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Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Besides age, estrogen exposure plays a crucial role in changes in bone density (BD) in women. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are conditions in reproductive-aged women in which the exposure to estrogen is substantially different. Women with a history of preeclampsia (PE) are expected to have normal estrogen exposure. Within the CREw-IMAGO study, we investigated if trabecular BD is different in these women because of differences in the duration of estrogen exposure. Trabecular BD was measured in thoracic vertebrae on coronary CT scans. Women with a reduced estrogen exposure (POI) have a lower BD compared to women with an intermediate exposure (PE) (mean difference (MD) −26.8, 95% CI −37.2 to −16.3). Women with a prolonged estrogen exposure (PCOS) have the highest BD (MD 15.0, 95% CI 4.3–25.7). These results support the hypothesis that the duration of estrogen exposure in these women is associated with trabecular BD.
Significance statement
Our results suggest that middle-aged women with PCOS have a higher BD and women with POI have a lower BD. We hypothesized that this is due to either a prolonged estrogen exposure, as seen in women with PCOS, or a reduced estrogen exposure, as in women with POI. In the counseling of women with reproductive disorders on long-term health issues, coronary CT provides a unique opportunity to assess both coronary artery calcium score for cardiovascular screening as well as trabecular BD.
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Testosterone therapy is the cornerstone in the care of men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Gel and intramuscular injections are most frequently used and are registered and included in the international guidelines. The specific preparation should be selected according to the patient’s preference, cost, availability, and formulation-specific properties. As the majority of men with hypogonadism and transgender males require lifelong treatment with testosterone, it is important to utilize a regimen that is effective, safe, inexpensive, and convenient to use with optimal mimicking of the physiological situation. This systematic review reviews current literature on differences between the three most used testosterone preparations in adult men with hypogonadism and transgender males. Although it appeared hardly any comparative studies have been carried out, there are indications of differences between the preparations, for example, on the stability of testosterone levels, hematocrit, bone mineral density, and patient satisfaction. However, there are no studies on the effects of testosterone replacement on endpoints such as cardiovascular disease in relation to hematocrit or osteoporotic fractures in relation to bone mineral density. The effect of testosterone therapy on health-related quality of life is strongly underexposed in the reviewed studies, while this is a highly relevant outcome measure from a patient perspective. In conclusion, current recommendations on testosterone treatment appear to be based on data primarily from non-randomized clinical studies and observational studies. The availability of reliable comparative data between the different preparations will assist in the process of individual decision-making to choose the most suitable formula.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is of major concern in women entering menopause. The changing hormonal milieu predisposes them to increased CVD risk, due to a constellation of risk factors, such as visceral obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, dysregulation in glucose homeostasis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and arterial hypertension. However, an independent association of menopause per se with increased risk of CVD events has only been proven for early menopause (<45 years). Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) ameliorates most of the CVD risk factors mentioned above. Transdermal estrogens are the preferable regimen, since they do not increase triglyceride concentrations and they are not associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE). Although administration of MHT should be considered on an individual basis, MHT may reduce CVD morbidity and mortality, if commenced during the early postmenopausal period (<60 years or within ten years since the last menstrual period). In women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), MHT should be administered at least until the average age of menopause (50–52 years). MHT is contraindicated in women with a history of VTE and is not currently recommended for the sole purpose of CVD prevention. The risk of breast cancer associated with MHT is generally low and is mainly conferred by the progestogen. Micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone are associated with lower risk compared to other progestogens.
Unit for Thrombosis Research, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
OPEN, Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Unit for Thrombosis Research, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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Unit for Thrombosis Research, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Unit for Thrombosis Research, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
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Introduction
Hypogonadism is prevalent during opioid treatment, and low testosterone concentrations are associated with cardiovascular disease. The effect of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on the coagulation system in men with hypogonadism is not clarified. We investigate the effects of TRT on the tissue factor (TF) and contact activation pathways of coagulation in opioid-treated men.
Materials and methods
This was a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in 37 men with total testosterone < 12 nmol/L randomized to 24 weeks of testosterone injections (n = 17) or placebo (n = 20). Variables of the coagulation system were analysed at baseline and after 24 weeks. Measurements included the TF pathway (endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and peak thrombin), the contact activation pathway (endogenous kallikrein potential (EKP) and peak kallikrein), coagulation factors (FVII, FX, prothrombin, and FXII), and inhibitors (tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and C1 esterase inhibitor (C1inh)). Between-group differences at 24 weeks were determined with analysis of covariance. Within-group changes in TRT and placebo were analysed with paired t-test.
Results
Between-group differences at 24 weeks were observed for ETP (P = 0.036), FVII (P = 0.044), FX (P = 0.015), prothrombin (P = 0.003), protein C (P = 0.004), and protein S (P = 0.038). Within the TRT group, ETP, peak thrombin, FVII, FX, prothrombin, TFPI, protein C, FXII, and C1inh decreased and protein S increased (all P < 0.05). Within the placebo group, coagulation outcomes were unchanged.
Conclusion
TRT affects the coagulation system in an anticoagulant direction through suppressed TF pathway in men with opioid-induced hypogonadism.
