Digit (2D:4D) ratio is associated with muscle mass (MM) and strength (MS) in older adults: possible effect of in utero androgen exposure.

Decline in MM and MS with aging, defined as sarcopenia, is related with physical disability, poor quality of life and death. Its mechanisms are not fully understood. Testosterone increases muscle protein synthesis. However, the effects of in utero androgen exposure to MM and MS in older adults have not been studied. In utero androgen exposure is inversely related with 2D:4D ratio. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between 2D:4D ratio as an indicator of in utero androgen exposure and MM and MS in elderly patients. A total of 151 older adults were included. Calf-circumference (CC) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were used for the assessment of MM and hand grip strength for the assessment of MS. Mean age ± SD of the patients was 73.72 ± 6.23. Fifty-two (34.4%) of patients were male, 99 (65.6%) were female. Right and left 2D:4D were significantly and negatively correlated with hand grip strength (r=-0.365, p=0.018 and r=-0.434, p=0.005, respectively), CC (r=-0.422, p=0.002 and r=-0.459, p=0.001, respectively) and SMI (r=-0.354, p=0.018 and r=-0.348, p=0.022, respectively) in men. In women, right and left 2D:4D were significantly and negatively correlated with hand grip strength (r=-0.252, p=0.022 and r=-0.234, p=0.033, respectively), CC (r=-0.229, p=0.024 and r=-0.302, p=0.003, respectively) and SMI (r=-0.382, p<0.001 and r=-0.431, p<0.001, respectively). In this study, we found that 2D:4D ratio was significantly and negatively correlated with parameters depicting MM and MS which may suggest the possible role of in utero androgen exposure in the development of MM and MS loss in the elderly.

Hemorheological changes with strontium ranelate treatment do not seem to be related to its claimed prothrombotic effects.

Strontium ranelate is claimed to be related with increased risk of thromboembolic events. No explanation of this increased incidence of thromboembolism has been identified. However, growing evidence has clearly demonstrated the involvement of blood rheology in any thrombotic process. The aim of this study was to assess hemorheological changes with strontium ranelate treatment in elderly women with osteoporosis. This study was designed in a prospective manner. Twenty-two elderly women diagnosed with osteoporosis were included. During a 2-month treatment period, participants received strontium ranelate 2g/day. Hemorheological parameters including erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation and plasma viscosity were measured before and after 2 months therapy with strontium ranelate. The median age of the patients was 70.0 (range=65-80) years. After 60 days of treatment, there was no statistically significant change in hemorheological parameters. None of the subjects developed clinical venous thromboembolic event (VTE) during the 2-month period of strontium ranelate treatment. Our study demonstrated that in elderly women, treatment of osteoporosis with strontium ranelate did not change hemorheological parameters over 2 months of time. However, its long-term effects on hemorheologic parameters should be evaluated further with a larger sample.

Effect of gender and menstrual cycle on immune system response to acute mental stress: apoptosis as a mediator.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to explore the immunological outcomes of short-term mental stress in apoptosis in peripheral lymphocytes and variations by gender and hormonal status of the individuals together with possible mediators of this interaction. METHODS: Acute mental stress (computerized Stroop color-word interference and cold pressor tests) was applied to men (n = 17) and women (n = 16, in both follicular and luteal phases). Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored throughout the test and after the test until baseline values were recorded. Blood samples were drawn for measuring cortisol and nitric oxide (NO) levels and flow-cytometric cell counting before and after the test. RESULTS: Activation of the stress system was ascertained by increased heart rate, blood pressure and serum cortisol levels after the test. Relative to baseline values, acute mental stress altered the distribution of T and natural killer cells. There was a significant decrease in T helper/T cytotoxic-suppressor cell ratio and an increase in apoptotic T helper cell percentage irrespective of gender or menstrual cycle phase. An increased number of natural killer cells was detected in women, whereas it was decreased in men. After stress induction, serum NO levels remained the same in women and increased in men. Although a correlation was not found between immune system changes and NO levels, glucocorticoids seem to have a role in the observed differences. CONCLUSION: Acute mental stress triggers apoptotic T helper cell loss which was associated with stress system activation, and sex steroids affect the pattern of stress-related immune cell distribution.

Effects of oral acrylamide intake on blood viscosity parameters in rats.

Acrylamide which is formed via reaction of reducing sugars with amino acids during food processing at high temperatures is not only neurotoxic and carcinogenic, but it also damages erythrocyte membrane and generates micronucleated erythrocytes. In the present study, effects of chronic administration of acrylamide at a dose which does not induce neurotoxicity were evaluated on blood viscosity parameters (hematocrit, erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation and plasma viscosity). Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and acrylamide groups. The acrylamide group received 10 mg/kg/day acrylamide, whereas the control group received saline (vehicle), both in 10 ml/kg/day volume via gastric gavage. Erythrocyte aggregation and deformability were measured with LORCA and plasma viscosity with cone-plate viscometer. Erythrocyte deformability was measured before, and at the end of the 3rd and the 5th weeks of acrylamide administration. Hematocrit, erythrocyte aggregation and plasma viscosity were measured only at the end of the 5th week. Acrylamide caused a significant decrease in the deformability index of erythrocytes (at the end of the 3rd week, control: 0.606 ± 0.003, acrylamide: 0.595 ± 0.003, p < 0.05) (at the end of the 5th week, control: 0.606 ± 0.002, acrylamide: 0.588 ± 0.002, p < 0.01). Aggregation tendency and plasma viscosity were slightly higher in the acrylamide group, however the difference was not statistically significant. These results imply that acrylamide which does not cause neurotoxicity in rats may alter blood viscosity if chronically taken.