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PubMed2002

Effects of exercise practice on the maintenance of radius bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.

The effect of exercise practice on the radius bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated on 480 women at the age of perimenopause and later. The BMD at the 1/3 distal site of the radius on a non-dominant hand was measured using the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry method. The subjects were divided into group E with regular exercising and group C without regular exercising. The difference of mean radius BMD values was not statistically significant between groups E and C. Each of the groups E and C was further classified into a perimenopause group and groups with stratified postmenopausal years (postmenopausal years less than 5, less than 10 and more than 10). Then, the mean radius BMD value of the perimenopause subgroup was taken as 100% for each of the groups E and C, and the relative radius BMD values of subgroups were compared between groups E and C. The relative BMD values for the subgroup of postmenopausal years more than 10 were higher in E group than those in C group, while no difference was observed in below postmenopausal 10 years between the two groups. To clarify the BMD difference among exercise events, group E was further divided into the following three subgroups: the subgroup practising events which give high-impact to arm (HI group), such as tennis, ping-pong, golf and volleyball, the subgroup practising swimming (SW group), and the subgroup practising events which give low-impact to arm (LI group), such as walking, running, aerobic dance and light gymnastics. No significant differences were observed in BMD values among the above sports event-stratified subgroups when postmenopausal years were less than 10 years, but the relative BMD values for the subgroup of postmenopausal years more than 10 were higher in HI and LI group than those in control group. These results suggest the possibility that exercise practice suppresses a postmenopausal decline in bone density for preventing osteoporosis from developing.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lifetime reproductive and anthropometric risk factors for breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Hormonally-linked adult reproductive and anthropometric risk factors have been well established in the etiology of postmenopausal breast cancer, though early life exposures have been evaluated only more recently. Here, we examine the evidence for associations between lifetime reproductive and anthropometric risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. The review finds some evidence for the hypothesis that breast cancer risk is determined by the number of susceptible stem cells, modified by the hormonal environment. The in utero experience of an infant may be associated with postmenopausal breast cancer; preeclampsia may decrease and greater birthweight increase risk, but more evidence is needed. Earlier and more rapid childhood growth appears to increase postmenopausal breast cancer risk and childhood obesity to decrease risk, but very few studies have yet examined these associations. Increased final height and earlier age at menarche are consistently associated with increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Later age at first birth, decreased parity, later menopausal age, use of hormone replacement therapy (especially progestin containing), and increased postmenopausal adiposity are well-established risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer. The effect of a woman's own pregnancy conditions and lactation are not established. Further investigation is needed to identify whether events occurring early in life modify later events or accumulate over the life course. Many aspects of this research can be conducted by examining the influence of early life events on intermediary events without the need for longitudinal data.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Cytohistologic correlation in patients with clinical symptoms of postmenopausal bleeding.

Today, the life expectancy for women is longer; therefore, many will likely experience the postmenopausal period (termination of fertility and menstrual bleeding). Uterine bleeding after this period is a sign of pathologic condition. The specific objective of this project was to evaluate the cytohistologic findings in women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) and to determine the presence of any significant pathologic lesions. Cytohistologic correlations from 66 patients attained in 1993 from the University of Mississippi Medical Center were evaluated. The population evaluated were divided into three groups: (control group 1) dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), (control group 2) postmenopausal (PMP), and (test group 3) the group of women with postmenopausal bleeding. The DUB and PMP age-matched controls (n = 12, mean age 51 +/- 5 and 57 +/- 5 years) were randomly selected, and correlated with the actual group being tested (54 PMB, mean age 57 years). The distribution among the 54 PMB women evaluated were 69% (37/54) black, and 31% (17/54) white. The DUB and PMP control groups consisted of 50% (6/12) black and 50% (6/12) white, respectively. Histopathological confirmation (62/66--94%) revealed 47/66 as negative, 5/66 as endometrial hyperplasia and 10/66 as squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. A significant lesion with endometrial pathology was found in 23% of the patients. These findings suggest that the majority of women in this study with clinical symptoms of postmenopausal bleeding were negative for malignancies. While these results lean more towards a normal cytologic evaluation, postmenopausal bleeding should not be taken lightly. Postmenopausal bleeding could represent signs of more serious lesion such as squamous cell carcinoma or endometrial adenocarcinoma if not detected and managed early.

