Influence of methyltestosterone postmenopausal therapy on plasma lipids, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and visceral fat: a randomized study.

Background: There has been a growing interest in treating postmenopausal women with androgens. However, hyperandrogenemia in females has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: We aimed to assess the effects of androgen replacement on cardiovascular risk factors.

[Female androgen insufficiency and potential risks of therapeutic replacement].

Women in their fourth decade and older experience a decrease in androgen serum levels. This may lead to the clinical syndrome of female androgen insufficiency expressed by insidious tiredness, diminished sense of well-being and libido, alterations in body composition and bone loss. If there is a past history of bilateral oophorectomy, hypopituitarism, androgen adrenal suppression and/or free testosterone serum levels are low, it is probable that these signs and symptoms could be relieved by a discerning androgen administration, which has been largely accepted.

Tissue Doppler imaging identifies asymptomatic normotensive diabetics with diastolic dysfunction and reduced exercise tolerance.

Background: Early recognition of heart disease in diabetics is a highly desirable goal, and diastolic dysfunction, one of its earliest manifestations, can be readily assessed by tissue Doppler imaging. We tested in normotensive diabetics without signs of coronary artery disease whether tissue Doppler imaging would improve the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction beyond classical criteria and identify patients already presenting impaired cardiac performance.

Methods: We studied 79 patients (56 males, 55 type-2 diabetes mellitus) who underwent Doppler echocardiography, and exercise testing.

[Disturbances of calcium-PTH-vitamin D axis in chronic liver diseases].

Disturbances in Calcium-PTH-Vitamin D axis are frequently associated with chronic liver diseases (CLD). In patients with CLD, a trend toward decreased serum calcium and vitamin D has already been demonstrated with compensatory increases in PTH levels. Even though reduced vitamin D hydroxylation has been considered the most important mechanism for these alterations, recent studies demonstrates an adequate production of 25(OH) Vitamin D even in end-stage liver disease.