Synergistic Effects of Genetic Variants of Glucose Homeostasis and Lifelong Exposures to Cigarette Smoking, Female Hormones, and Dietary Fat Intake on Primary Colorectal Cancer Development in African and Hispanic/Latino American Women

BackgroundDisparities in cancer genomic science exist among racial/ethnic minorities. Particularly, African American (AA) and Hispanic/Latino American (HA) women, the 2 largest minorities, are underrepresented in genetic/genome-wide studies for cancers and their risk factors. We conducted on AA and HA postmenopausal women a genomic study for insulin resistance (IR), the main biologic mechanism underlying colorectal cancer (CRC) carcinogenesis owing to obesity.MethodsWith 780 genome-wide IR-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among 4,692 AA and 1,986 HA women, we constructed a CRC-risk prediction model. Along with these SNPs, we incorporated CRC-associated lifestyles in the model of each group and detected the topmost influential genetic and lifestyle factors. Further, we estimated the attributable risk of the topmost risk factors shared by the groups to explore potential factors that differentiate CRC risk between these groups.ResultsIn both groups, we detected IR-SNPs in PCSK1 (in AA) and IFT172, GCKR, and NRBP1 (in HA) and risk lifestyles, including long lifetime exposures to cigarette smoking and endogenous female hormones and daily intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFA), as the topmost predictive variables for CRC risk. Combinations of those top genetic- and lifestyle-markers synergistically increased CRC risk. Of those risk factors, dietary PFA intake and long lifetime exposure to female hormones may play a key role in mediating racial disparity of CRC incidence between AA and HA women.ConclusionsOur results may improve CRC risk prediction performance in those medically/scientifically underrepresented groups and lead to the development of genetically informed interventions for cancer prevention and therapeutic effort, thus contributing to reduced cancer disparities in those minority subpopulations.

Association between the use of female hormones and the thrombin generation: Cross-sectional analysis of the Longitudinal Study on Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Introduction: The thrombin generation assay (TGA) assesses the risk of developing thrombotic events. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and hormone therapy (HT) with the TGA and resistance to activated protein C (APC). Methods: Cross-sectional study with women from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). TGA was performed by the CAT method. Results: There was an association between all parameters of the TGA and the use of OCs and an association of lag time and peak time with the use of HT. Conclusion: The TGA allows us to assess the hypercoagulability status and may be useful in the management of female hormones users.

Primolut - N

Primolut-N contains norethisterone, which belongs to group of medicines called progestogens, which are female hormones. Primolut-N tablet is used to treat various menstrual problems including painful, heavy, or irregular periods, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and a condition called endometriosis. It is a man-made version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone. The main ingredient in PrimolutN (Progesterone) is partly converted into estrogen so we should also consider the general warnings.

Reduced serum levels of anti-Mullerian hormone is a putative biomarker of early knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged females at menopausal transition

A recent epidemiological study revealed that the highest prevalence of early knee osteoarthritis (OA) was observed in females aged ≥ 50 years. The major causal factor of early knee OA was sex. Despite the relevance of estrogen in evaluating chondral and bone metabolism in OA, it is not easily clinically monitored because irregular menstrual cycles induce unstable female hormone patterns during menopausal transitions. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has been found to be a new stable biomarker to predict menopause. This study aimed to investigate the association between menopausal transition and early knee OA by using serum biomarkers, with special focus on AMH. A total of 518 female volunteers who participated in the Iwaki cohort study were enrolled and divided into pre-menopause and post-menopause groups. Weight-bearing anterior–posterior knee radiographs were classified by Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) grade, and grade ≥ 2 was defined as radiographic knee OA. In participants with KL grades 0 and 1, early knee OA was defined by Luyten’s criteria. AMH, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol (pg/ml), prolactin, and testosterone were measured on the female hormones. Bone mineral density at a distal radius was measured. The predictive power of female hormones for early knee OA was estimated by ROC analysis (comparison of area under curve, AUC) and regression analysis. Fifty-two participants (10.0%) were diagnosed with early knee OA and 204 (39.4%) with radiographic knee OA. In 393 (75.9%) females, menopause began. From the ROC analysis in pre-menopausal females, cutoff value of AMH for detecting early knee OA was 0.08 ng/ml (area under curve (AUC), 0.712; 95% CI, 0.527–0.897; p value, 0.025; odds ratio, 8.28). AUCs of other female hormones did not reach the level of AMH (range, 0.513 of prolactine to 0.636 of estradiol). Logistic regression analysis focusing on AMH reduction at menopausal transition showed that the related AMH below 0.08 ng/ml was significantly related to the presence of early knee OA (p = 0.035; odds ratio, 5.55). Reduced serum levels of AMH in middle-aged females were correlated with the presence of early knee OA, which might be a useful serum biomarker.

Menstrual Migraine : How Hormones Impact Migraine

Menstrual Migraine is divided into 2 subtypes: Menstrually Related Migraine (MRM) and Pure Menstrual Migraines (PMM). In PMM symptoms do not occur outside the menstrual cycle while MRM, symptoms can occur at other times apart from the menstrual cycle. The occurrence of menstrual migraines is related to the female hormones cycle in the form of the decrease in estrogen levels which usually occurs a week before the onset of menstruation. The mechanism is unclear, but it is thought that a decrease in estrogen levels can trigger decrease in serotonin levels, causing cranial vasodilation and sensitization of the trigeminal nerve. Keywords: menstrual migraine, hormones

The Menstrual Cycle and the Dance Performance

The physiological alterations due to the variation in female hormones' concentrations, oestrogen and progesterone, will allow pregnancy or the period to occur. However, this hormone fluctuation across the menstrual cycle phases may affect way more than only the ability to get pregnant. Although the female hormones' primary action is related to the ovum's maturation and implantation, their variation causes many physiological and emotional secondary effects. It is expected that this interaction may, in turn, influence exercise performance, including dance performance; therefore, it is essential to understand better what happens in the body during the menstrual cycle. This understanding may allow better awareness and control of the symptoms, bringing a better quality of life and more remarkable dance performance.