Blood Cells↗

PubMed2000

[Changes of nitric oxide and endothelin plasma levels and effects of hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the changes of plasma levels of nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin (ET) when the estrogen level dropped and to assess the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on NO, ET plasma levels in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-six women with regular menses (regular mense group), twenty-eight perimenopausal women with climacteric symptoms (perimenopausal group), seventy healthy postmenopausal women (postmenopausal group) were in duded in this study. Thirty postmenopausal volunteers received oral conjugated estrogen/medroxyprogesterone acetate (post menopause group I) and twenty others took only calcium (post menopause group II) for 6 months. Plasma NO, ET, follicle-stimulation hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) levels were measured for all the women. RESULTS: The levels of NO were significantly lower in perimenopausal group (23.8 +/- 15.1) mumol/L and postmenopausal group (20.0 +/- 12.1) mumol/L than those of regular mense group (33.2 +/- 15.5) mumol/L (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The mean concentrations of ET were significantly higher in both of perimenopausal (59.3 +/- 14.2) pg/L and postmenopausal groups (65.3 +/- 16.2) pg/L than those of regular mense group (51.1 +/- 15.6) pg/L (P < 0.01). Plasma NO (32.9 +/- 16.1) mumol/L and E2(47.5 +/- 12.9) pg/L values were significantly higher, and ET (52.2 +/- 12.0) pg/L values significantly lower than baselines of NO (20.3 +/- 11.1) mumol/L, E2(7.9 +/- 4.8) ng/Land ET(62.6 +/- 18.9) pg/L, respectively, in menopause group I after treatment for 6 months (P < 0.01). There was no difference in NO, ET and E2 concentrations in menopause group II before and after taking calcium for 6 month (P > 0.05). E2 had a significant positive correlation with NO and significant negative correlation with ET and FSH. CONCLUSIONS: HRT results in an increased level of NO and decreased level of ET in postmenopausal women. This may be one of the mechanisms by which HRT provides cardiovascular benefit.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Effect of hormone replacement therapy on homocysteine and echocardiography in postmenopausal women].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on fasting total plasma homocysteine levels and echocardiography in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Subjects were assigned to four groups. Group I: 30 postmenopausal women were assigned to sequentially combined daily 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) plus 2 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) or plus 4 mg MPA daily for 14 days in a 28 day cycle for 3 months. Group II: 30 postmenopausal women did not received HRT. Group III: 20 postmenopausal women who took HRT for 1.5 years. Group IV: 20 postmenopausal women who never took HRT. Measurement of fasting total plasma homocysteine was performed before and after 3 months treatment in group I and group II. Fasting total plasma homocysteine was determined and echocardiography was taken in group III and group IV. RESULTS: Fasting total plasma homocysteine concentrations were not altered significantly after 3 months in group I and group II [before HRT: (9.3 +/- 2.5) micro mol/L, (9.4 +/- 2.9) micro mol/L; after HRT: (9.1 +/- 2.8) micro mol/L, (9.8 +/- 3.6) micro mol/L, respectively (P > 0.05)]. Compared with women of group III, women of group IV had statistically significant lower plasma homocysteine [(8.0 +/- 1.3) micro mol/L, (10.3 +/- 3.2) micro mol/L, respectively (P < 0.05)]. Echocardiography was not found any difference between those two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Three months HRT has no effect on plasma homocysteine levels in postmenopausal women but the postmenopausal women using HRT 1.5 years have lower plasma homocysteine levels than those who never received HRT. Echocardiography showed no detectable changes between women received 1.5 years HRT and those who received no HRT.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Association of serum estrone levels with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal Japanese women.

