People Living With HIV, Lean Mass, and Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aims to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and to assess whether there is a difference between the muscle mass of PLHIV and people living without HIV. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional and case-control studies was carried out. PLHIV over 18 years of age and that had their muscle mass evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were included. Overall, 4,376 studies were found, of which 118 had their full texts evaluated. A total of 5,532 people living with HIV and 2,986 people living without HIV were identified in 41 studies. The frequency of sarcopenia defined by low muscle mass (Baumgartner's operational definition) alone was 30.3% (95%CI 24.3%, 37.1%) and the frequency of sarcopenia defined by low muscle mass with low muscle strength (EWGSOP definition) was 4.5% (95%CI 1.3%, 13.9%), p-value = 0.0006. The standardized mean differences of muscle mass between PLHIV and controls was -0.211 units of standard deviation (95%CI -0.419, -0.003). In the meta-regression analysis muscle mass mean difference was associated with BMI, CD4, percentage of subjects on ART, and study design. PLHIV have a lower muscle mass when compared to people living without HIV. This difference appears to be attenuated by higher BMI, CD4 levels, and the percentage of subjects using ART. Furthermore, the frequencies of sarcopenia assessed by the operational definition of Baumgartner and the EWGSOP are not comparable and cannot be interchanged in PLHIV.

Obesity and Fractures in Postmenopausal Women: A Primary-care Cross-Sectional Study at Santa Maria, Brazil.

Obesity and osteoporosis are chronic disorders with increasing prevalence worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between obesity and fracture in postmenopausal women from Santa Maria, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Santa Maria (parallel 29° south), Brazil. Postmenopausal women aged ≥55 yr who had at least 1 appointment at the primary care in the 2 years before the study were recruited from March 1, 2013 to August 31, 2013. The Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women study questionnaire was applied with permission of The Center for Outcomes Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Height and weight were measured according to the World Health Organization protocol. Bone fractures (excluding hand, feet, and head) that occurred after the age of 45 yr were considered as the outcome. Overall, 1057 women completed the study, of whom 984 had body mass index measured. The mean (standard deviation) age and body mass index of the women included in the study were 67.1 (7.6) yr and 29.2 (5.5) kg/m(2), respectively. The prevalence of fractures in obese and nonobese women was similar (17.3% vs 16.0%); 41.4% of all fractures occurred in obese women. Obese postmenopausal women make a substantial contribution to the overall burden of prevalent fractures in this population. Our results provide further evidence in support of the concept that obesity is not protective against fracture.

Contrasting bone profiles in PCOS are related to BMI: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Controversial results have emerged regarding whether PCOS is protective or increases the risk of bone frailty. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether the PCOS condition affects bone parameters of premenopausal women. This is an update for a previous meta-analysis published in 2019. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE and Embase. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were considered eligible for the update if published in English between the 1st of October 2018 and the 31st of December 2023. The diagnosis of PCOS should be based on NIH criteria, the Rotterdam Consensus, AE-PCOS society criteria, or ICD codes in women over 18 years old. Only records with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale > 6 were selected for data extraction. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted by two independent reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS: We identified 31 studies that met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis from 3322 studies in the whole period (1990-2023). Overall, cross-sectional studies included 1822 individuals with PCOS and 1374 controls, while cohort studies incorporated 30305 women with PCOS and 101907 controls. Contrasting profiles emerged after stratification using a BMI cutoff of 27 kg/m2. Individuals with PCOS and a BMI <27 kg/m2 exhibited lower vertebral and non-vertebral bone density, reduced bone turnover marker (osteocalcin), and increased bone resorption marker (CTX) levels. Conversely, individuals with PCOS and a BMI >27 kg/m2 exhibited increased vertebral and non-vertebral BMD, with no significant changes in bone formation and resorption markers (except osteocalcin). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study alert for a low bone mass, low bone formation, and increased bone resorption PCOS with a BMI <27 kg/m2.

Comparison of image-based modified Ferriman-Gallway score evaluation with in-person evaluation: an alternative method for hirsutism diagnosis.

