Oxidative Stress Risk Is Increased with a Sedentary Lifestyle during Aging in Mexican Women.

Oxidative stress (OS) increases during the human aging process, and the sedentary lifestyle could be a prooxidant factor. In this study, we determine the effect of sedentary lifestyle on OS during the aging process in Mexican women. A longitudinal study of two-year follow-up was carried out with 177 community-dwelling women (40-69 y) from Mexico City. We measured as OS markers plasma malondialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), total plasma antioxidant status, uric acid level, antioxidant gap, and SOD/GPx ratio. To define OS using all the markers, we defined cut-off values of each parameter based on the 90th percentile of young healthy subjects and, we calculated a stress score (SS) ranging from 0 to 7, which represented the intensity of the marker modifications. All the women answered a structured questionnaire about prooxidant factors, including physical activity specially the type of activity, frequency, and duration, and they answered Spanish versions of self-assessment tests for establishing dysthymia and insomnia as potential confounders. Principal component and Poisson regression analysis were used as statistical tools, being two-year OS the primary outcome. The OS was considerate as SS ≥ 4 and sedentary lifestyle as <30 min/day of physical activity, beside several prooxidant factors and age that were covariables. SS is higher in sedentary lifestyle women after the two-year follow-up; although, the difference was statistically significant only in older women. Four principal components were associated with the OS, and 7 out of 8 prooxidant factors were important for the analysis, which were included in the Poisson model. The predictive factors for OS were the sedentary lifestyle (adjusted PR = 2.37, CI95%: 1.30-4.30, p < 0.01), and age, in which the risk increases 1.06 (CI95%:1.02-2.11, p < 0.01) by each year of age. Our findings suggest that a sedentary lifestyle increases the OS during the aging in Mexican women.

Association between hot flashes severity and oxidative stress among Mexican postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between hot flashes (HFs) severity and oxidative stress (OS) in Mexican postmenopausal women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with perimenopausal women aged 40-59 years community-dwelling from Mexico City, Mexico. They participated in Menopause and Oxidative Stress Project. The baseline sample consisted of 476 women recruited to participate; 161 women were excluded due to different reasons. Hence, 315 women were selected to establish two groups, a) 145 premenopausal women (yet with menstrual bleeding), and b) 170 postmenopausal women (without menses). All women were free of cardiovascular, kidney, hepatic or cancer disease, and without antioxidant supplement intake for at least six months prior to the beginning of the study; none had previously received hormone therapy. As OS markers, we measured plasma malondialdehyde using the TBARS assay, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), uric acid, and total antioxidant status; also, we calculated SOD/GPx ratio, antioxidant gap and an oxidative stress score ranging from 0 to 7. The HFs were evaluated using the Menopause Rating Scale. The women completed Spanish version of the Athens Insomnia Scale, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale and a questionnaire of pro-oxidant factors. RESULTS: Stress score increased with HFs severity (mild 2.7±0.17, moderate 2.9±0.20 and severe 3.7±0.20, p = 0.001) in postmenopausal women. We observed a positive correlation between HFs severity and stress score, r = 0.247 (p = 0.001) in postmenopausal women; other test scores were not correlated. Severe HFs were a risk factor for OS (OR = 5.12, 95%CI: 1.99-13.17, p<0.05) in an adjusted multivariate analysis by different postmenopausal symptoms and pro-oxidant factors; we did not see any association in premenopausal women. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest an association between HFs severity and OS in Mexican postmenopausal women.

Quality of life among post-menopausal women due to oxidative stress boosted by dysthymia and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is the onset of aging in women. During this process, some women experience physical changes that may impact upon their psychological and social status, also affecting their quality of life. Furthermore, several psychological changes following menopause have been shown to act as pro-oxidant, but the association between the psychological status that modify the quality of life and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determinate the relationship between oxidative stress with psychological disturbances, low self-esteem, depressive mood and anxiety, and quality of life in the postmenopausal women. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study with101 premenopausal and 101 postmenopausal women from Mexico City. As markers of oxidative stress we measured plasma lipoperoxide levels, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and total antioxidant status. We calculate a stress score as global oxidative stress status, with cut-off values for each parameter; this score range from 0 to 6, representing the severity of markers modifications. All the women were rated using the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales, and the WHO Quality of Life-brief. RESULTS: The postmenopausal women with low quality of life in the WHO Quality of Life-brief and their subscales had higher stress score compared with premenopausal women with high quality of life (p < 0.05). We found a positive correlation among lipoperoxide levels and Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Zung Self-Rating Depression score (r = 0.226 and r = 0.173, respectively, p < 0.05), and a negative correlation with WHO Quality of Life-brief scores (r = -0.266, p < 0.01) in postmenopausal women. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that average lipoperoxide levels increase by 0.0007 µmol/L for every 1-point increase in the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and by 0.001 µmol/L for every 1-point decrease in the WHO Quality of Life-brief, after adjusted for pro-oxidant factors. Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scales scores also contribute to increase lipoperoxides levels, but not significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that oxidative stress is increased in postmenopausal women with psychological disturbances and low quality of life.

