scholarly journals Long-Term Testosterone Therapy Improves Cardiometabolic Function and Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Men with Hypogonadism

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 414-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulmaged M. Traish ◽  
Ahmad Haider ◽  
Karim Sultan Haider ◽  
Gheorghe Doros ◽  
Farid Saad

Objectives: In the absence of large, prospective, placebo-controlled studies of longer duration, substantial evidence regarding the safety and risk of testosterone (T) therapy (TTh) with regard to cardiovascular (CV) outcomes can only be gleaned from observational studies. To date, there are limited studies comparing the effects of long-term TTh in men with hypogonadism who were treated or remained untreated with T, for obvious reasons. We have established a registry to assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of T in men in a urological setting. Here, we sought to compare the effects of T on a host of parameters considered to contribute to CV risk in treated and untreated men with hypogonadism (control group). Patients and Methods: Observational, prospective, cumulative registry study in 656 men (age: 60.7 ± 7.2 years) with total T levels ≤12.1 nmol/L and symptoms of hypogonadism. In the treatment group, men (n = 360) received parenteral T undecanoate (TU) 1000 mg/12 weeks following an initial 6-week interval for up to 10 years. Men (n = 296) who had opted against TTh served as controls. Median follow-up in both groups was 7 years. Measurements were taken at least twice a year, and 8-year data were analyzed. Mean changes over time between the 2 groups were compared by means of a mixed-effects model for repeated measures, with a random effect for intercept and fixed effects for time, group, and their interaction. To account for baseline differences between the 2 groups, changes were adjusted for age, weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood pressure, and lipids. Results: There were 2 deaths in the T-treated group, none was related to CV events. There were 21 deaths in the untreated (control) group, 19 of which were related to CV events. The incidence of death in 10 patient-years was 0.1145 in the control group (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0746-0.1756; P < .000) and 0.0092 in the T-treated group (95% CI: 0.0023-0.0368; P < .000); the estimated difference between groups was 0.0804 (95% CI: 0.0189-0.3431; P < .001). The estimated reduction in mortality for the T-group was between 66% and 92%. There were also 30 nonfatal strokes and 26 nonfatal myocardial infarctions in the control group and none in the T-treated group. Conclusion: Long-term TU was well tolerated with excellent adherence suggesting a high level of patient satisfaction. Mortality related to CV disease was significantly reduced in the T-group.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 221-222
Author(s):  
Melanie D Trenhaile-Grannemann ◽  
Ronald M Lewis ◽  
Stephen D Kachman ◽  
Kenneth J Stalder ◽  
Benny E Mote

Abstract Conformation-based sow selection is performed prior to reaching mature size, yet little is known about how conformation changes as growth continues. To assess conformation changes, 9 conformational traits were objectively measured at 12 discrete time points between 112 d of age and parity 3 weaning on 622 sows in 5 cohorts. The 9 traits included 5 body size traits (body length, body depth at the shoulder and flank, and height at the shoulder and flank) and 4 joint angles (knee, hock, and front and rear pastern). Data were analyzed with a repeated measures model (SAS V 9.4) including cohort and time point as fixed effects, sire as a random effect, and heterogeneous compound symmetry as the covariance structure. Sire variance ranged from 0.16 (body depth shoulder) to 2.00 (body length) cm2 for body size traits and 2.28 (rear pastern) to 4.22 (front pastern) degrees2 for joint angles. Cohort had an effect on all traits (P &lt; 0.05). All traits displayed changes over time (P &lt; 0.001). Size traits increased between 112 d of age and parity 3 weaning (64.16 vs. 107.57 cm, 26.62 vs. 44.14 cm, 23.32 vs. 36.92 cm, 46.10 vs. 73.55 cm, 49.36 vs. 77.47 cm for body length, body depth shoulder and flank, and height shoulder and flank, respectively); however, they fluctuated within parity by increasing during gestation and decreasing at weaning. Knee angle decreased (164.12 vs. 150.72 degrees) while fluctuating within parity by decreasing in the second half of gestation and increasing after weaning. Front and rear pastern angles decreased over time (60.89 vs. 53.74 degrees and 64.64 vs. 55.50 degrees for front and rear pastern, respectively), while biologically negligible change was observed in hock angle (148.63 vs. 147.48 degrees). Sow conformation changes throughout life, and these changes may require consideration when making selection decisions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Andrea M Osorio ◽  
Kaue T Tonelli Nardi ◽  
Igor Gomes Fávero ◽  
Kaliu G Scaranto Silva ◽  
Kymberly D Coello ◽  
...  

