Hormonal Status Research Articles

Hormonal Influences on ADC Values in Breast Tissues: A Scoping Review of DWI in Pre- and Post-menopausal Women

Background Breast cancer remains a significant global health concern, with early diagnosis and risk factor identification crucial for improving outcomes. Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) measurements have emerged as promising tools in breast cancer diagnostics. However, the influence of hormonal status on these measurements remains unclear. Objective This scoping review aims to synthesize current evidence on how hormonal changes in pre- and post-menopausal women influence ADC values of benign, malignant, and fibroglandular breast tissues. Method Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, we conducted a comprehensive search of Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases for relevant studies published between January 2000 and 2021. Inclusion criteria encompassed 1.5 Tesla MRI studies reporting ADC values in female subjects, considering menopausal status. Results Six studies meeting the inclusion criteria, involving 612 patients, were analyzed. Findings suggest that menopausal status may influence ADC values, with postmenopausal women generally showing lower ADC values in both normal fibroglandular tissue and breast lesions. The impact of menstrual cycle phases on ADC values was less consistent across studies. Conclusions This review highlights the potential influence of hormonal status on ADC values in breast tissues. While DWI with ADC mapping shows promise as a reliable diagnostic tool across different hormonal states, further research is needed to fully understand and account for hormonal influences on ADC measurements. Future studies should focus on longitudinal designs, standardization of DWI protocols, and integration of hormonal status information into breast cancer risk assessment models.

Determining the Association between Preeclampsia and the Thyroid Hormone Status in Pregnant Women

Background: Preeclampsia is a significant multisystem disorder in pregnancy care that hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors can cause. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between preeclampsia and thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women. Method: This case-control study was conducted in 2022 with 200 pregnant women in southeast Iran, utilizing a convenience sampling method. The participants included 100 women in the preeclampsia group and 100 in the normal pregnancy group. Data related to preeclampsia were obtained from the Integrated Health System (SIB) at the health center in Jiroft city, while information about the thyroid hormones was extracted from the Ministry of Health's SIB system. The data were analyzed using SPSS-26 software, employing both descriptive and inferential statistical tests Results: Systolic pressure was significantly higher in the preeclampsia group (149.14 mm Hg) than in the control group (105.33 mm Hg), and diastolic pressure also showed a significant difference (94.57 mm Hg in preeclampsia vs. 64.33 mm Hg in normal pregnancies). Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group (3.7) compared to the normal pregnancy group (2.5), indicating a notable difference (P<0.005). Thyroid thyroxine (TT4) levels were significantly lower in the preeclampsia group (10.78) compared to the control group (12.5) (P<0.005). Conclusion: Thyroid function significantly impacts the risk and severity of preeclampsia, with elevated TSH and reduced TT4 levels indicating potential complications. Monitoring these hormone levels is crucial for managing affected pregnancies. It is recommended that health policymakers include thyroid function screening in prenatal care protocols.

Ontogenetic features of hormonal status and metabolic profile of pigs in industrial technology

The hormonal and metabolic profile of conditionally healthy Yorkshire pigs of different age and sex groups was studied in an industrial pig farm. A statistically significant effect of age on the level of serum cortisol, triiodothyronine, and thyroxine in the studied pig groups was established. Increased cortisol levels compared to the literature data in almost all pig groups may indicate chronic stress, while increased secretion of thyroid hormones is an adaptive response associated with stress compensation. Biochemical parameters of blood serum in animals of different groups reflect age-related metabolic features. It was shown that the average parameter values for the groups as a whole are within the limits obtained by other authors. It was revealed that with age, there is a decrease in the content of glucose, triglycerides, and urea. At the same time, the level of total protein, albumins, and globulins in the blood serum of the studied pigs gradually increases with age. In some cases, reliable intersexual differences in the level of biochemical parameters were found, in particular, sows exceeded boars in cholesterol content, while the opposite pattern was noted for total protein. In general, the hormonal and metabolic profiles of the herd correspond to the “industrial” status of the complex. The ability to adapt, intensive protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism are obviously fixed by targeted breed selection. The established reference values of the hormonal status and metabolic profile parameters can be used to characterize pigs of high-intensity meat breeds under industrial technology conditions.

