The epidemiology and management of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a viewpoint from Brazil

Brazil has an aging population, with an associated increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is of particular concern because it leads to an increased risk of fractures, with subsequent negative impacts on health in older women. In recent years, efforts have been made to better understand the epidemiology of osteoporosis in Brazil, and to manage both direct and indirect costs to the Brazilian health care system. The reported prevalence of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women in Brazil varies from 15% to 33%, depending on the study methodology and the use of bone densitometry data or self-reporting by participants. A diagnosis of osteoporosis can be made on the basis of fractures occurring without significant trauma or on the basis of low bone mineral density measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. To reduce the risk of osteoporosis, all postmenopausal women should be encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes physical activity and a balanced diet. Smoking and alcohol use should also be addressed. Special attention should be given to interventions to reduce the risk of falls, especially among older women. Calcium intake should be encouraged, preferably through diet. The decision to recommend calcium supplementation should be made individually because there is concern about a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with this treatment. Brazilian women obtain a minimal amount of vitamin D from their diet, and supplementation is warranted in women with little exposure to solar ultraviolet-B radiation. For women diagnosed with osteoporosis, some form of pharmacologic therapy should be initiated. Compliance with treatment should be monitored, and the treatment period should be individualized for each patient. The Brazilian government provides medication for osteoporosis through the public health system free of charge, but without proper epidemiological knowledge, the implementation of public health programs is impaired.Brazil has an aging population, with an associated increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is of particular concern because it leads to an increased risk of fractures, with subsequent negative impacts on health in older10583591sem informaçãosem informaçã

Current management in endometrial polyps

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Qualidade de vida e sintomas da menopausa em mulheres transplantadas hepáticas

PURPOSE: To assess quality of life and climacteric symptoms in women with and without liver transplants. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 52 women undergoing follow-up at a university hospital in southeastern Brazil from February 4th, 2009 to January 5th, 2011. Twenty-four of these women were 35 years old or older and had undergone liver transplantation at least one year before study entry. The remaining 28 women had no liver disease and were matched by age and menstrual patterns to the patients with transplants. The abbreviated version of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Statistical analysis was carried out by Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and analysis of variance. Correlations between MRS and the WHOQOL-BREF were established by correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The mean age of the women included in the study was 52.2 (±10.4) years and the mean time since transplantation was 6.1 (±3.3) years. Women with liver transplants had better quality of life scores in the environment domain (p=0.01). No difference was noted between the two groups in any domain of the MRS. For women in the comparison group, there was a strongly negative correlation between somatic symptoms in the MRS and the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (p<0.01; r=-0.8). In contrast, there was only a moderate association for women with liver transplants (p<0.01; r=-0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Women with liver transplants had better quality of life scores in the domain related to environment and did not exhibit more intense climacteric symptoms than did those with no liver disease. Climacteric symptoms negatively influenced quality of life in liver transplant recipients, although less intensely than in women without a history of liver disease.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida e os sintomas do climatério em mulheres com e sem transplante de fígado. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal com 52 mulheres em acompanhamento ambulatorial em um hospital universitário na região sudeste do Brasil no período de 04/02/09 a 05/01/11. Dessas mulheres, 24 tinham 35 anos ou mais e haviam sido submetidas a transplante de fígado a pelo menos um ano antes do início do estudo. As outras 28 mulheres não tinham doença hepática e suas idades e padrões menstruais eram similares ao das transplantadas hepáticas. Para avaliação da qualidade de vida foi usada a versão abreviada do questionário da Organização Mundial da Saúde (WHOQOL-bref). Os sintomas da menopausa foram avaliados através do Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). A análise estatística foi realizada através dos testes t de Student, Mann-Whitney e ANOVA. As correlações entre o MRS e o WHOQOL-bref foram realizadas através de coeficientes de correlação. RESULTADOS: A idade média das mulheres incluídas no estudo foi de 52,2 (±10,4) anos e o tempo médio desde a realização do transplante foi de 6,1 (±3,3) anos. As mulheres transplantadas hepáticas tiveram melhores escores de qualidade de vida no domínio relacionado ao meio ambiente (p=0,01). Não houve diferença entre os dois grupos em nenhum domínio do MRS. As mulheres no grupo de comparação tiveram uma correlação fortemente negativa entre os sintomas somáticos do MRS e o domínio físico do WHOQOL-bref (p<0,01; r=-0,8), diferentemente das mulheres com transplante de fígado que tiveram uma correlação apenas moderada (p<0,01; r=-0,5). CONCLUSÕES: As mulheres com transplante de fígado tiveram melhores escores de qualidade de vida no domínio relacionado ao meio ambiente e não tiveram sintomas climatéricos mais intensos. Os sintomas do climatério influenciaram negativamente a qualidade de vida nas transplantadas hepáticas, porém com menor intensidade do que nas mulheres sem antecedentes de doença hepática.103110Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Quality Of Life And Menopausal Symptoms In Women With Liver Transplants.

