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Biomedical subjects

S Kirchengast

Publications and source records attributed to S Kirchengast.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

The impact of nutritional status on body fat distribution patterns in pre- and postmenopausal females.

This study examines the impact of nutritional status, classified by body mass index, on sex specific fat distribution patterns dependent on menopausal status in 467 pre-, peri- or postmenopausal females. Absolute and relative amounts of upper and lower body fat were estimated by means of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. It was found that low weight, independent of menopausal status, leads to the typical gynoid pattern of fat distribution while excess weight and obesity result in the android pattern of distribution in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

Hormonal breast augmentation: prognostic relevance of insulin-like growth factor-I.

Many women would like to after their breasts but are deterred by the risks involved. Silicone breast implants have been linked to a variety of illnesses, the most controversial of which are connective-tissue diseases. These circumstances urged us to perform this pilot study using a non-invasive method that involved the application of 17 beta-estradiol as it is known that estradiol enhances expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) which can promote growth in breast tissue. Forty-five women were included in the study. Their breast volume, IGF-I, prolactin (PRL) and estradiol levels were measured before treatment and between each application of 80 mg estradiol polyphosphate. The women's satisfaction with the results obtained was also subsequently evaluated. In 21 women (46.7%), breast size increased from 824.3 +/- 13.7 mm to 898.5 +/- 12.5 mm after 6 months. In these women a significant increase in IGF-I values was noted after 4 weeks of treatment. The increase in IGF-I values was not statistically significant in the remaining women. In addition, treatment was not successful in these women. IGF-I concentration seems to be of prognostic value as far as the response of breast tissue to estrogen stimulation is concerned. If IGF-I levels do not increase within 1 month, treatment should be discontinued. If IGF-I values do increase, this indicates that treatment is likely to be successful and can therefore be continued.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Impact of maternal body build characteristics on newborn size in two different European populations.

The association patterns between maternal anthropometric characteristics (stature, prepregnancy weight, prepregnancy body mass index, pregnancy weight gain) and newborn size (birth weight, length, head circumference) were tested with 10,240 single births taking place between 1985 and 1995 in Vienna, Austria, and 3,452 single births taking place between 1989 and 1995 in Westerstede-Ammerland (Friesland), northern Germany. Maternal size and newborn size differed highly significantly (p < 0.001) between the two genetically and socioeconomically different population groups. Furthermore, the incidence of macrosomia among newborns (birth weight greater than 4000 g) was extraordinarily high (17.9%) in the Frisian group from northern Germany. In both populations taller and heavier women with a higher weight gain during pregnancy gave birth to heavier offspring. Nevertheless, the pregnancy weight gain, which indicates environmental conditions of the mother, had only a minor impact on newborn size compared with stature and prepregnancy weight, which reflect the maternal genetic potential to a higher degree.

Austria↗
PubMed1998

Interactions between somatometric parameters and endogenous hormone levels as well as hormonal induced events in females.

The present paper contains the results of a five year research project focusing on the complex interaction between body build and endogenous hormone levels as well as on hormonal induced events in 1095 healthy adult females from Austria. It could be demonstrated that even long after termination of the pubertal growth phase significant associations exist between body dimensions as well as body composition compartments and endogenous hormone levels. Beside positive associations between length and height dimensions as well as traits of robustness and those hormonal parameters which are essential for an undisturbed linear growth, i.e. growth hormone, thyroid hormones and testosterone, the complex interaction between body fat development and the sex hormones as well as the lipolytic active growth could be proved. These association patterns were observed independently of the menopausal status. Furthermore marked associations between female body build, above all body fat development, and hormonal induced events such as menarche, menstrual cycle patterns, fertility and menopause were observed. A more feminine type of body build combined with moderate development of body fat was associated with earlier menarche, more regular menstrual cycles, higher reproductive success and a delayed menopause. Moderate fatness and a gynoid kind of fat distribution may be stated as indicators of potential female reproductive success.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1998

Body composition characteristics after menopause.

