The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone as a Sexual Hormone Precursor in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and its metabolite, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ester (DHEAS), are the most abundant circulating steroid hormones, and are synthesized in the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex, in the gonads, and in the brain. The precise physiological role of DHEA and DHEAS is not yet fully understood, but these steroid hormones can act as androgens, estrogens, and neurosteroids, and perform many roles in the human body. Since both levels decline with age, use of DHEA supplements have gained more attention due to being advertised as an antidote to aging in postmenopausal women, who may have concerns on age-related diseases and overall well-being. However, current research has not reached an overall consensus on the effects of DHEA on postmenopausal women. This overview is a summary of the current literature, addressing the metabolic pathway for DHEA synthesis and utilization, as well as the effects of DHEA on premenopausal and postmenopausal women with disease states and other factors. As for the therapeutic effects on menopausal syndrome and other age-related diseases, several studies have found that DHEA supplementations can alleviate vasomotor symptoms, preserve the integrity of the immune system, reduce bone loss, and increase muscle mass. Intravaginal DHEA has shown significant beneficial effects in menopausal women with severe vulvovaginal symptoms. On the other hand, DHEA supplements have not shown definitive effects in cardiovascular disease, adrenal insufficiency, insulin sensitivity, and cognition. Due to inadequate sample sizes and treatment durations of current studies, it is difficult to assess the safety and efficacy of DHEA and draw reliable conclusions for the physiological role, the optimal dosage, and the effects on premenopausal and postmenopausal women; therefore, the study of DHEA warrants future investigation. Further research into the roles of these steroid hormones may bring us closer to a therapeutic option in the future.

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Basic Roles of Sex Steroid Hormones in Wound Repair with Focus on Estrogens (A Review)

Folia Veterinaria ◽

10.1515/fv-2016-0006 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 41-46

Author(s):

Z. Čriepoková ◽

L’. Lenhardt ◽

P. Gál

Keyword(s):

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Tissue Repair ◽

Wound Repair ◽

Review Paper ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Hormone Replacement ◽

Sex Steroid ◽

Biological Processes ◽

Tissue Repair And Regeneration

Abstract Previously, it has been shown that sex hormones, in particular estrogens, play an important role in the regulation of biological processes involved in tissue repair and regeneration. Accordingly, several studies have supported the beneficial properties of hormone replacement therapies (HRT) in postmenopausal models. The present review paper explores the potential for targeted sex steroid HRT as a new therapeutic option for the surgical management of wounds in postmenopausal women and animals.

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Hormonal profile in postmenopausal women: do they need androgen therapy?

Medical alphabet ◽

10.33667/2078-5631-2019-1-1(376)-32-40 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 32-40

Author(s):

Ya. Z. Zaydieva

Keyword(s):

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Well Being ◽

Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate ◽

Hormonal Profile ◽

Sexual Drive ◽

Androgen Exposure ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Circulating Levels ◽

High Testosterone Level

The effect of androgen on women s health has not been fully elucidated. Circulating levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) gradually decrease with age in postmenopausal women, although transient increases have been observed during the menopausal transition. High testosterone level has been suggested to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased triglyceride, insulin resistance and increase in the risk of developing breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Female androgen insufficiency, which is characterized by the presence of reduced androgen level in circulation, leads to an impairment in sexual drive, reduced libido, depressed mood, and signs and symptoms of limited androgen exposure such as decreased muscle mass, reduced bone density and decreased sense of well-being.

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Immigrant Youth in Germany

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000154 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 158-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Emily Frankenberg ◽

Katharina Kupper ◽

Ruth Wagner ◽

Stephan Bongard

Keyword(s):

