High Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Level Associated With Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Disease Activity

The Loss of Estradiol by Androgen Deprivation in Prostate Cancer Patients Shows the Importance of Estrogens in Males

The role of estradiol (E2; an estrogen) in men needs to be more appreciated. In this review, we address the clinical situations that allow the study of the clinical consequences of E2 deficiency in men and discuss the effects of restoration of levels of this reproductive steroid hormone. In men with advanced prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), E2 is suppressed along with testosterone, leading to side effects affecting the quality of life. These include hot flashes, arthralgia, fatigue, mood changes, cognition problems, weight gain, bone loss, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Transdermal E2 alone for ADT has shown equivalent testosterone suppression compared to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists while also preventing estrogen-deficiency side effects, including hot flashes and bone loss. Co-treatment of ADT with fetal estrogen estetrol (E4) has shown significant improvements of estrogen-deficiency symptoms. These observations emphasize the need to raise awareness of the importance of estrogens in men among clinicians and the lay public.

The menopausal transition period and cardiovascular risk

The menopausal transition period spans, on average, 2-8 years before the final menstrual period and is associated with an increase in clinical and subclinical cardiovascular risk. In this Review, we discuss the metabolic and cardiovascular changes that occur during the menopausal transition period and the role of ovarian ageing, chronological ageing and other ageing-related risk factors in mediating these changes. Disentangling the relative contributions of chronological and reproductive ageing to cardiovascular risk is challenging, but data from longitudinal studies in women transitioning from premenopause to post-menopause have provided valuable insights. We also discuss evidence on how cardiovascular risk is altered by premature or early menopause, surgical menopause, and vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms. Whether targeted interventions can slow the progression of atherosclerosis and subclinical disease during the menopausal transition, thus delaying or preventing the onset of cardiovascular events, remains to be determined. Furthermore, we consider the recommended strategies for cardiovascular risk reduction in women undergoing menopausal transition using the framework of the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, and discuss the cardiovascular risks and benefits of menopausal hormone therapy. Finally, we also discuss novel therapies that might benefit this population in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Development

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory arthritis worldwide, significantly impacting patients and population health. The disease affects women primarily, with a female-to-male ratio of three to one. Its pathogenesis is multifactorial, including genetic and environmental risk factors. Epidemiological studies highlight the link between the environment and genetic susceptibility to RA. The so-called shared epitope is the most significant risk factor that seems to act synergetic with other environmental factors in the disease occurrence. In addition, recent findings suggest a potential role of new substantial environmental factors, such as the observed pollution of the planet's natural resources, on the susceptibility and progression of the disease. This review summarises the most decisive evidence on epidemiology and genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors for RA. It shows that studying genetic and environmental factors in correlation could lead to prevention strategies that may impact the natural history of the disease.

Review of mendelian randomization studies on age at natural menopause

Menopause marks the end of the reproductive phase of life. Based on epidemiological studies, abnormal age at natural menopause (ANM) is thought to contribute to a number of adverse outcomes, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. However, the causality of these associations remains unclear. A powerful epidemiological method known as Mendelian randomization (MR) can be used to clarify the causality between ANM and other diseases or traits. The present review describes MR studies that included ANM as an exposure, outcome and mediator. The findings of MR analyses on ANM have revealed that higher body mass index, poor educational level, early age at menarche, early age at first live birth, early age at first sexual intercourse, and autoimmune thyroid disease appear to be involved in early ANM etiology. The etiology of late ANM appears to be influenced by higher free thyroxine 4 and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutations. Furthermore, early ANM has been found to be causally associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, fracture, type 2 diabetes mellitus, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the homeostasis model of insulin resistance level. In addition, late ANM has been found to be causally associated with an increased systolic blood pressure, higher risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, endometrioid ovarian carcinoma, lung cancer, longevity, airflow obstruction, and lower risk of Parkinson's disease. ANM is also a mediator for breast cancer caused by birth weight and childhood body size. However, due to the different instrumental variables used, some results of studies are inconsistent. Future studies with more valid genetic variants are needed for traits with discrepancies between MRs or between MR and other types of epidemiological studies.

Role of Estrogen Receptor α in Aging and Chronic Disease

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) plays a crucial role in reproductive function in both sexes. It also mediates cellular responses to estrogens in multiple nonreproductive organ systems, many of which regulate systemic metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory processes in mammals. The loss of estrogens and/or ERα agonism during aging is associated with the emergence of several comorbid conditions, particularly in females undergoing the menopausal transition. Emerging data also suggests that male mammals likely benefit from ERα agonism if done in a way that circumvents feminizing characteristics. This has led us, and others, to speculate that tissue-specific ERα agonism may hold therapeutic potential for curtailing aging and chronic disease burden in males and females that are at high-risk of cancer and/or cardiovascular events with traditional estrogen replacement therapies. In this mini-review, we emphasize the role of ERα in the brain and liver, summarizing recent evidence that indicates these two organs systems mediate the beneficial effects of estrogens on metabolism and inflammation during aging. We also discuss how 17α-estradiol administration elicits health benefits in an ERα-dependent manner, which provides proof-of-concept that ERα may be a druggable target for attenuating aging and age-related disease burden.