Abstract The effects of a nutritional packet were evaluated on CH4 emissions and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of feedlot beef steers. Thirty Angus-crossbred steers (BW = 542 ± 8.4 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design and allocated into pens equipped with SmartFeed (C-Lock; 15 steers/treatment). Steers were consuming a steam-flaked corn-based diet (88% concentrate DM basis) ad libitum for the last 65 d on feed, and received the following treatments: 1) control and 2) a nutritional packet [0.29% DM basis; live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; 8.7 Log CFU/g); Vitamin C (5.4 g/kg); Vitamin B1 (13.33 g/kg); NaCl (80 g/kg); KCl (80 g/kg)]. Methane emissions and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility were measured during 3 periods with 5-d of collections each. Gas emissions from steers were measured utilizing the SF6 tracer technique. Feed and fecal samples were collected once and twice (0700 h and 1600 h) daily, respectively, to determine digestibility of nutrients using iNDF as an internal marker. Steer was considered the experimental unit. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the MIXED procedure of SAS with the fixed effects of treatment, period, and their interaction, and the random effect of block. No treatment × period interactions (P ≥ 0.125) were observed for DMI and any of the CH4 production variables (g/day, g/kg BW0.75, g/nutrient intake, and g/nutrient digested). Moreover, treatments did not affect digestibility of DM, OM, or ADF (P ≥ 0.300); however, digestibility of NDF was increased for treated cattle (P = 0.013), which resulted in a tendency (P = 0.098) to decrease CH4 production in g per kg NDF intake and decreased (P = 0.020) grams CH4 per kg NDF digested. The nutritional packet may be altering ruminal fermentation on intensively managed steers and improving fiber digestibility, which can have benefits on CH4 emission intensity.


2017 ◽  
pp. 35-37
Author(s):  
S.I. Zhuk ◽  
◽  
O.D. Shchurevskaya ◽  

Preeclampsia is a clinical manifestation of the physiological and psychological maladaptation in the pregnant woman. The objective: to determine the characteristics of the psychoemotional status of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia based on the results of psychological testing using questionnaires using the Spielberger-Khanin technique and studying the psychological component of the gestational dominant (PCGD) Dobryakov [3]. Materials and methods. The subject of this study was the results of clinical-laboratory and psychological testing of 90 women in the III trimester of pregnancy. In 50 women, moderate and severe preeclampsia was diagnosed and they were included in the main group, and 40 women with a physiological pregnancy were included in the control group. Results. Pathological subtypes of the psychological component of the gestational dominant are revealed by the method of IV. Dobryakova and an increase in anxiety level by the Spielberger-Khanin technique. The high level of anxiety, the absence of a dominant pregnancy or the presence of its pathological subtypes in the case of gestosis is both a reflection of the maladaptation of the whole organism and the woman's unwillingness to transform her stereotypes of behavior in accordance with the needs of a new condition-pregnancy and forthcoming births, Have long-term consequences even from offspring [5]. The conclusion. The necessity of psychological counseling of pregnant women and correction of the revealed violations of the period of gestation is proved. Key words: pregnancy, delivery, preeclampsia, perinatal psychology, anxiety, gestational dominant.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shereen Abdelhakim Abdelaleem ◽  
Osama A. Hassan ◽  
Rasha F. Ahmed ◽  
Nagwa M. Zenhom ◽  
Rehab A. Rifaai ◽  
...  

Tramadol is a synthetic, centrally acting analgesic. It is the most consumed narcotic drug that is prescribed in the world. Tramadol abuse has dramatically increased in Egypt. Long term use of tramadol can induce endocrinopathy. So, the aim of this study was to analyze the adrenal insufficiency induced by long term use of tramadol in experimental animals and also to assess its withdrawal effects through histopathological and biochemical genetic study. Forty male albino rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into 4 groups (control group, tramadol-treated group, and withdrawal groups). Tramadol was given to albino rats at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight for 3 months and after withdrawal periods (7–15 days) rats were sacrificed. Long term use of tramadol induced severe histopathological changes in adrenal glands. Tramadol decreased the levels of serum cortisol and DHEAS hormones. In addition, it increased the level of adrenal MDA and decreased the genetic expression of glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase in adrenal gland tissues. All these changes started to return to normal after withdrawal of tramadol. Thus, it was confirmed that long term use of tramadol can induce severe adrenal insufficiency.