School System ◽

Large Scale ◽

Age Groups ◽

Well Being ◽

Ethnic Discrimination ◽

Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽

Sociocultural Adaptation ◽

Age Related ◽

German School ◽

Transcultural Adaptation

This paper reviews research on young migrants in Germany. Particular attention is given to the question of how Germany’s history of migration, immigration policies, and public attitude toward migrants influence the transcultural adaptation of children and adolescents from different ethnic backgrounds. We combine past research with the results of new empirical studies in order to shed light on migrants’ psychological and sociocultural adaptation. Studies comparing young migrants and their German peers in terms of psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and mental health outcome suggest higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems among migrants of most age groups. With regard to adolescent populations between the ages of 14 and 17 years, however, the existence of differences between migrants and natives appears to be less clear. Research has also yielded inconsistent findings regarding the time trajectory of transcultural adaptation among adolescents. The coincidence of acculturation and age-related change is discussed as a possible source of these inconsistencies. Further, we provide an overview of risk and protective factors such as conflicting role expectations and ethnic discrimination, which may cause heightened vulnerability to adverse adaptation outcomes in some groups. Large-scale studies have repeatedly shown migrants of all age groups to be less successful within the German school system, indicating poor sociocultural adaptation. Possible explanations, such as the idiosyncrasies of the German school system, are presented. Our own studies contribute to the understanding of young migrants’ adaptation process by showing that it is their orientation to German culture, rather than the acculturation strategy of integration, that leads to the most positive psychological and sociocultural outcomes. The paper concludes by discussing implications for future cross-cultural research on young migrants and by suggesting recommendations for multicultural policies.

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Within-treatment changes in a novel addiction treatment program using traditional Amazonian medicine

Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1177/2045125320986634 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 204512532098663

Author(s):

David M. O’Shaughnessy ◽

Ilana Berlowitz ◽

Robin Rodd ◽

Zoltán Sarnyai ◽

Frances Quirk

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Addiction Treatment ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Neuropsychological Functioning ◽

Well Being ◽

Treatment Center ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Spiritual Well Being ◽

Treatment Safety ◽

Addiction Treatment Program

Aims: The therapeutic use of psychedelics is regaining scientific momentum, but similarly psychoactive ethnobotanical substances have a long history of medical (and other) uses in indigenous contexts. Here we aimed to evaluate patient outcomes in a residential addiction treatment center that employs a novel combination of Western and traditional Amazonian methods. Methods: The study was observational, with repeated measures applied throughout treatment. All tests were administered in the center, which is located in Tarapoto, Peru. Data were collected between 2014 and 2015, and the study sample consisted of 36 male inpatients who were motivated to seek treatment and who entered into treatment voluntarily. Around 58% of the sample was from South America, 28% from Europe, and the remaining 14% from North America. We primarily employed repeated measures on a psychological test battery administered throughout treatment, measuring perceived stress, craving frequency, mental illness symptoms, spiritual well-being, and physical and emotional health. Addiction severity was measured on intake, and neuropsychological performance was assessed in a subsample from intake to at least 2 months into treatment. Results: Statistically significant and clinically positive changes were found across all repeated measures. These changes appeared early in the treatment and were maintained over time. Significant improvements were also found for neuropsychological functioning. Conclusion: These results provide evidence for treatment safety in a highly novel addiction treatment setting, while also suggesting positive therapeutic effects.

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A Preliminary Analysis of Hearing Loss and Its Association With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1461 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 451-452

Author(s):

Mary Caroline Yuk ◽

Rebecca Allen ◽

Marcia Hay-McCutcheon ◽

Dana Carroll ◽

Anne Halli-Tierney

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Medical Center ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Well Being ◽

Hearing Screening ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Age Related

Abstract Age related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is a global condition that is increasing in its prevalence. Despite being one of the most common chronic conditions among the older population, there is much more to understand about its association with other aspects of physical and emotional health and well-being. Current research is suggesting that hearing loss is more prevalent in those with cognitive impairment compared to those without cognitive impairment. This study analyzed the incidence of hearing loss and its linkage to mild cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling geriatric population. With the increasing prevalence of this condition in both rural and urban communities of Alabama, it becomes a more pressing matter to understand comorbidities and risk factors for future decline in functioning. This study was conducted in an interdisciplinary geriatrics primary care outpatient clinic in a Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine department affiliated with a university medical center in the Deep South. Ninety-one participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a hearing screening. Hearing screenings were conducted in quiet rooms in the medical center using Phonak hearing screening cards. Detection of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz tones was assessed. Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated an association between hearing loss mild cognitive impairment. Poorer hearing was significantly associated with lower scores on the MoCA. Conducting behavioral health screenings like this in other primary geriatrics clinics and community settings could improve care and identification of patient needs by integrating important data regarding comorbidities and independent living.

