Protective effect of propolis on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in males and ovariectomized females but not in intact females.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of propolis, which may have estrogenic effects, on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (mI/R) injury not only in male rats but also in intact and ovariectomized (ovx) female rats. Six groups were formed: untreated males (n = 8), treated males (n = 9), untreated intact females (n = 9), treated intact females (n = 10), untreated ovx females (n = 10), and treated ovx females (n = 8). An alcoholic extract of a single dose of propolis (200 mg/kg) was administered orally daily for 14 days. Thirty minutes of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion were performed. Blood pressure, heart rate, arrhythmias (ventricular premature contraction [VPC], ventricular tachycardia [VT], ventricular fibrillation [VF]), and myocardial infarct size were evaluated. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were measured. The untreated females showed more resistance to mI/R injury than the untreated males, as evidenced by lower duration, incidence, and score of arrhythmias, and smaller infarct size (p < .05). After ovx, this resistance disappeared. Propolis improved these values in treated males and treated ovx females (p < .05). Propolis increased TAS in treated males and decreased TOS in treated ovx females as well as elevated SOD in all treated groups (p < .05). Propolis decreased E2 level in treated intact females; however, it increased E2 level in treated ovx females (p < .05). The results revealed that propolis could protect the heart against mI/R injury in males and ovx females. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It is known that the female heart has an increased sensitivity to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (mI/R) injury due to estrogen deficiency and/or estrogen deprivation following menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries. Propolis has the potential to mimic estrogen under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, as well as its antioxidant property. The results indicated that propolis decreased myocardial infarct size, arrhythmia score, arrhythmia duration, and incidence in ovariectomized female rats and male rats. In addition, the present results demonstrated that an alcoholic extract of propolis as a natural product can effectively maintain the resistance of female heart to mI/R injury after estrogen deficiency.

Evaluation of sleep in women with menopause: results of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and polysomnography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate subjective sleep quality among women in the menopausal period and to confirm and diagnose the possible sleep disturbances with polysomnographic (PSG) evaluation objectively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-seven women with menopause were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics and the features of menopause were recorded. We assessed subjective sleep quality with Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To confirm sleep disturbances and further diagnose the underlying cause, PSG evaluation was performed to women with PSQI scores of >5 who gave their approval. RESULTS: Mean PSQI score of women with normal PSG evaluation was 12.00±3.16, while it was 11.00±2.32 in women with abnormal PSG evaluation (p=0.466); 59.7% (n=40) of women had poor sleep quality. Among these, 11 (64.7%) had abnormal results in the PSG evaluation and were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS); 54.5% had mild OSAS, 27.3% had moderate, and 18.2% had severe OSAS. CONCLUSION: PSQI and PSG evaluations would give a chance to demonstrate sleep problems and shed a light on treatment options according to the underlying causes of sleep disturbances in menopause.