[Postmenopausal symptoms severity enhancement oxidative stress in women with metabolic syndrome]. / La severidad de los síntomas posmenopáusicos incrementa el estrés oxidativo en mujeres con síndrome metabólico.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is a serious imbalance between the reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced and the antioxidant systems, and has been identified to cause metabolic syndrome. Postmenopausal women (POS) with severe symptoms have higher oxidative stress; therefore it is possible to observe higher oxidative stress in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome and severe menopause related symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To determinate if the severe postmenopausal symptoms increased oxidative stress in women with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We carry out a cross-sectional study with POS, 48 with metabolic syndrome and 52 healthy. Control group was defined as women heealthy and without severe symptoms (H-SS). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to criteria established by NCEP-ATPIII. We measured lipoperoxides by the TBARS assay as oxidative stress marker. All women answered the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) that evaluates the severity of global symptoms in three dimensions: psychological, somatic and urogenital; and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). In each questionnaire was used a cutoff value to determine the severity of symptoms and alternative cut-off value for lipoperoxides > or =0.320 mol/L. RESULTS: The prevalence of high plasma lipoperoxides levels was higher in women with metabolic syndrome (WMS), 39 [81%] vs. 33 [64%], p < 0.05. The WMS, independent of severe symptoms (SS), had high lipoperoxides levels, similar to H+SS, except in urogenital MRS dimen- sion and AIS. The risk of higher lipoperoxides increased with MS and severe symptoms RM=6.32, 95% CI: 1.32-30.20, p < 0.05, adjusted by others pro-oxidants factors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the severity of menopausal related symptoms increased oxidative stress in women with metabolic syndrome.

[Effect of hormone therapy with estrogens on oxidative stress and quality of life in postmenopausal women]. / Efecto de la terapia hormonal con estrógenos en el estrés oxidativo y la calidad de vida en mujeres posmenopáusicas.

BACKGROUND: Estrogen therapy has an antioxidant effect and improves quality of life. There is no report on estrogen therapy and quality of life in relation to oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of estrogen hormonal therapy on quality of life and oxidative stress in postmenopausal women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a controlled clinical trial including 111 perimenopausal women (40 to 60 years old) living in Mexico City. Women were assigned into three groups: (1) control group, 39 premenopausal women; (2) 33 postmenopausal women receiving oral conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone (0.625 mg/d plus medroxyprogesterone 5 mg/d for 10 days); (3) 33 postmenopausal women taking placebo pills. We measured at baseline and at six months biochemical markers of oxidative stress: lipoperoxides by TBARS assay, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS) with Randox Laboratories, Ltd. kits. We also applied the World Health Organization Quality of Life, Brief (WHOQoL-Brief). RESULTS: Levels of lipoperoxides were higher in postmenopausal women with low quality of life vs. premenopausal women with high quality of life (0.357 +/- 0.06 vs0.315 +/- 0.04 micromol/L, p <0.05). Plasma lipoperoxides diminished in women taking hormonal therapy with low quality of life after six months of treatment (0.357 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.293 +/- 0.08 micromol/L, p < 0.01); also, the proportion of women in therapy with basal high lipoperoxides and quality of life average-low diminished (p < 0.05). There were no differences in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Estrogen therapy improves quality of life and reduces lipoperoxides as oxidative stress biomarker in postmenopausal women.