2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Pillmann ◽  
Andreas Marneros

SummaryWe prospectively studied the long-term course of individuals with acute and transient psychotic disorders and a control group with positive schizophrenia matched for age and gender. Follow-up investigations using standardised instruments were performed at three time-points covering 7 years after the index episode or 12 years after the first episode. During follow-up, those with positive schizophrenia experienced a deterioration in their general functioning whereas those with acute and transient psychotic disorders retained their high level of functioning. At the end of the observation period, 12 out of 39 (31%) of those with acute and transient psychotic disorders were functioning well without medication compared with 0 out of 38 with positive schizophrenia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ikeda ◽  
M. Sugimoto ◽  
S. Kume

Diverse environmental conditions surrounding preimplantation embryos, including available nutrients, affect their metabolism and development in both short- and long-term manner. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a possible marker for preimplantation stress that is implicated in in vitro fertilization- (IVF) induced long-term DOHaD effects. B vitamins, as participants in one-carbon metabolism, may affect preimplantation embryos by epigenetic alterations of metabolically and developmentally important genes. In vitro-produced bovine embryos were cultured with or without Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 vitamin mixture, containing B vitamins and B vitamin-like substances, from day 3 after IVF and we evaluated blastocyst development and TXNIP messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the blastocysts by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The degree of trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) at TXNIP promoter was examined semi-quantitatively by chromatin immunoprecipitation polymerase chain reaction. Total H3K27me3 were also compared between the groups by Western blot analysis. The vitamin treatment significantly increased the rates of blastocyst development (P<0.05) and their hatching (P<0.001) from the zona pellucida by day 8. The mRNA expression of TXNIP was lower (P<0.01) in blastocysts in the vitamin-mixture-treated group concomitant with higher (P<0.05) level of H3K27me3 of its promoter compared with the control group. The total H3K27me3 in the vitamin-mixture-treated group was also higher (P<0.01) than that in the control group. The epigenetic control of genes related to important metabolic processes during the periconceptional period by nutritional conditions in utero and/or in vitro may have possible implication for the developmental programming during this period that may impact the welfare and production traits of farm animals.


Author(s):  
Pierluigi Cocco

The fight against agricultural and household pests accompanies the history of humanity, and a total ban on the use of pesticides seems unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future. Currently, about 100,000 different chemicals, inorganic and organic, are currently in the market, grouped according to their function as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fumigants, rodenticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, etc. against specific pests, such as snails or human parasites, or their chemical structure—organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, dithiocarbamates, organotin compounds, phthalimides, phenoxy acids, heterocyclic azole compounds, coumarins, etc. Runoff from agricultural land and rain precipitation and dry deposition from the atmosphere can extend exposure to the general environment through the transport of pesticides to streams and ground-water. Also, the prolonged bio-persistence of organochlorines generates their accumulation in the food chain, and their atmospheric drift toward remote geographical areas is mentioned as the cause of elevated fat contents in Arctic mammals. Current regulation in the developed world and the phasing out of more toxic pesticides have greatly reduced the frequency of acute intoxications, although less stringent regulations in the developing world contribute to a complex pattern of exposure circumstances worldwide. Nonetheless, evidence is growing about long-term health effects following high-level, long-lasting exposure to specific pesticides, including asthma and other allergic diseases, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, cancer, and central and peripheral nervous system effects. Major reasons for uncertainty in interpreting epidemiological findings of pesticide effects include the complex pattern of overlapping exposure due to multiple treatments applied to different crops and their frequent changes over time to overcome pest resistance. Further research will have to address specific agrochemicals with well-characterized exposure patterns.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 227
Author(s):  
C. M. Checura ◽  
S. L. Pratt ◽  
L. V. Campbell ◽  
K. Farmer ◽  
G. Loughlin ◽  
...  

Phototherapy uses monochromatic light from low-power lasers and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to modulate biological processes. It has been proposed that the red-to-near infrared optical region (~600-1000nm) enhances cellular metabolic activity by activation of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. However, photostimulation induces the generation of oxide free radicals and could create oxidative stress in exposed cells. The main objective was to use photostimulation to affect the cumulus-oocyte complex metabolic state, aiming to enhance cytoplasmic maturation rates and subsequent embryonic development. A secondary objective was to determine the toxicity of the proposed photostimulation protocol. Abattoir-derived ovaries were used. All media was from IVF Biosciences (Falmouth, Cornwall, UK). Follicles 2 to 6mm in diameter were aspirated. Oocytes with compact cumulus and homogeneous cytoplasm were selected, and 50 oocytes/well were placed in invitro maturation medium (0h) and incubated at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in air with high humidity in the presence (treatment=exposure for 2min to super-bright LED 1 and 2h after the beginning of maturation; LED wavelength of 660-665 nm; NTE30041; NTE Electronics Inc.) or absence (Control) of light. After maturation (22h), oocytes were split into two wells (25 oocytes/well) and subjected to IVF with semen from two different bulls for 18 to 20h. Cumulus cells were separated by vortexing, zygotes were placed in invitro culture medium, and incubated at 38.5°C in 5% CO2 in air with high humidity. Culture medium was renewed every 48h. Cleavage, morula, and blastocyst rates were recorded as a percentage of the number of oocytes subjected to IVF per treatment. The experiment was replicated 4 times. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Mixed procedure (SAS 9.4, SAS Institute Inc.) with repeated-measures and autoregressive covariance. The model's random effect was well within treatment. Fixed effects were bull, stage of development, and treatment. There was no difference (P=0.8) between treatments for any stage of development measured (cleavage: 76.4±2.7 vs. 74.8±4.1; morula: 36.1±4.8 vs. 35.9±5.8; blastocyst: 20.8±3.2 vs. 20.6±4.4 for control and treatment respectively; mean±s.e.). Sire affected development: bull 1 had a greater percentage (P&lt;0.05) cleavage (82.9±0.02 vs. 68.3±0.02), morula (42.6±0.05 vs. 29.4±0.04), and blastocyst (27.8±0.04 vs. 13.6±0.01) development than bull 2. There was no treatment×bull interaction (P=0.9). In conclusion, there were no stimulatory or toxic effects of this preliminary photostimulation protocol. Further research is needed to develop an optimal protocol that shows a metabolic effect and, potentially, an enhancement of invitro cytoplasmic maturation rates and subsequent embryonic development.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Baron ◽  
Julius Emmrich ◽  
Sohail Ejaz ◽  
David J Williamson