The effect of menstrual and reproductive history on body fat development after postmenopause was investigated in 278 healthy females aged between 44 and 67 years (x = 55.8 yrs). The absolute and relative amount of body fat was determined by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Significant associations between body fat after menopause and age at menarche, age at menopause, and average cycle length were observed. Furthermore the age at first as well as at last birth and the weight gain during pregnancies were related significantly with body fat after menopause. Overweight (BMI > 25.0) during postmenopause was significantly associated with an early menarche, a late menopause, an early first birth and a higher weight gain during pregnancies.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1997

Effect of hormone replacement therapy on growth hormone stimulation in women with premature ovarian failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on body weight, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and GH response to exogenous GHRH [corrected] in women with premature ovarian failure (POF) [corrected]. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Outpatients studied in the department of endocrinology of the University Hospital in Vienna. PATIENT(S): Twenty-four women with POF (study group) and 24 volunteers with normal ovarian cycles (control group). INTERVENTION(S): Pituitary GHRH [corrected] stimulation was performed in all women at study entry and in patients with POF after 1, 6, and 12 months of standard oral HRT. Blood samples were collected from 15 minutes before to 120 minutes after GHRH administration [corrected]. Body weight also was evaluated. RESULT(S): No differences in baseline and stimulated serum GH were found either between POF women and controls or in POF women during HRT. Women with POF without HRT had significantly higher IGF-I levels; a reduction in circulating IGF-I levels occurred during HRT. Body weight remained stable. CONCLUSION(S): Our results show the following: [1] Women with POF have similar Gh secretion patterns as healthy age-matched women; [2] physiologic HRT has no impact on GHRH-induced [corrected] GH stimulation; and [3] HRT has no impact on body weight in women with POF.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Androgen serum levels in women with premature ovarian failure compared to fertile and menopausal controls.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to examine androgen serum levels and bone density in women with premature ovarian failure (POF) compared to healthy normal controls. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-three women 19-35 years of age with idiopathic POF were compared to 33 well-matched women with normal ovarian function and 32 healthy postmenopausal (PMP) women concerning 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstendione (A), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), as well as bone density (BD). RESULTS: Women with POF showed statistically significantly lower concentrations of 17-OHP, A, T (p < 0.001) and a reduced bone density (p < 0.001) compared to fertile controls. No differences were found between POF and PMP women concerning estradiol (E2), T, A and 17-OHP. Regarding DHEAS, no statistically significant differences were found between women with POF and fertile controls whereas PMP women proved to have significantly lower DHEAS concentrations than fertile controls. Women with POF had the highest IGF-1 serum concentrations and PMP women the lowest. CONCLUSION: An important decrement of ovarian steroids and bone density was noticed in women with POF, while the time since menopause had no influence on androgen concentrations. The hormone concentrations in women with POF are similar to those observed in normal PMP women with the exception of DHEAS and IGF-1 levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of estradiol valerate on growth hormone and prolactin response to growth hormone-releasing hormone stimulation in pre- and postmenopausal women.

We investigated the relationship between the growth hormone and prolactin response to stimulation of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and changes in body weight in pre- and postmenopausal women before and after 4 and 20 weeks of oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Ten postmenopausal women (with levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) of > 30 mIU/ml) were compared to ten premenopausal women suffering from post-pill amenorrhea (FSH < 10 mIU/ml). Both patient groups reported anamnestic body weight increases in the course of the former use of sex hormones. Additionally, ten postmenopausal women without anamnestic weight changes were studied. A significant reduction in the growth hormone response to GHRH was observed during the first month of HRT in women gaining weight, which was restored to pre-therapeutic levels after 6 months of HRT. A small but statistically significant increase in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I levels occurred in the course of HRT in all patients studied. These changes in growth hormone stimulation testing and IGF-I levels were accompanied by distinct changes in body weight. No reduction in the GHRH response was observed in those patients who did not gain body weight. Although GHRH stimulation induces a significant rise of prolactin concentrations in all patients before therapy no influence on prolactin levels could be demonstrated during HRT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Significance of the circadian fluctuation of estradiol, somatotropin, IGF I, prolactin, cortisol and DHEA-S for the body-shape of pre- and postmenopausal women].

