Changes In Hormone Levels Research Articles

Sex Differences in Energy Metabolism: A Female-Oriented Discussion.

The purpose of this review is to delineate aspects of energy metabolism at rest and during exercise that may be subject to sex differences and the potential underlying mechanisms involved. It focuses on distinct aspects of female physiology with an oriented discussion following the reproductive life stages of healthy, eumenorrheic females, including premenopausal time frames, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Finally, this review aims to address methodological challenges surrounding sexual dimorphism in energy metabolism investigations and confounding factors in this field. During resting conditions, females tend to have higher rates of non-oxidative free fatty acid clearance, which could contribute to lower respiratory exchange ratio measures. At the same time, carbohydrate energy metabolism findings are mixed. In general, females favor lipid energy metabolism during moderate-intensity exercise, while men favor carbohydrate energy metabolism. Factors such as age, dietary intake, genetics, and methodological decisions confound study findings, including properly identifying and reporting the menstrual cycle phase when female subjects are eumenorrheic. Pregnancy presents a unique shift in physiological systems, including energy metabolism, which can be observed at rest and during exercise. Changes in body composition and hormonal levels during the post-menopausal period directly impact energy metabolism, specifically lipid metabolism. This change in physiological state factors into the evidence showing a reduction in our understanding of sex differences in lipid metabolism during exercise in older adults. This review reveals a need for a focused understanding of female energy metabolism that could help exercise and nutrition professionals optimize female health and performance across the lifespan.

Menstrual cycle status does not impact exercise-based changes in cerebral blood flow or executive function benefits

ABSTRACT A single bout of exercise enhances executive function (EF) and may relate to an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF). A limitation in the current literature is that biologically female participants are underrepresented given some evidence that changes in hormone levels across the menstrual cycle impact physiological and psychological variables. Here, biologically female participants completed separate single bouts of moderate intensity exercise (80% of estimated lactate threshold) during the follicular (FOL) and luteal (LUT) phases of their menstrual cycle. In addition, biologically male participants completed a same duration/intensity exercise session. Middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) was used to estimate CBF and pre- and postexercise EF was assessed via the antisaccade task. Results showed that resting MCAv was larger in the LUT than FOL phase; however, the exercise-mediated increase in MCAv was equivalent between menstrual cycle phases, and between female and male participants. Antisaccade reaction times reliably decreased from pre- to postexercise and frequentist and non-frequentist statistics demonstrated that the magnitude of the decrease was equivalent across FOL and LUT phases, and between female and male participants. Thus, results evince that menstrual cycle status should not serve as a basis limiting biologically female participants’ inclusion in research examining exercise and EF.

Developmental exposure to the Fox River PCB mixture modulates behavior in juvenile mice

Developmental exposures to PCBs are implicated in the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This observation is concerning given the continued presence of PCBs in the human environment and the increasing incidence of NDDs. Previous studies reported that developmental exposure to legacy commercial PCB mixtures (Aroclors) or single PCB congeners found in Aroclors caused NDD-relevant behavioral phenotypes in animal models. However, the PCB congener profile in contemporary human samples is dissimilar to that of the legacy Aroclors, raising the question of whether human-relevant PCB mixtures similarly interfere with normal brain development. To address this question, we assessed the developmental neurotoxicity of the Fox River Mixture (FRM), which was designed to mimic the congener profile identified in fish from the PCB-contaminated Fox River that constitute a primary protein source in the diet of surrounding communities. Adult female C57BL/6 J mouse dams (8–10 weeks old) were exposed to vehicle (peanut oil) or FRM at 0.1, 1.0, or 6.0 mg/kg/d in their diet throughout gestation and lactation, and neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed in their pups. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and measures of general development were quantified at postnatal day (P) 7, while performance in the spontaneous alternation task and the 3-chambered social approach/social novelty task was assessed on P35. Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were quantified in serum collected from the dams when pups were weaned and from pups on P28 and P35. Developmental exposure to FRM did not alter pup weight or body temperature on P7, but USVs were significantly decreased in litters exposed to FRM at 0.1 or 6.0 mg/kg/d in the maternal diet. FRM also impaired male and female pups’ performance in the social novelty task. Compared to sex-matched vehicles, significantly decreased social novelty was observed in male and female pups in the 0.1 and 6.0 mg/kg/d dose groups. FRM did not alter performance in the spontaneous alternation or social approach tasks. FRM increased serum T3 levels but decreased serum T4 levels in P28 male pups in the 1.0 and 6.0 mg/kg/d dose groups. In P35 female pups and dams, serum T3 levels decreased in the 6.0 mg/kg/d dose group while T4 levels were not altered. Collectively, these findings suggest that FRM interferes with the development of social communication and social novelty, but not memory, supporting the hypothesis that contemporary PCB exposures pose a risk to the developing brain. FRM had sex, age, and dose-dependent effects on serum thyroid hormone levels that overlapped but did not perfectly align with the FRM effects on behavioral outcomes. These observations suggest that changes in thyroid hormone levels are not likely the major factor underlying the behavioral deficits observed in FRM-exposed animals.

