Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
 172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Major depression has been repeatedly but not consistently reported to be associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and to an increased risk for fracture in women. We have investigated, in healthy postmenopausal women, whether depressive symptomatology, assessed by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), was associated to a significant decrease in BMD, hence supporting the hypothesis of an independent pathogenetic link between the two disorders. We investigated 121 postmenopausal women, aged 48-77 years, spontaneously attending a screening visit for osteoporosis in an outpatient facility. BMD of the spine and the non-dominant hip (total and neck areas) were measured by Dual Energy X-Ray absorptiometry. All subjects completed to the 'General Health Questionnaire' translated and validated in French. No significant correlations were observed between the GHQ score and BMD of the spine (P = 0.54), the total hip area (P = 0.65), or the femoral neck area (P = 0.65). No differences in terms of spinal or femoral BMD were observed between women with GHQ score < 5 or > or = 5. When comparing values of BMD between women within the upper and the lower quartiles for GHQ score, no difference was observed for spine (P = 0.69), total hip (P = 0.80), or femoral neck (P = 0.93). Similarly, GHQ scores were not significantly different when comparing women in the upper and lower quartiles of BMD distribution at the spine or the hip. In conclusion, notwithstanding the clinical pattern of postmenopausal osteoporosis can lead to depression and, on the other hand, hormonal and behavioral disturbances reported in depression might be enhancing factors for accelerated bone loss, our present results do not support the hypothesis that otherwise healthy postmenopausal women with increased depressive complaints are also more prone to exhibit osteoporotic fractures.
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PMID:Depressive vulnerability is not an independent risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. 1059 77

Little is known regarding the risk perceptions of older women for the chronic illnesses for which they are at highest risk. The purpose of this study was to explore the actual and perceived risk for six chronic illnesses: coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), breast and colorectal cancer, osteoporosis, and depression. In addition, the relationship of demographic characteristics of the women and their perceived and functional health status to actual risk factors and risk perception was studied. A convenience sample of 102 rural women aged 65-91 answered a questionnaire on their actual and perceived risk for the chronic illnesses. As in younger samples, these older women generally underestimated their risk of disease. There was no relationship between demographics and risk perception, but there was a significant correlation between perceived health and functional status and risk perception. Only those actual risk factors associated with life experience were associated with increased perceived risk, supporting earlier findings that life experience has more influence on risk perception than the presence of actual risk factors per se. Based on the results of this study, clinicians should assume that older women patients are likely to underestimate their risk for common health problems. Clinicians are advised, therefore, in addition to regular evaluation of actual risk based on epidemiologic data, to probe their patients for information regarding their perception of risk and the basis of that perception. Combining information regarding perceived risk with actual risk data, the clinician can work with the patient to develop and implement an effective personalized risk management program.
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PMID:Actual and perceived risk for chronic illness in rural older women. 1064 99

Osteoporosis is an important health problem in the United States affecting approximately 24 million Americans, 15 to 20 million of whom are women over 45 years of age. Bone fractures are the major cause of morbidity and mortality associated with osteoporosis. The most common fractures are those of the forearm, hip, and vertebral body, as well as the humerus, tibia, pelvis, and ribs. Osteoporosis-related injuries result in complications leading to prolonged hospitalization, decreased independence, increased incidence of depression, and a reduced quality of life. The disease takes an enormous personal and economic toll, with estimated costs in excess of $13.8 billion annually for direct medical treatment. The incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures is increasing and constitutes a major public health problem in the United States. With a few preventive measures such as identification of risk factors, careful examination, and a few simple diagnostic tests, prevention of osteoporosis during the teen and early adult years is far superior to any treatment for older individuals. Osteoporosis can be identified and an appropriate treatment strategy can be determined.
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PMID:Osteoporosis: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. 1065 58

