Hormone-dependent aging problems in women

Sleep Quality and Attention May Correlate With Hand Grip Strength: FARM Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the socio-demographic, psychologic, hematologic, or other relevant factors associated with hand grip strength in Korean farmers.

METHODS

A total of 528 healthy Korean farmers were enrolled. Hand grip strength was measured in both hands using a hydraulic dynamometer. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed and anthropometric measurements were obtained. Psycho-cognitive measurements such as sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and Go/No-Go test response time were conducted. In addition to physical measurements, serologic parameters including insulin-like growth factor 1 were measured. The factors associated with hand grip strength were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, height, and weight.

RESULTS

The mean hand grip strength was associated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (β=-0.12, p=0.01), the Go/No-Go test response time (β=-0.18, p=0.001), vitamin D (β=0.12, p=0.02), and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (β=0.1, p=0.045). In female farmers, hand grip strength was only associated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total score (β=-0.32, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate that hand grip strength was associated with sleep quality and attention in Korean farmers.

Sexual activity and urological morbidities among nigerian menopausal women: findings from a community based survey

Background:

Menopause represents the end of women reproductive career and it is at this time they begin to manifest morbidities such as urinary incontinence.

Aim:

To document proximate determinants of sexual activity and urological morbidities of menopausal women.

Subjects and Methods:

This was a community survey conducted among 254 menopausal women Mokola in Ibadan, Nigeria in 2008. Respondents were selected using cluster sampling technique. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to obtain information on their characteristics, pattern of urological and sexual activities. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable tests were performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 15.0 (Chicago, IL USA) and statistical significance was set at P value less than 0.05.

Results:

The mean age of subjects was 60.3 (standard deviation = 10.2 years). About 33.5% (85/254) was still sexually active. About 68% (173/254) reported a reduction in sexual frequency since menopause while 31.5% (80/254) reported no change. The mean self-rated sexual performance score was 4.3 based on a numerical scale where 10 is the maximum obtainable. Significant predictors of reduction in sexual activity were age at menopause and education. Those between 45 and 49 years were less likely than those at 55 years or more (odds ratio [OR] = 0.21; 95% confidence interval OR = 0.05-0.87) while women with at least secondary education were thrice less likely than those with none to report a reduction in sexual activity after menopause. Less than a tenth reported urinary incontinence as a complaint. Urge incontinence was the most commonly reported followed by dysuria and stress incontinence. Less than a quarter of them had requested for a form of treatment.

Conclusion:

Sexual performance of Nigerian menopausal women is associated with age at menopause and education. Non-fistulous urinary incontinence is now being mentioned as a complaint contrary to the widely held view that it is part of the aging process. Therefore, awareness creation on management opportunities should be shared with them.

Physical health problems in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder which is characterized by severe hypotonia and feeding problems in early infancy. In later childhood and adolescence, this is followed by hyperphagia and extreme obesity if the diet is not strictly controlled. Data on physical health problems in adults with PWS are scarce. We report on the prevalence of physical health problems in a Dutch cohort of adults with PWS in relation to age, BMI, and genetic subtype. Participants (n = 102) were retrieved via the Dutch Prader-Willi Parent Association and through physicians specializing in persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). Details regarding physical health problem spanning the participants' lifespan were collected from caretakers through semi-structured interviews. Cardiovascular problems included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accidents. Respiratory infections were frequent in adulthood. In males, cryptorchidism was almost universal, for which 28/48 males had a history of surgery, mostly orchidopexy. None of the women had a regular menstrual cycle. Sixteen individuals had a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Spinal deformation, hip dysplasia, and foot abnormalities were common. Skinpicking, leg edema, and erysipelas were frequent dermatological problems. The findings in our group support the notion that the prevalence of physical health problems is underestimated. This underscores the importance of developing monitoring programs which would help to recognize physical health problems at an early stage.

Effects of growth hormone, melatonin, oestrogens and phytoestrogens on the oxidized glutathione (GSSG)/reduced glutathione (GSH) ratio and lipid peroxidation in aged ovariectomized rats

Ovariectomy constitutes a commonly used model in rats and mice for human menopause. After ovariectomy, an imbalance between oxidant production and antioxidant levels appears in favour of the former, with increased oxidative stress and consequently an acceleration of ageing. In the present work, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), a relevant antioxidant, and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), an oxidant compound, as well as lipid peroxidation (through malondialdehyde (MDA) levels), were studied in liver, heart, kidney and spleen homogenates of old (24 months of age) unovariectomized and ovariectomized female Wistar rats. The results showed a significant increase of the GSSG/GSH ratio, a marker of oxidative stress, and higher MDA production in all the studied organs of ovariectomized rats as compared with unovariectomized animals. These data confirm the idea that ovariectomy accelerates the ageing process. Administration of growth hormone (GH), melatonin (MEL) and oestrogens (OE), as well as soybean phytoestrogens (PE) for 10 weeks, between 22 and 24 months of age, was able to decrease oxidative stress in the investigated organs of ovariectomized old rats, therefore slowing down the ageing process in those animals.

