Eriodictyol mediated selective targeting of the TNFR1/FADD/TRADD axis in cancer cells induce apoptosis and inhibit tumor progression and metastasis.

While the anti-inflammatory activities of Eriodictyol, a plant-derived flavonoid is well-known, reports on its anti-cancer efficacy and selective cytotoxicity in cancer cells are still emerging. However, little is known regarding its mechanism of selective anti-cancer activities. Here, we show the mechanism of selective cytotoxicity of Eriodictyol towards cancer cells compared to normal cells. Investigation reveals that Eriodictyol significantly upregulates TNFR1 expression in tumor cells (HeLa and SK-RC-45) while sparing the normal cells (HEK, NKE and WI-38), which display negligible TNFR1 expression, irrespective of the absence or presence of Eriodictyol. Further investigation of the molecular events reveal that Eriodictyol induces apoptosis through expression of the pro-apoptotic DISC components leading to activation of the caspase cascade. In addition, CRISPR-Cas9 mediated knockout of TNFR1 completely blocks apoptosis in HeLa cells in response to Eriodictyol, confirming that Eriodictyol induced cancer cell apoptosis is indeed TNFR1-dependent. Finally, in vivo data demonstrates that Eriodictyol not only impedes tumor growth and progression, but also inhibits metastasis in mice implanted with 4T1 breast cancer cells. Thus, our study has identified Eriodictyol as a compound with high selectivity towards cancer cells through TNFR1 and suggests that it can be further explored for its prospect in cancer therapeutics.

Association of sociodemographic and reproductive variables with menopause-specific quality of life using principal component analysis.

We aimed to determine whether sociodemographic and reproductive variables jointly or independently were associated with menopause-specific quality of life (MENQOL). A total of 250 Bengali-speaking Hindu women (peri- and postmenopausal) were recruited from West Bengal, India. Data on MENQOL (vasomotor, physical, psychosocial, sexual, and quality-of-life domains), sociodemographic, and reproductive variables were collected. Principal component (PC) analysis was used to identify PCs for sociodemographic and/or reproductive variables: PC1 (sociodemographic), PC2 (sociodemographic and reproductive), PC3, and PC4 (reproductive). PC scores were used in multiple regression analyses to determine associations with MENQOL. For perimenopausal women, PC1 and PC3 were inversely associated with the sexual domain; PC2 was positively associated with vasomotor, sexual domain, and quality of life; and PC3 was positively associated with the physical domain. For postmenopausal women, PC1 and PC3 were inversely associated with the sexual and psychosocial domains, respectively; PC2 was positively associated with the sexual domain and quality of life; and PC4 was positively associated with the psychosocial domain. The factors associated with MENQOL PCs were similar for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Health planners should consider early and midlife factors associated with MENQOL to improve women's midlife health.

Eating attitudes and its relationship with nutritional status: a micro level study on a group of adolescent girls in the city of Howrah, West Bengal.

BACKGROUND: To assess the relationship between eating attitudes and nutritional status. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 adolescent girls (258 aged 14-17 years and 142 aged 18-21 years) from the city of Howrah, West Bengal. Eating attitude was measured using eating distress syndrome (EDS) questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage (BF%). RESULTS: Participants with disordered eating attitudes revealed significantly higher values for body mass index (BMI), WHR and BF% than those with normal eating attitudes (p≤0.01). Hierarchical linear regression analyses show that eating attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics (like mothers' education and occupation, age and birth order of the participants) significantly predict nutritional status. CONCLUSION: The nutritional status of adolescents depends on their eating attitudes and socio-demographic characteristics.

Is menopausal status related to women's attitudes toward menopause and aging?