Introduction: We have previously shown that 15min distal MCAo in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) consistently induces isolated selective neuronal loss (SNL) and topographically congruent microglial activation (MA), together with slowly recovering sensori-motor deficit (SMD) (Ejaz et al, Stroke , 2015). Whether MA exacerbates SNL in the reperfused penumbra is unclear. We tested whether reducing MA by means of the KCa3.1 blocker TRAM-34 also impacts SNL and SMD in this model. Methods: 15min microclip distal MCAo was performed in 12 isoflurane-anesthetized adult male SHRs, randomized in two groups of n=6 rats, a control group and a treated group that received TRAM-34 40mg/kg i.p. bd for 1 week starting 12hrs post-MCAo, then od for 3 weeks. To quantify SMD, the sticky label test was administered 3 times a week for 28 days. NeuN and Iba4 immunoflorescence was then performed. Manual delineation of areas of SNL and MA was carried out by two independent assessors on randomly presented IF sections, and volumes of SNL and MA were determined. Both assessments were done blinded to subject’s group. Results: Although less so than in controls, SMD was significant in the TRAM-34 group (p<.001 and .01, respectively), with a significant Group x Time interaction (p=0.004, repeated-measures ANOVA) and a trend for faster recovery from day 7 in the latter. On IF, the volume (mm 3 ) of MA was lower in the TRAM-34 relative to control group (1.33 ± 1.7 vs 0.27 ± 0.46), which also applied to SNL (1.41 ± 1.79 vs 0.28 ± 0.41) (p = 0.018 and 0.015, respectively; two-sample t-test). Conclusion: In this pilot study, the expected marked reduction in MA induced by TRAM34 was associated with concomitant reductions in SNL and faster SMD recovery. Thus, the early administration of an MA blocker following treatment-induced reperfusion in the clinical setting might reduce cell damage in the salvaged penumbra and in turn enhance neurological recovery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 219-220
Author(s):  
Ezequias Castillo-Lopez ◽  
Raul Rivera-Chacon ◽  
Sara Ricci ◽  
Nicole Reisinger ◽  
Qendrim Zebeli

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the effect of changing from forage to a high grain diet on chewing, feed sorting and lying behavior of cows supplemented with or without a phytogenic feed additive. Nine cows were blocked in two groups and used in a change-over design. Each experimental run consisted of one week of forage feeding, one week of diet transition, and four weeks of high grain feeding (65% concentrate). During the washout period of 10 weeks between the two runs, cows grazed on pasture. Cows were fed either a control diet (CON) or a diet with a phytogenic additive (PHY) based on menthol, thymol and eugenol. Data on chewing, feed sorting and lying behavior were analyzed using SAS with week of feeding and supplementation as fixed effects, and cow as random effect. Data across weeks from the same cow were processed using a first order variance-covariance structure matrix taking into account that the covariance decays with time. We found a reduction (P &lt; 0.01) in rumination time by 53% with diet change. Within the high grain feeding, rumination reached lowest value in the second week (160 min/d). The high grain diet increased (P &lt; 0.01) selection for long size particles by 20%. Although lying time was not affected immediately after diet change, it increased (P &lt; 0.01) by 8% from the second week of high grain consumption. In the fourth week of grain feeding, there was a tendency for PHY to increase rumination (P = 0.07) and total chewing time (P = 0.10), but with no effect on sorting for fiber or lying time. The high grain diet decreased chewing and standing time, and increased sorting for fibrous ingredients especially after one week of feeding. The phytogenic feed additive may contribute to stimulate chewing in long term supplementation.


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