Effect of gender on the reliability of COVID-19 rapid antigen test among elderly

Defining con-founders that affect the reliability of diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 is vital to breaking the chain of infection. The elderly population is a higher risk group for the emerging virus. However, gender seems to exert a critical role in modifying the infection risk among women owing to hormonal changes. The menopause transition is an exceptional period for older women where the protective and immunomodulatory effects of the estrogen hormone are lost. Accordingly, attention should be given to postmenopausal women since they will have an increased risk compared to their pre-menopausal peers.     

The pathophysiology and therapy of menopausal symptoms

Menopause is generally experienced as a biopsychosocial process involving physiological changes, and influenced by a wide range of psychological, social and cultural factors. The loss of ovarian oestrogen production may cause debilitating symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, bladder dysfunction, loss of libido, and mood changes. Experience of the menopause transition varies widely between individuals, depending on the age of onset, personal health and wellbeing, social context, environment and culture.Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) remains the most effective treatment for the management of vasomotor symptoms and vaginal dryness, but has no proven role in the treatment of chronic diseases of ageing. Treatment should be individualized, and for most healthy women aged 50–59 years the risks of HRT are low. An understanding of the pathophysiology of menopausal symptoms and the risks and benefits of both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments assists in the individual management of patients.     

FRAX®在女性骨质疏松症诊疗中的应用研究进展

骨质疏松症是常见的骨骼疾病，绝经后女性为骨质疏松症的高危人群。骨折风险评价工具（fracture risk assessment tool，FRAX?）是一款研究、应用广泛的骨折风险评估工具。近年来研究表明，虽然FRAX?尚不完美，但对女性人群的骨折具有合理的预测能力，结合其他骨折危险因素对该工具进行调整、改进的研究也多见报道。设立符合本国国情的FRAX?阈值有助于医生更好地使用该工具和进行临床决策。美国设立了固定的FRAX?阈值，英国则是按年龄分层的阈值。国内对FRAX?的研究尚处于初级阶段，暂无特异的干预阈值，这在一定程度上阻碍了该工具在我国的推广使用。笔者回顾了国内外FRAX?对女性骨质疏松性骨折的预测能力、骨量异常的诊断能力、在合并其他疾病的女性人群中的应用和干预阈值的研究等最新成果，为临床医生了解FRAX?的研究进展、探索针对我国人群干预阈值奠定基础。