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between menopausal status and attitudes toward menopause and aging. We identified 1,400 Bengali Hindu women aged 40-55 years (early perimenopausal n = 445; late perimenopausal n = 240; early postmenopausal n = 285; late postmenopausal n = 430) from West Bengal, India. Information on attitudes toward menopause and aging was collected from March 2009 to July 2012 using ten agree/disagree statements, of which three were positive, four were negative, and the rest were neutral. We used only the positive and negative statements in the analyses. The participants were given three response options for each statement: (1) agreed, (2) disagreed, and (3) felt neutral. Agreement with positive statements and disagreement with negative statements were scored as 3. The converse responses were scored as 1. Neutral responses were not scored. Thus, the total attitude score for each participant ranged from 7 to 21. Additionally, data on sociodemographic and reproductive variables, menopausal symptoms, and perceptions toward menopause were also collected. Multivariable analyses (ANCOVA) showed that postmenopausal women had more positive attitudes toward menopause and aging than perimenopausal women. Providing balanced information about menopause and aging might help to foster positive attitudes toward menopause.

Pattern of clustering of menopausal problems: A study with a Bengali Hindu ethnic group.

We attempted to find out how menopausal problems cluster with each other. The study was conducted among a group of women belonging to a Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group of West Bengal, a state located in Eastern India. We recruited 1,400 participants for the study. Information on sociodemographic aspects and menopausal problems were collected from these participants with the help of a pretested questionnaire. Results of cluster analysis showed that vasomotor, vaginal, and urinary problems cluster together, separately from physical and psychosomatic problems.

A study on the relationship of sociocultural characteristics, menstrual hygiene practices and gynaecological problems among adolescent girls in Eastern India.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to understand the relationship of socioeconomic characteristics, menstrual hygiene practices and gynaecological problems among adolescent girls residing in rural and urban areas in the state of West Bengal, India. METHODS: The study was based on a sample of 715 adolescent girls from rural (325) and urban (390) areas of West Bengal, a state in Eastern India. These girls belong to the Bengali-speaking Hindu community. Data on socioeconomic characteristics, menstrual hygiene practices (such as type of absorbents used and mode of cleaning of genitals during days of menstrual discharge) and gynaecological problems were collected using pretested questionnaires. RESULTS: Rural and urban girls differ (p<0.01) for age at menarche, menstrual hygiene practices and prevalence of gynaecological problems. Urban girls have better menstrual hygiene practices (ß=0.343, p<0.01) than rural girls. A similar trend is noted for gynaecological problems (ß=0.080, p<0.01) among the study participants. Apart from socioeconomic characteristics, menstrual hygiene (ß=-0.121, p<0.01) remains a significant predictor of gynaecological problems. The results of path analysis also indicate that girls of higher socioeconomic status have better menstrual hygiene practices which subsequently reduce the prevalence of gynaecological problems among them. CONCLUSION: A concerted effort from parents, educational institutions and existing healthcare institutions along with media may ensure safe and secure reproductive health prospects for adolescents in the region.

Menopausal Symptoms and Its Correlates: A Study on Tribe and Caste Population of East India.

Present study aimed to compare the incidence of menopausal problems and concomitants between tribe and caste population. This cross section study was conducted in five villages of West Bengal, a state in the eastern part of India. This study was conducted between two different ethnic groups-one of the "Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTG)" of India named as "Lodha" and the other was a Bengali speaking caste population. A total number of 313 participants were finally recruited for this study. Study participants were married, had at least one child, had no major gynaecological problems, and had stopped menstrual bleeding spontaneously for at least 1 year. Additionally, data on sociodemographic status and menstrual and reproductive history were collected using a pretested questionnaire/schedule. Bivariate analyses (chi square test) revealed that significantly more number of caste participants suffered from urinary problems than their tribe counterpart. The reverse trend has been noticed for the frequency of vaginal problems. Multivariate analyses (binary logistic regression) show that sociodemographic variables and menstrual and reproductive history of the present study participants seem to be the concomitants of menopausal symptoms. Tribe and caste study population significantly differed with respect to the estrogen deficient menopausal problems and the concomitants to these problems.

