Protective effect of green tea polyphenols on bone loss in middle-aged female rats

SUMMARY: Recent studies have suggested that green tea polyphenols (GTP) are promising agents for preventing bone loss in women. Findings that GTP supplementation resulted in increased urinary GTP concentrations and bone mass via an increase of antioxidant capacity and/or a decrease of oxidative stress damage suggest a significant role of GTP in bone health of women. INTRODUCTION: Recent studies suggested that green tea polyphenols (GTP) are promising agents for preventing bone loss in women. However, the mechanism related to the possible protective role of GTP in bone loss is not well understood. METHODS: This study evaluated bioavailability, mechanisms, bone mass, and safety of GTP in preventing bone loss in middle-aged rats without (sham, SH) and with ovariectomy (OVX). A 16-week study of 2 (SH vs. OVX) x 3 (no GTP, 0.1% GTP, and 0.5% GTP in drinking water) factorial design using 14-month-old female rats (n = 10/group) was performed. An additional 10 rats in baseline group were euthanized at the beginning of study to provide baseline parameters. RESULTS: There was no difference in femur bone mineral density between baseline and the SH+0.5% GTP group. Ovariectomy resulted in lower values for liver glutathione peroxidase activity, serum estradiol, and bone mineral density. GTP supplementation resulted in increased urinary epigallocatechin and epicatechin concentrations, liver glutathione peroxidase activity and femur bone mineral density, decreased urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and urinary calcium levels, but no effect on serum estradiol and blood chemistry levels. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a bone-protective role of GTP may contribute to an increase of antioxidant capacity and/or a decrease of oxidative stress damage.     

Bone structural effects of variation in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">TNFRSF1B</Emphasis> gene encoding the tumor necrosis factor receptor 2

SUMMARY: The 1p36 region of the human genome has been identified as containing a QTL for BMD in multiple studies. We analysed the TNFRSF1B gene from this region, which encodes the TNF receptor 2, in two large population-based cohorts. Our results suggest that variation in TNFRSF1B is associated with BMD. INTRODUCTION: The TNFRSF1B gene, encoding the TNF receptor 2, is a strong positional and functional candidate gene for impaired bone structure through the role that TNF has in bone cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate the role of variations in the TNFRSF1B gene on bone structure and osteoporotic fracture risk in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Six SNPs in TNFRSF1B were analysed in a cohort of 1,190 postmenopausal Australian women, three of which were also genotyped in an independent cohort of 811 UK postmenopausal women. Differences in phenotypic means for genotype groups were examined using one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA. RESULTS: Significant associations were seen for IVS1+5580A>G with BMD and QUS parameters in the Australian population (P = 0.008 - 0.034) and with hip BMD parameters in the UK population (P = 0.005 - 0.029). Significant associations were also observed between IVS1+6528G>A and hip BMD parameters in the UK cohort (P = 0.0002 - 0.003). We then combined the data from the two cohorts and observed significant associations between both IVS1+5580A>G and IVS1+6528G>A and hip BMD parameters (P = 0.002 - 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variation in TNFRSF1B plays a role in the determination of bone structure in Caucasian postmenopausal women, possibly through effects on osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.     

Cardiovascular risk,obesity, and myocardial blood flow in postmenopausal women

Background. This study was designed to determine whether overweight or obese status is independently associated with myocardial flow reserve (MFR), an established predictor of cardiovascular mortality, in a group of postmenopausal women with no previous cardiovascular disease. Postmenopausal women are the largest group of overweight and physically inactive individuals in the United States. Increased body mass index (BMI) is consistently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in this population. Whether this is because of obesity itself or the accompanying increase in cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) remains controversial. Methods. We examined the relationship of myocardial blood flow (MBF), coronary vascular resistance, and MFR to BMI in 60 postmenopausal women with no coronary heart disease. Subjects underwent dynamic N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography for the measurement of MBF and MFR. Baseline demographics, CRF, and hemodynamic parameters were recorded for each subject. Datasets were divided into 3 groups according to BMI: normal (18 to 24), overweight (25 to 29), and obese (≥30). Results. The overweight and obese groups showed significantly higher resting MBF and lower MFR than the normal-weight group (both P<.001), even after adjusting for CRF. A further analysis of subjects without any CRF (n=35) showed that the MFR remained significantly lower in the obese compared with normal-weight subjects (P=.05). Levels of known markers of vascular inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and homocysteine) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels correlated with declining MFR. Conclusions. These findings provide a mechanistic link between obesity and coronary heart disease in this population. This study was funded by a Veterans Health Administration MERIT Review Award. C.S.D. is on the Speaker’s Bureau at Pfizer, Inc., and has received grant support from Pfizer, Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., and the Veterans Health Administration.     

