Probiotics Improve Gastrointestinal Function and Life Quality in Pregnancy

We studied whether probiotics were beneficial for hormonal change-associated dysbiosis, which may influence the enteric nervous system and GI function during early pregnancy. The study was 16 days consisting of two cycles of six daily probiotics mainly Lactobacillus and 2 days without probiotics. Daily surveys were conducted to monitor GI function and life quality. A subset of the participants who contributed fecal specimens was used for microbiota metagenomic sequencing, metabolomics, and quantification of bacterial genes to understand potential underlying mechanisms. Statistical analyses were done by generalized linear mixed-effects models. Thirty-two obstetric patients and 535 daily observations were included. The data revealed that probiotic supplementation significantly reduced the severity of nausea, vomiting, constipation, and improved life quality. Moreover, a low copy number of fecal bsh (bile salt hydrolase), which generates free bile acids, was associated with high vomiting scores and probiotic intake increased fecal bsh. In exploratory analysis without adjusting for multiplicity, a low fecal α-tocopherol, as well as a high abundance of Akkemansia muciniphila, was associated with high vomiting scores and times, respectively. The potential implications of these biomarkers in pregnancy and GI function are discussed. Probiotics likely produce free bile acids to facilitate intestinal mobility and metabolism.

The effect of reproductive hormones on women’s daily smoking across the menstrual cycle

Background Women attempt to quit smoking less often than men and are less likely to maintain abstinence. Reproductive hormones have been postulated as a reason for this sex difference, though this remains to be clarified. Research suggests that estradiol and progesterone may influence nicotine addiction, though various methodologies have led to inconsistent findings. The current study aimed to directly examine the effect of reproductive hormones on women’s smoking behavior. Methods Over the course of one menstrual cycle, twenty-one female smokers recorded the number of cigarettes smoked in a day, as well as their perceived need for and enjoyment of cigarettes smoked. Additionally, they provided 12 urine samples for the measurement of the urinary metabolites of estradiol (estrone-3-glucuronide, E1G) and progesterone (pregnanediol glucuronide, PdG). Multilevel modeling was used to examine the effects of hormone levels as well as hormone change on smoking outcomes. Results When PdG levels were low, they were inversely associated with daily cigarettes smoked. Furthermore, E1G level was negatively associated with both self-reported need for and enjoyment of cigarettes smoked but not the number of cigarettes smoked. Examining the effect of hormonal change on smoking outcomes revealed a significant interaction between change in PdG and E1G on number of cigarettes smoked such that only a simultaneous drop or increase in both hormones was associated with a greater number of cigarettes. Hormonal change effects on need for and enjoyment of cigarettes were not significant. Conclusions The present study suggests that (1) elevated progesterone levels lessen the propensity to smoke in women, (2) estrogen levels influence women’s subjective experience of smoking, and (3) simultaneous drops or increases in these hormones are associated with increased smoking.

Assessment of prognostic value of FT3, FT4 and TSH among critically ill patients

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is found to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in intensive care unit (ICU) admitted patients. Critically ill patients who were admitted to ICU showed free triiodothyronine (FT3) levels to be an independent and important predictor of mortality. Decreased levels of free thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) showed an indication of worsening of disease and poor prognosis. The most common thyroid hormonal change reported in critically ill patients is reduced serum T3 level. The aim of this study was assessment and prognostic value of thyroid function values among critically ill patients.Methods: The prospective observational study was conducted at department of medicine, at tertiary care hospital of Kanpur, India on 100 critically ill patients admitted who were more than 18 years of age. Patients with history s/o previous thyroid illness and documented thyroid disease, and clinically evident thyroid enlargement were excluded from the study.Results: 50 (50.0%) of 100 patients were males and 50 (50.0%) were females. A total 44.0% mortality was reported with 57±11.96 years of mean age of non-survivors. Only FT3 of thyroid functions have shown statistically highly significant differences (p<0.01). Conclusions: In our study patient admitted in ICU, FT3 was the strongest predictor of ICU mortality in comparison to all other important parameters included in our study.

Estrogen as a Contributing Factor to the Development of Lipedema

Lipedema is an underdiagnosed painful adipose tissue disorder that occurs almost exclusively in women, with onset manifesting at puberty or at times of hormonal change. Unlike many fat disorders, diet and exercise have little to no impact on the prevention or progression of this disease. Estrogens control the distribution of body fat and food intake, regulate leptin expression, increase insulin sensitivity, and reduce inflammation through signaling pathways mediated by its receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and ERβ. This review will focus on understanding the role of estrogen in the pathogenesis of the disease and envisage potential hormonal therapy for lipedema patients.

Sexual Dimorphism in Innate Immunity: The Role of Sex Hormones and Epigenetics

Sexual dimorphism refers to differences between biological sexes that extend beyond sexual characteristics. In humans, sexual dimorphism in the immune response has been well demonstrated, with females exhibiting lower infection rates than males for a variety of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. There is also a substantially increased incidence of autoimmune disease in females compared to males. Together, these trends indicate that females have a heightened immune reactogenicity to both self and non-self-molecular patterns. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the sexually dimorphic immune response are not fully understood. The female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, as well as the male androgens, such as testosterone, elicit direct effects on the function and inflammatory capacity of immune cells. Several studies have identified a sex-specific transcriptome and methylome, independent of the well-described phenomenon of X-chromosome inactivation, suggesting that sexual dimorphism also occurs at the epigenetic level. Moreover, distinct alterations to the transcriptome and epigenetic landscape occur in synchrony with periods of hormonal change, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and exogenous hormone therapy. These changes are also mirrored by changes in immune cell function. This review will outline the evidence for sex hormones and pregnancy-associated hormones as drivers of epigenetic change, and how this may contribute to the sexual dimorphism. Determining the effects of sex hormones on innate immune function is important for understanding sexually dimorphic autoimmune diseases, sex-specific responses to pathogens and vaccines, and how innate immunity is altered during periods of hormonal change (endogenous or exogenous).