Changes in Exhaled Carbon Dioxide during the Menstrual Cycle and Menopause

Introduction: The menstrual cycle (MC) reflects multifaceted hormonal changes influencing women’s metabolism, making it a key aspect of women’s health. Changes in hormonal levels throughout the MC have been demonstrated to influence various physiological parameters, including exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2). Lumen is a small handheld device that measures metabolic fuel usage via exhaled CO2. This study leverages exhaled CO2 patterns measured by the Lumen device to elucidate metabolic variations during the MC, which may hold significance for fertility management. Additionally, CO2 changes are explored in menopausal women with and without hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed exhaled CO2 data from 3,981 Lumen users, including eumenorrheal women and menopausal women with and without HRT. Linear mixed models assessed both CO2 changes of eumenorrheal women during the MC phases and compared between menopausal women with or without HRT. Results: Eumenorrheic women displayed cyclical CO2 patterns during the MC, characterized by elevated levels during the menstrual, estrogenic and ovulation phases and decreased levels during post-ovulation and pre-menstrual phases. Notably, despite variations in cycle length affecting the timing of maximum and minimum CO2 levels within a cycle, the overall pattern remained consistent. Furthermore, CO2 levels in menopausal women without HRT differed significantly from those with HRT, which showed lower levels. Conclusion: This study reveals distinct CO2 patterns across MC phases, providing insights into hormonal influences on metabolic activity. Menopausal women exhibit altered CO2 profiles in relation to the use or absence of HRT. CO2 monitoring emerges as a potential tool for tracking the MC and understanding metabolic changes during menopause.

Advances in the study of the role and mechanisms of endogenous hormones in the development of myopia

With the increasing prevalence of myopia among adolescents, the pathogenesis of this condition has garnered significant attention. Studies have discovered the expression of various hormone receptors in ocular tissues of both animals and humans. Additionally, changes in hormone levels accompany the development of myopia, although the exact relationships remain inconclusive. This article reviews the potential influences and mechanisms of action of endogenous hormones such as melatonin, serotonin, insulin, glucagon, sex hormones, vitamin D, and prostaglandins in ocular tissues including the retina, choroid, and sclera. It elaborates on the relationship between fluctuations in these hormone levels and the progression of myopia, aiming to provide guidance for exploring targets for myopia prevention and control.

Chronic kidney disease in postmenopausal women is associated with tooth loss.

Menopause is characterized by changes in reproductive hormone levels that can negatively affect bone. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and tooth loss are also important and common health issues after menopause. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CKD and tooth loss in postmenopausal women. The study evaluated 64,971 participants who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2010-2018, including postmenopausal women, aged 40 to 79 years. Participants were divided into two groups based on the number of teeth in their dentition (≥20 and <20). The association between CKD and tooth loss was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Age, income, education, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, annual oral examination, toothbrushing, and the use of oral care products were considered. Subgroup analyses were further conducted according to age (40-65 yr and 66-79 yr). After adjusting for covariates, CKD and estimated glomerular filtration rate were significantly associated with having ≥20 teeth (PT20; CKD: odds ratio [OR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.90; estimated glomerular filtration rate (10 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ): OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86-0.94). Importantly, the association between CKD and PT20 was significant in postmenopausal women, aged 66 to 79 years (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.05-2.01). In postmenopausal women, CKD and tooth loss may be associated. The association is significant in postmenopausal women, aged 66 to 79 years.