Hormonal Status and Quality of Life of Women Treated for Infertility Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

Hormonal Status and Quality of Life of Women Treated for Infertility Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland

ВЗАИМОСВЯЗЬ ГОРМОНАЛЬНОГО СТАТУСА МАРАЛОВ-РОГАЧЕЙ И КАЧЕСТВА ПОЛУЧЕННОЙ СПЕРМОПРОДУКЦИИ В ПЕРИОД ГОНА

The purpose of research is to study the relationship between the hormonal status of stag deer and the quality of the resulting sperm production during the rut. Objectives: to determine the level of testosterone and cortisol in the blood of stag deer during the rut period and to study the relationship between the quality of sperm production and testosterone levels. Research was carried out in the Novotalitsk branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution FANCA (the Altai Region) in 2022. The object of the study were stag deer (n=10) aged 6–9 years with the elite, first and second class. The selection of bioproducts from stag deer was carried out in autumn during the rutting season, using a mobile machine for fixing the deer when semen was taken. Sperm was obtained by the method of electroejaculation according to the established regimens; before taking, a prepuce toilet was performed. Sperm was collected in sterile sperm receptacles, then its qualitative and quantitative assessment was carried out. At the same time, blood was taken to study the level of testosterone and cortisol hormones. The level of testosterone in stag deer ranges from 1.25–13.153 nmol/l, cortisol – 35.00–260.00 nmol/l. There is a change in testosterone levels depending on the class of animals. In stags of the elite class and the first class with a concentration of the hormone testosterone above 3.943 ± 2.20 nmol/l during the rut, an ejaculate volume of 3.5–7.0 ml is observed, sperm activity up to 9 points and a concentration of 700 million to 1.0 billion/ml.

Depot-specific adiposity changes in ovariectomized mice on high-fat diet.

Ovariectomized (OVX) mice serve as a key model for studying postmenopausal metabolic changes, particularly obesity, as they mimic the hormonal state of postmenopausal women. However, our understanding remains limited regarding how hormonal and dietary factors affect different adipose tissues. Furthermore, precise documentation of experimental procedures and their effects on specific adipose tissue depots is essential for reproducible translational research. This study investigated depot-specific adiposity development in OVX mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), focusing on how reduced estrogen levels and dietary intervention affect distinct fat depots. We composed subcutaneous and visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) depots from sham-operated (Sham) and OVX female C57BL/6JJcl mice on a regular diet (RD) and high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks. OVX mice on HFD gained significantly more weight than Sham controls. Adiposity increased in abdominal subcutaneous WAT (sWAT) and perirenal WAT (prWAT) of OVX mice, but not in mesenteric WAT (mWAT). Analysis of adipose tissue morphology revealed that OVX mice exhibited enlarged adipocyte cross-sectional areas under low estrogen (E2) conditions, suggesting enhanced adipogenesis in an estrogen-deficient state. These findings suggest that low estrogen condition accelerated adiposity, in a tissue site-dependent manner.

Sexual dimorphism in exercise-induced response on steroid hormones to a 24-week supervised concurrent training intervention.

Steroid hormones are key mediators of adaptative responses to exercise, a stimulus that may concurrently affect their blood concentrations. However, the chronic endocrine adaptations and whether these potential changes are dependent on exercise intensity remain undetermined. Moreover, it is also unknown if the exercise-induced effects on steroid hormonal status are related to the participant' sex. This study aimed to investigate the intensity effects of a 24-week supervised concurrent training intervention on steroid hormones in sedentary young men and women. A total of 106 untrained young adults (68% women) aged 18-25 years were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (I) Control group (no exercise; n = 35); (II) Ex-Moderate group (concurrent training at moderate intensity; n = 36); (III) Ex-Vigorous group (concurrent training at vigorous intensity; n = 35). Steroid hormones (i.e. cortisol, testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS)) were measured in plasma through a chemiluminescent method. Body composition parameters were determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. No significant changes in steroid hormones levels were observed after the intervention (all p ≥ .129). However, a time x group interaction was noted in the testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C ratio) only in women (p = .044). Concretely, our data showed a significant decrement of T/C ratio in both the Ex-Moderate group and in the Ex-Vigorous compared with the control group (Δ = -24.2 ± 2.0% and Δ = -38.9 ± 45.4%, respectively). Our 24-week supervised concurrent training intervention showed no significant changes in steroid hormone levels. However, a significant decrement of T/C ratio was observed only in women, indicating a sexual dimorphism in the effect on T/C ratio.