PURPOSE: Several reports have demonstrated the association between high serum estrogens levels and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. It is hypothesized that breast cancers arising in postmenopausal women with high serum estrogens levels are more likely to be estrogen receptor (ER)-positive. Thus, we have investigated whether or not high serum estrone (E(1)) levels are associated with ER-positive breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted on 71 cases (postmenopausal breast cancer patients) and 73 controls (postmenopausal healthy women). Serum E(1) levels were examined in their association with breast cancer risk after adjustment for the various epidemiological risk factors. In addition, clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancers arising in the women with high E(1) levels were investigated. RESULTS: Women in the high tertile of E(1) levels had a significantly (P < 0.01) increased risk of breast cancer as compared with women in the low tertile [odds ratio (OR), 4.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-11.87]. Subset analysis according to the ER status showed that women in the high tertile of E(1) levels had a significantly increased risk for ER-positive breast cancer (OR, 23.79; 95% CI, 3.50-161.59) but not for ER-negative breast cancer (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.41-5.15) as compared with women in the low tertile. Tumor size and lymph node status were not significantly different between women in the high tertile and those in the intermediate and low tertiles. But the frequency of low-histological-grade tumors and ER-positive tumors (88 and 67%, respectively) showed a greater trend toward an increase (P = 0.06 and P = 0.07, respectively) in women in the high tertile than those (69 and 46%, respectively) in the intermediate and low tertiles. In addition, ER levels in ER-positive tumors were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in women in the high tertile (245.3 +/- 37.1 fmol/mg protein) than those in the intermediate and low tertiles (134.0 +/- 31.3 fmol/mg protein). CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with high serum E(1) levels have a significantly increased risk for ER-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer. Breast cancers arising in women with high E(1) levels show a high ER positivity as well as high ER content. Measurement of serum E(1) levels would be clinically useful in the selection of postmenopausal women who can benefit from prophylactic use of tamoxifen because tamoxifen can prevent ER-positive, but not ER-negative, breast cancer.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

[Urinary incontinence in postmenopausal period: clinical and pharmacological treatments].

Urinary incontinence is a common clinical problem in female sex and occurs especially in postmenopausal women; this disease, that represents an economical problem for society, begins in young age, arises in middle age and increases in women more than 65 years old. Studies carried out on etiological factors involved in urinary incontinence show that estrogens enhance the trophism and vascularization of the muscular and fascial support of the pelvic floor, the growth of fibroblasts and the collagen metabolism in the superficial fascia in postmenopausal women. The postmenopausal estrogenic deficit could be related to many urogenital problems, but many researches performed on the effects of estrogens in urogenital postmenopausal homeostasis and of hormonal replacement therapy in postmenopausal incontinent women, did not show conclusive findings; for this reason, even if many authors attributed to menopause a role of major risk factor for incontinence, a direct correlation has never been confirmed. The treatment of postmenopausal female incontinence may be clinical and pharmacological, and includes a first step therapy (bladder training, biofeedback techniques, electrical pelvic floor stimulation) and a second step therapy (pharmacological therapy, bladder devices and surgical operations). In this review the clinical and pharmacological treatments, their efficacy and their application in incontinent postmenopausal women are described.

Biofeedback, Psychology↗

PubMed1992

Iron status markers, serum ferritin and hemoglobin in 1359 Danish women in relation to menstruation, hormonal contraception, parity, and postmenopausal hormone treatment.

Iron status was assessed by measuring serum (S-) ferritin and hemoglobin (Hb) in a population survey comprising 1359 nonpregnant Danish women, in age cohorts of 30, 40, 50, and 60 years; 809 were premenopausal and 550 postmenopausal. Median age for menarche was 14 years, for menopause (artificial and natural) 48 years. Premenopausal women had lower S-ferritin (median 37 micrograms/l) than postmenopausal women (median 71 micrograms/l; p less than 0.0001). Of the premenopausal women, 17.7% had S-ferritin less than 15 micrograms/l (i.e., depleted iron stores), and 23.1% S-ferritin of 15-30 micrograms/l (i.e., small iron stores). Corresponding figures in postmenopausal women were 3.3% and 10.3%. Hb values in premenopausal women were mean 137 +/- 10 (SD) g/l (8.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) vs. 140 +/- 10 g/l (8.7 +/- 0.6 mmol/l) in postmenopausal women (p less than 0.0001); 4.1% of pre- and 3.3% of postmenopausal women had values less than 121 g/l (7.5 mmol/l). Iron deficiency anemia (i.e., S-ferritin less than 15 micrograms/l and Hb less than 121 g/l) was found in 2.6% of pre- and 0.36% of postmenopausal women. Premenopausal multipara had lower S-ferritin than nulli- and unipara (p less than 0.04). The use of oral contraceptives had a marked influence on iron stores; premenopausal women taking the pill had higher S-ferritin and a lower frequency of depleted iron reserves than nonusers (p less than 0.01). Postmenopausal estrogen treatment had no influence on S-ferritin or Hb.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Transdermal 17 beta-estradiol combined with oral progestogen increases plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-I in postmenopausal women.