To assess quality of life and climacteric symptoms in women with and without liver transplants. This was a cross-sectional study of 52 women undergoing follow-up at a university hospital in southeastern Brazil from February 4th, 2009 to January 5th, 2011. Twenty-four of these women were 35 years old or older and had undergone liver transplantation at least one year before study entry. The remaining 28 women had no liver disease and were matched by age and menstrual patterns to the patients with transplants. The abbreviated version of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Statistical analysis was carried out by Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and analysis of variance. Correlations between MRS and the WHOQOL-BREF were established by correlation coefficients. The mean age of the women included in the study was 52.2 (± 10.4) years and the mean time since transplantation was 6.1 (± 3.3) years. Women with liver transplants had better quality of life scores in the environment domain (p=0.01). No difference was noted between the two groups in any domain of the MRS. For women in the comparison group, there was a strongly negative correlation between somatic symptoms in the MRS and the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (p<0.01; r=-0.8). In contrast, there was only a moderate association for women with liver transplants (p<0.01; r=-0.5). Women with liver transplants had better quality of life scores in the domain related to environment and did not exhibit more intense climacteric symptoms than did those with no liver disease. Climacteric symptoms negatively influenced quality of life in liver transplant recipients, although less intensely than in women without a history of liver disease.35103-1

Complications in total breast reconstruction in patients treated for breast cancer: long-term comparative analysis of the influence of the technique, operative time, timing of reconstruction, and adjuvant treatment