The gold standard for diagnosing hirsutism is based on the modified Ferriman-Gallway (mFG) score, requiring trained and in-person evaluation. Our study aimed to evaluate whether using mobile phone images of the nine mFG areas could offer an alternative way to support the diagnostic of hirsutism. All patients from an endocrine outpatient clinic underwent an initial mFG evaluation by two blinded, trained examiners. Then, images of the nine mFG areas were acquired using a mobile device (48 MP) under standard conditions and artificial illumination. A cutoff mFG score of ≥ 4 (suggested by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) or ≥ 6 (proposed by The Endocrine Society) has been established as the criteria for diagnosing hirsutism. After storage, the individual patients' images were submitted for mFG analysis by three independent, blinded examiners. Overall, 70 females were evaluated; 27.5% of the patients had an mFG score ≥ 4. The mean age ± SEM was 33.2 + 1.13 years. The first consideration was the evaluation of the examiners who analyzed the images. In this group, the inter-rater reliability based on the Fleiss' Kappa identified an agreement of 81.4%, with a Kappa index of 0.75 considered strong for clinical evaluations. For mFG score ≥ 6, the agreement was 77%, and the performance of Kappa Index was 0.62 (moderate). Independently of the cutoffs, the Bland-Altman analysis established a concordance of 0.89 (95% CI [0.83, 0.92]) between the in-person and image-based methods to score mFG. The lower limit of agreement of the estimated mFG scores was - 2.08 (95% CI [- 2.73, - 1.43]), and the upper limit of agreement was 4.14 (95% CI [3.491, 4.79]). We observed acceptable concordance between the image-based and in-person evaluation of mFG scores. Our results support the use of image acquisition of mFG areas as a valid approach for diagnosing hirsutism.

Bone strength is reduced in a neonatal androgenized rat model.

Background: Whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects bone health during a woman's lifespan remains controversial. An androgenized rodent model replicated many metabolic and reproductive features of women with PCOS, and we aimed to use it to investigate the impact of androgens on microarchitecture (by micro-CT), bone mechanical strength, bone formation and resorption markers in rats with intact ovaries (SHAM) who underwent oophorectomy. Methods: Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were employed for the experiments in this study. The protocol of androgenization consisted of the application of 1.25 mg s.c. testosterone propionate beteween days 2-5 of life, while the controls received the same amount of corn oil s.c. as previously established. Androgenized SHAM rats exhibited chronic anovulation identified by vaginal cytology and a reduction in the proportion of corpus luteum in the ovary in comparison to control SHAM rats. The realization of the ovariectomy or SHAM procedure occurred on Day 100 of life. All groups (n = 8) were followed-up for 180 days to address the study endpoints. Results: Micro-CT from androgenized female rats (SHAM) showed a divergence between the trabecular and cortical bone profiles. Compared to SHAM controls, these rats had an increase in trabecular bone mass with a diminution in bone resorption C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) (p < 0.05), a concomitant decrease in cortical area and thickness in the femur, and a reduction in the strength of the femur on the mechanical test (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that a reduction in the cortical thickness and cortical area observed in PCOS model rats was associated with a reduced strength of the femur, despite increased trabecular formation. Ovariectomy in the androgenized OVX group limited the progression rate of cortical bone loss, resulting in bone resistance and cortical thickness comparable to those observed in the control OVX group.

Incidence of fractures in women in the post-menopause: a cohort study in primary care in southern Brazil.

The incidences of total fracture, major fracture, and hip fractures in primary care in Southern Brazil were 22.3, 15.0, and 3.3 per 1000 person/year. The FRAX algorithm showed an adequate discriminatory capacity for the identification of these fractures. OBEJECTIVE: Few studies are evaluating the incidence of fractures in Latin America and Brazil. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of bone fractures in postmenopausal women seen in primary care and evaluate the FRAX algorithm's performance in these women. METHODS: A cohort study was carried out in the municipality of Santa Maria, Southern Brazil. Postmenopausal women aged 55 years and over who attended primary health care were included. The recruitment period was from March 1 to August 31, 2013, and the participants were followed for 5 years. The fracture risk was calculated using the FRAX algorithm. The reported incident fractures were confirmed by imaging studies or surgical reports. RESULTS: Of the 1057 women recruited for the study, 854 were followed. They contributed to 2732 person/year. The mean follow-up time was 3.2 years (SD 1.05). The incidences of total fractures, major fractures, and hip fractures were 22.3, 15.0, and 3.3 per 1000 person/year. The most frequent fracture sites were the wrist, shoulder, and ribs. The fracture predictors were rheumatoid arthritis, previous fracture, and the use of glucocorticoids. The discriminatory capacity of incident fractures calculated by FRAX without the inclusion of BMD was AUC 0.730 (95% CI 0.570, 0.890) for hip fracture and AUC 0.691 (95% CI 0.598, 0.784) for major fractures. CONCLUSION: The FRAX algorithm showed an adequate discriminatory capacity to identify incident fractures in primary care in our study. The incidence of fractures found in our study appears to be lower than that reported in North America and Europe.