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Objective/design
Testosterone might mediate sex differences in kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, few studies analyzing the association between testosterone and kidney function showed conflicting results. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods
Six electronic databases were searched from inception to March 4, 2020, for studies that investigated the association of (i) testosterone status with kidney function in the general population or (ii) testosterone status with clinical outcomes (kidney function decline, kidney failure, cardiovascular (CV) events, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality) in CKD patients. We used random and fixed-effect models to obtain pooled effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
No randomized–controlled trials that met the inclusion criteria were identified. One study was conducted in the general population and reported an increased risk of incident CKD with low vs normal testosterone (hazard ratio (HR): 1.38, 95% CI: 1.05;1.80). Seven studies were conducted in men with CKD and included testosterone as determinant, of which six could be meta-analyzed. Low testosterone was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and CV events (pooled HR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.36;2.89; pooled HR of 2.40, 95% CI: 1.22;4.71, respectively). Two studies showed an increased risk of all-cause mortality with decreased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in men with CKD; results regarding CV events were conflicting.
Conclusions
Although literature is scarce, evidence suggests that lower testosterone may increase CKD risk in the general population and risk of all-cause mortality and CV events in men with CKD. Whether testosterone supplementation could prevent these potential detrimental outcomes should be determined in future intervention studies.
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Loss of fertility is one of the most important concerns facing Turner syndrome (TS) patients as they transition into adult health care. Due to the limited and rapidly decreasing ovarian reserve, many TS patients require fertility preservation (FP) techniques to preserve their reproductive potential until they are ready to pursue procreation. One has to also remember about the additional risks connected with pregnancy in TS patients. In order to determine the optimal time for introducing FP techniques and decrease the chance of an unnecessary intervention, markers and procedures assessing ovarian reserve have been developed. The exposure to potential cardiovascular complications should be determined before FP to avoid unnecessary procedures in patients with potential contraindications to pregnancy. The aim of the present review is to answer the following three questions important for successful preservation of fertility and safe pregnancy in TS: which markers of ovarian reserve should be used as selection criteria for FP? Which methods of FP are the safest and most effective? Are there any cardiovascular contraindications to FP? For each of those questions, separate literature searches have been conducted. A total of 86 articles have been included in this review: 34 for the first question, 35 for the second, and 17 for the third. Ovarian reserve markers and cardiovascular contraindications to pregnancy should be established before FP; hoverer, there are no unambiguous indicators as to which patients should be disqualified from the FP and more evidence is needed in this subject.
eXtraOrdinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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eXtraOrdinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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eXtraOrdinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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eXtraOrdinarY Kids Clinic, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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Conditions related to cardiometabolic disease, including metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, are common among men with Klinefelter syndrome (KS). The molecular mechanisms underlying this aberrant metabolism in KS are largely unknown, although there is an assumption that chronic testosterone deficiency plays a role. This cross-sectional study compared plasma metabolites in 31 pubertal adolescent males with KS to 32 controls of similar age (14 ± 2 years), pubertal stage, and body mass index z-score of 0.1 ± 1.2 and then between testosterone-treated (n = 16) and untreated males with KS. The plasma metabolome in males with KS was distinctly different from that in controls, with 22% of measured metabolites having a differential abundance and seven metabolites nearly completely separating KS from controls (area under the curve > 0.9, P < 0.0001). Multiple saturated free fatty acids were higher in KS, while mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower, and the top significantly enriched pathway was mitochondrial β-oxidation of long-chain saturated fatty acids (enrichment ratio 16, P < 0.0001). In contrast, there were no observed differences in metabolite concentrations between testosterone-treated and untreated individuals with KS. In conclusion, the plasma metabolome profile in adolescent males with KS is distinctly different from that in males without KS independent of age, obesity, pubertal development, or testosterone treatment status and is suggestive of differences in mitochondrial β-oxidation.
Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, ARETAIEION University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, ARETAIEION University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, ARETAIEION University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, ARETAIEION University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Introduction
To investigate whether synthetic (s) glucocorticoids (GCs) administered between the 24th and the 34th gestational weeks in pre-term labor might precipitate labor, studies on sGCs administration were reviewed. The physiology of endogenous glucocorticoid-related increase in fetal–maternal circulation and its association with labor, followed by a scoping review of studies on exogenous sGCs administered for fetal lung maturation and the timing of labor, were included.
Materials and methods
The methodology of systematic reviews was followed. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched until October 2023, for original studies investigating the administration of sGCs in pregnancies risking pre-term labor. Duplicates were removed, and 1867 abstracts were excluded as irrelevant. Six controlled and four non-controlled studies were included. The index group consisted of 6001 subjects and 7691 controls in the former, while in the latter, the index group consisted of 2069 subjects.
Results
In three out of the six controlled studies, gestational age at labor was significantly lower in sGC-treated women than in controls, while in three studies, gestational age at labor was lower in sGC-treated women than in controls, with a trend toward statistical significance. In one study, gestational age at labor was significantly lower in controls than in sGC-treated women. In the non-controlled studies, the majority of women delivered less than 1 week from the day of sGC administration.
Conclusions
In this scoping review, studies lack homogeneity. However, in the controlled studies, a pattern of earlier labor emerges among sGC-treated pregnant women. The use of multiple courses of antenatal sGCs appears to be associated with precipitated labor. Their use should be carefully weighed. Carefully designed trials should examine this ongoing scientific query.