Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in enzymes that metabolize sex steroid hormones were associated with the blood levels of these hormones in postmenopausal women and if the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could modify this association. Methods: Baseline data were collected from 932 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Minnesota Green Tea Trial. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical and reproductive history. Free, bioavailable, and total serum levels of reproductive hormones were measured through liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. For genotyping of UGT1A1 (rs10928303), UGT1A4 (rs10929301, rs11673726), UGT1A6 (rs1105879, rs2070959, rs6759892), UGT1A8 (rs10167119), UGT2B7 (rs7439366), and SULT1A1 (rs9282861, rs1968752), mass spectrometry based on multiplex methods and TaqMan assays were performed.Adjusted linear models were fit to assess the associations between SNPs and blood hormones using age, body mass index (BMI), and MHT as covariates. Results: The mean age was 59.8 years, and the mean BMI was 25.1 kg/m 2 . Past or recent use of MHT was reported by 41.2% of the participants. SNPs in SULT1A1 (rs1968752 and rs9282861) and UGT1A4 (rs11673726) genes were significantly associated with estrone levels, whereas SNPs in UGT1A6 (rs6759892) and UGT1A8 (rs10167119) genes were significantly associated with bioavailable estradiol levels. Conclusions There was no evidence that MHT use modified the association between SNPs and sex-steroid hormone levels; however, further studies are needed to establish the potential clinical significance of UGT1A4 (rs11673726), UGT1A6 (rs6759892), and UGT1A8 (rs10167119) SNPs and the modulation of hormone levels in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in enzymes that metabolize sex steroid hormones were associated with the blood levels of these hormones in postmenopausal women and if the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) could modify this association. Methods: Baseline data were collected from 932 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Minnesota Green Tea Trial. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical and reproductive history. Free, bioavailable, and total serum levels of reproductive hormones were measured through liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. For genotyping of UGT1A1 (rs10928303), UGT1A4 (rs10929301, rs11673726), UGT1A6 (rs1105879, rs2070959, rs6759892), UGT1A8 (rs10167119), UGT2B7 (rs7439366), and SULT1A1 (rs9282861, rs1968752), mass spectrometry based on multiplex methods and TaqMan assays were performed.Adjusted linear models were fit to assess the associations between SNPs and blood hormones using age, body mass index (BMI), and MHT as covariates. Results: The mean age was 59.8 years, and the mean BMI was 25.1 kg/m 2 . Past or recent use of MHT was reported by 41.2% of the participants. SNPs in SULT1A1 (rs1968752 and rs9282861) and UGT1A4 (rs11673726) genes were significantly associated with estrone levels, whereas SNPs in UGT1A6 (rs6759892) and UGT1A8 (rs10167119) genes were significantly associated with bioavailable estradiol levels. Conclusions There was no evidence that MHT use modified the association between SNPs and sex-steroid hormone levels; however, further studies are needed to establish the potential clinical significance of UGT1A4 (rs11673726), UGT1A6 (rs6759892), and UGT1A8 (rs10167119) SNPs and the modulation of hormone levels in postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Urinary retention is a widely recognised postoperative complication. Although anecdotally lower limb arthroplasty is linked with high rates of urinary retention, there are no current accepted standards for determining which patients are at higher risk and should therefore be offered intra operative catheterisation. Materials and Methods: One hundred patients, 55 females and 45 males, who underwent uncomplicated total hip or total knee replacements at Furness General Hospital were recruited between January and April 2017. Results: Post-operative urinary retention was seen frequently, with 38 patients (38%) requiring post-operative catheterisation. Twenty-one males (46%) developed postoperative retention compared to 17 (30%) of females, representing a statistically significant increase in risk seen in male patients. (p 0.009). Post-operative urinary retention requiring catheterisation was associated with increasing age, with those over 75 years having a significantly higher risk than those less than 75 years irrespective of gender (p 0.04). There was no significant difference in urinary retention rates between patients who had general (n=21) or spinal anaesthetic (n=79) with 33% of GA patients and 39% of spinal anaesthetic patients requiring catheterisation (p 0.17). Conclusion: There are increased rates of urinary retention seen in lower limb arthroplasty patients than those described in the general surgical population, with male patients and all those over 75 years of age having a significantly higher risk. Clinically, it may therefore be sensible to consider offering routine intra operative catheterisation to this cohort of patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of extracts prepared from avocado, walnut, flaxseed and Eruca sativa seeds in a rat model of kidney dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal cisplatin.

METHODSEthanol and petroleum ether extracts mixture was prepared from each plant. Six groups of rats were conducted; control healthy, cisplatin group and four test groups where rats were given daily oral dose of each extract mixture before cisplatin injection. Different biochemical and cytogenetic parameters and kidney histopathology were determined. Acute toxicity was tested for the nutraceuticals. Total phenolic contents, fatty acids (FA) and unsaponifiable matter were assessed in the extracts.

RESULTSWalnut ethanol extract showed the highest content of total phenolic. FA analysis revealed that all the studied plants were rich in unsaturated FA. Gas-liquid chromatographic investigation of the unsaponifiable matter showed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in all the studied plants. Cisplatin treatment induced significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine and malondialdehyde along with significant reduction of plasma albumin, total protein, catalase and total antioxidant as well as reduction in creatinine clearance. Histopathological examination proved the induction of kidney dysfunction. Some sorts of chromosomal aberration and sperm-shape abnormalities were noticed after cisplatin treatment. Administration of extracts mixtures produced improvements in biochemical, histopathological and cytogenetic parameters.

CONCLUSIONSAdministration of the studied nutraceuticals proved to possess protective role against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, chromosomal aberration and abnormal sperms. All studied nutraceuticals showed complete safety.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of extracts prepared from avocado, walnut, flaxseed and Eruca sativa seeds in a rat model of kidney dysfunction induced by intraperitoneal cisplatin. Methods: Ethanol and petroleum ether extracts mixture was prepared from each plant. Six groups of rats were conducted; control healthy, cisplatin group and four test groups where rats were given daily oral dose of each extract mixture before cisplatin injection. Different biochemical and cytogenetic parameters and kidney histopathology were determined. Acute toxicity was tested for the nutraceuticals. Total phenolic contents, fatty acids (FA) and unsaponifiable matter were assessed in the extracts. Results: Walnut ethanol extract showed the highest content of total phenolic. FA analysis revealed that all the studied plants were rich in unsaturated FA. Gas-liquid chromatographic investigation of the unsaponifiable matter showed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol in all the studied plants. Cisplatin treatment induced significant increase in plasma urea, creatinine and malondialdehyde along with significant reduction of plasma albumin, total protein, catalase and total antioxidant as well as reduction in creatinine clearance. Histopathological examination proved the induction of kidney dysfunction. Some sorts of chromosomal aberration and sperm-shape abnormalities were noticed after cisplatin treatment. Administration of extracts mixtures produced improvements in biochemical, histopathological and cytogenetic parameters. Conclusions: Administration of the studied nutraceuticals proved to possess protective role against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity, chromosomal aberration and abnormal sperms. All studied nutraceuticals showed complete safety.