Evaluating the Quality of Real-World Data on Adherence to Oral Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients: How Real Is Real-World Data?

The aim of this study was to compare estimates of adherence to oral endocrine therapy (OET) based on real-world data (RWD) and on clinical evaluation in people diagnosed with breast cancer in the public healthcare system in Catalonia (Spain). We conducted two retrospective cohort studies. Cohort 1 (RWD) consisted of women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021 in the public healthcare system of Catalonia (Spain). Sources of RWD were the pharmacy billing register, hospital discharge records, and the Catalan health division's central insurance registry. Nonadherence was defined as below 80% adherence in the first year of treatment. Data for cohort 2 came from two population-based cancer registries in Girona and Tarragona (Catalonia), with diagnoses from 2007 to 2011. We evaluated the impact of variables missing from RWD, such as stage and hormonal status. Analyses were performed using a chi-square test and logistic regression, with results stratified by age group and drug type. Nonadherence at one year was 10.9% in cohort 1 and 11.3% in cohort 2. When we reviewed the medical records of a selection of nonadherent women from cohort 1, we found only 59.4% had documented treatment interruptions. Reasons for interruptions in the patients from RWD cohort included adverse effects (48.8%), patient decision (40.0%), medical reasons (29.4%), and other clinical causes (14.7%). Women aged under 50 years and those receiving tamoxifen or a sequential regimen had lower adherence. Determinants associated with nonadherence were similar in both approaches used. This study confirms the validity of estimating adherence with RWD from the Spanish national health system, although when combined with reviewing medical records, this may provide more reliable and higher-quality data. The RWD method provides valuable evidence to help oncologists discuss adherence with their patients.

Furazidine (Furamag®) in the management of acute and recurrent cystitis in women

Cystitis is a common disease worldwide, with up to 36 million cases recorded annually in Russia alone. In 10 % of patients, the condition transforms into a chronic recurrent form. Up to 30 % of visits to outpatient urologists are related to acute or recurrent cystitis. The prevalence of chronic cystitis in women is closely linked to the anatomical and topographical characteristics of the genitourinary system, the presence of gynecological diseases, and hormonal status. Effective treatment for acute or chronic cystitis involves complex therapy, with the key to success lying in the appropriate selection of antibacterial drugs. The current study aimed to analyse the literature data on the effectiveness of Furamag® in the complex treatment of patients with acute and chronic cystitis. To achieve this objective, we conducted a search for articles in scientific databases such as PubMed, Medline, minzdrav.gov.ru, and elibrary.ru using the following keywords: «urinary tract infection», «acute cystitis», «chronic cystitis», «furazidine», «potassium furazidine». Based on the results of our search, we concluded that Furamag® has been successfully used for a long time in the treatment of both acute and chronic cystitis, demonstrating high efficacy and good patient tolerance. This explains its widespread use in routine clinical practice among urologists, gynecologists, and therapists.

Lower Bone Mineral Density in Female Elite Athletes With Menstrual Dysfunction From Mixed Sports.

Menstrual dysfunction (MD) in female athletes might be indicative of the syndrome of relative energy deficiency in sports (REDs), associated with, e.g., impaired bone health, an increased risk of injury, and decreased performance. In the present study, we investigated differences in objective indicators of REDs, bone mineral density (BMD), and blood-based biomarkers in female elite athletes with self-reported MD or eumenorrhoea (CON) from mixed sport disciplines. Athletes reporting < 9 menstrual bleedings within the last year were recruited in the MD group, whereas eumenorrheic athletes with no symptoms of eating disorders were recruited for CON. Of the 24 athletes included, 19 completed the examinations (9 MD; 10 CON, mean age ± SD: 24.8 ± 5.5 years). Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition and BMD. Fasted rested blood sampling was performed to assess blood-based biomarkers of bone and endocrine status. Two MD athletes were excluded from the analysis due to suspected polycystic ovary syndrome. Results showed that MD was associated with lower BMD Z-scores across several sites compared to CON (between-group differences ± SE); whole-body Z-score: -1.4 ± 0.5, p=0.03; lumbar spine Z-score: -1.4 ± 0.6, p=0.03; proximal femur: -1.6 ± 0.6, p=0.02). However, no between-group differences in biomarkers of bone turnover were observed. MD was associated with lower plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (p=0.02), prolactin (p < 0.001), and free T 3 (p=0.01). In conclusion, the present data indicate impairment in bone health and endocrine homeostasis in female elite athletes with current MD and underline the importance of MD as a potential indicator of REDs in female elite athletes. Furthermore, these findings call for regular screening of symptoms for early identification of athletes at risk in all sport disciplines and more education of athletes, coaches, and medical staff regarding this issue.