Impact of repeated ovarian hyperstimulation on the reproductive function

One of six couples (17.5 % of the adult population) worldwide is affected by infertility during their lifetime. This number represents a substantial increase in the prevalence of this gynecological condition over the last decade. Ovulatory dysfunction and anovulation are the main causes of female infertility. Timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination, and assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), are the most common interventions for infertile couples. Ovulation induction protocols for IVF/ICSI routinely use supraphysiological doses of gonadotropins to stimulate many preovulatory follicles. Animal and human studies suggested that ovarian hyperstimulation, alone or repeatedly, for ART cycles can induce changes in the immune response and increase the oxidative stress (OS) in the ovarian microenvironment. The consequences of repeated ovarian hyperstimulation on the human ovary remain poorly understood, particularly in relation to the effects of ovarian stimulation on the immune system and the potential for ovarian stimulation to cause OS. Animal studies have observed that repeated cycles of ovarian hyperstimulation can accelerate ovarian aging. Changes in ovarian hormone levels, accelerated loss of ovarian reserve, disorders in ovarian ultrastructure, ovarian senescence, and decreased reproductive performance represent possible long-term effects of repeated ovarian hyperstimulation. The short and long-term impact of the combination of antioxidant agents in ovarian hyperstimulation protocols in women undergoing ART must urgently be better understood. The recent increase in the number of ART and fertility preservation cycles may accelerate ovarian aging in these women, promoting consequences beyond the reproductive function and including health deterioration.

Effect of Sleeve Gastric Surgery on Body Weight and Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis Hormone Levels in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common reproductive endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. It is difficult for patients with PCOS to achieve weight loss with conventional treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate weight loss and changes in hypothalamic-pituitary axis hormone levels in patients with PCOS combined with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy. A retrospective analysis of 12 patients without PCOS and 24 patients with PCOS who underwent bariatric surgery at Beijing Luhe hospital from 2020 to 2022 was performed. The study assessed the changes in body weight and hormonal indexes of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis before and six months after the surgery. Patients with PCOS experienced greater weight loss compared to those without the condition. Following surgery, individuals with PCOS showed lower levels of postoperative testosterone, prolactin, and free testosterone indices compared to preoperative levels. Additionally, postoperative LH and FSH levels were higher than preoperative levels. Analysis of thyroid axis hormone levels revealed that FT3 and TSH levels were notably reduced in patients with PCOS postoperatively. Furthermore, growth hormone levels were found to be elevated in patients with PCOS following surgery. Bariatric surgery enhances hormone levels in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in women with PCOS, leading to greater improvements in patients with PCOS compared to those with simple obesity.

Hematological Indices and Genetic Variants of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: Machine Learning Approaches.

Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is associated with infertility. Little is known about the potential circulating biomarkers that could be used to predict POI. We have investigated the possible association between white and red blood cells, platelet indices, and eight established single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with POI risk. 117 women with premature menopause (PM) and 183 healthy women without a history of menopause before age 40 were recruited for this study. The tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (Tetra ARMS PCR) and allele-specific oligonucleotides- polymerase chain reaction (ASO-PCR) were carried out for genotyping for eight SNPs reported to be associated with POI. Decision tree analysis was applied to test the diagnostic value of hematological parameters to identify the risk of POI. Women with POI had lower neutrophil (NEUT) and white blood cell (WBC), whereas red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) were higher. Platelet (PLT) count was also lower in affected women. Our data also indicated that HGB and HCT count were significantly associated with rs16991615 and rs244715. Mean Platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) were associated with rs244715, rs1046089, rs4806660, and rs2303369. The rs16991615 was also associated with RBC count, and rs451417 was associated with NEUTs. The decision tree (DT) model reveals that women with the NEUT count at a cut-off value of less than 2.8 and HCT equal to or more than 38.7% could be identified as high-risk cases for POI. Overall, we found the DT approach had a sensitivity = 85%, specificity = 72%, and accuracy = 74%. The genetic variants involved in POI are associated with changes in reproductive hormone levels and with changes in hematological indices.

