{"title":"Cardiovascular disease in women: Does menopause matter?","authors":"Samar R. El Khoudary, Alexis Nasr","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>It is known that the menopause transition (MT) is a complex period during a woman's life, but there has been an ongoing debate on whether the increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) during midlife is due to chronological aging or ovarian aging. The purpose of this review is to summarize the recent findings on the role of ovarian aging versus chronological aging on CVD outcomes and its risk factors in women.</p><p><span><span>Recent data from longitudinal studies have shown that menopause-related factors, such as earlier age at menopause and surgical menopause are associated with higher CVD outcomes. The MT is also associated with detrimental changes in vascular health as well as cardiometabolic risk factors including body composition, </span>visceral fat accumulation, lipids/lipoproteins, blood pressure, and the </span>metabolic syndrome.</p><p>The robust evidence from recent research indicating increases in CVD risk over the MT beyond aging call for immediate efforts to raise awareness among women and their health care providers of CVD risk acceleration accompanying the MT. Efforts should also be directed toward developing and testing novel preventive approaches that target women during this time period to counteract the expected increase in CVD risk.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100419"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9636824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diversity of menopause experience in the workplace: Understanding confounding factors","authors":"Kathleen Riach , Margaret Rees","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Evidence suggests that menopausal transition can have a profound experience on women's work. However, there is a lack of contextually rich research identifying the range and diversity of factors that further details the multiplicity of women's experiences of menopausal transition at work. The review draws together four factors that provide a more detailed insight into factors that may impact working through menopausal transition. In light of this, more knowledge is needed to understand how low paid, precarious and insecure work impacts menopausal transition, as well as recognising the workplace experience of menopause transition for those identifying as LGBTQI+.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100391"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46112209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Margaritis Voliotis , Simon Hanassab , Ali Abbara , Thomas Heinis , Waljit S. Dhillo , Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
{"title":"Quantitative approaches in clinical reproductive endocrinology","authors":"Margaritis Voliotis , Simon Hanassab , Ali Abbara , Thomas Heinis , Waljit S. Dhillo , Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100421","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100421","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Understanding the human hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis presents a major challenge for medical science. Dysregulation of the HPG axis is linked to infertility and a thorough understanding of its dynamic behaviour is necessary to both aid diagnosis and to identify the most appropriate hormonal interventions. Here, we review how quantitative models are being used in the context of clinical reproductive endocrinology to: 1. analyse the secretory patterns of reproductive hormones; 2. evaluate the effect of drugs in fertility treatment; 3. aid in the personalization of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In this review, we demonstrate that quantitative models are indispensable tools enabling us to describe the complex dynamic behaviour of the reproductive axis, refine the treatment of fertility disorders, and predict clinical intervention outcomes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100421"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9831018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10533987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Paraventricular nucleus–Medullary interactions: How they help enable endocrine responses to metabolic stress","authors":"Alan G. Watts","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100401","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100401","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus<span><span> (PVH) organizes neuroendocrine and autonomic responses to rapidly and slowly developing metabolic stressors that limit their impact on energy balance. The PVH together with the lateral hypothalamic area, and the arcuate and dorsomedial nuclei form a network that is defined by its inputs from medullary catecholamine neurons. These medullary neurons convey important </span>glycemia and </span></span>glucocorticoid feedback information that is integrated by the PVH and the rest of this network to control a variety of responses to metabolic stressors that have rapid (hypoglycemia) or slow onsets (eating a high calorie diet). This review focuses on how the responses to these two challenges are enabled by these catecholamine neurons, and the integrative nature of the network into which they project.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100401"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46395793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fast dynamics in the HPA axis: Insight from mathematical and experimental studies","authors":"Jamie J. Walker , Nicola Romanò","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is characterised by complex dynamics spanning several timescales. This ranges from slow circadian rhythms in blood hormone concentration to faster ultradian pulses of hormone secretion and even more rapid oscillations in electrical and calcium activity in neuroendocrine cells of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Here, we focus on the system's oscillations on the short timescale. We highlight some of the mathematical modelling and experimental work that has been carried out to characterise the mechanisms regulating this highly dynamic mode of neuroendocrine signalling and discuss some future directions that may be explored to enhance understanding of HPA function.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9823091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10589348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The management of vasomotor symptoms of menopause (VMS) with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT)","authors":"Tobias De Villiers","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100420","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100420","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span>Vasomotor<span> symptoms (VMS) result from menopausal hypoestrogenism<span><span> with subsequent instability of central thermoregulation. VMS cause stress and decreased </span>QOL. Menopausal </span></span></span>hormone therapy<span><span> (MHT) significantly alleviates VMS when compared to placebo or other available non-hormonal options. MHT protects the </span>urogenital system<span>, bone, and cardiovascular system, has beneficial effects on sleep and mood disorders, and may offer protection against colorectal cancer. Negative effects include a risk of thromboembolic disease<span><span> and the promotion of breast cancer. Adverse effects<span> can be mitigated by initiating MHT within the window of opportunity, using the transdermal route, using estrogen alone or combined with natural </span></span>progesterone<span> or dydrogesterone, and using the minimum effective dose. Initial findings from the WHI have been widely (and persistently) misinterpreted. Subsequent age-stratified analysis of WHI data indicates that MHT is safe when initiated by women younger than age 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset.</span></span></span></span></p><p>MHT remains the first choice for the treatment of VMS.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100420"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49669314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial: Hungry for more: What's new in appetite regulation","authors":"Kevin G. Murphy, Gavin A. Bewick","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100417","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100417"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41409548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Microbiome and metabolism: Advancements in microbiome engineering","authors":"Chrystal F. Mavros , Carlotta Ronda","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><span><span>Humans and microbes have co-evolved, and the microbial communities we host play an important role in maintaining our health. The human microbiome harbors at least 100 times more genes than the </span>human genome<span>. Thus, these complex communities have a profound effect on our metabolism and physiology thanks to their genetic<span> and metabolic diversity. Our review explores the current understanding of how bacterial metabolism can influence </span></span></span>human physiology<span> and pathophysiology. We highlight recent advances in microbiome engineering as well as provide an overview of these engineering technologies and discuss future directions for tool advancements in this promising field. Utilizing these technologies, we can improve our understanding of how microbes affect health and advance personalized therapeutics and nutrition.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100404"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48152819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current opinion in endocrine and metabolic research perimenopause: Utility of testing","authors":"John Rushing , Nanette Santoro","doi":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The menopausal transition (MT) consists of an early MT (median age at onset 47 years) and late MT (median age at onset 49 years). However, large variation in duration of these stages and their associated symptoms is observed in large samples of women studied over time. There are many proposed biomarkers to predict the onset, progress, and end of the MT. This review will discuss transition staging and the strengths and weaknesses of tests proposed to assist the clinician and patient in predicting the time course of a woman's latter reproductive life span.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":52218,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article 100402"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47934391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}