Reproductive Technologies for Women with Physical Disabilities

Issues regarding reproductive technologies for women with physical disabilities are discussed. Consideration is given to birth control, motherhood, access issues, the artificial insemination process, prenatal and genetic testing, and the issue of choice. An interview with a woman with a physical disability, who is a feminist and a disability rights activist, about her experience with reproductive technologies, provides a personal perspective for this discussion.     

三苯氧胺对绝经期妇女内分泌的影响

目的观察三苯氧胺对鲍经期妇女内分泌的影响，探讨三苯氧胺抗雌激素作用和类雌激素效应的形成机制；方法应用放射免疫法监测39名鲍经期女性乳腺癌患三苯氧胺治疗后血清雌激素浓度的变化；结果鲍经期妇女接受三苯氧胺治疗3个月后血清雌二醇、雌酮、脱氢表雄酮浓度均有不同程度的升高，以雌二醇的升高有显性(P<0．01)；结论三苯氧胺可引起鲍经期妇女血清雌激素浓度的升高，升高的雌激素可能缓解曼年期内分泌紊乱而出现的症状。     

陆良县农村已婚育龄妇女生育意愿及影响因素分析

采用整群抽样的方法，对云南省陆良县２２８７名已婚育龄妇女的生育意愿进行了调查分析，并采用多元逐步回归分析法对影响生育意愿的因素进行了多因素分析。结果表明。该地５５．４％的妇女都只希望生育２胎，但仍有４３．１％的妇女愿意生育３胎以上，甚至个别的愿意生育１０胎，影响已婚育龄妇女生育意愿的因素主要有初婚年龄、人均耕地，是否有妇科病、住房类型、丈夫民族和家里的劳动力是否足够。     

健康教育对孕产妇满意度及产时并发症的影响

目的探讨健康教育对孕产妇满意度及产时并发症的影响。方法 120例孕产妇随机分为干预组和对照组,对照组接受常规护理,干预组在对照组的基础上给予健康教育干预。评价孕产妇满意度,观察产时并发症的发生。结果 （1）干预组孕产妇满意度为70.0%,显著高于对照组（26.7%）,相比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）;而干预组不满意和极差为1.7%,显著低于对照组（21.7%）,相比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。（2）干预组产妇产时宫缩乏力、胎儿窘迫、新生儿窒息例数明显少于对照组,并发症发生率为6.7%,显著低于对照组（21.7%）,相比较有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论健康教育干预能够提高孕产妇的满意度,减少产时并发症的发生,值得临床推广应用。     

围产期妇女焦虑、抑郁调查

目的:了解孕产妇分娩前后焦虑、抑郁症状的发生率及变化特点. 方法:应用焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)、爱丁堡产后抑郁量表(EPDS)和生活事件量表(LES),对49例孕妇在孕35～40周、分娩后1周、4周和12周进行评估. 结果:4个时点SAS的焦虑发生率分别为10.2%、12.2% 、10.2%和6.1%;EPDS的抑郁发生率为8.2%、12.2%、4.1%和8.2%;SDS 4个因子分在分娩后持续下降.大专及以上文化者某些量表评分显著低于大专以下文化者. 结论:孕产妇在孕晚期和分娩后都有一定比例的焦虑和抑郁症状.     

丙泊酚联合尼尔雌醇在绝经妇女取环中的应用

目的探讨丙泊酚联合尼尔雌醇在绝经妇女取环(IUD)中的应用。方法设观察组和对照组。观察组予尼尔雌醇4mg顿服,1周后来院,术前禁饮禁食4小时,由麻醉师按丙泊酚2～3mg/kg静脉推药,待患者睫毛反射消失后施术,术中置心电监护。对照组常规宫颈注射利多卡因2ml。观察两组宫颈软化、镇痛效果、手术时间及手术效果。结果观察组宫颈软化率87.33%,完全无痛率100%,手术时间<5min者占81.33%,一次性取环成功率100%。对照组宫颈软化率36.00%,完全无痛率13.33%,手术时间<5min者占23.33%,一次性取环成功率77.33%,两组比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论丙泊酚联合尼尔雌醇应用于绝经妇女取环,可促进宫颈软化,减少患者痛苦,提高取环成功率,值得在临床上广泛应用。