Impact of oral administration of calcitriol to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

One of the most common complications of total thyroidectomy is post-operative transient or persistent hypoparathyroidism that can cause symptomatic hypocalcaemia. To prevent this complication, shorten the period of hospitalization and reduce morbidity, routine supplementation of oral vitamin D and calcium has been suggested. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to critically assess the association between pre-operative calcitriol supplementation and post-operative hypocalcaemia. Randomized controlled trial studies were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to 30 March 2023. Screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts of articles were performed, and data were extracted for a meta-analysis. This meta-analysis includes data from nine randomized controlled trials with a total of 1259 patients but with significant heterogeneity. The results demonstrate that calcium levels were higher in patients who had pre-operative calcitriol supplementation, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.18 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.00, 0.37). Pre-operative calcitriol supplementation did not lead to significant changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, with WMD -0.49 (95% CI: -1.91, 0.94). Pre-operative calcitriol supplementation leads to higher calcium levels, but the high heterogeneity of the included studies (79% to 98.7%) could affect the results.

Dark septate endophyte Anteaglonium sp. T010 promotes biomass accumulation in poplar by regulating sucrose metabolism and hormones.

Plant biomass is a highly promising renewable feedstock for the production of biofuels, chemicals and materials. Enhancing the content of plant biomass through endophyte symbiosis can effectively reduce economic and technological barriers in industrial production. In this study, we found that symbiosis with the dark septate endophyte (DSE) Anteaglonium sp. T010 significantly promoted the growth of poplar trees and increased plant biomass, including cellulose, lignin and starch. To further investigate whether plant biomass was related to sucrose metabolism, we analyzed the levels of relevant sugars and enzyme activities. During the symbiosis of Anteaglonium sp. T010, sucrose, fructose and glucose levels in the stem of poplar decreased, while the content of intermediates such as glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) and UDP-glucose (UDPG), and the activity of enzymes related to sucrose metabolism, including sucrose synthase (SUSY), cell wall invertase (CWINV), fructokinase (FRK) and hexokinase, increased. In addition, the contents of glucose, fructose, starch, and their intermediates G6P, F6P and UDPG, as well as the enzyme activities of SUSY, CWINV, neutral invertase and FRK in roots were increased, which ultimately led to the increase of root biomass. Besides that, during the symbiotic process of Anteaglonium sp. T010, there were significant changes in the expression levels of root-related hormones, which may promote changes in sucrose metabolism and consequently increase the plant biomass. Therefore, this study suggested that DSE fungi can increase the plant biomass synthesis capacity by regulating the carbohydrate allocation and sink strength in poplar.

Wind disturbance-based tomato seedlings growth control

Wind-disturbance is a potential eco-friendly technique for tackling leggy seedlings. This study uses orthogonal experimental design and seedlings vigour assessment by strong seedling index (SSI) to investigate wind-disturbance on regulating tomato seedlings growth. Changes in endogenous hormone levels and biomechanical properties of tomato seedlings were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and uniaxial tension tests. Results showed that factors influencing significantly SSI, in descending order, are wind disturbance time (T), seedling age at the onset of wind disturbance (SA), wind velocity (V), and interval time (I). The wind-disturbance effect was found to be optimal with SSI = 0.126 for a condition where V, T, I and SA values are 3 m s−1, 1 min, 30 min, and 15 days, respectively. V and T were positively correlated with the ethylene and abscisic acid content in seedling leaves, abscisic acid and auxin content in stems, cytokinin and ethylene content in roots, and the elastic moduli of stems and roots but negatively associated with the cytokinin content in stems and leaves, auxin and abscisic acid content in roots, and leaves’ elastic modulus. Wind disturbance mechanism for controlling seedlings growth involved eliciting the accumulation of abscisic acid in stems and leaves and reduction of the auxin content in roots to about the optimal threshold for roots growth thereby reducing seedling stems and leaves development and promoting a better roots growth and a high SSI. This work offers theoretical insights and technical guidance for utilising wind-disturbance as a sustainable seedling cultivation and personalised seedling management approach.