Overexpression of the constitutively-active AtCPK1 mutant in tobacco plants confers cold and heat tolerance, possibly through modulating abscisic acid and salicylic acid signalling.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are very effective calcium signal decoders due to their unique structure, which mediates substrate-specific [Ca2+]cyt signalling through phosphorylation. However, Ca2+-dependence makes it challenging to study CDPKs. This work focused on the effects of the overexpression of native and modified forms of the AtCPK1 gene on the tolerance of tobacco plants to heat and cold. We studied the interaction between the calcium and signalling systems of abscisic acid (ABA) at various temperatures. The hormonal state, stress-induced senescence, and expression of important corresponding genes were investigated. We showed that inactivation of the autoinhibitory domain of the modified constitutively active form of AtCPK1 has a positive effect on resistance not only to long-term cold but also to heat. We showed that the constitutively active form of AtCPK1 under nonstressed conditions activated biosynthesis of ABA, but a decrease in ABA content was detected upon heat exposure. On the basis of our results, we can assume that this effect is achieved through the CPK-dependent activation of salicylic acid (SA) signalling. The obtained data shed light on heat-associated molecular processes and support the possibility of using intradomain modifications of CDPK both for comprehensive study of its functional features and as a bioengineering tool.

The Role of Tumor-Associated Neutrophils in Early Luminal HER2-Negative Breast Cancer Progression.

To study the predictive role of tumor-associated neutrophils in early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer. This is a retrospective study conducted on 60 women cases aged from 31 to 79 years underwent surgery for luminal HER2-negative ductal breast cancer in tertiary care cancer centre. We first estimated basic morphological signs: tumor size, tumor grade (by Nottingham Histologic Score), tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Lymphovascular invasion, hormonal receptors status, proliferative index, and regional lymph nodes metastasis. The expression of intratumoral neutrophils was studied by CD15 immunohistochemistry which was performed using tissue microarrays. The total number of intratumoral neutrophils, were counted in 5 high-power fields. According to the Nottingham histologic score system, grade I cases were detected in 10 cases (16%), grade II in 34 cases (57%), and grade III in 16 cases (27%). Lymphovascular invasion was determined in 23 cases (38%), and perineural invasion in 14 cases (23%). Number of TILs varied from 0 to 14 (counted in 5 HPF) and averaged 4.2±0.5. Luminal A tumor phenotype was detected in 35 cases (58%), and luminal B HER2-negative in 25 cases (42%). Nineteen (32%) women had metastases in regional lymph nodes (N+). The number of tumor microenvironment neutrophils in luminal HER2-negative breast carcinomas ranged from 1 to 10 (counted in 5 HPF) with an average value of 2.7±0.4. High tumor-associated neutrophils concentration significantly correlated with tumor size (<5mm and >20mm) with p=0.05, high grade (p=0.01), high proliferative index ((r=0.67; p=0.05), TILs (p=0.05), Lymphovascular space invasion (p=0.01)and positive regional lymph nodes metastasis (p=0.001), but not perineural invasion (p=0.1) and also, did not correlate with the expression of estrogen (r=0.18) and progesterone (r=0.14) receptors. Tumor-associated neutrophils strongly predict a worse prognosis in early luminal HER2-negative breast cancer.

