Bone citrate content as an indicator of post-mortem interval.

The citrate levels in the bone start to decrease after death. Therefore, it may be possible to estimate the post-mortem interval if the citrate content decreases at regular and predictable intervals. To verify this, it was used twelve fresh porcine tibiae and femora, fifteen recently buried porcine bones, two samples of human bones curated from the anatomical teaching collection from Bournemouth University, UK (never been buried) and fifteen samples of archaeological human bones from Saint Augustine the Less, Bristol, UK. The results obtained in this study align together with the data available in the literature, with higher citrate content in the fresh porcine bones and lower in the archaeological samples, however, a statistical significance was not found. Moreover, the formula used to estimate the time since death largely overestimated the known PMI. Further research should be done with a larger sample and a new formula to estimate the post-mortem interval is required.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on lifestyle and bone mineral density in young adults.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, lifestyle factors, and their impact on bone mineral density in the radius forearm bone and the total bone mineral content in young adults from Slovakia. METHODS: We assessed 773 Slovak young adults aged 18 to 30 years, divided into subgroups on their pandemic status. Bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed by the QUS device (Sunlight MiniOmni™), and bone mineral content (BMC) and fat mass (FM) were measured by InBody 770 bioimpedance analyzer. Finally, linear regression analysis tested the associations. RESULTS: Statistically significant lower speed of sound (SOS) along the length of the forearm radius bone and Z-score values was determined in participants during the COVID-19 pandemic than before it, and statistically significant lower BMC values were observed in the male group during COVID-19 than beforehand. Regression analysis confirmed the negative pandemic effect in the following indices: SOS (p < .001 for women and p = .035 for men), Z-score (p < .001 for women and p = .003 for men), and BMC (p = .024 for men). Vitamin D was a further significant SOS predictor in women at p = .029, but this association was not detected in men. In contrast, the significant male BMC predictors were pandemic presence (p = .028), physical activity (p = .028), and fat mass percentage (p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant COVID-19 pandemic effects on bone tissue were determined on bone mass density in the radius forearm bone and the total bone mineral content. These effects establish that the pandemic had a negative impact on both their bone quality and health.

The importance of female reproductive history on self-reported sleep quality, mood, and urogenital symptoms in midlife.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the importance of reproductive history on somatic and psychological symptoms in midlife women. METHODS: A total of 503 women from 39 to 65 years of age were recruited from different localities in Slovakia. These were interviewed about their reproductive and menstrual history, sociodemographic background, and lifestyle and health status after submitting pretested questionnaires. All variables were measured by self-reporting, and multivariable logistic and ordinal regression analyses tested the associations. RESULTS: Women who experienced miscarriage had a greater likelihood of waking early and then sleeping poorly, and they also felt unattractive in midlife. Moreover, women with two or more miscarriages were four times more likely to experience this sleep symptom than those without miscarriage (odds ratio [OR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-10.38; P = 0.002). In addition, women with one or two children suffered significantly less often with severe depressed mood and lack of enjoyment than women with three and more children (lack of enjoyment: with one child, the OR was 0.39 [95% CI, 0.16-0.96; P = 0.041]; with two children, the OR was 0.47 [95% CI, 0.23-0.97; P = 0.040]; depressed mood: with one child, the OR was 0.32 [95% CI, 0.12-0.84; P = 0.021]). Finally, the premenopausal and perimenopausal women were less likely to experience severe vaginal dryness than those in postmenopause. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional pilot study suggests that women's reproductive history, as determined by parity and miscarriage, may be relevant to their midlife health and well-being. Future research is warranted.

Contribution of environmental factors and female reproductive history to hypertension and obesity incidence in later life.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HT) and obesity, which are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, are complex traits determined by multiple biological and behavioural factors. However, the role of female reproductive history in evaluating HT and obesity is still unclear. AIM: To investigate the long-term effects of reproductive factors on the probability of obesity and HT in later life after adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle behaviour factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 503 women (39 - 65 years) were recruited from different localities in Slovakia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to test the associations. RESULTS: Early menarche age of 11 years and under was associated with twice higher probability of obesity at midlife, independent of environmental confounders (OR = 2.27, CI = 1.35 - 3.81, p = 0.002). Breastfeeding (Bf) women had a lower likelihood of obesity in later life than non-Bf parous women, independent of environmental confounders (OR = 0.35, CI = 0.17 - 0.72, p = 0.004). Finally, age at menarche was associated with obesity-associated HT. CONCLUSION: Reproductive factors are significantly associated with obesity and obesity-associated HT in later life. The age at menarche and Bf can be risk factors for early identification of women with increased likelihood of adult cardiovascular risk.

Association between FTO (rs17817449) genetic variant, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and hypertension in Slovak midlife women.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study investigates associations between the FTO rs 17817449 genetic variant, liver enzymes, and hypertension in Slovak midlife women. METHODS: We assessed 576 Slovak women aged 39 to 65 years. The women were interviewed and examined during their medical examination at local Health Centers and then divided into subgroups according to their blood pressure status; 255 women with hypertension and 321 normotensive. The FTO genetic variant was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Resultant data was analyzed by linear regression analysis and general linear models to adjust for risk factors associated with gamma-glutamyl transferase levels (GGT), including waist to hip ratio (WHR) and uric acid (UA). RESULTS: A significant association between the FTO variant and GGT levels was observed in the hypertensive group after control for confounding covariates, including WHR and UA (p = .004). The predicted GGT level for GT/TT hypertensive carriers is 0.158 µkat/L higher than for GG carriers. Moreover, the two-way analysis of covariance revealed significant interaction between FTO effects and hypertension on logGGT levels (p = .042). Finally, hypertensive women with the T-allele had the highest estimated marginal mean value of logGGT at -0.39 µkat/L while the GG-genotype in both hypertensive and normotensive women had the lowest value at -0.54 µkat/L. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the FTO (rs17817449) variant is associated with higher serum GGT levels in hypertensive midlife women.

