Effects of tibolone or continuous combined oestradiol/norethisterone acetate on glucose and insulin metabolism.

Objective: To determine the effects of tibolone or oestradiol (E(2) )/norethisterone acetate (NETA) hormone replacement therapy on glucose and insulin metabolism in postmenopausal women.

Design: Single-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial.

Subjects/methods: We randomized 105 healthy postmenopausal women to tibolone 2·5 mg daily, continuous combined oral E(2) 2 mg/NETA 1 mg daily or placebo over a 2-year study.

Growth differentiation factor-15 predicts mortality and morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) predicts mortality and morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Growth differentiation factor-15, a transforming growth factor-beta-related cytokine which is up-regulated in cardiomyocytes via multiple stress pathways, predicts mortality in patients with heart failure treated pharmacologically.

Methods And Results: Growth differentiation factor-15 was measured before and 360 days (median) after implantation in 158 patients with heart failure [age 68 +/- 11 years (mean +/- SD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 23.

Randomized trial of effects of continuous combined HRT on markers of lipids and coagulation in women with acute coronary syndromes: WHISP Pilot Study.

Aims: Randomized trials have not demonstrated coronary heart disease benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We hypothesized that low-dose HRT may avoid harm.

Methods And Results: We studied the effects of HRT on lipids and coagulation in women with acute coronary syndromes.

Impaired insulin sensitivity as an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with stable chronic heart failure.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the significance of insulin resistance as an independent risk factor for impaired prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Background: In CHF, impaired insulin sensitivity (S(I)) indicates abnormal energy metabolism and is related to decreased exercise capacity and muscle fatigue. The relationship between insulin resistance (i.

Randomized trial of effects of estradiol in combination with either norethisterone acetate or trimegestone on lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women.

Objective: This double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was designed to compare the blood lipid profiles in postmenopausal women after treatment with either a combined formulation containing estradiol (2 mg) and trimegestone (TMG 0.25 or 0.5 mg) or a standard hormone therapy (HT) containing estradiol and norethisterone acetate.