Ovariectomy Improves Metabolic and Oxidative Stress Marker Disruption in Androgenized Rats: Possible Approach to Postmenopausal Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: This study aims to evaluate metabolic and oxidative stress markers in a postmenopausal rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Wistar rats were divided in four groups: control ovariectomized (OVX; n = 9), control SHAM (n = 9), androgenized OVX (n = 10), and androgenized SHAM (n = 10). Female rats were androgenized during the neonatal period and compared with controls. Surgery (ovariectomy or SHAM procedure) was performed at day 100 and euthanasia at day 180 of life. Bodyweight, lipids, glucose, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, and oxidative stress markers (total oxidant status [TOS], total antioxidant capacity, nitric oxide, ferric-reducing ability of plasma [FRAP], and advanced oxidation protein product) were addressed. Results: Androgenized SHAM rats exhibited a higher total, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, TyG index (an insulin resistance marker), and increased TOS, FRAP, and albumin in comparison with control SHAM rats. These abnormalities disappeared after ovariectomy despite the fact that ovariectomized androgenized rats became heavier than the other three groups. Conclusion: Ovariectomy improved metabolic and oxidative stress markers in a rat model of PCOS.

Trabecular Bone is Increased in a Rat Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in an intricate disorder characterized by reproductive and metabolic abnormalities that may affect bone quality and strength along with the lifespan. The present study analysed the impact of postnatal androgenization (of a single dose of testosterone propionate 1.25 mg subcutaneously at day 5 of life) on bone development and markers of bone metabolism in adult female Wistar rats. Compared with healthy controls, the results of measurements of micro-computed tomography (microCT) of the distal femur of androgenized rats indicated an increased cortical bone volume voxel bone volume to total volume (VOX BV/TV) and higher trabecular number (Tb.n) with reduced trabecular separation (Tb.sp). A large magnitude effect size was observed in the levels of circulating bone formation Procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) at day 60 of life; reabsorption cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) markers were similar between the androgenized and control rats at days 60 and 110 of life. The analysis of gene expression in bone indicated elements for an increased bone mass such as the reduction of the Dickkopf-1 factor (Dkk1) a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation (bone formation) and the reduction of Interleukin 1-b (Il1b), an activator of osteoclast differentiation (bone reabsorption). Results from this study highlight the possible role of the developmental programming on bone microarchitecture with reference to young women with PCOS.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is associated with increased risk of hospitalization or death in elderly adults living in a geriatric institution.

BACKGROUND: The presence of secondary hyperparathyroidism is very frequent in the elderly population living in geriatric institutions. It has been associated with an increased mortality rate in previous studies. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of secondary hyperparathyroidism with mortality or hospitalization or both (combined outcome) during a 6-month period in individuals living in geriatric institutions. METHODS: A cohort of 100 individuals aged between 65 and 102 years living in geriatric institutions in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, was prospectively studied. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], parathyroid hormone (PTH), albumin, total calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, creatinine and alkaline phosphatase were measured. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was defined as serum PTH levels higher than 48 pg/ml and normal or reduced serum calcium levels. The deaths were verified by means of death certificates and hospitalization by the discharge summaries provided by the Brazilian health system hospitals. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of the individuals had secondary hyperparathyroidism, defined as serum PTH >48 pg/ml and normal or low serum calcium. Mean serum 25(OH)D levels were 12.5 +/- 8 ng/ml. The odds ratio of an individual with secondary hyperparathyroidism to die, to be hospitalized or to have the combined outcome within 6 months was 6.6 [confidence interval (CI) 95% 0.8-54.6; p = 0.07], 10.7 (CI 95% 1.3-85.9; p = 0.007) and 5.20 (CI 95% 1.10-27.7; p = 0.04), respectively. Secondary hyperparathyroidism and body mass index were independently associated with the combined outcome, after correction for the GFR and 25(OH)D. CONCLUSION: Secondary hyperparathyroidism could be an important prognostic factor for individuals living in geriatric institutions.