In order to evaluate the effect of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy on the plasma levels of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) 12 postmenopausal women aged 44 to 59 years were studied. The control group consisted of 15 healthy premenopausal women aged 20-44 years. In the postmenopausal women the plasma levels of IGF-I, gonadotrophins and sex hormones were determined before and after 3 and 6 months cyclic replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-estradiol (E2 100 micrograms patches applied twice weekly) combined with oral chlormadinone acetate (2 mg daily for 7 days in each cycle). Basal levels of estradiol (E2), IGF-I, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S), testosterone and androstenedione were lower, but gonadotropin levels were higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. In all the women studied age was inversely correlated with IGF-I levels (r = -0.793, p less than 0.001) and with DHEA-S concentrations (r = -0.435, p less than 0.02). In postmenopausal women transdermal estradiol administration restored the circulating E2 levels to the early follicular range and increased the IGF-I levels (from 76.4 +/- 9.2 micrograms/l to 141.8 +/- 20.8 micrograms/l; p less than 0.01). Transdermal estradiol decreased gonadotrophin levels without changes in concentration of DHEA-S, testosterone, androstenedione and SHBG. In postmenopausal women before and during replacement therapy a positive correlation was found between estradiol and IGF-I concentrations (r = -0.439, p less than 0.01). These results suggest that cyclic replacement therapy with transdermal 17 beta-estradiol in combination with chlormadinone acetate given orally increase the plasma levels of IGF-I in postmenopausal women.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed1980

Concentration of cytosolic estrogen receptors in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Although all postmenopausal women are relatively estrogen-deficient, osteoporosis develops in only some of them. This could be related to a greater-than-normal degree of postmenopausal failure in sex hormone production or to a decrease in biologic effect at target tissue sites. We compared the concentration of sex steroids in serum and the concentration of cytosolic estrogen receptors in one target tissue (obtained by biopsy of the uterine cervix) in 18 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and in 18 age-matched postmenopausal control subjects. Serum androstenedione and estrone were not significantly lower and serum estradiol was only marginally lower in the osteoporotic patients. Estrogen-receptor concentration in cervical tissue from both postmenopausal groups was not significantly different. We concluded that abnormalities of residual postmenopausal production of sex steroids and binding of sex steroids to cervical target tissue are not the major factors accounting for the decreased bone mass in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1982

Correlation of kinetics and absorption of 47Ca with estrogen and hormonal ovarian function in postmenopause.

The relationship between the metabolism of 47Ca bone kinetics and intestinal absorption with estrogen and hormonal ovarian function in physiologic and artificial postmenopause has been studied. The augmented exchangeable pool of calcium in bone is related to the duration of postmenopause and estradiol values. The time from menopause/oophorectomy includes all changes occurring in postmenopause, so other undefined factors, besides estrogens, are seemingly indispensable for postmenopausal changes of calcium kinetics. The diminished calcium absorption and augmented exchangeable pool of calcium correlate only with the absence of ovaries and not with estrogen levels in physiologic and artificial postmenopause. It seems that the total hormonal and especially ovarian function in postmenopause cannot be neglected, and although estrogens are important, they are not the sole etiologic factor in postmenopausal changes in calcium metabolism.

Bone and Bones↗

PubMed2003

Hormone replacement therapy improves membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in postmenopausal women: an electron paramagnetic resonance investigation.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might provide protection against the development of hypertension and arteriosclerosis in postmenopausal women. However, the precise mechanism underlying its benefits is unclear. This question was addressed in an electron spin resonance (EPR) study of membrane function of erythrocytes in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of HRT on membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in postmenopausal women by means of the EPR and spin-labeling method. METHODS: The healthy postmenopausal women were randomly divided into the HRT group (n = 14) receiving the conjugated estrogen with medroxyprogesterone for 3 months and the non-HRT control group (n = 14). We measured membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in postmenopausal women before and after the trial period. RESULTS: The HRT group showed a significant decrease in blood pressure (BP) after treatment (systolic BP 145.7 +/- 5.5 v 123.3 +/- 5.1 mm Hg, n = 14, mean +/- SEM, P <.05). The order parameter (S) for 5-nitroxide stearate in the EPR spectra of erythrocyte membranes decreased significantly in the HRT group (S: 0.718 +/- 0.002 v 0.695 +/- 0.002, n = 14, P <.01). The finding indicated that HRT increased the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes and improved the microviscosity of the cell membranes in postmenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that HRT might have a beneficial effect on the membrane rheologic behavior of erythrocytes and the microcirculation in postmenopausal women.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed2001

Effects of estrogen therapy on arterial resistance and pulsatility in postmenopausal women.

