Cardiovascular risk at age 53 years in relation to the menopause transition and use of hormone replacement therapy: a prospective British birth cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate cardiovascular risk factors and changes in risk factor levels in relation to menopausal stage, hysterectomy status and hormone replacement therapy use in a cohort of women aged 53 years with prospective data on smoking, lifetime socio-economic circumstances, and blood pressure and obesity at age 43 years.

DESIGN

A prospective study.

SETTING

England, Scotland and Wales.

POPULATION

A cohort of women from the Medical Research Council Survey of Health and Development.

METHODS

A total of 1303 women, aged 53 years, from a UK birth cohort study with measures of cardiovascular risk factors were classified by five menopausal status groups (premenopause, perimenopause, postmenopause, hysterectomy and hormone replacement therapy user). Body mass index, glycosolated haemoglobin, blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol measurements were taken, and analysed within the groups taking confounding variables into account. Changes in body mass index and blood pressure measurement in the same women obtained when 43 years of age were also compared.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Body mass index, glycosolated haemoglobin, blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol.

RESULTS

At 53 years, body mass index, waist circumference, total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glycosolated haemoglobin (HbA1c) varied by menopausal status group, but blood pressure did not. Levels of total cholesterol and HbA1c increased across the natural menopause transition, before and after adjustment for body mass index, smoking and lifetime socio-economic circumstances. After adjustment for confounders, levels of risk factors for hysterectomised women were similar to those of naturally postmenopausal women. Women on hormone replacement therapy had lower levels of total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, HbA1c, and were less obese than postmenopausal women. The lower obesity levels were partly due to these women already being less obese at age 43 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that naturally postmenopausal or hysterectomised women had higher levels of metabolic risk factors compared with premenopausal or perimenopausal women of the same age. The long term stability of these differences and their translation into variations in incidence of cardiovascular disease remain to be seen. The lower levels of metabolic risk factors for women on hormone replacement therapy may protect against future cardiovascular disease or may be overwhelmed by other adverse, and as yet unknown, effects of hormone replacement therapy.

Long-term bone marrow cultured stromal cells regulate myeloma tumour growth in vitro: studies with primary tumour cells and LTBMC-dependent cell lines

Long-term bone marrow cultured stromal cells (LTBMC) produce IL-6 after contact with tumour cells from multiple myeloma patients. We found that LTBMC could substitute for exogenous IL-6 in the stimulation of bone marrow plasma cells from myeloma patients with active disease in short-term cultures. In addition, tumour cells of some patients with inactive disease, which were unresponsive to exogenous IL-6, were induced to IL-6-dependent growth after LTBMC co-culture. To study the role of LTBMC in myeloma tumour growth in vitro, plasma cell lines UM-2 and UM-3 were selected. UM-2 and UM-3 grew in contact with LTBMC and proliferation was blocked by antibodies against IL-6, IL-6 receptor (IL-6R, gp80, CD126) or the common signal transducing unit, gp130 (CD130). Culture with IL-6 alone or combined with GM-CSF resulted in cell death via apoptosis. The combination of IL-6 with soluble gp80, however, maintained in vitro proliferation of UM-2 and UM-3 cells. These data imply that LTBMC regulate myeloma growth in vitro via production of IL-6, possibly via induction of a functional IL-6 receptor on the tumour cells.

Amylolytic activity in germinated Agrostemma githago L. seeds

The perisperm of seeds of Agrostemma githago contains starch reserves which constitute 40% of the dry weight of the mature seed. These starch reserves were mostly broken down between 48 and 96 h after initiation of imbibition. (Germination occurred after 24 h.) The mode of starch degradation showed close parallels with the breakdown of the starchy endosperm in cereals. Thus, between 24 and 96 h the cotyledons secreted α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) whereas other degradative enzymes in the perisperm, β-amylase (EC 3.2.1.2) and maltase (EC 3.2.1.20), appeared to originate in the perisperm itself. Cotyledons secreted similar levels of α-amylase in the presence and absence of exogenous starch, indicating that secretion is an internal developmental event of the embryo. By isoelectric focussing the secreted α-amylase was separated into two isoenzymes. In the cotyledons, several other starch-degrading isoenzymes were present but were not secreted.

Colon cancer presenting as Streptococcus gallolyticus infective endocarditis

A 58-year-old Chinese man presented with a three-week history of fever. He had a background history of rheumatic heart disease, hypertension, and thalassaemia. He was found to have infective endocarditis of the aortic valve due to Streptococcus gallolyticus. During the hospital stay, he developed a few episodes of haematochaezia and was subsequently found to have colonic carcinomain- situ. He completed appropriate antibiotic treatment for his infective endocarditis and underwent a left hemicolectomy with primary anastomosis. The association between Streptococcus gallolyticus infective endocarditis and colonic neoplasm is well documented. This case report stresses the importance of performing routine colonoscopy to look for colonic neoplastic change in patients diagnosed to have Streptococcus gallolyticus infective endocarditis. The early diagnosis of the colonic neoplasm has enabled our patient to have a curative surgery without compromising his quality of life.

Low rates of treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in patients treated with antipsychotics

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). Patients are more likely to be overweight and to have hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. Antipsychotic medication can induce or worsen these cardiovascular risk factors.

Objectives

Accessibility to healthcare and adequate somatic treatment is limited in patients with SMI.