Obesity aggravates neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative effects of bisphenol A in female rats

Bisphenol A (BPA), a common plasticizer, is categorized as a neurotoxic compound. Its impact on individuals exhibits sex-linked variations. Several biological and environmental factors impact the degree of toxicity. Moreover, nutritional factors have profound influence on toxicity outcome. BPA has been demonstrated to be an obesogen. However, research on the potential role of obesity as a confounding factor in BPA toxicity is lacking. We studied the neurodegenerative effects in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese female rats after exposure to BPA (10 mg/L via drinking water for 90 days). Four groups were taken in this study – Control, HFD, HFD + BPA and BPA. Cognitive function was evaluated through novel object recognition (NOR) test. Inflammatory changes in brain, and changes in hormonal level, lipid profile, glucose tolerance, oxidative stress, and antioxidants were also determined. HFD + BPA group rats showed a significant decline in memory function in NOR test. The cerebral cortex (CC) of the brain showed increased neurodegenerative changes as measured by microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) accompanied by histopathological confirmation. The increased level of neuroinflammation was demonstrated by microglial activation (Iba-1) and protein expression of nuclear factor– kappa B (NF-КB) in the brain. Obesity also caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in lipid peroxidation accompanied by reduced activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione S-transferase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and decrease in reduced-glutathione (p < 0.05) when compared to non-obese rats with BPA treatment. Overall, study revealed that obesity serves as a risk factor in the toxicity of BPA which may exacerbate the progression of neurological diseases.

Low blood glucose and fatigue accumulation at peak hours of occupational trauma in secondary industry workers

Objectives. The incidence of occupational traumatic injuries caused by human error has been reported to occur at 11:00 and 8–9 h after commencing work. Impaired attention is closely related to the incidence of these accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the changes in blood glucose, fatigue and stress response hormone levels over time among workers in a secondary industry. Methods. The blood glucose and subjective fatigue levels of 26 male secondary-industry workers were measured on workdays. In addition, the cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels in saliva were measured on one workday and one holiday. Results. Blood glucose levels at 11:00 and 17:30 on the workday were significantly lower than those at 09:30. Moreover, hypoglycemia was observed in some participants. A significant increase in subjective fatigue levels was observed during the workday. However, no significant differences in salivary cortisol levels were observed between the workday and the holiday at any time point. Conclusions. Blood glucose levels decreased and subjective fatigue levels increased at the time points that occupational accidents were reported to occur most frequently during work. These factors may contribute to human errors due to impaired attentional function.

Effects of noise exposure on stress hormone changes during task performance in young Korean men: quasi-experimental study

ABSTRACT Numerous studies have suggested that noise exposure might be associated with changes in stress hormone levels. However, quantitative evidence for these effects in humans is rare and remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of exposure to noise and its different levels on stress hormone changes in task performance. Quasi-experimental noise exposure environment was established for 90 male university student volunteers in their twenties, and each was exposed to different noise levels during task performance. The stress hormones tested included cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, and noradrenaline. A one-way ANOVA was performed to investigate differences in hormone levels measured in the three groups according to the noise exposure levels (35, 45, or 75 dB). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to adjust for confounding factors that might affect hormone levels. After adjusting for confounders, significant exposure-dependent differences were found in hormone levels in salivary cortisol, serum cortisol, serum ACTH, and serum adrenaline. The amount of hormonal increase in 75 dB exposure group compared to 35 or 45 dB groups was detected. Similar results were also seen in the rate of change analysis. Our findings indicate that short-term noise exposure during task performance elevates stress hormone levels. Further, the extent of stress hormone alterations varies with noise exposure levels. Changes in hormone levels are an objective measure that may be used to identify health effects and stress responses in various noise environments.