The hypothesis of this study was that changes in arterial determinants of afterload due to static muscular contraction can be modified, in postmenopausal women, by estrogen replacement therapy. Two groups of 14 postmenopausal and 15 premenopausal women were enrolled. Hemodynamic changes induced by right handgrip were recorded between days 7 and 10 of the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women. The same recordings were performed in postmenopausal women, before and after receiving transdermal estrogen replacement therapy for 8 days. Handgrip was performed at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction and maintained until exhaustion. Arterial pressure and blood velocity were recorded in the resting hand with photoplethysmographic and Doppler techniques. Indices of arterial elasticity and resistance were calculated. In postmenopausal women, these indices increased during effort only slightly less after therapy than before, if the mean values and statistical significance were considered, but the most evident effect of therapy was a decrease in interindividual differences in the effort induced changes. This means that, after therapy, increases in arterial resistance and elasticity indices were appreciably prevented mainly in those postmenopausal women who, before therapy, showed the greatest increases. Differences due to therapy were negligible in postmenopausal women in whom, before estrogen replacement, increases in elasticity and resistance indices during effort were similar to those obtained in premenopausal women. After therapy, no differences were found in resting conditions in any of the investigated cardiovascular parameters. Estrogen replacement did not appreciably affect changes in some arterial afterload-related indexes during handgrip, if the average values were considered in a group of postmenopausal women, but uneven and unpredictable peaks in individual responses were cut off, with a better predictability of the responses to sustained muscular contractions, as well as of the related risk factors.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Hypertrophy and increased gene expression of neurons containing neurokinin-B and substance-P messenger ribonucleic acids in the hypothalami of postmenopausal women.

We have previously described hypertrophy of neurons containing estrogen receptor mRNA in the infundibular nucleus of postmenopausal women. In the present investigation we identified peptide mRNAs in the hypertrophied neurons and determined whether postmenopausal neuronal hypertrophy was accompanied by changes in gene expression. In the first study in situ hybridization was performed on sections from hypothalami of postmenopausal women (n = 3) using synthetic 35S-labeled cDNA probes complementary to mRNAs encoding estrogen receptor, substance-P (SP), neurokinin-B (NKB), POMC, cholecystokinin, dynorphin, CRF, enkephalin, galanin, neuropeptide-Y, GH-releasing hormone, and tyrosine hydroxylase. Neuronal cross-sectional areas and cell densities were measured with the aid of a computer microscope system. Neurons labeled with the NKB and SP probes were comparable in size, morphology, and distribution to the hypertrophied neurons containing estrogen receptor mRNA. In contrast, neurons labeled with other cDNA probes were sparsely distributed (CRF and dynorphin), smaller in size (neuropeptide-Y, galanin, GH-releasing hormone, enkephalin, cholecystokinin, and POMC), or located anterior to the hypertrophied population (tyrosine hydroxylase). In the second study sections from hypothalami of premenopausal (n = 3) and postmenopausal (n = 3) women were incubated with cDNA probes complementary to SP or NKB mRNAs. The mean cross-sectional areas of postmenopausal infundibular neurons containing NKB and SP mRNAs increased to 194% and 176% of premenopausal values, respectively. The autoradiographic grain densities of infundibular neurons labeled with either probe were also significantly increased in the postmenopausal group. Finally, the numbers of labeled neurons/tissue increased 6-fold (SP) and 15-fold (NKB) in the postmenopausal infundibular nucleus. These data demonstrate that human menopause is associated with marked increases in hypothalamic NKB and SP gene expression. We propose that neurons containing estrogen receptor, SP, and NKB mRNAs participate in the hypothalamic circuitry regulating estrogen negative feedback in the human.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1976

The hormonal activity of the postmenopausal ovary.