Factors that discriminate age at menopause: A study of Bengali Hindu women of West Bengal.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the factors that discriminate different menopausal age groups. METHODS: We selected 715 postmenopausal Bengali-speaking Hindu women from the State of West Bengal, India, who were married and had at least one child. We divided the participants into three groups based on the age at which they attained menopause: Group 1 (30-39 years), Group 2 (40-49 years), and Group 3 (50-55 years). A well-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on reproductive variables. RESULTS: We applied discriminant function analysis to identify the factors associated with different ages at menopause. Results show that factors like age at menarche, duration of breastfeeding of the last child, and age at first pregnancy discriminate the different menopausal age groups. CONCLUSION: We concluded that reproductive factors discriminate the three different menopausal age groups for this study population.

Vasomotor and urogenital problems at midlife: a study on rural and urban women in India.

BACKGROUND: During the transition to menopause, women experience symptoms which vary widely. This variation is attributed not only to the hormonal change, but also to the effect of socio-demographic and reproductive factors. AIM: The present research aimed to (a) find out the rural-urban difference in experiencing menopausal problems at peri-menopausal and post-menopausal stages and (b) to identify the factors associated with these problems. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In total, 1400 Bengali speaking, Hindu women, aged 40-55 years were selected from rural and urban areas of West Bengal. Data on socio-demographic and reproductive variables and menopausal problems were collected using appropriate tools. RESULTS: Bivariate analysis finds a rural-urban difference for vasomotor, urinary and vaginal problems (p ≤ 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed socio-demographic and reproductive factors were significantly (p ≤ 0.005) associated with vasomotor (age at menarche, menopausal and residential status, duration of breastfeeding, menstrual discharge type, use of OCP, sterilization and BMI), urinary (ages at menarche and marriage, menstrual bleeding length, use of OCP, menopausal status, monthly household expenditure and BMI) and vaginal (type of menstrual discharge, menopausal status, educational level, monthly household expenditure and BMI) problems for this study group. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-demographic and reproductive factors seem to be significantly associated with menopausal problems. Residential status appears to be a confounder variable for menopausal problems.

Menstrual characteristics of adolescent athletes: a study from West Bengal, India.

The present study investigates: (i) differences in menstrual characteristics of athlete and non-athlete adolescents; (ii) relationship between menstrual characteristics, anthropometric variables, athletic status and socioeconomic status. The present study was conducted among 159 unmarried adolescents (80 non-athletes and 79 athletes) of age 15 to 19 years. The study participants belong to Bengali speaking Hindu ethnic group of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal State of India. Data were collected on socio-demographic and menstrual characteristics using pre-tested questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard methods. Descriptive statistics were used to understand the differences in menstrual characteristics between athletes and non-athletes, stepwise linear regression analyses were carried out to predict age at menarche, menstrual cycle length and duration of menstrual discharge using socio-demographic and anthropometric variables as well as athletic status as independent variables. Logistic (binary) regression was carried out to assess the strength of association between menstrual characteristics (as dependent variables) and athletic status, socio-demographic and anthropometric variables, and other menstrual characteristics (independent variables). The study participants differ significantly (p < or = 0.05) for certain menstrual characteristics such as age at menarche, cycle length, skipped cycle, premenstrual syndrome, heavy discharge when compared for their athletic status. Certain anthropometric and socioeconomic variables were found to be significantly associated with their menstrual characteristics. The study results demonstrate that menstrual functioning among adolescents is significantly influenced by their athletic status. The findings of this study would help health care professionals to devise future health care programs for adolescents in gen- eral and athletes in particular.

Attitude toward menopause and aging: a study on postmenopausal women of West Bengal.

