Differential Incidence of Tongue Base Cancer in Male and Female HPV16-Transgenic Mice: Role of Female Sex Hormone Receptors.

A growing proportion of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) are associated with infection by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). For reasons that remain largely unknown, HPV+OPSCC is significantly more common in men than in women. This study aims to determine the incidence of OPSCC in male and female HPV16-transgenic mice and to explore the role of female sex hormone receptors in the sexual predisposition for HPV+ OPSCC. The tongues of 30-weeks-old HPV16-transgenic male (n = 80) and female (n = 90) and matched wild-type male (n = 10) and female (n = 10) FVB/n mice were screened histologically for intraepithelial and invasive lesions in 2017 at the Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Portugal. Expression of estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERß), progesterone receptors (PR) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was studied immunohistochemically. Collagen remodeling was studied using picrosirius red. Female mice showed robust ERα and ERß expression in intraepithelial and invasive lesions, which was accompanied by strong MMP2 expression and marked collagen remodeling. Male mice showed minimal ERα, ERß and MMP2 expression and unaltered collagen patterns. These results confirm the association of HPV16 with tongue base cancer in both sexes. The higher cancer incidence in female versus male mice contrasts with data from OPSCC patients and is associated with enhanced ER expression via MMP2 upregulation.

Elevated leptin levels in healthy climacteric women from Northeastern Brazil: an effect of age or adiposity?

OBJECTIVE: Climacterium is associated with elevated leptin levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. Conflicting data diverge on whether high leptin levels in climacterium reflect increasing adipose mass or, at least partially, age-related hormonal changes. This study addresses this issue in women from a Brazilian state with a low human development index. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 136 women from the state of Maranhão, 52 (38.2%) climacteric and 84 (61.8%) non-climacteric. Biometric, biochemical, hormonal and immunological parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: Climacteric women showed a moderately increased waist/hip ratio (0.894 versus 0.834, p < 0.05), sustained body mass index (27.46 versus 28.68, p > 0.05) increased leptin levels (9.59 versus 7.13, p < 0.05) and no evidence of metabolic syndrome. No other parameters were altered. The climacteric cohort didn't show significant body fat gains but displayed a typical age-related redistribution of adipose tissue. Even so, leptin levels were significantly elevated compared with non-climacteric women. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that leptin is elevated, at least partially, as a function of age and climacterium and is not necessarily correlated with metabolic dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of higher leptin levels on postmenopausal women. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):276-81.

Elevated leptin levels in healthy climacteric women from Northeastern Brazil: an effect of age or adiposity?

ABSTRACT Objective Climacterium is associated with elevated leptin levels and increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. Conflicting data diverge on whether high leptin levels in climacterium reflect increasing adipose mass or, at least partially, age-related hormonal changes. This study addresses this issue in women from a Brazilian state with a low human development index. Subjects and methods A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 136 women from the state of Maranhão, 52 (38.2%) climacteric and 84 (61.8%) non-climacteric. Biometric, biochemical, hormonal and immunological parameters were analyzed. Results Climacteric women showed a moderately increased waist/hip ratio (0.894 versus 0.834, p < 0.05), sustained body mass index (27.46 versus 28.68, p > 0.05) increased leptin levels (9.59 versus 7.13, p < 0.05) and no evidence of metabolic syndrome. No other parameters were altered. The climacteric cohort didn't show significant body fat gains but displayed a typical age-related redistribution of adipose tissue. Even so, leptin levels were significantly elevated compared with non-climacteric women. Conclusions Altogether, these data support the hypothesis that leptin is elevated, at least partially, as a function of age and climacterium and is not necessarily correlated with metabolic dysfunction and systemic inflammation. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of higher leptin levels on postmenopausal women. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(3):276-81

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the effect of Morus nigra L. (black mulberry) leaf powder on symptoms and quality of life among climacteric women.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of Morus nigra L. (MN) leaf powder for treating climacteric symptoms by comparison with hormone therapy (HT) and placebo. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial among 62 climacteric women attending Hospital of the Federal University of Maranhão, Brazil. Women were divided into MN, HT, and placebo groups, and received 250 mg of MN leaf powder, 1 mg of estradiol, or placebo for 60 days. Primary outcomes were the Blatt-Kupperman index (BKI) for climacteric symptoms and SF-36 health questionnaire scores. RESULTS: Baseline sociodemographic variables, BKI scores, symptoms, and SF-36 domains did not differ among the groups. There was a reduction in mean BKI in the MN (17.5 vs 9.7, P<0.001), HT (15.4 vs 8.6, P=0.001), and placebo (16.1 vs 12.4, P=0.040) groups. Analysis of quality of life (QoL) showed that functional capacity (P=0.006), vitality (P=0.031), mental health (P=0.017), and social aspect (P<0.01) improved after treatment in the MN group. The HT group showed improvement in emotional limitation (P=0.040), and the placebo group showed better functional capacity (P=0.030) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Climacteric symptoms and QoL improved after administration of 250 mg of MN leaf powder for 60 days, similar to the effects of HT. The trial is registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) under registration number RBR-9t4xxk.

Plasma Cytokine Levels in Overweight Versus Obese Disease-Free Perimenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the plasma cytokine levels during T cell-mediated inflammatory responses and compare the metabolic markers between overweight and obese perimenopausal women without systemic diseases. METHODS: Sixty perimenopausal women were divided into two groups (overweight and obese). Participants in both groups had their waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) measured and blood samples collected for the evaluation of estradiol, fasting glucose, leptin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-17A levels, and lipid profile. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, women with obesity showed increased WHtR, fasting glucose, leptin, and IL-6 (p < 0.05) levels; however, significant differences were not observed in IL-10 or IL-17A (p > 0.05) levels. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the highest areas under the curve were shown for leptin (0.856) and IL-6 (0.706). IL-6 levels correlated with both hs-CRP (r = 0.302, p = 0.020) and leptin (r = 0.294, p = 0.022). However, in multivariate analysis, IL-6 was not associated with a greater likelihood of obesity (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 0.82-3.15; p = 0.16), when potential confounders were considered. CONCLUSION: IL-6 levels varied between overweight and obese perimenopausal women, and this association was weaker when adjusted for other clinical variables.