The origin of plasma sex hormones in postmenopausal women was studied by determining plasma levels under basal conditions, after ACTH stimulation, and after dexamethasone suppression, as well as after hCG stimulation. Values obtained in postmenopausal women were compared with values observed during the follicular phase of the cycle in young women on the one hand, and with values in ovariectomized women of postmenopausal age on the other hand. All sex steroid levels studied with the exception of estrone, were significantly lower in postmenopausal women than in young women during the early follicular phase of the cycle. In ovariectomized women only androgen levels (testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, and to a lesser extent dehydroepiandrosterone,) were lower than in normal postmenopausal women, estrogen, 17 hydroxyprogesterone, and progesterone levels being similar. ACTH increased all plasma steroid levels except estradiol, whereas after dexamethasone, all sex hormone levels were significantly decreased. hCG stimulation finally caused an increase of borderline statistical significance in testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels. We have concluded from this study that the adrenal cortex is almost the exclusive source of plasma estradiol, estrone, progesterone, and 17OH progesterone and the most important source of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone; that the postmenopausal ovary appears to be responsible for about 50% of plasma testosterone and 30% of androstenedione levels; and that hCG stimulation with 5000 IU daily for 3 days, hardly influences steroid secretion by postmenopausal ovaries.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed1992

Increased steroid production by the ovarian stromal tissue of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer.

An increase in ovarian steroid secretion could play a role in the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women. The present study was undertaken to investigate steroid production by isolated ovarian stromal tissues of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer and to study the effect of LH and insulin on ovarian steroidogenesis in postmenopausal women. Ovarian stromal tissue was obtained from 10 postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer and 8 women without cancer. The stroma was incubated in either the medium alone or the medium to which was added LH (50 ng/mL) or insulin (500 ng/mL). The ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with cancer released significantly more androstenedione (A), testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone than that of women without cancer. Addition of LH resulted in a significant increase in A, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and progesterone release compared to that with vehicle alone. Addition of insulin stimulated the release of A from the ovarian stroma of women with cancer, but had no effect on the normal postmenopausal ovarian stroma. These results indicate that the ovarian stroma of postmenopausal women with endometrial cancer secrete significantly greater amounts of androgens than those of women without cancer and that both LH and insulin may be important factors contributing to this increase in ovarian steroidogenesis.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

An international study of the relationship between alcohol consumption and postmenopausal estradiol levels.

Because of the beneficial effect of estrogens on the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, the factors which influence endogenous postmenopausal estrogen levels are of substantial importance. The major source of postmenopausal estrogen is the aromatization of androgens to estrogens. Because alcohol is reported to increase aromatization rates, the relationship between serum estradiol and moderate alcohol consumption was examined in a group of 128 healthy Pittsburgh postmenopausal women, and a significant direct association was found. In order to address the generalizability of this finding, 3 comparable study populations of healthy postmenopausal women were recruited: 62 in Copenhagen, 34 in Lisbon and 20 in Madrid. Although no association was detected in the Madrid study sample, in both the Copenhagen and Lisbon study populations, not only were estradiol levels significantly increased in alcohol users as compared to abstainers, but also estradiol levels were significantly correlated with total weekly drinks consumed. Based on these findings in study samples of healthy postmenopausal women from Pittsburgh, Copenhagen and Lisbon, we conclude that the increase in estradiol levels seen with moderate alcoholic beverage consumption is not an isolated finding and speculate that moderate alcohol consumption by healthy postmenopausal women may have beneficial effects.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1993

Decreased risk of stroke among postmenopausal hormone users. Results from a national cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of postmenopausal hormone use on the risk of stroke incidence and stroke mortality. DESIGN: Longitudinal study consisting of three data collection waves. The average follow up for cohort members was 11.9 years (maximum, 16.3 years). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the relative risk of stroke for postmenopausal hormone ever-users compared with never-users. PARTICIPANTS: A national sample of 1910 (of 2371 eligible) white postmenopausal women who were 55 to 74 years old when examined in 1971 through 1975 as part of the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and who did not report a history of stroke at that time. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was incident stroke (fatal and nonfatal). Events were determined from discharge diagnosis information coded from hospital and nursing home records and cause of death information coded from death certificates collected during the follow-up period (1971 through 1987). RESULTS: There were 250 incident cases of stroke identified, including 64 deaths with stroke listed as the underlying cause. The age-adjusted incidence rate of stroke among postmenopausal hormone ever-users was 82 per 10,000 woman-years of follow-up compared with 124 per 10,000 among never-users. Postmenopausal hormone use remained a protective factor against stroke incidence (relative risk, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.47 to 1.00) and stroke mortality (relative risk, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.14 to 0.92) after adjusting for the baseline risk factors of age, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, history of hypertension and heart attack, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that postmenopausal hormone use is associated with a decrease in risk of stroke incidence and mortality in white postmenopausal women.

Aged↗