With 23 postmenopausal and 33 premenopausal females the interactions between circadianic secretion patterns of estradiol, growth hormone, IGF I, prolactin, DHEA-S as well as cortisol and the amount and distribution of subcutaneous body fat, estimated by using 10 absolute body measures and 10 anthropometric indices were tested. Premenopausal and postmenopausal women differed regarding the secretion patterns of estradiol and growth hormone significantly from each other. Furthermore it turned out, that the daily secretion rate, estimated by using the area under the curve, of growth hormone and estradiol correlated significantly with the amount and the distribution of body fat. In both proband groups more corpulent women had lower growth hormone levels and higher estradiol levels. The age dependent reduction of growth hormone secretion may be co-responsible for the general weight gain with increasing age. The reduced estrogen secretion however, seems to be the major determinant of the expression of a more masculine type of fat distribution during climacteric and after the menopause.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1996

Decreased sexual interest and its relationship to body build in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between body build, androgen levels and changes in sexual interest after menopause was investigated in 171 postmenopausal women from Vienna, Austria. METHODS: All women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Body build was determined by employing five absolute body dimensions and four anthropometric indices. RESULTS: Body weight, as well as the amount of subcutaneous centripetal fat (such as in the chest, waist and hip region), were statistically significantly related to the degree of reduced sexual interest. Corpulent and heavy women suffered far more frequently from a severe decrease in sexual interest after menopause. Statistically significant associations between androgen levels and decrease in sexual interest could not be demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced sexual interest is associated with a kind of body type not corresponding to the culture-specific beauty ideals of our society, first of all evident in women whose menopause occurred relatively early.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Altered growth hormone (GH) secretion in women gaining weight during hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between GH response to GHRH-stimulation and changes in body weight in pre- and postmenopausal women before as well as after 4 and 20-22 weeks of oral HRT was tested. METHODS: 18 postmenopausal women (FSH > 30 mU/ml) were compared to 18 premenopausal women suffering from post-pill amenorrhoea (FSH < 10 mU/ml). Both patient-groups reported an anamnestic increase in body weight during former use of sex hormones. In addition 18 postmenopausal women without anamnestic weight change were studied. RESULTS: A significant reduction in GH response to GHRH stimulation was observed during the first month of HRT in both groups gaining weight. However, the body mass index of the patients reverted to pretherapeutic levels after 5 months of HRT. In all patients, a small but statistically significant increase in IGF-1 levels was registered during HRT. These changes in GH stimulation testing and IGF-1 levels were accompanied by distinct changes in body weight. No alterations in GHRH response were observed in those patients whose body weight did not increase. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that in predisposed women, HRT is associated with increments in body weight as well as with changes in the GH-IGF-1 axis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Differential fertility and body build in !Kung San and Kavango females from northern Namibia.

The study examines the impact of body build on differential fertility patterns in 93 !Kung San and 85 Kavango females from northern Namibia. In both groups shorter females had more offspring, but also more dead offspring, than taller females. The interaction between body weight and fertility was different in both groups and may be due to different nursing behaviour. There was a positive relationship between the typical pedomorphy and fertility in the !Kung San, and directional selection processes may be important.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Nutritional status as indicator for reproductive success in !Kung San and Kavango females from Namibia.

The interaction between nutritional status, estimated by using Body mass index, and fertility outcome was tested in two female samples from Northern Namibia. It turned out, that !Kung San undernourished females had significantly more total and surviving offspring than well-nourished and overweight females of these population. In contrast within the Kavango group well-nourished females had the highest reproductive success. These group specific differences can be interpreted as special reproductive strategies to maximize the reproductive success under different ecological conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Serum levels of sex hormones, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, IGF I, and cortisol and their relations to body fat distribution in healthy women dependent on their menopausal status.