Changes in Reproductive Hormones Levels Following Administration of Hydroethanolic Extract of Azanza garckeana Fruit in Cadmium Chloride Exposed Female Wistar Rats

There have been many claims of aphrodisiac and other beneficial attributes of Azanza garckeana fruit by both tradomedicinal practitioners and some early scientific investigations; the present study, thus, set out to investigate the changes in reproductive hormones following administration of hydroethanolic extract of azanza garckeana fruit (HEAGF) in cadmium chloride exposed female Wistar rats. Thirty five (35) female Wistar rats weighing 230±10 grams were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group 1 served as negative control that received 1ml of distilled water; Group 2 served as positive control and received oral dose of 10mg/kg body weight of CdCl2 (or Cd); Group 3 had Clomiphene citrate (0.3mg/ml) + Cd; Group 4 received Vitamin E (0.3mg/ml) + Cd; Group 5 received 250mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd; Group 6 received 500mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd and Group 7received 1000mg/kg HEAGF+ Cd. All treatments were done orally and daily for 28 days. Blood samples were collected, and serum levels of reproductive hormones including estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured using ELISA and spectrophotometric technique. The results showed that CdCl2 exposure significantly (P&lt;0.05) decreased FSH level but non-significantly (P&gt;0.05) decreased LH level while increasing oestrogen and progesterone levels compared to the negative control group. However, administration of HEAGF, especially the 250mg/kg bw dose most appreciably restored the hormonal balance towards normal levels. In conclusion, although, the findings of the present study highlights the potential therapeutic value of HEAGF in improving the adverse effects of an environmental toxin―CdCl2 on female reproductive health indicators, further studies may be necessary to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action prior to its clinical exploration and possible recommendation for supplementation in reproductive disorders associated with a heavy metal toxicity.

Supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 in an elderly Swedish population low in selenium — positive effects on thyroid hormones, cardiovascular mortality, and quality of life

BackgroundSelenium-dependent deiodinases play a central role in thyroid hormone regulation and metabolism. In many European countries, insufficient selenium intake may consequently lead to adverse effects on thyroid function. In this randomised placebo-controlled double-blind study, we examined the effect of supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 on thyroid hormonal status, cardiovascular (CV) mortality and health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL).MethodsFree T3, free T4, reverse T3, and TSH were determined in 414 individuals at baseline, and the effect of selenium yeast (200 µg/day) and coenzyme Q10 (200 mg/day) supplementation on hormone concentrations, CV mortality and Hr-QoL was evaluated after 48 months using Short Form 36 (SF-36). Pre-intervention plasma selenium was low, mean 67 µg/L, corresponding to an estimated intake of 35 µg/day. Changes in concentrations of thyroid hormones following the intervention were assessed using T-tests, repeated measures of variance, and ANCOVA analyses.ResultsIn the total population, the group with the lowest selenium concentration at baseline presented with significantly higher levels of TSH and lower levels of fT3 as compared to subjects with the highest selenium concentration. Supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for 4 years significantly increased fT3 and rT3, decreased fT4, and diminished the increase in TSH levels compared with placebo treatment (p = 0.03, all). In the placebo group, TSH and fT4 values above the median were associated with an increase in 10-year CV mortality, as compared with the mortality rate among those with TSH and fT4 below the median (p < 0.04, both), with no difference in mortality rate according to TSH and fT4 levels in the active intervention group. Similarly, TSH > median and fT3 < median were associated with a decline in mental Hr-QoL measures vs. TSH < and fT3 > median in the placebo group during 4 years of follow-up, but this was wiped out in the active group.ConclusionsSupplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 had a beneficial effect on thyroid hormones with respect to CV mortality and Hr-QoL outcomes. The initial deficient selenium status was associated with an impaired thyroid function and the changes in thyroid hormone levels can be explained by increased activity of deiodinases. We conclude that a substantial part of the elderly study population might suffer from suboptimal thyroidal function with adverse clinical implications due to selenium deficiency.Trial registrationThis study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and has the identifier NCT01443780. Since it was not mandatory to register at the time the study began, the study has been registered retrospectively.