Negative impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has reproductive and metabolic aspects that may affect bone health. Controversial results from different studies regarding the risk of fractures, bone mineral density (BMD) or bone markers led to uncertainty whether PCOS might improve or deteriorate bone health. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: This study aimed to investigate the impact of PCOS on bone markers, BMD and fracture risk. SEARCH METHODS: A systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out. PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies from 1st of January of 1990 to 9th of October of 2018. Eligible studies enrolled women older than 18 years with PCOS, which should be diagnosed according to the Rotterdam Consensus, the Androgen Excess Society, the National Institutes of Health Consensus or the International Classification of Diseases. The studies were grouped according to patient mean BMI: <27 kg/m2 or ≥27 kg/m2. The results were polled as mean difference (MD), standardized MD (SMD) and hazard ratio (HR). OUTCOMES: Overall, 921 studies were retrieved, and 31 duplicated studies were removed. After screening the titles and abstracts, 80 studies were eligible for full text reading. Of those, 23 studies remained for qualitative synthesis. With the exception of one study, all studies were considered high quality based on the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS; score ≥6). Meta-analysis was performed in 21 studies, with a total of 31 383 women with PCOS and 102 797 controls. Women with PCOS with BMI <27 kg/m2 had lower BMD of the total femur (MD, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.00; I2 = 31%; P = 0.22) and spine (MD, -0.07; 95% CI, -0.13 to -0.01; I2 = 70%; P < 0.01) when compared with the control group, whereas for women with BMI ≥27 kg/m2 no difference was observed (femur: MD, 0.02; 95% CI, -0.02 to 0.05; I2 = 20%, P = 0.29; spine: MD, 0.02; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.05; I2 = 0%; P = 0.84). Osteocalcin was remarkably reduced in women with PCOS with BMI <27 kg/m2 (SMD, -2.68; 95% CI, -4.70 to -0.67; I2 = 98%; P < 0.01), but in women with BMI ≥27 kg/m2, there were no differences between PCOS and controls. Few studies (n = 3) addressed the incidence of bone fractures in women with PCOS. The HR for total bone fractures did not identify differences between women with PCOS and controls. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: On the basis of the available evidence, it is possible to assume that PCOS in women with BMI <27 kg/m2 is associated with reduced BMD in the spine and femur, and decreased bone formation, as manifested by lower levels of circulating osteocalcin. These findings suggest that bone parameters in PCOS may be linked, to some extent, to adiposity. These studies included premenopausal women, who have already achieved peak bone mass. Hence, further prospective studies are necessary to clarify the existence of increased risk of fractures in women with PCOS.

Factors related with osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women.

Although fractures had high mortality and morbidity, many studies proved that fracture risk might be decreased by pharmacological therapy, although a low treatment adherence rate is observed. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with osteoporosis treatment in postmenopausal women.A cross-sectional study was carried out from March to August 2013 at the primary care setting. Postmenopausal women were recruited. A standardized questionnaire was applied. Women who were using at least one of the following drugs at the moment of the survey were considered as current treatment: bisphosphonates, raloxifene, estrogen, calcitonin, teriparatide, or strontium ranelate. Women who had used any of the mentioned medications before the study were considered as past treatment.Of the 1025 women included in the study, 8% were on current treatment, 5.7% had past treatment, and 86.3% had not received treatment. Treated women (either current or past) had a higher rate of osteoarthritis, had more falls, had higher education level, presented a higher rate of private health insurance, and received more information about osteoporosis. They also had more dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and were more frequently diagnosed with osteoporosis by these DXA scans. The factors independently associated with treatment in the regression analysis were the DXA scan itself, the diagnosis of osteoporosis by DXA, and information about osteoporosis.Current and past treatments of osteoporosis were associated with DXA and information. These results suggest that some measures to inform women about osteoporosis and or even the popularization of DXA scans could improve the treatment.

Vitamin D is associated with a low quality of life: a primary care study

Introduction: Some studies have described impairment in quality of life of vitamin-deficient subjects. However, little is known about this association in primary care. This study aimed to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency and quality of life in postmenopausal women attending primary care in the municipality of Santa Maria ­ Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with postmenopausal women over 55 years of age, accompanied in primary care, from March to August 2014. These women were randomly selected among the participants of a cohort study in the municipality of Santa Maria ­ Brazil. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire, quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured using the ALPCO® ELISA method. Results: Of the total of 78 studied women, 11.54% had vitamin D deficiency. Women with vitamin D deficiency had a poorer quality of life assessed by SF-36. In the regression analysis, both vitamin D deficiency and falls were independently associated with a lower physical component of the SF-36. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with poorer quality of life in the studied postmenopausal women.