The relations between 10 anthropometric variables describing the amount of adipose tissue and the serum levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronin, thyroid stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, DHEA-S, androstendion, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, growth hormone, IGF I as well as cortisol were investigated in 39 premenopausal and 38 postmenopausal women. Several statistically significant correlations between hormonal parameters and the amount and the distribution of subcutaneous fat tissue were found for the premenopausal group. The postmenopausal probands, however, showed fewer statistically significant connections between the two trait systems. The correlation patterns in both proband groups resembled each other. Only with regard to the gonadotropines (LH and FSH) a difference in the algebraic sign of the correlation coefficients can be observed for pre- and postmenopausal probands. The multiple regression analysis corroborated the hypothesis that hormonal parameters are responsible for somatic changes after menopause.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1995

Effects of hormone replacement therapy on growth hormone secretion patterns in correlation to somatometric parameters in healthy postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of a continuous estrogen, cyclic progesterone replacement therapy on the secretion of growth hormone (GH) and IGF I as well as of somatometric-GH correlation patterns. METHODS: The study included 23 healthy postmenopausal women. Of the proband group 13 randomly selected women were treated with orally applicated 2 mg estradiol-valerat (E2V) and 10 mg dydrogesterone for 10 months. Ten women did not receive any hormonal treatment during this time. After 10 months all probands were reexamined and their GH and IGF I secretion, as well as their somatometric-hormonal correlation patterns, compared with those of a fertile control group. RESULTS: It could be shown, that in postmenopausal women a 10-month oral hormone replacement therapy led to a significant increase of GH- and IGF I levels, however, the treated postmenopausal women did not reach the levels of the fertile controls. Those women who did not receive any hormonal treatment and the postmenopausal women before HRT showed nearly identical GH- and IGF I levels as well as somatometric-GH correlation patterns. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present paper indicate a marked influence of estrogens on GH and IGF I secretion. Furthermore, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) may influence somatometric GH correlation patterns too.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Hysterectomy increases the symptomatology of postmenopausal syndrome.

The purpose of our investigation was to verify whether or not women who have undergone hysterectomy react differently to the menopause compared with women who have not. The study was performed in a prospective documentation on 203 women, and the assessments of discomforts were provided by the patients themselves using questionnaires. For statistical purposes, the Mann-Whitney test and chi 2 test were used. In both groups of patients--with and without hysterectomy--a determination was made concerning the significance of differences in the degree of intensity of problems: breast tension (p < 0.05), muscle pains (p < 0.05), palpitations (p < 0.05) and dizziness (p < 0.01). Concerning the frequency of climacteric symptoms, a significant difference was noted for urogenital ailments. While only 29.6% of women who had not been operated on complained about discomfort caused by atrophy of the urogenital tract, the number of women with such discomfort who had had a hysterectomy was 42.6% (p < 0.01). In other words, women who underwent hysterectomy suffered more discomfort and showed frequent symptoms of urogenital atrophy.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1995

Differential reproductive success and body dimensions in Kavango males from urban and rural areas in northern Namibia.

We investigated differential sex-biased parental investment in relation to social status in 59 Kavango males from Rundu, the administrative and commercial center of the Kavango district in northern Namibia, and in 78 Kavango males from the rural areas around Rundu. Twenty-three body dimensions were used as indicators for the probands' social rank in the groups. The males from Rundu surpassed the males from rural areas in nearly all anthropometric features, but the urban males had significantly less offspring, especially fewer dead offspring. The association between the anthropometric variables and the number and sex of the offspring showed marked differences between the two proband groups. Although in the rural areas robust males had more children than smaller and leaner males, the taller and more robust males from Rundu had fewer offspring than smaller and more slender males. These results indicate that males from rural areas and males from urban areas follow different reproductive strategies.

Adolescent↗