Aims

Prevalence of inadequate treatment for metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in patients treated with antipsychotic medication.

Methods

A health monitor was introduced as a screening instrument in a schizophrenia treatment and recovery program (so called F-ACT) at the outpatient departments. Assesment included physical and laboratory examination, demographics, DSM-IV diagnoses, remission-criteria, social functioning, use of medication and drugs.

Results

Over a period of 18 months (2009–2010), 520 of the 600 patients included in the F-ACT were evaluated. Preliminary analysis shows that 452 patients met DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. All patients were treated with at least one antipsychotic agent. Metabolic syndrome according to ATP-III was present in 50% of patients (60% abdominal obesity, 58% hypertension, 24% hyperglycemia, 52% high triglycerides, 49% low HDL-cholesterol). Rates of non-treatment ranged from 78% for hypertension, 85% for dyslipidemia and 48% for diabetes mellitus. Rates of inadequate treatment ranged from 69% for hypertension and 83% for dyslipidemia.

Conclusions

1.

A screening for BRCA1 mutations in breast and breast-ovarian cancer families from the Stockholm region

To identify BRCA1 germ-line mutations in the breast and breast-ovarian cancer families in the Stockholm region, a total of 127 families were screened. DNA from 174 patients from these families were studied using various mutation screening techniques, followed by direct DNA sequencing. Mutations were identified in 7 of 20 families with breast and ovarian cancer and in one family with ovarian cancer only, whereas only 1 family of 106 with breast cancer showed a mutation. Thus, germ-line mutations in BRCA1 were found in one-third of the families with both breast and ovarian cancer, but in only 1% of the breast cancer families. The low frequency of germ-line mutations in the site-specific breast cancer families means that other genes are likely to segregate in these families.

Relationship of psoriatic arthritis with nail and scalp involvement in Turkish psoriasis patients: Multicentered cross-sectional study

Psoriasis is a common multisystem inflammatory disease, and arthritis is an essential component of the disorder, requiring early diagnosis and prompt treatment for successful management. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between nail and scalp involvement and other covariates with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). This cross-sectional study, conducted from June 2021 through December 2021, included 763 patients from 11 different centers in Turkey. The severity of involvement was evaluated using psoriasis area severity index (PASI), nail psoriasis severity index (NAPSI), and psoriasis scalp severity index (PSSI) scores. Predictors for PsA were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. PsA (n = 155, 21.5%) was significantly more common in patients having a family history of psoriasis (43.2% vs 30.9%, P = .004), nail involvement (68.4% vs 52.3%, P < .001), and coexistence of nail and scalp involvement (53.7% vs 39.6%, P = .002). Furthermore, patients with PsA had considerably higher PASI (7 vs 5.6, P = .006), NAPSI (5 vs 2, P < .001), and PSSI scores (7 vs 4, P = .002) and longer disease duration (months) (126 vs 108, P = .009). In multivariate analysis, female gender [OR: 3.01, 95% CI (1.861-4.880), P < .001], nail involvement [OR: 2.06, 95% CI (1.293-3.302), P = .002)], and body mass index (BMI) [OR: 1.06, 95% CI (1.017-1.100), P = .005] were identified as independent predictors for PsA. Female gender, nail involvement, and high BMI are significant predictors for PsA and warrant detailed rheumatological assessment. Notably, being female is the strongest predictor of increased risk of PsA in our survey. Scalp involvement appears not to be associated with PsA. Also, the presence of PsA seems related to a more severe skin involvement phenotype.

Consensus strategy to quantitate malignant cells in myeloma patients is validated in a multicenter study. Belgium-Dutch Hematology-Oncology Group

Recently the Belgium-Dutch Hematology-Oncology group initiated a multicenter study to evaluate whether myeloma patients treated with intensive chemotherapy benefit from additional peripheral stem cell transplantation. To determine treatment response accurately, we decided to quantitate malignant cells. To test a consensus quantitation strategy, 5 centers independently determined the immunoglobulin heavy chain sequences of patient tumor cells and developed allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASO) and ASO-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We compared the reproducibility of real-time quantitation with quantitation using limiting dilutions. We distributed DNA samples with a 4-log range of tumor cell concentrations and found average quantitation values deviating 74% and 42% from the input values with real-time PCR (1 center) and limiting dilutions (4 centers), respectively. Within single centers we found an average variation coefficient of 0.74, with limiting dilutions not significantly different from the average 0.82 center-to-center variation coefficient. Within a single center, real-time quantitation proved more reproducible (average variation coefficient, 0.36). Quantification was confirmed in 3 patients during treatment in the protocol. This report shows that real-time PCR or limiting dilution assays can be used for quantitation in a single multicenter trial. We present a consensus strategy that allows an accurate comparison of quantitation data generated in independent centers.

Migration patterns in Hungary: a life course approach

"This paper discusses the consequences of the ongoing transformation for migration in Hungary. We investigate migration flows towards the Hungarian capital, provincial capitals, towns and rural areas, using a life-course approach. A main aspect within this question is whether there are substantial differences in the migration patterns between the different settlement types. We present answers to questions [about] how the migration patterns changed in the period 1970-1994 and what changes in the kind of triggers resulting [in] moves occurred. The analysis is focused on different settlement types in Hungary: the capital Budapest, 18 provincial capitals, the towns and the rural communities."