Effects of a new flavonoid and Myo-inositol supplement on some biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women: a randomized trial.

Background and Aim. Cardiovascular risk is increased in women with menopause and metabolic syndrome. Aim of this study was to test the effect of a new supplement formula, combining cocoa polyphenols, myo-inositol, and soy isoflavones, on some biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.

myo-Inositol supplementation and onset of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women with a family history of type 2 diabetes: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To check the hypothesis that myo-inositol supplementation may reduce gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) onset in pregnant women with a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: A 2-year, prospective, randomized, open-label, placebo-controlled study was carried out in pregnant outpatients with a parent with type 2 diabetes who were treated from the end of the first trimester with 2 g myo-inositol plus 200 µg folic acid twice a day (n = 110) and in the placebo group (n = 110), who were only treated with 200 µg folic acid twice a day. The main outcome measure was the incidence of GDM in both groups.

A single abnormal value of the glucose tolerance test is related to increased adverse perinatal outcome.

Objective: To evaluate which pregnant women with a single abnormal value in the oral glucose tolerance test are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we have evaluated the course of pregnancy in 152 consecutive women with only one abnormal value (OAV), and 624 with a 100 g - glucose tolerance test totally within the range values.

Results: The prevalence of caesarean delivery, hypertensive disorders and macrosomia was higher in the study group when compared with the control group, whereas no difference was noted concerning gestational age at delivery, Apgar score at 1 and 5 min and neonatal hypoglycemia.

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on hot flushes, endometrium, and vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate in a 24-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study whether pure administration of the phytoestrogen genistein (54 mg/d) might reduce the number and severity of hot flushes in postmenopausal women, with no adverse effect on the endometrium and vagina.

Methods: A total of 389 participants met the parent study criteria and were randomly assigned to receive the phytoestrogen genistein (n = 198) or placebo (n = 191). About 40% of participants in both groups did not experience hot flushes, and the evaluation was performed in a subgroup of 236 participants (genistein, n = 119; placebo, n = 117).

Breast safety and efficacy of genistein aglycone for postmenopausal bone loss: a follow-up study.

Context: Genistein aglycone improves bone metabolism in women. However, questions about the long-term safety of genistein on breast as well as its continued efficacy still remain.

Objective: We assessed the continued safety profile of genistein aglycone on breast and endometrium and its effects on bone after 3 yr of therapy.

Effects of phytoestrogen genistein on cytogenetic biomarkers in postmenopausal women: 1 year randomized, placebo-controlled study.

To evaluate in a twelve-month, randomized placebo-controlled study whether pure administration of phytoestrogen genistein (54 mg/day) might reduce cytogenetic biomarkers in peripheral lymphocytes of postmenopausal women. A total of 57 postmenopausal women met the criteria and were randomly assigned to receive phytoestrogen genistein (n = 30) or placebo (n = 27). There was no significant difference in age, length of time since menopause or body mass index between the two groups.

OPG and sRANKL serum concentrations in osteopenic, postmenopausal women after 2-year genistein administration.

Introduction: RANKL and its decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) constitute a complex physiological mediator system involved in the regulation of bone resorption and may be responsible for the homeostatic mechanism of normal bone remodeling. Genistein, an isoflavone representing 1-5% of total phytoestrogen content in soybean products, may positively regulate cellular bone metabolism, but its mechanism of action on bone is not yet fully understood.

Materials And Methods: We studied the serum levels of both soluble RANKL (sRANKL) and OPG and the sRANKL/OPG ratio in 389 postmenopausal women (age, 49-67 yr) with a femoral neck BMD <0.

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on some predictors of cardiovascular risk in osteopenic, postmenopausal women: a two-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Context: Genistein, a soy isoflavone, has received wide attention over the last few years because of its potential preventive role for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the effects of genistein administration (54 mg/d) on some predictors of cardiovascular risk in osteopenic, postmenopausal women.

Design And Setting: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at three Italian university medical centers.

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on bone metabolism in osteopenic postmenopausal women: a randomized trial.

Background: Observational studies and small trials of short duration suggest that the isoflavone phytoestrogen genistein reduces bone loss, but the evidence is not definitive.

Objective: To assess the effects of genistein on bone metabolism in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Positive association between a single abnormal glucose tolerance test value in pregnancy and subsequent abnormal glucose tolerance.

Objective: To study the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance among women with a single abnormal glucose tolerance test value in previous pregnancy and identify factors predictive of the later development of abnormal glucose tolerance in this group.

Study Design: In all, 58 women with gestational diabetes, 66 with a single abnormal value in a glucose tolerance test, and 56 control women underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at a mean of 6.9 years from the index pregnancy.

Midtrimester amniotic fluid leptin and insulin levels and subsequent gestational diabetes.

Aims: To evaluate midtrimester amniotic fluid leptin levels in pregnancies subsequently complicated by gestational diabetes.

Methods: We studied 32 pregnant women with gestational diabetes and a control group of 43 normal pregnancies with an adequate gestational age fetus. All underwent a midtrimester amniocentesis: leptin and insulin were measured in the amniotic fluid.

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on hot flushes, endometrium, and vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women: a 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate in a 12-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study whether pure administration of the phytoestrogen genistein (54 mg/d) might reduce the number and severity of hot flushes in postmenopausal women with no adverse effect on the endometrium.

Design: A total of 389 participants met the main study criteria and were randomly assigned to receive the phytoestrogen genistein (n=198) or placebo (n=191). About 40% of participants in both groups did not suffer from hot flushes, and the evaluation was performed in a subgroup of 247 participants (genistein, n=125; placebo, n=122).

Pregnancy in essential thrombocythemia during aspirin treatment.

Introduction: Essential thrombocythemia is a rare disease of unknown origin characterized by abnormal increase in the platelet count.

Case Report: We report a case diagnosed in a woman who had had an early miscarriage in her first pregnancy, a voluntary abortion because a fetal chromosomal aberration in the second pregnancy and at last a third normal pregnancy. Treatment with low-dose aspirin (100 mg/day) and the use of low molecular weight heparin in the last three weeks of gestation appears to improve the obstetric outcome.

A randomised trial of progesterone prophylaxis after midtrimester amniocentesis.

Background: Midtrimester amniocentesis to investigate fetal karyotype carries a small risk of fetal loss.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that progesterone prophylaxis may reduce this.

Study Design: A randomised controlled trial comparing a short prophylactic treatment with progesterone after amniocentesis with untreated controls.