Low progesterone levels and their role in the co-existence of polycystic ovary syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis: a comprehensive analysis among Iraqi patient.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a low-grade and chronic inflammation defined by irregular hormonal status that primarily triggers females in their reproductive age. Multi cysts are a primary manifestation of PCOS; a high level of androgen production characterizes the condition via ovaries. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, and symmetrical inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects 1-2% of adults. Females are more likely to generate RA. During the inflammatory activity, immune cells attack the synovium and the synovial space. This invasion is essential in releasing many cytokines in the synovial and joint spaces, leading to joint damage and pain, stiffens, heat, and tenderness in the joint. To evaluate the strength of the link between PCOS and RA, the cross-sectional study examined hormonal, metabolic, and autoantibodies in PCOS, RA as a positive control and the study groups. Statistical analysis Shapiro-Wilk test, student t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multi-linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the results. The data highlights significant values for the BMI, WHR, and hirsutism of PCOS and RA groups in comparison to the negative control. The ANOVA results of these parameters also showed a significant p<0.05 among the groups. According to the negative control, the levels of insulin, HOMA-IR, testosterone, LH, estradiol, and CRP showed a substantial increase in the PCOS group. Also, the RA group showed a significant p<0.05 rise in CRP, RF, and Ani-CCP, and the ANOVA results showed significant value among the groups under investigation. Progesterone D as a model showed a correlation with Anti-CCP B, RF C, Anti-CCP C, CRP D, RF D, and Anti-CCP D with the highest level of f2 between other models. In addition, statistical tests show that progesterone D with R2=0.565 and RMSE equal to 0.996 have heteroscedasticity, which means that low levels of progesterone are associated inversely with high levels of RF and Anit-CCP. There is a relative association between the progesterone D model and corresponding predictions. Regardless of solid f2, only 56% of the sample shows an association between the model and predictors; this relation may differ if we consider the study's limitations.

Unveiling Rare Breast Neoplasms: Diagnostic Challenges and Insights

Breast neoplasm encompasses a diversified range of different diseases characterized by unique biological and pathological features, clinical presentation, response to treatments, clinical behavior, and outcome. The histological variability has profound prognostic implications, thus playing a pivotal role in diagnosing breast neoplasm. Special histologies can occur rarely, and most information on outcomes and treatments is mainly derived from small series and case reports. Thus, reporting such unusual occurrences is of utmost importance. This is a retrospective study of four years in which 11 cases of breast neoplasm diagnosed on histopathology were assessed. The clinical details were acquired from an electronic search. The hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry slides were retrieved from the archives to review the histopathological features. The patient’s age ranged from 32 to 72 years (median: 51 years). Eleven unusual cases of breast neoplasms were diagnosed and categorized according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. These cases include rare and salivary gland type tumors (2 cases), neuroendocrine neoplasms (1 case), hamartomas of the breast (2 cases), fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors of the breast (1 case), peripheral nerve sheath tumor (1 case) and hematolymphoid tumors of the breast (4 cases). The management of unusual breast cancer histotypes represents a real challenge in daily clinical practice. Our data suggest that these variants are distinct clinicopathological entities with unique hormonal receptor statuses. The occurrence of such entities is rare, and they demonstrate different clinical behaviors and responses to treatment, suggesting that a few genomic-specific events might also drive them. Therefore, it is important to indulge in future research on such rare breast neoplasms.

Vitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

Background: Osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency (VDD) are growing concerns for the elderly population, especially postmenopausal women worldwide. The association between osteoporosis and VDD among Bangladeshi postmenopausal women was not adequately evaluated. Objective: To assess the association between VDD, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) status, and bone mineral density (BMD) status among postmenopausal Bangladeshi women. Methods: This single-center, cross-sectional study included 60 postmenopausal women. A pre-designed case record form was used to record baseline demographic variables. BMD was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on eligible patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, where T-scores indicating normal (&gt; -1), osteopenia (-1 to -2.5), or osteoporosis (&lt; -2.5) based on lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) measurements. Vitamin D was categorized as deficient (&lt;20 ng/mL), insufficient (VDI: 20–29 ng/mL), or sufficient (≥30 ng/mL) based on serum 25(OH)D levels. Vitamin D and iPTH were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results: Among 60 postmenopausal women, 43.3% had osteoporosis and 56.7% had no osteoporosis. VDD, insufficiency, and sufficiency were present in 50%, 35%, and 15% respectively in the study participants. Serum iPTH was higher in 20.0% of the study participants. Vitamin D levels were lower in women with osteoporosis than those without [15.6±5.5 vs. 20.6±8.9, p &lt;0.001]. Serum iPTH negatively and moderately correlated with 25(OH)D and LS-BMD [both: r=-0.4, p=0.001] but not with FN-BMD. In multivariate regression analysis, only serum iPTH [B=0.4, p=0.001] and vitamin D insufficiency [B= 0.5, p=0.015] had a predictive association with LS-BMD. Conclusion: Both VDD and osteoporosis, are common in postmenopausal Bangladeshi women. Low vitamin D levels can play a role in developing osteoporosis by increasing bone remodeling as an effect of raised iPTH. J Assoc Clin Endocrinol Diabetol Bangladesh, July 2024;3(2): 47-52

Effects of a Footbathing Intervention on Physiological, Endocrine, and Psychological Status in Japanese University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The present pilot study examined effectiveness of a 2-week footbathing intervention on physiological, endocrine, and psychological status in healthy Japanese university students. A total of 51 participants were randomly assigned to a footbathing or normal bathing group. Participants in both groups provided daily free descriptions of their physical and mental states during the intervention period. Participants also underwent measurements of autonomic nervous system activities and salivary cortisol, and completed questionnaires in the pre- and post-intervention periods, as well as in the follow-up period. Neither the footbathing group nor the normal bathing group showed significant changes in deep body temperature, blood pressure, or salivary cortisol through the intervention period. Significant increases in dispositional mindfulness and interoceptive awareness, and significant decrease in trait anxiety were observed regardless of the groups. Nevertheless, an awareness of changes in bodily sensations and mood by footbathing mentioned in the participants' free descriptions was significantly associated with increased deep body temperature, dispositional mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, and subjective well-being from the pre- to post-intervention periods. These results suggest that the period of intervention and sample size might have been insufficient to induce significant changes in baseline psychophysiological status, but that awareness of changes in psychophysiological states may potentially be involved in the mechanism of footbathing.

New Emerging Therapies Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR/PTEN Pathway in Hormonal Receptor-Positive and HER2-Negative Breast Cancer-Current State and Molecular Pathology Perspective.

In hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancers, a growing number of revolutionary personalized therapies are in clinical use or trials, such as CDK4/6 inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and PIK3CA inhibitors. Those treatment options are largely driven by the presence or absence of genomic alterations in the tumor. Therefore, molecular profiling is often performed during disease progression. The most encountered genomic alterations are in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/PTEN pathway. This review discusses the genetic alterations associated with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/PTEN pathway to help clinicians understand drug selection, resistance, or interaction from a molecular pathologist's perspective.

Agropine-type rolA modulates ROS homeostasis in an auxin-dependent manner in rolA-expressing cell cultures of Rubia cordifolia L.

Long-term cultured calli may experience a biosynthetic shift due to the IAA-dependent expression of the rolA gene, which also affects ROS metabolism. The "hairy root" syndrome is caused by the root-inducing Ri-plasmid of Rhizobiumrhizogenes, also known as Agrobacteriumrhizogenes. The Ri-plasmid contains genes known as rol genes or root oncogenic loci, which promote root development. The important implications of the rolA gene from the T-DNA include reduced plant size, resistance to infections, and the activation of specialised metabolism. Nevertheless, rolA does not belong to the plast gene group because its function is still uncertain. Recent investigations have shown two important effects of the rolA gene. First, the production of secondary metabolites has changed in long-term cultivated rolA-transgenic calli of Rubiacordifolia L. Second, the expression of both the rolA and rolB genes has a strong auxin-dependent antagonistic effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. In this work, we attempted to elucidate two rolA gene phenomena: what caused the secondary metabolism of long-term cultured calli to change? How does the individual expression of the rolA gene affect ROS homeostasis? We analysed SNPs in the 5' untranslated region and coding region of the rolA gene. These mutations do not affect the known essential amino acids of the RolA proteins. Notably, in the promoter of the rolA gene, an ACTTTA motif for auxin-mediated transcription factors was identified. Using two separate cell cultures, we demonstrated the strong auxin dependence of rolA gene expression. The expression of genes involved in ROS metabolism decreased in response to an auxin-mediated increase in rolA gene expression. Two assumptions can be made. The long-term cultivation of calli may cause changes in the hormonal state of the culture over time, which may modulate the action of the RolA protein. Moreover, auxin-dependent expression of the rolA gene led to a decrease in ROS metabolism. It can be assumed that the antagonistic interaction between rolA and rolB prevents strong rolB-induced auxin sensitivity and oxidative bursts to balance the cell state.