We examined the attitude of postmenopausal women toward menopause and aging with respect to sociodemographic variables and postmenopausal years. Four hundred and eighty postmenopausal women representing Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group of West Bengal, India were interviewed about their attitude toward menopause and aging. Information on sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics and menopausal symptoms were also collected. The participants were categorized into four groups based on postmenopausal years (Group 1: ≤2; Group 2: >2 to ≤5; Group 3: >5 to ≤8; and Group 4: >8). The attitude did not differ significantly among different groups, but it differed significantly when compared for residential status and per capita monthly household expenditure (pooled groups), for residential and educational status (Groups 3 and 4), and per capita monthly household expenditure (Group 3). Hierarchical linear regression (stepwise) shows per capita monthly expenditure, age at menopause, years after menopause, and menopausal symptoms (irritability and inability to hold urine) significantly predict attitude.

Menopause-specific quality of life of urban women in West Bengal, India.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the association of menopause-specific quality of life of women with both working status and duration of postmenopausal years. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 250 postmenopausal women belonging to Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group, aged 47-62 years in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The participants were literate, living in wedlock with at least one surviving child, attained natural menopause at least two years ago and have never taken hormone replacement treatment. Menopause-specific quality of life was measured using a self-administered standard questionnaire (Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire, or MENQOL). MENQOL consisted of 29 menopausal symptoms (items) that are grouped under four domains. Additional information on sociodemographic aspect and reproductive history of the participants were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Main outcome measures Both bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that menopause-specific quality of life decreases with the increase in duration of postmenopausal years. Although bivariate analysis demonstrated that working women had a better menopause-specific quality of life than their non-working counterpart, multivariate linear regression model did not corroborate to this finding. CONCLUSION: Duration of postmenopausal years had a significant association with menopause-specific quality of life of women.

Variation in menstrual characters: a study between married and unmarried women of West Bengal.

Menstrual cycle is an endocrine function of the ovary, controlled by the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Variation in menstrual characters across different ages, socioeconomic status, place of residence, ethnic groups and so on suggests that the function of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is influenced by some internal and external factors. The objectives of the present study are to understand the variation in menstrual characters with respect to differential marital status of women and as well as to find out whether marital status can be a significant predictor of any menstrual character. Data have been collected on a total number of 200 participants (unmarried 100 and married 100) with the help of a well-tested questionnaire/schedule. Unmarried participants who are aged between 18 and 21 years and their closest blood related married kin members who are in the age group 25-35 years, have given birth to at least one child, presently not lactating or family way and are not using any hormonal contraceptives for the last one year period have been selected for the study. Bivariate analysis reveals that significant differences exist between married and unmarried women in menstrual characters like menstrual cycle length, nature of menstrual discharge and presence of premenstrual problems. Multivariate analysis also shows that marital status of a woman is one of the significant predictors of these menstrual characters (except nature of menstrual discharge). It may be concluded that probably a relationship exists between marital status of a woman and some of the menstrual characters.

Menstrual characteristics: a study of the adolescents of rural and urban West Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND: It has been observed that menstrual characteristics are generally influenced by lifestyle, socio-cultural and biological factors. AIM: The present study examines: (a) variation in menstrual characteristics between rural and urban adolescents; and (b) whether these characteristics can be predicted from various socio-economic variables related to place of residence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample of the present study constituted 715 adolescent girls from rural (325) and urban (390) areas of West Bengal, a State of India. These girls belong to a Bengali-speaking Hindu ethnic group. Data on socio-economic variables and menstrual characteristics were collected using pretested questionnaires. RESULTS: Rural and urban adolescents differed significantly (p < or = 0.05) with respect to age at menarche, skipped and irregular cycles, premenstrual syndrome, duration of menstrual discharge, mean number of days of peak discharge and problems related to menstrual discharge. Place of residence was found to be a significant predictor of age at menarche (beta = 0.27, p < 0.01). Significant association was observed between some of the socio-economic variables and various menstrual characteristics among the study participants. CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual characteristics differ significantly between rural and urban adolescents. Moreover, various socio-economic variables pertaining to place of residence significantly affect the menstrual characteristics among adolescents.