INTRODUCTION: Some techniques for total reconstruction of the breast, regardless of complexity, present specific complications, with varying degrees of morbidity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the most frequent complications of the main techniques used for breast reconstruction, and to compare these complications to the relevant independent variables. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of patients who had their breasts completely rebuilt after a mastectomy due to breast cancer from January 2007 to December 2009, with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 3 years. The data collected, such as the timing of the intervention, reconstruction techniques, operative time, and adjuvant treatment, were statistically related to the presence of complications. RESULTS: Of the 48 total breast reconstructions analyzed, the technique in which expanders were used followed by replacement with implants showed the lowest prevalence of complications (16.7%, P < 0.000). Some techniques showed specific complications. The operative time for transplantation of transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap (363.57 ± 59.91 min) was significantly higher than that required for techniques using alloplastic materials (155.71 ± 38.02 min, P = 0.01), but similar to that for the latissimus dorsi flap (309.69 ± 77.66 min). The operative time, timing of surgical intervention, and type of adjuvant treatment did not correlate with the incidence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Each technique has its indications, contraindications, and complications. The application of each technique should be individualized on the basis of the individual characteristics of the patient to obtain better results, avoiding short- and long-term complications.INTRODUÇÃO: Algumas técnicas de reconstrução total de mama, independentemente de sua complexidade, apresentam complicações específicas, com diferentes graus de morbidade. Com base nessas informações, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as complicações mais frequentes apresentadas pelas principais técnicas de reconstrução mamária e compará-las a relevantes variáveis independentes. MÉTODO: Estudo observacional tipo coorte transversal, realizado por meio de revisão de prontuários médicos de pacientes que tiveram suas mamas totalmente reconstruídas após mastectomia por câncer de mama, no período de janeiro de 2007 a dezembro de 2009, com tempo mínimo de seguimento pós-operatório de 3 anos. Os dados coletados, como momento da intervenção, técnicas de reconstrução, tempo de cirurgia e tratamento adjuvante, foram estatisticamente relacionados à presença de complicações. RESULTADOS: Das 48 reconstruções mamárias totais analisadas, a técnica com expansor seguido pela troca por implante mamário foi a que apresentou menor prevalência de complicação em relação às outras técnicas (16,7%; P < 0,000). Algumas técnicas apresentaram complicações específicas. O tempo cirúrgico do retalho transverso do músculo reto abdominal (TRAM; 363,57 ± 59,91 minutos) foi significativamente maior que das técnicas com materiais aloplásticos (155,71 ± 38,02 minutos; P = 0,01), mas semelhante ao do grande dorsal (309,69 ± 77,66 minutos). O tempo de cirurgia, o momento da intervenção cirúrgica e o tipo de tratamento adjuvante não apresentaram relação com a incidência de complicações. CONCLUSÕES: Cada técnica empregada tem sua indicação, contraindicação e complicação e a aplicação de cada técnica deve ser individualizada, baseando-se em características individuais da paciente, a fim de se obter um melhor resultado, evitando complicações a curto e longo prazos.859

Accuracy Of Sonography And Hysteroscopy In The Diagnosis Of Premalignant And Malignant Polyps In Postmenopausal Women.

To evaluate the accuracy of sonographic endometrial thickness and hysteroscopic characteristics in predicting malignancy in postmenopausal women undergoing surgical resection of endometrial polyps. Five hundred twenty-one (521) postmenopausal women undergoing hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps between January 1998 and December 2008 were studied. For each value of sonographic endometrial thickness and polyp size on hysteroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated in relation to the histologic diagnosis of malignancy. The best values of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy were determined by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. Histologic diagnosis identified the presence of premalignancy or malignancy in 4.1% of cases. Sonographic measurement revealed a greater endometrial thickness in cases of malignant polyps when compared to benign and premalignant polyps. On surgical hysteroscopy, malignant endometrial polyps were also larger. An endometrial thickness of 13 mm showed a sensitivity of 69.6%, specificity of 68.5%, PPV of 9.3%, and NPV of 98% in predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps. Polyp measurement by hysteroscopy showed that for polyps 30 mm in size, the sensitivity was 47.8%, specificity was 66.1%, PPV was 6.1%, and NPV was 96.5% for predicting cancer. Sonographic endometrial thickness showed a higher level of accuracy than hysteroscopic measurement in predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps. Despite this, both techniques showed low accuracy for predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps in postmenopausal women. In suspected cases, histologic evaluation is necessary to exclude malignancy.35243-

Climacteric and sexuality

939

The effect of soy dietary supplement and low dose of hormone therapy on main cardiovascular health biomarkers: a randomized controlled trial

To assess the effects of a soy dietary supplement on the main biomarkers of cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women compared with the effects of low-dose hormone therapy (HT) and placebo. Double-blind, randomized and controlled intention-to-treat trial. Sixty healthy postmenopausal women, aged 40-60 years, 4.1 years mean time since menopause were recruited and randomly assigned to 3 groups: a soy dietary supplement group (isoflavone 90mg), a low-dose HT group (estradiol 1 mg plus noretisterone 0.5 mg) and a placebo group. Lipid profile, glucose level, body mass index, blood pressure and abdominal/hip ratio were evaluated in all the participants at baseline and after 16 weeks. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ2 test, Fisher's exact test, Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), paired Student's t-test and Wilcoxon test. After a 16-week intervention period, total cholesterol decreased 11.3% and LDL-cholesterol decreased 18.6% in the HT group, but both did not change in the soy dietary supplement and placebo groups. Values for triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, glucose level, body mass index, blood pressure and abdominal/hip ratio did not change over time in any of the three groups. The use of dietary soy supplement did not show any significant favorable effect on cardiovascular health biomarkers compared with HT. The trial is registered at the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - ReBEC), number RBR-76mm75.To assess the effects of a soy dietary supplement on the main biomarkers of cardiovascular health in postmenopausalwomen compared with the effects of low-dose hormone therapy (HT) and placebo. Double-blind, randomizedand controlled intention-to-treat36251258FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO03/04464-