Menopause as risk factor for oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of menopause (hypoestrogenism) as a risk factor for oxidative stress. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study with 187 perimenopausal women from Mexico City, including 94 premenopausal (mean ± SD age, 44.9 ± 4.0 y; estrogen, 95.8 ± 65.7 pg/mL; follicle-stimulating hormone, 13.6 ± 16.9 mIU/mL) and 93 postmenopausal (mean ± SD age, 52.5 ± 3.3 y; estrogen, 12.8 ± 6.8 pg/mL; follicle-stimulating hormone, 51.4 ± 26.9 mIU/mL) women. We measured lipoperoxides using a thiobarbituric acid-reacting substance assay, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and the total antioxidant status with the Randox kit. An alternative cutoff value for lipoperoxide level of 0.320 µmol/L or higher was defined on the basis of the 90th percentile of young healthy participants. All women answered the Menopause Rating Scale, the Athens Insomnia Scale, and a structured questionnaire about pro-oxidant factors, that is, smoking, consumption of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, and physical activity. Finally, we measured weight and height and calculated body mass index. RESULTS: The lipoperoxide levels were significantly higher in the postmenopausal group than in the premenopausal group (0.357 ± 0.05 vs 0.331 ± 0.05 µmol/L, P = 0.001). Using logistic regression to control pro-oxidant variables, we found that menopause was the main risk factor for oxidative stress (odds ratio, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.35-5.11; P < 0.01). We also found a positive correlation between menopause rating score, insomnia score, and lipoperoxides, and this relationship was most evident in the postmenopausal group (menopause scale, r = 0.327 [P = 0.001]; insomnia scale, r = 0.209 [P < 0.05]). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the depletion of estrogen in postmenopause could cause oxidative stress in addition to the known symptoms.

Guía de práctica clínica para el diagnóstico y tratamiento de depresión en los adultos mayores

Resumen: Introducción La depresión cada día cobra mayor importancia, y se estima que en el año 2020 será la segunda causa de años de vida saludable perdidos a escala mundial y la primera en países desarrollados, por lo que el diagnóstico adecuado y oportuno permitirá brindar un manejo integral que incluya psicoterapia y tratamiento médico adecuado, lo que mejorará de manera significativa la calidad de vida y el pronóstico de estas personas. En atención primaria existe sub diagnóstico y retraso en la identificación de la depresión, por lo que, desde el inicio del tratamiento, impacta negativamente en el bienestar de los individuos, en la salud pública y en los costos directos e indirectos de los servicios sanitarios. Es frecuente que el médico de atención primaria considere como "causa" de la depresión las quejas de la vida cotidiana, la incapacidad para hacer frente al estrés familiar, el aislamiento social o el cambio de roles y los problemas financieros; por lo tanto la considera "justificada" y evita proporcionar tratamiento, cuando en realidad esta incapacidad suele ser ocasionada por la misma depresión. La depresión es uno de los padecimientos psicogeriátricos más frecuentes y en México su prevalencia global es de 9.5% en mujeres y 5% en hombres mayores de 60 años. En la mayoría de los casos no es diagnosticada por la presentación atípica de la misma o por la falsa creencia de que forma parte del envejecimiento normal, puesto que en el adulto mayor la depresión se puede esconder en síntomas somáticos, ya sea como manifestaciones del síndrome depresivo o porque a causa de éste se acentúan los síntomas de otras enfermedades concomitantes. Los síntomas cognitivos secundarios se presentan con más frecuencia en este grupo etario. Objetivo Proporcionar a los médicos de primer nivel de atención, una guía de práctica clínica con los elementos técnico-médicos suficientes que faciliten el diagnóstico y tratamiento integral de adultos mayores con depresión. Usuarios. La guía está dirigida a los médicos del primer nivel de atención. Población blanco. Hombres y mujeres de 60 años de edad en adelante. Método El estudio comprendió dos fases: el diseño y la validación de la guía clínica. Selección de evidencia 1. Las palabras clave para la búsqueda fueron: Depresión, adulto mayor, guías clínicas, prevalencia, atención primaria, valoración, tratamiento, riesgo de suicidio. 2. Bases de datos consultadas: Cochrane, Pub-Med y Medline, en el período de 1990-2006. 3. Se encontraron 26 referencias para depresión mayor en adulto mayor: ocho meta análisis de estudios clínicos aleatorizados, dos clínicos aleatorizados, uno de cohorte, 12 descriptivos no experimentales y tres artículos de libros (DSM-IV TR; CIE 10, Manual de psicogeriatría). 4. Categoría de evidencia y fuerza de recomendación, indica al usuario el origen de las recomendaciones emitidas. En el algoritmo de la guía clínica se identifican los conceptos o el sustento de cada una de las recomendaciones. En la presente guía el diagnóstico de depresión se fundamenta en la CIE 10 y su gradación podría ser comparable con la depresión mayor del DSM IV TR. Se incluye el diagnóstico diferencial, los criterios de referencia al psiquiatra, los lineamientos para el tratamiento farmacológico, psicoterapéutico y psicosocial; fase de inicio y fase de mantenimiento. Conclusión La guía de práctica clínica propuesta se basa en metodología rigurosa, da al médico elementos suficientes para realizar el diagnóstico oportuno, así como el tratamiento integral en adultos mayores con depresión, e incorpora criterios con base en evidencia científica que permitirán actualizarla y evaluar su solidez ante el surgimiento de nueva evidencia, manteniendo así su validez.

