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Older study finds weak synthetic androgen improves weight loss in obese postmenopausal women.  This study compared nandrolone decanoate to spironolactone--an androgen receptor antagonist.  No change in glucose or insulin was seen.  Hard to draw a strong conclusion from this study due to the comparison of a synthetic androgen versus an anti-androgen.  This comparison could have exaggerated the benefit of androgen in these women.

Study results suggest that higher Testosterone and lower Estrogen levels provide anti-inflammatory effects in men.  The inflammatory biomarker assessed here was CRP.  Low total and calculated free Testosterone was associated with an increase in CRP.  In contrast, total and free Estrogen was associated with an increase in CRP.  Estradiol increased WBC count and SHBG was inversely related to WBC count in this study.

Awesome review on the current understanding of Testosterone and Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and CVD.  This article even goes into the literature on androgen receptors.

Great review of androgen dependent and androgen independent prostate cancer.

STudy finds that increased Progesterone receptor expression on epithelial and stromal cells is associated with increased clinical failure of therapy.  Several proposed mechanisms: 88% homologous with androgen receptor suggesting cross-stimulation and via progesterone induced increased androgen receptor gene stimulation i.e. epigenetics.

Good deep look into the testosterone and CVD link.

Artesunate found to have broad range of anti-cancer activity, such as pro-apoptosis attenuation of tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This study primarily looked at the effect in a prostate cancer mouse model. It found that the artesunate down regulated androgen receptors. Now, there is debate about how and when AR and androgens play a role in prostate cancer as studies have also pointed to estrogen and ER in carcinogenesis of the prostate.

Very nice study.  The authors looked at normal prostate, early disease and late stage prostate cancer.  The authors found that ER beta expression, as a general rule, was lost as progression occurred to the high-grade dysplasias and grad 4/5 carcinomas of the prostate.  Early low/moderate dysplasia was associated with an increase in ER beta--the authors propose that this was due to an attempt of the basal epithelium to counter the paracrine effect of ER alpha.   In contrast, androgen receptors appeared to be equally expressed across all.

commonly used pesticides are found to be anti-androgens.  This is growing problem in men today. 

Rheumatoid arthritis would benefit from non-aromatizable androgens (DHT) and from the use of aromatase inhibitors.  This suggests the role of estrogen in the inflammation in those with RA and the anti-inflammatory effect of DHT.

Phthalates have both central inhibition and peripheral effects. This article highlights the peripheral anti-androgen effects of phthalates and phthalate metabolites. 

Another animal study finds Testosterone plays a role in bladder cancer development.  The study used anti androgen and 5 alpha reductase inhibitor therapy to see if these add on therapies provided anything to ADR whether via castration or pituitary suppression--the answer was no.  The authors concluded that Testosterone played more of a role with AR versus the more active 5alpha-DHT metabolite.

balance of enzyme production between 5alpha-reductase and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase and 3alpha(beta)-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase play role in carcinogenesis and proliferation in the balance of production of progesterone metabolites. The 5alpha pregnenes are pro carcinogenic  and the 4-pregnenes are anti carcinogenic.

Fantastic read on the effects of progesterone metabolism on tumor and cancer growth.  Tumorigenesis is not just about the hormone, hormone balance, but about the metabolism of hormones.  This is why premarin is so carcinogenic: it is primarily metabolized by the 4-OH estrone pathway.

Study points to obesity and low Testosterone contribution of neuroinflammation.  No effect of body weight was seen with TRT.  This animal model found similar positive effects of TRT in insulin sensitivity.  Obesity and low T increase inflammatory cytokine production: this study found an increase in TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and TRT reduced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta to near base-line.  Testosterone is neuroprotective and this study reviewed the small volume of evaded that pointed to benefit from estradiol.  Testosterone's effect on glial survival was positive but not significant.  Obesity and low T were found to be associated with increased macrophage infiltration in the PNS with increased TNF-alpha and IL-1beta.   Testosterone therapy improved peripheral neuropathy via its positive effects on nocicieption.

Testosterone therapy aids symptoms of Parkinson's disease.  Whether low T is an associated finding or plays a role has yet to be determined.  However, we do know that androgens play an anti-inflammatory role in men and we know that inflammation plays a role in the neurodegenerative disease that is Parkinson's disease.

Fascinating study on how the addition of Lactobacillus reuteri increased Testicular size, prevented testicular atrophy, increased serum Testosterone production and protected against diet-induced/obesity-induced hypogonadism.  This was a mouse model

full article on the previously posted abstract on Lp(a).  

good review of the effect of environmental xenoestrogens and low T in men.

Estradiol and imbalanced Testosterone:Estradiol ratio contributes to prostatitis.  In this study, with rats, aromatase inhibitors did not improve prostatitis.