Acurácia da ultrassonografia e da histeroscopia no diagnóstico de pólipos endometriais pré-malignos e malignos na pós-menopausa

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of sonographic endometrial thickness and hysteroscopic characteristics in predicting malignancy in postmenopausal women undergoing surgical resection of endometrial polyps. METHODS: Five hundred twenty-one (521) postmenopausal women undergoing hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps between January 1998 and December 2008 were studied. For each value of sonographic endometrial thickness and polyp size on hysteroscopy, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated in relation to the histologic diagnosis of malignancy. The best values of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy were determined by the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: Histologic diagnosis identified the presence of premalignancy or malignancy in 4.1% of cases. Sonographic measurement revealed a greater endometrial thickness in cases of malignant polyps when compared to benign and premalignant polyps. On surgical hysteroscopy, malignant endometrial polyps were also larger. An endometrial thickness of 13 mm showed a sensitivity of 69.6%, specificity of 68.5%, PPV of 9.3%, and NPV of 98% in predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps. Polyp measurement by hysteroscopy showed that for polyps 30 mm in size, the sensitivity was 47.8%, specificity was 66.1%, PPV was 6.1%, and NPV was 96.5% for predicting cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Sonographic endometrial thickness showed a higher level of accuracy than hysteroscopic measurement in predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps. Despite this, both techniques showed low accuracy for predicting malignancy in endometrial polyps in postmenopausal women. In suspected cases, histologic evaluation is necessary to exclude malignancy.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a acurácia da espessura endometrial ecográfica e características histeroscópicas em predizer malignidade em mulheres na pós-menopausa submetidas à ressecção cirúrgica de pólipos endometriais. MÉTODOS: Quinhentos e vinte e uma (521) mulheres na pós-menopausa submetidas à ressecção histeroscópica de pólipo endometrial entre janeiro de 1998 e dezembro de 2008 foram incluídas no estudo. Para cada valor de espessura endometrial ecográfica e tamanho dos pólipos na histeroscopia, a sensibilidade, a especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP) e valor preditivo negativo (VPN) foram calculados em relação ao diagnóstico histológico de malignidade. Os melhores valores de sensibilidade e especificidade para o diagnóstico de malignidade foram determinados pela curva Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC). RESULTADOS: O diagnóstico histológico identificou a presença de pré-malignidade ou malignidade em 4,1% dos casos. A espessura endometrial medida por ultrassonografia em casos de pólipos malignos foi maior quando comparado com pólipos benignos e pré-malignos. Na histeroscopia os pólipos malignos também foram maiores. A espessura endometrial de 13 mm mostrou uma sensibilidade de 69,6%, especificidade de 68,5%, VPP de 9,3% e VPN de 98% para predizer malignidade em pólipo endometrial. A medida do pólipo por histeroscopia mostrou que para pólipos de 30 mm de tamanho, a sensibilidade foi de 47,8%, a especificidade foi de 66,1%, VPP foi de 6,1% e VPN foi de 96,5% para predizer o câncer. CONCLUSÕES: A espessura endometrial ultrassonográfica mostrou uma maior acurácia que a avaliação histeroscópica do tamanho do pólipo para predizer malignidade nessas lesões endometriais. Apesar disso, ambas as técnicas não mostraram boa acurácia para excluir a necessidade de fazer a avaliação histológica dos casos suspeitos.24324