How Does Thyroid Hormone Profile Differ on and Off Replacement Treatment?

There continues to be much discussion around optimisation of thyroid hormone status in hypothyroid individuals. We here looked the way that free T4(FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) related to each other in a large laboratory sample of people who underwent a thyroid function test (TFT), split between those on levothyroxine replacement (monitoring test) and those who underwent a test to check for thyroid hormone imbalance (diagnostic test; not on levothyroxine). TFT test (FT4/TSH) results were extracted from the Salford Royal Hospital Laboratory Information Management System during 2009-2012. This was a single site study. Requests includes a tick box for 'on levothyroxine' (yes or no). To minimise comorbidity effects, only samples taken in General Practices were used. For untreated patients only those who had single tests results were used; for treated patients, the median value across all their results was used. Cluster analysis considered an ellipse with centre on median values for log (TSH) and FT4 and the vertex based on 5% and 95% percentile values of both. The percentage of patients falling outside the ellipse boundary was considered for both treated and untreated populations. The total data set included 290,000 tests on 130,000 individuals. After filtering, FT4/TSH results were used from 12,006 (F 9231/M 2775; age < 60 5850/age ≥ 60 6567) treated patients with 43,846 test results. These were compared to the single results for 43,394 untreated patients (F 24,386/M19,008; age < 60 32,537/age ≥ 60 10,857). Cluster analysis showed for untreated patients, median values for TSH and FT4 were 1.8 mU/L and 15.5 pmol/L, respectively, with 24% of patient results falling outside the untreated 5%/95% percentiles. For treated patients, the median TSH was 2.3 mU/L (+30% vs. untreated) and FT4 was 18.9 pmol/L (+22% vs. untreated), with 22% of treated patients falling outside the treated 5%/95% percentiles. When considered against the untreated limits, 68% of treated results fell outside (split male 63%, female 70% and age < 60 67%, Age ≥ 60 64%). The current treatment regimens of either low or high dose levothyroxine are not delivering the expected laboratory TFT profiles, with significant numbers of treated patients being well outside the expected values: both TSH and FT4 being significantly higher. This effect appears to be more prevalent in women than men.

The Role of SHBG as a Marker in Male Patients with Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease: Insights into Metabolic and Hormonal Status.

Background: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a spectrum of liver diseases linked to insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, and metabolic disorders. IR accelerates fat accumulation in the liver, worsening MAFLD. Regular physical activity and weight loss can improve liver function, reduce fat, and lower cardiovascular risk. This study examines the role of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in MAFLD, focusing on its potential as a biomarker and its relationship with insulin resistance. Methods: The study included 98 male patients (ages 30-55) with MAFLD, identified through systematic examinations, and 74 healthy male controls. All participants underwent abdominal ultrasound and blood tests after fasting, assessing markers such as glucose, liver enzymes (AST, ALT, γGT), lipids (cholesterol, triglycerides), insulin, SHBG, estradiol, and testosterone. SHBG levels were analyzed in relation to body mass index (BMI) and age. Results: A significant association was found between low SHBG levels and the presence of fatty liver. Individuals with MAFLD had lower SHBG levels compared to controls. BMI and age were key factors influencing SHBG, with higher BMI linked to lower SHBG in younger men, while SHBG remained stable in older individuals regardless of BMI. Conclusion: SHBG may serve as a valuable biomarker for early detection and risk assessment of MAFLD. The complex relationship between SHBG, BMI, and age highlights the importance of considering both hormonal and metabolic factors when assessing fatty liver risk. Our findings support the need for comprehensive metabolic evaluations in clinical practice.