A Short Scale Trial to Study and Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Herbal Composition; Verona Anti-BPH Capsule to Treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Men Older than 40 Years of Age

Aims and objective: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition that causes the proliferation of the cells of the prostate causing urine retention, renal insufficiency, bladder calculi, recurrent Lower Urinary Tract Infections (LUTS) and in complicated cases, hematuria with unbearable pain. The trial was conducted to study the safety and efficacy of novel herbal product Verona anti- BPH capsules at a local clinic of Sharafi Goth, Karachi Pakistan. Introduction: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is one major condition. The prevalence of the disease increases to around 8-60% in men at the age of 40 years which is caused mainly by hormonal change, lifestyle changes or diet. The disease is mainly defined as increased cellular proliferation of the prostate glands or an enlarged prostate. 50% men of age 65 years and above of the total population of Pakistan are at risk of having Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Method: This was a single blind, placebo control phase I clinical trial. A total of 35 patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 2 patients got dropped out. 23 patients received Verona anti-BPH capsules and 10 patients received placebo. The sample paired t-test was applied to evaluate the significant level. Results: Verona Anti-BPH capsules were found safe and effective in the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (anti-BPH). Conclusion: Verona anti-BPH capsules were known to be effective with no harmful side effects.

Expansive and Contractive Postures and Movement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Motor Displays on Affective and Behavioral Responses

This review and meta-analysis explores the experimental effects of expansive and contractive motor displays on affective, hormonal, and behavioral responses. Experimental studies were located through systematic literature searches. Studies had to manipulate motor displays to either expansive or contractive displays and investigate the effect of the displays on affect, hormones, or overt behavior. Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the pooled, standardized mean differences between the effects of motor displays on affective, hormonal, and behavioral responses. From 5,819 unique records, 73 relevant studies were identified. Robust differences between expansive and contractive displays emerged for affective responses and overt behavioral responses across contexts, type of manipulation, and methods of measurement. The results suggest that the effects are driven by the absence of contractive motor displays (contractive vs. neutral displays: Hedges’s g = 0.45) rather than the presence of expansive displays (expansive vs. neutral displays: g = 0.06). The findings stand as a corrective to previous research, as they indicate that it is the absence of contractive displays rather than the presence of expansive displays that alters affective and behavioral responding. Future research should include neutral control groups, use different methods to assess hormonal change, and investigate these effects in the context of ideographic goals.

Hubungan Kebersihan Rongga Mulut dan Status Gingiva dengan Usia Kehamilan pada Ibu Hamil di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Sumbersari Kabupaten Jember

Pregnancy causes the hormonal change which will improve the oral health of pregnant women. The hormonal change causes the gingiva to become more sensitive to toxins or irritants which causes inflammation of the gingiva. The Increasing gestational age gives the risk of pregnancy for periodontal tissue damage. This study aims to find out the correlation of oral hygiene and gingival status with gestational age in 97pregnant women in the working area of ​​Sumbersari Health Center Jember Regency. The study was observational analytic using cross sectional study. The oral hygiene status of pregnant women was measured using the Oral Hygiene Index Simplified (OHI-S) and the gingival status measurement using the Gingival Index (GI). The results showed that 73,2% oral hygiene status of pregnant women is moderate. All of the pregnant women in this study had gingivitis and most were moderate gingivitis. There was no correlation between oral hygiene with gestational age, but there was a correlation between gingival status and gestational age in pregnant women. The periodontal care should be obtained to prevent the gingival disease during pregnancy.

Knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls of selected schools, Chitwan

Background: Menstrual hygiene is very important aspect for adolescent girls and proper men­strual hygiene has not been sufficiently addressed in developing countries including Nepal. This study aimed to assess the knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls studying in selected schools of Chitwan district. A total 193 girls who had menstrual flow experience for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles were selected as sample using the consecutive sampling technique. Data were analyzed in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Most of the girls knew about menstruation as physiological process, normal age of men­struation, and causes of menstruation as hormonal change. Overall, 66.8% of girls had adequate level of knowledge on menstruation. Regarding practice, 94.8% cleaned their genitalia properly, 93.8% used the sanitary pads, and 97.4% wrapped and disposed the pads in dustbin after use. Over­all, 72.5% of girls had good level of menstrual hygiene practices. Adolescent girl’s age and grade, and occupation status of their father were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with menstrual hygiene practice. Further, significant positive relationship found between knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practice. Conclusions: One third of adolescent girls have inadequate knowledge on menstruation and one fourth have poor menstrual hygiene practice. Therefore, an awareness and advocacy programs on menstruation and menstrual hygiene practices are needed for the adolescent girls to safeguard themselves against reproductive tract infections.