Oxidative stress and metabolic markers in pre- and postnatal polycystic ovary syndrome rat protocols.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have described an enhanced inflammatory status and oxidative stress balance disruption in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, there is scarce information about redox markers in the blood of androgenized animal models. Here, we evaluated the serum/plasma oxidative stress marker and metabolic parameter characteristics of prenatal (PreN) and postnatal (PostN) androgenized rat models of PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For PreN androgenization (n=8), 2.5 mg of testosterone propionate was subcutaneously administered to dams at embryonic days 16, 17, and 18, whereas PostN androgenization (n=7) was accomplished by subcutaneously injecting 1.25 mg of testosterone propionate to animals at PostN day 5. A unique control group (n=8) was constituted for comparison. RESULTS: Our results indicate that PostN group rats exhibited particular modifications in the oxidative stress marker, an increased plasma ferric-reducing ability of plasma, and an increased antioxidant capacity reflected by higher albumin serum levels. PostN animals also presented increased total cholesterol and triglyceride-glucose levels, suggesting severe metabolic disarrangement. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate that changes in oxidative stress could be promoted by testosterone propionate exposure after birth, which is likely associated with anovulation and/or lipid disarrangement.

Low health related quality of life associated with fractures in obese postmenopausal women in Santa Maria, Brazil.

Although health-related quality of life is well studied in subjects with obesity or fractures, there are few studies approaching both diseases together. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in obese postmenopausal women with fractures. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Santa Maria, Brazil. Postmenopausal women aged 55 years or older were recruited from March 1st to August 31st, 2013. Women with cognitive impairment were excluded. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) were applied (QM0 16,471). Height and weight were measured according to the World Health Organization protocol. Bone fractures (excluding hand, feet, and head) that occur after age 45 years were considered as the outcome. Of the 1057 women allocated to study, 975 had their weight and height measured. Obese women with fractures had significantly lower SF-36 physical component scores when compared with non-obese subjects with fracture, obese subjects without fractures, and non-obese non-fracture subjects. Both obesity and fractures were independently associated with a lower SF-36 physical component score in the regression model. In conclusion, fractures appear to have an adverse effect on quality of life which is more pronounced in obese postmenopausal women.

The impact of postnatal leuprolide acetate treatment on reproductive characteristics in a rodent model of polycystic ovary syndrome.

In this study, a GnRH agonist, leuprolide acetate (LA), was given as a single depot injection before 48 h of life to Wistar female rats allotted to prenatal (E16-18) and postnatal androgenization (day 5 of life) by the use of testosterone propionate, looking for reproductive endpoints. Remarkably, a single injection of LA increased the estrus cycles in the postnatal group (PostN) from 0% to 25% of the estrus cycles in the postnatal LA treated group (PostN L). LA also reduced the serum testosterone levels and cysts and atretic follicles in PostN L in contrast with rats (>100 days) from the PostN group (p = 0.04). Prenatally androgenized rats (PreN) exhibited significant modifications in the hypothalamic genes, such as Gnrh. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show that blockage of the GnRH axis with leuprolide acetate depot prevented the development of typical features (anovulation, cysts, atretic follicles) in a postnatal testosterone propionate rat model of PCOS.

[Vitamin D deficiency in adults: to better understand a new presentation of an old disease]. / Hipovitaminose D em adultos: entendendo melhor a apresentação de uma velha doença.

Vitamin D is synthesized in skin through a reaction mediated by sunlight, and it is metabolized to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, in liver, and in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, in kidney. This last reaction has a tight feedback mechanism. 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D is the active hormone, and its actions are mediated mainly by nuclear receptors. Its major functions are in calcium metabolism and bone mass maintenance. Hypovitaminosis D, as a disease in adult people, manifests itself with hypocalcemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism with subsequent loss of trabecular bone, thinning of cortical bone, and, eventually, a higher risk of fractures. Hypovitaminosis D is a very common condition in Europe, Africa, North America and some South American countries, such as Chile and Argentina. Measurement of serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration is the gold standard to diagnose vitamin D deficiency. Serum concentrations below 50 nmol/L are associated with an increase in parathyroid hormone concentration, and bone loss. Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency, like poor sunlight exposition, aging skin and factors that interfere with normal vitamin D metabolism, are well established. Oral vitamin D supplementation, an easy and inexpensive treatment, is needed to treat this illness.