Menopause-associated estrogen deficiency has been implicated in cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis (OA) progression. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates evidence from human and animal studies. Five databases were searched until March 2025. Eligible studies included postmenopausal women or ovariectomized (OVX) animal models assessing cartilage degeneration, OA severity, or related biomarkers. Human and animal studies were analyzed separately. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted when outcomes were comparable. Eleven studies met the criteria (human, n = 6; animal, n = 5). Pooled human results for C-terminal telopeptides of type II collagen and magnetic resonance imaging-based cartilage thickness showed non-significant trends toward greater cartilage loss in estrogen-deficient women. OVX animal studies demonstrated significantly greater histological cartilage degeneration compared with controls. Hormone replacement therapy showed inconsistent but directionally protective effects. Estrogen deficiency is associated with cartilage degeneration, with strong supportive evidence from OVX models. Human evidence indicates similar trends but lacks statistical significance, highlighting the need for larger and more standardized studies.

Background: Oral cavity cancers, the second most common type in India, are responsible for 10% of the overall cancer burden. With a recurrence rate of 30% to 40% and a 5-year survival rate of 50%, these malignancies account for substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in treatment modalities, survival rates following treatment completion have not improved significantly. The present study aimed to establish specific epidemiological and pathological factors responsible for recurrence after treatment completion in buccal mucosa cancers. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the data of 116 patients treated for biopsy-proven cancers of the buccal mucosa was undertaken 1 year after treatment completion. Factors such as age, sex, education, lymphovascular invasion, extranodal extension (ENE), perineural invasion, depth of invasion, and pathological margin status were compared between patients who presented with recurrence and those who did not. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: Of the 116 patients, 40 (34.5%) developed a recurrent disease within 1 year. The mean age of the study population was 43.3 years, and males constituted 91.4% of the included patients. Ipsilateral buccal mucosa was the commonest site of disease recurrence. Neck node metastasis, ENE, and margins of resection < 5 mm were significantly related to the recurrence of disease. However, surprisingly, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and depth of invasion > 10 mm did not show statistically significant associations. Conclusion Neck node metastasis, ENE, and margins of resection < 5 mm were the histopathological factors associated with recurrence in cancers of the buccal mucosa.