Association of cytochrome P450 1B1 gene polymorphisms and environmental biomarkers with hypertension in Slovak midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association of the Leu432Val and Asn453Ser CYP1B1 polymorphisms and selected environmental biomarkers with hypertension (HT) in Slovak midlife women. METHODS: We studied 575 women. Divided according to their blood pressure status: 255 with HT and 320 without HT. All data was obtained by using standard anthropometric, genetic methods and analyzed by regression models to adjust for HT risk factors such as age, obesity, smoking, and level of education. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that CYP1B1 Leu432Val polymorphism was associated with HT, whereas no association was found between Asn453Ser polymorphism and HT. Women with at least one Val allele had significantly higher odds of HT compared to women with the Leu/Leu genotype in the total sample (Exp(B) = 1.82, CI 1.16-2.84, P = 0.009). After dividing women by menopausal status and the presence of HT environmental risk factor, the association between CYP1B1 polymorphism and HT was observed in pre/perimenopausal women (Exp(B), 2.36; 95% CI 1.13-4.92; P = 0.02), smokers (Exp(B), 3.40; 95% CI 1.48-7.82; P = 0.004), abdominal obesity (Exp(B), 2.41; 95% CI 1.23-4.75; P = 0.01) and in women with only basic education (Exp(B), 4.20, 95% CI 1.12-15.71; P = 0.03). However, general linear models did not reveal a statistically significant interactions between CYP1B1, menopausal status, and HT risk factors and their common association with HT (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, we have provided novel data that supports the significant association of CYP1B1 Leu432Val gene polymorphism with HT in Slovak midlife women.

Association of the ESR1 polymorphism with menopause and MLXIPL genetic variant influence serum uric acid levels in Slovak midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines associations between the ESR1 (XbaI, PvuII) and the MLXIPL (rs3812316) gene polymorphisms, and uric acid (UA) levels in Slovak midlife women, subdivided according to their menopause status. METHODS: We assessed a total of 362 women from 38 to 65 years of age. Women were recruited from different localities in the western and middle parts of Slovakia. Participants were interviewed during their medical examination at local health centers. They were investigated with respect to a variety of aspects such as medical, anthropometrical, and lifestyle. Participants provided a blood sample for biochemical analyses and DNA genotyping. The MLXIPL gene (rs3812316 SNP variant) and ESR1 gene (PvuII and XbaI) genotypes were then detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Data were analyzed using general linear models and multiple linear regression analyses to adjust for risk factors elevating the UA level such as fat mass (FM), triglycerides (TGs) and creatinine. RESULTS: A positive association between MLXIPL and UA level was observed in the total sample of women after control for confounding covariates, including FM, TGs, and creatinine (P = 0.027). Women with the CC genotype had higher UA levels than the G-allele carriers (261.5 µmol/L ± 68.3 vs 241.1 µmol/L ± 55.1 P = 0.013). A statistically significant association was noticed between postmenopause status and the ESR1 XbaI genotype and their effect on UA (P = 0.028). The Bonferroni pairwise comparison determined that the G-allele carriers in the postmenopausal period had higher estimated UA marginal mean (269.7 µmol/L) than the AA-allele postmenopausal women (236.5 µmol/L) (P = 0.012). The estimated UA marginal mean showed a significant increasing trend according to the MS in G allele carriers (248.5 µmol/L in pre/peri-menopausal vs 269.7 µmol/L in postmenopausal, P = 0.009). In contrast, a decreasing trend was observed in AA carriers (250.6 µmol/L in pre/perimenopausal women vs 236.5 µmol/L in postmenopausal). However, this trend was not statistically significant (P = 0.288). CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study suggests that MLXIPL (rs3812316) polymorphism is associated with higher serum UA levels and that the ESR1 (XbaI) polymorphism is associated with UA levels only in the postmenopausal cohort.

Vasomotor, urogenital, psychological, and somatic symptoms in association with CYP1B1 polymorphisms in Slovak women of different menopausal status.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine if the Arg48Gly, Ala119Ser, Leu432Val, and Asn453Ser polymorphisms in the CYP1B1 estrogen-metabolizing gene are associated with menopausal symptom experience in healthy Slovak women aged 40-60 years. We also investigated the possible association of other factors with menopausal symptoms, including health status, physical activity, reproductive history, psychological status, and smoking. METHODS: The total sample consisted of 367 women (mean age 49.11 ± 5.86 years), encompassing 180 premenopausal (mean age 45.06 ± 3.81 years), 29 peri-menopausal (mean age 49.41 ± 3.94 years), and 158 postmenopausal (mean age 53.71 ± 4.54 years) women. The research comprised anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements (BIA), blood or saliva samples collected for DNA analysis, and a specific menopausal questionnaire. RESULTS: CYP1B1 Arg48Gly is significantly associated with vasomotor, psychological, and somatic symptoms. It appears that the Gly/Gly genotype is a risk factor during the postmenopause and protective in the pre- and peri-menopause. CYP1B1 Ala119Ser was associated with all menopausal symptoms, with the Ser/Ser genotype increasing risk in the premenopause and offering protection in the peri- and postmenopause. Polymorphisms Leu432Val and Asn453Ser gave unequivocal results; independent of menopausal status, the Leu/Leu genotype was associated with increasing risk of vasomotor, urogenital, and psychological symptoms and the Asn/Asn genotype provided a protective effect against psychological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest possible associations of CYP1B1 polymorphisms with the occurrence and manifestation of particular menopausal symptoms in healthy mid-life Slovak women.