Late effects in hemopoiesis and bone tissue among people with incorporated osteotropic isotope 90Sr

The present paper focuses on the analysis of data resulting from 50-y studies involving assessment of the hemopoiesis state in Techa riverside residents chronically exposed to radiation and evaluation of the bone tissue status for people with Sr incorporation at late time after the intakes.

CONCLUSIONS

1. In the late period after the start of chronic radiation exposure (50 y later) only a few individuals with red bone marrow doses reaching about 1.8 Gy (mean dose of 0.66 Gy) had a marked peripheral blood leucopenia, and the incidence of neutropenia, lymphopenia and thrombocypenia in the exposed group did not exceed that noted in the control group. The results of our observations indicate the spontaneous recovery of the hemopoietic system of residents of the Techa riverside villages. Thus, the adaptation mechanisms of hemopoiesis to the long-term chronic exposure in the range of low to intermediate doses are sufficiently effective; 2. About half of the people with Sr incorporation and the control group have changes in bone tissue expressed by different stages of osteoporosis. Age is a determinative factor of bone tissue involution in women while some tendency of Sr influence on the intensity of osteoporosis is revealed in the male group.

Influence of gender on serum growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I and its binding protein-3 during aging

PURPOSE

The serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factors-I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and growth hormone (GH) are related to body composition, function and metabolism, and are influenced by the aging process. This study was to investigate the influence of gender on serum concentrations of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and GH in middle and old age subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty healthy volunteers (male 35, female 25, 36-70 years) were divided into < or = 50 and > 50 years groups, based on gender. Women > 50 years were post-menopause. IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and GH were determined by immunoradiometric assay.

RESULTS

IGF-I was shown to be negatively correlated with age (women r = -0.62, p < 0.001; men r = -0.38, p < 0.05), whereas there was no correlation between IGF-I and GH values. Women > 50 years showed a significant reduction in IGF-I values than women < or = 50 years (p < 0.01). Women > 50 years showed smaller IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratios (0.177998 +/- 0.039404) than men of same age group (0.228326 +/- 0.050979, p < 0.01) and women < or = 50 years (0.247667 +/- 0.069411, p < 0.01). Age was shown to positively correlate with GH/IGF-I (r = 0.49, p < 0.05) and GH/IGFBP-3 ratios (r = 0.40, p < 0.05) in women.

CONCLUSIONS

The influence of aging on serum concentrations of IGF-I is more remarkable in women than in men. Menopause causes reduction of IGF-I/IGFBP-3 molar ratio. Women have the trend of progressive hypoactivity of GH to stimulate IGF-I and IGFBP-3 secretions with age.

Distribution and progression of amyloid-beta deposits in the amygdala of the aged macaque monkey, and parallels with zinc distribution

In this study, we have mapped amyloid beta (Abeta) deposition in the amygdala of five aged Japanese monkeys (from 23 to 30 years old). In brief, the aged monkey amygdala shows a topographic distribution of Abeta deposits that is subnucleus specific and exhibits a distinct temporal progression. The pattern is similar to the distribution of Abeta deposits in the human amygdala of Alzheimer's patients and of high plaque nondemented cases. The spatial distribution and temporal progression were correlated with the distribution of free zinc (Zn), which is known to mediate Abeta aggregation. For the basolateral group of subnuclei in particular, there is a clear dorsoventral gradient in the progressive distribution of Abeta. Abeta depositions first appear in the ventral division of the lateral nucleus and parvicellular division of the accessory basal nucleus, and then extend into the ventral part of the basal and paralaminar nuclei. All these nuclei are also Zn-dense. Conversely, Zn-weak nuclei, which are more dorsally situated (i.e. dorsal division of lateral nucleus and magnocellular division of basal nucleus) showed only a low level of Abeta deposits, even in brains with the greatest Abeta burden. In contrast to the basolateral group, the central and medial nuclei and cortical group had Abeta deposits only at later stages. In the central and medial nuclei, we identified a lateromedial gradient of Abeta deposits, again similar to the gradient of Zn-distribution. In the cortical group, Abeta deposits are densest in the deep layer, where Zn is also densest. Thus, we suggest the macaque amygdala, with its clear topographic distribution of Abeta deposits, may be an effective model for examining the complex mechanisms of vulnerability to Abeta deposits. A primate model would be advantageous for experimental interventions geared toward therapeutic protection from Alzheimer's disease, including by microarray analysis and genetic manipulation.