The effectiveness of cervical mucus electrical impedance compared to basal body temperature to determine fertility window

BackgroundSerial serum hormone measurements and transvaginal ultrasound are reliable measures to predict ovulation. These measures are inconvenient and expensive therefore, basal body temperature charting (BBT) and urine ovulation predictor kits (OPK) for luteinizing hormone are often used to determine the 6-day fertile window. However, BBT does not clearly change until 1–2 days after ovulation. Additionally, while OPK can indicate positivity prior to ovulation, false readings are common. A novel alternative approach involves measuring electrolyte trends in cervical mucus using electrical impedance spectroscopy. Cervical mucus electrolyte measurements are associated with hormone level changes during the menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cervical mucus electrical impedance and basal body temperature. We sought to determine if cervical mucus electrolyte measurements provided improved detection of the ovulation day and therefore, improve fertility timing for women.Methods14 healthy women between 18 and 44 years of age with normal menstrual cycles were enrolled in the Observational Study. Participants measured BBT and cervical mucus electrical impedance daily for 3 menstrual cycles using Kegg (Lady Technologies Inc. San Francisco, California, USA). Ovulation date for each cycle was confirmed by measuring hormone levels in urine and serum, and by vaginal ultrasound.ResultsElectrical impedance was significantly different between the follicular phase versus ovulatory date (p = 0.007) and between the luteal phase versus the ovulatory date (p = 0.007). A significant difference in the rate of change of cervical impedance measurements in the pre-ovulatory follicular phase was found compared to BBT (p = 0.0225). The sensitivity (+ 7.14%), specificity (+ 20.35%), and accuracy (+ 17.59) to determine the 1-day fertility window was significantly higher using cervical mucus impedance compared to BBT.ConclusionsBBT is considered unreliable for evaluating ovulatory function. Cervical mucus electrical impedance offers a novel measure of electrolyte changes associated with hormone levels. We report that pre-ovulatory electrical impedance patterns demonstrated higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for determining the fertility window when compared to BBT. These findings suggest that changes in electrical impedance may provide an accurate method for predicting ovulation and for measuring ovulatory function.

Changes in sex hormone levels after bariatric surgery and its association with weight loss in morbidly obese patients

Changes in sex hormone levels after bariatric surgery and its association with weight loss in morbidly obese patients

Thyroid Dysfunction Risk After Iodinated Contrast Media Administration: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Analysis.

Iodinated contrast media (ICM) is a common source of excess iodine in medical settings, given the common use of iodinated radiologic procedures. To determine the long-term risks of thyroid dysfunction following iodinated contrast administration in a prospective study. A longitudinal cohort study was conducted of patients in the U.S. Veterans Affairs medical system who received ICM. Serum thyroid function, thyroid antibody, and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline. Thyroid function tests were repeated at 1 month, 3 months, and every 6 months thereafter until 36 months. Risk of thyroid dysfunction and longitudinal changes in thyroid hormone levels were assessed using mixed effect models. There were 122 participants (median age, 70.0 [IQR 62.2-74.0] years; 98.4% male). At baseline, six subjects had subclinical thyroid dysfunction prior to ICM receipt. During median follow-up of 18 months, iodine-induced thyroid dysfunction was observed in 11.5% (14/122); six (4.9%) developed hyperthyroidism (including one with overt hyperthyroidism) and eight (6.6%) subclinical hypothyroidism. At last follow-up, ten of 20 subjects with thyroid dysfunction (14 new-onset cases and six with preexisting thyroid dysfunction) had persistent subclinical hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. There were also subtle changes in thyroid hormones observed longitudinally within the reference ranges in the overall cohort. There is a rare long-term risk of an excess iodine load on thyroid dysfunction even among individuals from an overall iodine-sufficient region, supporting the need for targeted monitoring following iodinated contrast administration.