gender, poorer self-rated health, antidepressant or oral steroid use, and thyroid disease untreated with hormone. It was lower for those using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or with a sedentary lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS.: Dry eye incidence is substantial. However, there are few associated risk factors. Some drugs (antihistamines, antianxiety drugs, antidepressants, oral steroids) are associated with greater risk, while angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may be associated with lower risk.

 

 

Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Sep;51(3):607-17

Association of ovarian and uterine cancers with postmenopausal hormonal treatments.

Neves-E-Castro M.

Clinica de Feminologia Holística, Lisbon, Portugal. manuel@neves-e-castro.org

During hormone treatments for the relief of the symptoms of postmenopausal women a number of side effects may occur. Some may be due to the wrong choice of the steroids used for treatment or to the route of administration. However, the more important ones deserving much attention are the rare occurrences of malignancies of the uterus and ovaries. The risk for ovarian cancer, if it exists, is minimal and clinically irrelevant. Estrogen only treatments are used only in hysterectomized women. Continuous combined estrogen-progestin treatments have a very low risk of association with endometrial cancers compared with sequential regimens. Tibolone may be associated with a very small risk for endometrial cancers and thus must be properly monitored by transvaginal ultrasound. Breast cancer patients being treated with tamoxifen require careful attention to the endometrium to exclude a carcinoma. For the protection of the endometrium, a progestin-releasing intrauterine devise is an attractive choice. Raloxifene used for a long time to prevent osteoporosis is safe for the endometrium. None of the above-mentioned side effects is enough to prevent a physician from using hormone treatment in postmenopausal women if there are no past or current contraindications.

 

 

Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Aug 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Clinical subsequent fractures cluster in time after first fractures.

van Geel TA, van Helden S, Geusens PP, Winkens B, Dinant GJ.

Maastricht University, Netherlands.

OBJECTIVES: The risk of subsequent fractures is double the risk of having a first fracture. We analysed whether this risk is constant or not over time. METHODS: A population-based study in 4140 postmenopausal women, aged between 50 and 90 years, on radiographic confirmed clinical fractures from menopause onwards analysed by Cox regression. RESULTS: 924 (22%) women had a first fracture and 234 (26% of 924) a subsequent fracture. Four percent of all first fractures occurred in each year from menopause onwards, while after a first fracture, 23% of all subsequent fractures occurred within one year and 54% within five years. When calculated from time of a first fracture, the relative risk (RR) of subsequent fracture was 2.1 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7-2.6) and remained increased during 15 years. When calculated for specific time intervals after a first fracture, the RR was 5.3 (CI: 4.0-6.6) within one year, 2.8 (CI: 2.0-3.6) within 2-5 years, 1.4 (1.0-1.8) within 6-10 years and 0.41 (CI: 0.29 -0.53) after >10 years. CONCLUSIONS: From menopause onwards, clinical fractures cluster in time indicating the need for early action to prevent subsequent fractures.

 

 

J Nucl Cardiol. 2008 Jul-Aug;15(4):510-7. Epub 2008 Apr 8.

Cardiovascular risk, obesity, and myocardial blood flow in postmenopausal women.

Motivala AA, Rose PA, Kim HM, Smith YR, Bartnik C, Brook RD, Muzik O, Duvernoy CS.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine whether overweight or obese status is independently associated with myocardial flow reserve (MFR), an established predictor of cardiovascular mortality, in a group of postmenopausal women with no previous cardiovascular disease. Postmenopausal women are the largest group of overweight and physically inactive individuals in the United States. Increased body mass index (BMI) is consistently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in this population. Whether this is because of obesity itself or the accompanying increase in cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) remains controversial. METHODS: We examined the relationship of myocardial blood flow (MBF), coronary vascular resistance, and MFR to BMI in 60 postmenopausal women with no coronary heart disease. Subjects underwent dynamic N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography for the measurement of MBF and MFR. Baseline demographics, CRF, and hemodynamic parameters were recorded for each subject. Datasets were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: normal (18 to 24), overweight (25 to 29), and obese (>or=30). RESULTS: The overweight and obese groups showed significantly higher resting MBF and lower MFR than the normal-weight group (both P < .001), even after adjusting for CRF. A further analysis of subjects without any CRF (n = 35) showed that the MFR remained significantly lower in the obese compared with normal-weight subjects (P = .05). Levels of known markers of vascular inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and homocysteine) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels correlated with declining MFR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a mechanistic link between obesity and coronary heart disease in this population.

 

 

J Med Assoc Thai. 2008 May;91(5):625-32.

Sexual functioning in postmenopausal women not taking hormone therapy in the Gynecological and Menopause Clinic, Songklanagarind Hospital measured by Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire.

Peeyananjarassri K, Liabsuetrakul T, Soonthornpun K, Choobun T, Manopsilp P.

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. krantarat@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE: To study sexual functioning and attitudes towards sexuality in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 healthy postmenopausal women with a uterus, aged 45-55 years, and not taking hormone therapy, who attended the gynecological and menopause clinic, Songklanagarind Hospital. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire was used as the instrument. RESULTS: The median age at enrollment and menopause age of women were 52 and 49, respectively. All the women had engaged in sexual intercourse. Sixty nine percent reported being sexually active once or twice in the previous four weeks, 27.9% three to four times and 3.1% more than four times. The mean total FSFI score was 20.4 while the proportion of women with female sexual dysfunction based on FSFI overall scores of 26.5 or less was 82.2%. Almost all the women displayed a positive attitude towards sexuality. Ninety six percent reported having sex in menopause as a natural normal part of life, 95% regarded having sex to make their partner happy whereas 77% regarded sex as a way to make themselves happy. CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women was rather high. However, they were still satisfied with their sexual relationship and had a positive attitude towards sexuality.

 

 

Semana del 30 de Julio al 5 de Agosto 2008

Juan Enrique Blümel. Departamento Medicina Sur. Universidad de Chile

 

 

 

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.