Persons with chronic SCI have several metabolic disturbances. As a consequence of inactivity and the body compositional changes of decreased skeletal muscle with a relative increase in adiposity, a state of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia has been demonstrated to exist, associated with abnormalities in oral carbohydrate handling. Elevated plasma insulin levels in persons with SCI probably contribute to the cause of frequent dyslipidemia and hypertension. This constellation of metabolic changes represents an atherogenic pattern of CHD risk factors with many of the distinctive features of a cardiovascular dysmetabolic syndrome that is called syndrome X. Reduction in modifiable risk factors for CHD should decrease the occurrence of catastrophic cardiovascular events. There is evidence to suggest that endogenous anabolic hormone levels are depressed in a proportion of individuals with SCI. Depression of serum testosterone and growth hormone/IGF-I levels may exacerbate the adverse lipid and body compositional changes, reduce exercise tolerance, and have deleterious effects on quality of life. Because of immobilization, individuals with paraplegia have osteoporosis of the pelvis and lower extremities, and those with tetraplegia also have osteoporosis of the upper extremities. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that bone loss progresses with time in persons with chronic SCI. This may be caused by chronic immobilization per se or may be a consequence of adverse hormonal changes, including deficiency of anabolic hormones or deficiency of vitamin D and calcium with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Serum thyroid function abnormalities resembling the euthyroid sick "low T3 syndrome" have been reported in those with acute and chronic spinal cord injury. Depressed serum T3 and elevated rT3 in chronic SCI may be caused by associated illness. Current practice has been hesitant to treat abnormal serum thyroid chemistries associated with nonthyroidal illness. Recognition of metabolic abnormalities in individuals with SCI is vital as a first step in improving clinical care. The application of appropriate interventions to correct or ameliorate these abnormalities promises to improve longevity and quality of life in persons with SCI.
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PMID:Metabolic changes in persons after spinal cord injury. 1068 Jan 61

The discovery of a second estrogen receptor (ER), ERbeta, has led to a complete change in our views on estrogen action. The previous dogmatic view that ERalpha represented the only estrogen receptor led to a static and simplistic concept of mechanisms of estrogen action with conceptual limitations in the development of novel estrogenic and antiestrogenic drugs. It is now realized that estrogen signaling represents a complex and multi facetted signal transduction pathway with, at least in many cases, quite different roles of ERalpha and ERbeta. For instance, the two receptors appear to behave quite differently on AP1, antioxidant and Sp1-response elements where ERbeta mediates positive regulation by antiestrogens whereas ERalpha is silent under these conditions. ERalpha and ERbeta also appear to be differentially distributed in the body and within tissues. They are regulated differently and seem to have distinct biological roles, at least in certain contexts. Data are currently rapidly generated with respect to these issues from knockout animals with either of the two receptors deleted. Also double knockouts have been generated and apparently survive. ERbeta may well have significant roles in the etiology of the following diseases and symptoms: prostate cancer, osteoporosis, depression, as well as urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. Attempts are ongoing in several labs to develop specific ligands to the two receptors. Such ligands may well turn out to be extremely important in treating the mentioned diseases and symptoms as well as possibly others.
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PMID:An update on estrogen receptors. 1070 63

We have been slow to recognize the impact that decisions about transport, land use and infrastructure have on health. Apart from encouraging a sedentary lifestyle, reliance on motor vehicle transport has a range of adverse health effects (traffic accidents, air and noise pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions). Physical activity equivalent to 30 minutes (in total) of brisk walking on all, or most, days of the week provides preventive and protective benefits for a wide range of health conditions (including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and osteoporosis). "Active transport"--walking, cycling and/or using public transport instead of car travel--could have dual health benefits by providing physical activity and reducing the adverse health effects of motor vehicle transport. Doctors, medical administrators and health advocates can encourage the use of "active transport", and influence community-based programs and policy development about land use planning and travel demand management.
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PMID:Transport and health: en route to a healthier Australia? 1077 96