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Steroid hormones sulfatase inactivation extends lifespan and ameliorates age-related diseases

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-20269-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mercedes M. Pérez-Jiménez ◽

José M. Monje-Moreno ◽

Ana María Brokate-Llanos ◽

Mónica Venegas-Calerón ◽

Alicia Sánchez-García ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Protein Aggregation ◽

Steroid Hormones ◽

Sensory Neurons ◽

Environmental Cues ◽

Steroid Sulfatase ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

C Elegans ◽

Age Related

AbstractAging and fertility are two interconnected processes. From invertebrates to mammals, absence of the germline increases longevity. Here we show that loss of function of sul-2, the Caenorhabditis elegans steroid sulfatase (STS), raises the pool of sulfated steroid hormones, increases longevity and ameliorates protein aggregation diseases. This increased longevity requires factors involved in germline-mediated longevity (daf-16, daf-12, kri-1, tcer-1 and daf-36 genes) although sul-2 mutations do not affect fertility. Interestingly, sul-2 is only expressed in sensory neurons, suggesting a regulation of sulfated hormones state by environmental cues. Treatment with the specific STS inhibitor STX64, as well as with testosterone-derived sulfated hormones reproduces the longevity phenotype of sul-2 mutants. Remarkably, those treatments ameliorate protein aggregation diseases in C. elegans, and STX64 also Alzheimer’s disease in a mammalian model. These results open the possibility of reallocating steroid sulfatase inhibitors or derivates for the treatment of aging and aging related diseases.

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Men’s experiences of radiotherapy treatment for localized prostate cancer and its long-term treatment side effects: a longitudinal qualitative study

Cancer Causes & Control ◽

10.1007/s10552-020-01380-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

E. Sutton ◽

◽

J. A. Lane ◽

M. Davis ◽

E. I. Walsh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Side Effects ◽

External Beam Radiotherapy ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Well Being ◽

Localized Prostate Cancer ◽

Short Term ◽

Age Related ◽

Qualitative Interview Study ◽

Long Term Treatment

Abstract Purpose To investigate men’s experiences of receiving external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with neoadjuvant Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) for localized prostate cancer (LPCa) in the ProtecT trial. Methods A longitudinal qualitative interview study was embedded in the ProtecT RCT. Sixteen men with clinically LPCa who underwent EBRT in ProtecT were purposively sampled to include a range of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. They participated in serial in-depth qualitative interviews for up to 8 years post-treatment, exploring experiences of treatment and its side effects over time. Results Men experienced bowel, sexual, and urinary side effects, mostly in the short term but some persisted and were bothersome. Most men downplayed the impacts, voicing expectations of age-related decline, and normalizing these changes. There was some reticence to seek help, with men prioritizing their relationships and overall health and well-being over returning to pretreatment levels of function. Some unmet needs with regard to information about treatment schedules and side effects were reported, particularly among men with continuing functional symptoms. Conclusions These findings reinforce the importance of providing universal clear, concise, and timely information and supportive resources in the short term, and more targeted and detailed information and care in the longer term to maintain and improve treatment experiences for men undergoing EBRT.

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Monitoring Health Parameters of Elders to Support Independent Living and Improve Their Quality of Life

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21020517 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 517

Author(s):

Ilia Adami ◽

Michalis Foukarakis ◽

Stavroula Ntoa ◽

Nikolaos Partarakis ◽

Nikolaos Stefanakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Independent Living ◽

Elderly Population ◽

Well Being ◽

The Elderly ◽

Chronic Illnesses ◽

Age Related ◽

Self Sufficiency ◽

Health And Well Being

Improving the well-being and quality of life of the elderly population is closely related to assisting them to effectively manage age-related conditions such as chronic illnesses and anxiety, and to maintain their independence and self-sufficiency as much as possible. This paper presents the design, architecture and implementation structure of an adaptive system for monitoring the health and well-being of the elderly. The system was designed following best practices of the Human-Centred Design approach involving representative end-users from the early stages.

