Effects of menopause and fat mass in asthmatic inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Female hormones and obesity have an impact on women with asthma. We aimed to describe how these components affect asthma inflammatory processes. METHODS: Sex hormones [FSH, LH, estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), testosterone and Δ4 androstenedione (A4)] and serum IL1ß, IL13, IL17a, IL-5, IL6, TNF-a were measured from 11 to18 pre- and postmenopausal women with asthma. RESULTS: Premenopausal normal weight women revealed higher levels of IL5 and IL17a than obese women on both days of the menstrual cycle (IL5: D1: 6.4 vs 1.4 pg/ml, p = .036 and D14: 3 vs 1.4 pg/ml, p = .045 and IL17a: D1: 13.7 pg/ml vs 10.6 pg/ml and D14: 12.4 pg/ml vs 10.6 pg/ml, p = .009, respectively). In premenopausal women on D1, Δ4 Androstenedione was positively correlated with IL1ß (p = .016, r = 0.733), whereas on D14, Estradiol with IL1ß (p = .009, r = -.768) and TNF-a with Testosterone (p = .004, r = -0.816), and Δ4 Androstenedione (p = .002, r = -0.841) negatively. In postmenopausal women, TNF-a was negatively associated with FSH (p = .004, r = -0.638), but positively with Testosterone (p = .025, r = 0.526) and IL10 also positively with Estradiol (p = .007, r = 0.610). CONCLUSION: Obesity shows a protective role in asthma through the suppression of IL5 and IL17. Estrogens seem to inhibit Th1 and Th2 inflammation, while androgens have a dual role with negative and positive correlations with neutrophilic biomarkers.

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Secondary to Left Atrial Myxoma: A Case Report Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Multidisciplinary Management.

Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign tumors of the heart, with clinical manifestations varying significantly based on tumor size. Symptoms can range from asymptomatic and mild non-specific presentations to severe obstructive cardiac and systemic findings. This case report describes a 68-year-old female patient who presented with acute decompensated heart failure. Diagnostic evaluation revealed a left atrial myxoma causing significant mitral valve obstruction. The patient underwent emergency cardiac surgery for tumor removal, complicated by severe mitral and tricuspid valve regurgitation. Following valve replacement and repair, the patient required extracorporeal life support. Despite these complexities, she achieved significant recovery and was discharged in good condition. At follow-up, she remained asymptomatic with no signs of cardiac decompensation. This case highlights the importance of considering cardiac myxoma as a differential diagnosis in such cases to prevent potential complications.