Introduction and Objectives: Raloxifene, a novel selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is under investigation for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Like traditional estrogen replacement therapy, raloxifene has beneficial effects on bone and on serum lipids whereas, in contrast to estrogen's adverse effects in the breast and uterus, raloxifene is an estrogen antagonist in the breast and is nonstimulatory in the uterus. This study examines the effects of raloxifene 60 mg/day compared with placebo on: 1) the incidence of vasomotor symptoms: hot flashes (flushing) and sweating (including night sweats), 2) the severity and time course of hot flashes, and 3) the relation of hot flashes to baseline subject characteristics and study discontinuations. Additionally, the study explores the effects of raloxifene 60 mg/day compared with placebo on other climacteric symptoms that affect the quality of life of postmenopausal women, such as depression, insomnia, mood lability and genitourinary complaints.Methods: Integrated data from five randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving 1,165 healthy, postmenopausal women, with up to 30 months of study drug exposure, were analyzed. The incidence and severity of hot flashes and other climacteric symptoms were compared in patients treated with placebo or raloxifene (60 mg/day) via open-ended, non-directed subject self-assessment questionnaires. Data were analyzed for subgroup-by-therapy interactions using many baseline subject characteristics such as age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, and years post-menopause, as well as preexisting conditions such as hot flashes, sweating, insomnia, depression, and history of hysterectomy. The overall incidence of other climacteric symptoms were reported as adverse events.Results: The increase in overall incidence of hot flashes in raloxifene-treated (24.6%) and placebo-treated (18.3%) subjects was modest, but statistically significant. However, this difference was significant only during the first 6 months of therapy, raloxifene (20.1%) compared with placebo (14.4%). After 6 months of treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of hot flashes between the two treatment groups. The majority of hot flashes in raloxifene-treated subjects were subject-assessed as "mild-to-moderate" in severity (89%). The incidence of hot flashes reported as "severe" did not differ significantly in raloxifene- or placebo-treated subjects. Subgroup analyses revealed the overall incidence of hot flashes to be highest for both raloxifene and placebo-treated subjects, in younger (age < 55 years) women (P =.004), in women who had previously experienced hot flashes (P =.031), and in women having had hysterectomies (P <.001). Within each of these subgroups, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of hot flashes between the raloxifene and placebo groups. Between the two treatment groups, there was no difference in the overall incidence of subject discontinuations from study due to hot flashes. The occurrence of the other common vasomotor symptom, sweating (which includes night sweats), was not statistically different for the raloxifene- or placebo-treated subjects.Genitourinary complaints are often symptoms related to vaginal dryness, such as dyspareunia and decreased libido, as well as other symptoms of vaginitis and leukorrhea. No statistically significant differences occurred for raloxifene- or placebo-treated subjects in reports of these genitourinary symptoms. Similarly, for the other common climacteric symptoms; depression, insomnia, and mood lability, no significant differences in incidence between the raloxifene and placebo treatment groups were observed.Conclusions: Raloxifene (60 mg/day) treatment modestly increased the incidence of hot flashes compared with placebo, however, this difference was only statistically significant during the first 6 months of treatment. There were no differences in the severity of hot flashes between treatment groups, and this symptom did not adversely affect subjects' study participation. In both the raloxifene and placebo treatment groups, young postmenopausal women (age < 55), those with baseline hot flashes, and those with histories of hysterectomy were most likely to experience hot flashes. Raloxifene therapy did not affect the occurrence of other climacteric symptoms commonly affecting the quality of life of women after menopause.
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PMID:Raloxifene effects on vasomotor and other climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. 1083 11

Thyroid gland ultrasonography is recommended in patients with nonspecific clinical symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, amnesic symptoms, depression, bradycardia, abnormal myocardial contractility, increased diastolic pressure, hypercholesterolemia, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, fibrocystic breast disease, anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and osteoporosis. Subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can cause any of the above mentioned symptoms. Diffusely decreased, decreased and inhomogenous thyroid gland echogenicity requires laboratory examination. Thyroid gland ultrasonography is recommended also in patients with type I. diabetes mellitus and vitiligo because of increased incidence of thyroid disorders in these patients. Clinical observation of patients treated with Lithium, Amiodaron or Interferon is also recommended. (Tab. 2, Fig. 6, Ref. 18.)
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PMID:Contribution of thyroid gland ultrasound for screening of patients with suspected subclinical thyroid gland disorders. 1091 42

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was initially given to protect women against osteoporosis and alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, depression, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness. In view of the understanding of oestrogen deficiency as a major trigger for the acceleration of cardiovascular risk after menopause, HRT may also be proposed as a substantial beneficial cardioprotective agent. Progestins, which may be added to oestrogen in combined HRT to reduce the risk of uterine malignancy, have a number of potential adverse effects on the cardiovascular system which could even attenuate the benefit of unopposed oestrogen replacement therapy in post-menopausal women.
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PMID:The relative effects of progesterone and progestins in hormone replacement therapy. 1092 19

Androgen suppressive maneuvers still represent the gold standard for prostate cancer patients. However, they are associated with side effects (fatigue, sexual impotence, hot flushes, anemia, anxiety, depression and osteoporosis) all of which have a negative impact on quality of life. Nonsteroidal antiandrogens compete with dihydrotestosterone for the linkage of its own receptors. These compounds are commonly used in combination with suppressive maneuvers. However, there is a growing experience with them as monotherapy, based on the possibility to spare gonadal function and therefore prevent the effects related to its suppression. Many studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of this approach, which can represent a valuable alternative to suppressive maneuvers for patients wishing to retain sexual function, especially for those without distant metastases. Unfortunately, none of the comparative studies performed so far had the power to detect the equivalence between monotherapy and castration.
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PMID:Hormone therapy of prostate cancer: is there a role for antiandrogen monotherapy? 1093 69


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