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Age-Related Association of Calcitonin with Parameters of Anthropometry, Bone and Calcium Metabolism during Childhood

Hormone Research in Paediatrics ◽

10.1159/000512107 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Juliane Sonntag ◽

Mandy Vogel ◽

Mandy Geserick ◽

Felix Eckelt ◽

Antje Körner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Formation ◽

Bone Growth ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Physiological Role ◽

Blood Levels ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Procollagen Type ◽

Child Study ◽

Age Related ◽

High Bone

Introduction: The thyroid parafollicular hormone calcitonin (CT) shows particularly high blood levels in early childhood, a period of high bone turnover, which decrease with increasing age. Data about the physiological role of CT during infancy, childhood, and adolescence are contradictory or lacking. Objective: We hypothesize that CT demonstrates age-related correlations with parameters of bone growth and turnover as well as with parameters of calcium homeostasis. Methods: 5,410 measurements of anthropometric data and venous blood samples were collected from 2,636 participants of the LIFE Child study, aged 2 months–18 years. Univariate correlations and multiple regression analysis were performed between serum CT and anthropometric indicators (height standard deviation scores [SDS] and BMI-SDS), markers of calcium (Ca) homeostasis (Ca, parathyroid hormone, 25-OH vitamin D, and phosphate [P]), bone formation (procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide [P1NP], osteocalcin), and bone resorption (β-CrossLaps). Results: CT was significantly associated with Ca (β = 0.26, p < 0.05) and P1NP/100 (β = 0.005, p < 0.05) in children aged 2 months–1.1 years. These relations were independent of age and sex and could not be confirmed in children aged 1.1–8 years. Independent of age, sex, puberty, P, and height SDS CT showed a significant positive relation to Ca (β = 0.26; p < 0.001) in children aged 8–18 years. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a unique association between CT and Ca in periods of rapid bone growth and point to a possible involvement of CT in promoting bone formation during the first year of life.

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Utilization of Isoflavones in Soybeans for Women with Menopausal Syndrome: An Overview

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063212 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3212 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Li-Ru Chen ◽

Kuo-Hu Chen

Keyword(s):

Hormone Replacement ◽

Cancer Recurrence ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Soy Lecithin ◽

Menopausal Syndrome ◽

Inorganic Constituents ◽

Study Designs ◽

Urogenital Symptoms ◽

Preventive Effects

Based on their nutrient composition, soybeans and related foods have been considered to be nutritious and healthy for humans. Particularly, the biological activity and subsequent benefits of soy products may be associated with the presence of isoflavone in soybeans. As an alternative treatment for menopause-related symptoms, isoflavone has gained much popularity for postmenopausal women who have concerns related to undergoing hormone replacement therapy. However, current research has still not reached a consensus on the effects of isoflavone on humans. This overview is a summary of the current literature about the processing of soybeans and isoflavone types (daidzein, genistein, and S-equol) and supplements and their extraction and analysis as well as information about the utilization of isoflavones in soybeans. The processes of preparation (cleaning, drying, crushing and dehulling) and extraction of soybeans are implemented to produce refined soy oil, soy lecithin, free fatty acids, glycerol and soybean meal. The remaining components consist of inorganic constituents (minerals) and the minor components of biologically interesting small molecules. Regarding the preventive effects on diseases or cancers, a higher intake of isoflavones is associated with a moderately lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. It may also reduce the risks of breast and colorectal cancer as well as the incidence of breast cancer recurrence. Consumption of isoflavones or soy foods is associated with reduced risks of endometrial and bladder cancer. Regarding the therapeutic effects on menopausal syndrome or other diseases, isoflavones have been found to alleviate vasomotor syndromes even after considering placebo effects, reduce bone loss in the spine and ameliorate hypertension and in vitro glycemic control. They may also alleviate depressive symptoms during pregnancy. On the other hand, isoflavones have not shown definitive effects regarding improving cognition and urogenital symptoms. Because of lacking standardization in the study designs, such as the ingredients and doses of isoflavones and the durations and outcomes of trials, it currently remains difficult to draw overall conclusions for all aspects of isoflavones. These limitations warrant further investigations of isoflavone use for women’s health.

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