Does adjuvant chemotherapy change bone mineral density and related serum biomarkers in women with breast cancer?

Background:

The primary objective of this study was to assess BMD change in Iranian females with breast cancer.

Methods:

A sample of 73 female breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy either alone or followed by radiotherapy between March 2013 and February 2016 were considered for this study. Bone mineral density (BMD) change was evaluated by measuring z-score of lumbar spine, femoral neck (right and left side) as well as biochemical measurements. With respect to WHO categorization for the treatment of osteoporosis, patients were categorized as normal BMD, osteopenic and all analysis was done separately.

Results:

In women with normal BMD, lumbar spine and femoral neck (right side) z-score decreased significantly by 15.7 and 39%, respectively (p<0.05). In osteoporosis group, there was no BMD change in any of the lumbar or femoral neck z-scores. However, in osteopenic patients, femoral neck BMD decreased significantly by 40.9% after 8 months (p=0.003). The level of all measured biomedical markers such as Ca, Alb, P and vitamin OHD decreased significantly in a follow-up visit in both osteoporosis and normal BMD.

Conclusion:

Our results revealed that adjuvant chemotherapy led to unfavorable effects on lumbar spine and femoral neck means z-score during 8 months. Also, unfavorable changes in biochemical markers appeared in all groups.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune systemic disease. Most common autoimmune diseases are multisystem disorders that may also present with otological manifestations, and autoimmune inner ear disease accompanied by vestibular dysfunction. This study aimed to compare the vestibular function between RA patients and normal subjects using cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs).

METHODS

In this cross- sectional study, 25patients with RA (19 female and 6 male: mean (±SD) age, 40.00 (±7.92) years) and 20 healthy subjects (15 female and 5 male: mean (±SD) age, 35.35 (±10.48) years) underwent cVEMPs, using 500 Hz-tone bursts at 95 dB nHL intensity level. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test through SPSS software v. 16.

RESULTS

The mean peak latency of p13 was significantly higher in RA patients (p<0.001). The mean peak latency of n23 was significantly higher in patients in the left ear (p=0.03). Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) responses were present in all (100%) of the participants. There were no significant differences in mean peak to peak amplitude and amplitude ratio between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

According to the prolonged latency of VEMP responses in RA patients, lesions in the retrolabyrinthine, especially in the vestibulospinal tract are suspected.

Bone Mineral Changes and Cardiovascular Effects among Female Athletes with Chronic Menstrual Dysfunction

Purpose

Oligo/amenorrhea, as a part of the Female Athlete Triad has adverse effects on the athlete's bone mineral density (BMD) and cardiovascular system. Hypoestrogenism, due to suppression of hypothalamus-pituitary axis (HPA) as a result of energy imbalance, is the possible cause of the Triad. This study was designed based on following up and reassessment of elite female athletes who were diagnosed as menstrual dysfunction about two years ago.

Methods

This study was conducted in three phase sections: 1) Reassess the pattern of menstrual cycle among athletes who reported menstrual dysfunction about two years ago; 2) Bone mineral density was measured twice in the same machine and same center with a two-year interval; 3) The laboratory data including blood glucose, lipid profile and inflammatory markers was assessed in phase 3.

Results

BMD of athletes did not change significantly after 25.5 months of oligomenorrhea P (spine) = 0.2, P (femur)=0.9. Mean of all cardiovascular factors was in the normal range except for high density lipoprotein (HDL) which was 49.28 (SD=9.18), however, most of the athletes had abnormalities in their lipid profile. Inverse relationship between the increase in the BMD of spine and total cholesterol (r =−0.49, P=0.04), Apolipoprotein A (r = −0.51 P=0.04), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) (r =−0.66, P=0.009). Also correlation between BMD of spine and HbA1C (r =−0.70, P=0.003) were significant.

Conclusion

Findings of this study show that negative changes in BMD and cardiovascular biomarkers of female athletes with functional hypothalamic menstrual dysfunction could occur if proper therapeutic intervention (including increase in calorie intake, decrease in exercise load or hormonal replacement) will not consider.