Summary: Introduction Depression is growing in importance every day. It is estimated that by the year 2020 it will be worldwide the second cause for the loss of healthy life years and the first in developed countries. Considering this, an adequate and opportune diagnosis will allow for a complete handling of the disorder. This should include adequate psychotherapy and medical treatment which will in turn improve significantly the prognosis and life quality of depressed individuals. In the primary care area, sub-diagnosis and delays to identify depression are common. These have a negative effect on the individuals' well-being, in public health and in the direct and indirect costs of health services. It is not uncommon for primary care practitioners to consider everyday complaints, the inability to cope with family stress, social isolation, role change and money problems as «causes ¼ for depression. Thus, they deem depression «justified ¼ and fail to offer treatment when actually this very inability is often caused by depression. Depression is among the most frequent psycho-geriatric ailments. In Mexico, its overall prevalence is 9.5% in women and 5% in men age 60 or more. In most instances, it goes undiagnosed given its atypical expression or the false belief which considers it part of the normal aging process. In the elderly, depression may conceal somatic symptoms, be it as expressions of the depressive syndrome or because these same symptoms aggravate symptoms from other concomitant diseases. Secondary cognitive symptoms are more frequent among this age group. Objective To provide physicians at primary care a guideline with enough technical-medical elements to facilitate the timely diagnosis and integral treatment of elderly with depression. Method This study comprised two phases: design and validation of the guideline. Evidence selection 1. Key words for search: depression, elderly, clinical guidelines, prevalence, primary care, assessment, treatment, suicide risk. 2. Data bases used: Cochrane, Pub-Med and Medline for the 1990-2006 period. 3. Twenty-six references for major depression in the elderly were found: eight random meta-analysis, two random clinical, one cohort, twelve descriptive non-experimental, and three book articles (DSM-IV[HRM1] TR; CIE 10, Psycho-geriatrics Manual). 4. Evidence category and strength of recommendation. This indicates the user about the origin of recommendations issued. In the algorithm from the clinical guide, the concepts or support for each recommendation are identified. In this guide, the diagnosis of depression is based on the CIE-10 and its ranking may be comparable to that for major depression in the DSM-IV TR. Differential diagnosis; criteria for referring a patient to the psychiatrist; guidelines for pharmacological, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial treatment; onset phase and maintenance phase are included. Thus, the clinical practice guide proposed is based on a strict methodology. It offers enough elements for the general practitioner to assess an opportune and complete treatment for elderly people with depression. In addition, it incorporates criteria based on scientific evidence, which will allow updating it, and evaluating its solidity in the face of new evidence, which will in turn maintain its validity.

Relationship between oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in the elderly of rural vs. urban communities.

Psychological stress and environmental pollution are frequently associated to urban environment and oxidative stress (OxS). Likewise, OxS is a risk factor for cognitive impairment (CI) in the elderly. Therefore, we hypothesized that the prevalence of CI in subjects of the urban area could be higher than in those of the rural area, and linked to higher OxS. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between OxS and CI in elderly individuals from rural and urban settings in Mexico. Plasmatic TBARS, plasma total antioxidant status, and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured in 104 urban and 85 rural elderly individuals. Cognitive functions were evaluated through the Mini Mental State Examination. We found a greater proportion of subjects with OxS and CI in urban than in rural areas (25% vs. 9%), with an odds ratio of 5.67 (CI95% 1.14-38.02, p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the elderly in urban areas have more OxS and a higher risk of developing CI compared with elderly individuals in a rural environment.