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Free and total Testosterone in men found to be positively associated with HDL, but negatively associated with triglycerides and VLDL in this study.

This is a short interview of the author on a recent retrospective review that revealed no increase in cardiovascular events in men.  The author rightly points out his data, which is quite different than the previous JAMA and PLOSone publications which showed an increase in cardiovascular events.   However, the lead author points out the main problem with comparisons:  his study group was younger and healthier.  So, the comparison is apples to oranges.  Studies still point to increased risk of Testosterone therapy in men with pre-existing CVD.  This new study does not refute this point at all.   Another serious flaw here, is that only Testosterone was followed.  This logic is seriously flawed as I have previously documented.  The author points out the flaw in the levels in the JAMA study post treatment.  But he fails to account for the the lack of adequate pathway assessment i.e.aromatazation.  Also, no inflammatory cytokine evaluation was performed in that study.  Both of these should have been highlighted.    In contrast, a positive was the length of follow.

11 beta HSD type 1 increases in menopause in normal weight women.  This may explain some of the metabolism changes seen in women post-menopause.

discussion of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of Testosterone topical therapy.  Hard to draw conclusions from this study as the dosing was 100 mg + daily.

another press article on the recent publication out of the low T clinics.  The conclusion statement says it all: "I don't think this study adds much to the studies that have already been done".   I would so, it does''t add anything.

Metabolic syndrome associated with increased risk of prostate enlargement in elderly Chinese men.  The study highlighted insulin resistance as a key risk.  Insulin resistance is known to increase aromatase activity and thus estrogen production which will increase prostate growth.

Low free Testosterone associated muscle loss in Japanese women.  This points to other studies that low T can cause problems in women--in this case muscle loss.  Like many things, Testosterone in women is likely a "U" shaped curve of function: low and high are bad with physiologic therapy good.

Abstract published ahead of print finds that DHT and calculated free DHT was associated with CVD and all-cause mortality.  This cohort found that Total Testosterone and calculated free Testosterone were not.  

Great article.  Really shows the depth of the androgens and androgen metabolites in diabetes and diabetic complications.  In this study, DHT and its metabolis 3-alpha androstanediol were shown to reduce inflammation and pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.  Significant reduction in inflammation signaling (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) was seen as was potential neurodegenerative processes (glutamate release and astrocyte immunoreactivity).

The point of this study post is not the focus on the sex change, but that estrogen dosing in men is associated with increased CVD. This is known from the other literature.

Estriol, the dominant estrogen in pregnancy shown to decrease MS symptoms.  When Estriol was stopped, MS lesions relapsed.  Estriol binds to ERbeta at a rate of 5:1 compared to ER alpha.

Pregnancy has a neutral to likely positive effect during pregnancy.  This is due to the high E3 production.

Animal study finds that Bisphenol A exposure in utero has profound different effects in male offspring versus female offspring.  In the male offspring there appears to be an up regulation of the HPA axis.  The opposite appears true in the female off spring.  Additionally, the receptors are effected differently as well.

Mouse study finds that estrogen signaling slows insulin resistance in animals fed High fat diet.  This mechanism of signaling occurs through the ER alpha pathway.

I can only find the abstract of this article.  This article fits with the growing body of evidence that low Testosterone is a poor prognostic factor for men with prostate cancer.  This very short abstract points to using low levels of "free Testosterone" as a biomarker to treat low-risk prostate cancer.

To be read

Study finds no worsening in cardiovascular biomarkers in women on Testosterone.  The women in this study were chose due to low Testosterone.  Testosterone was given IM at 4 different doses.  This is in contrast to other studies that have looked at endogenous Testosterone level.  Studies have shown increasing endogenous T levels in women is associated with increased CVD.  Studies on exogenous are lacking.  This points to limited risk associated with CVD and T therapy in women.   One caveat.  Two of the authors of this study have ties to the maker of the Testosterone enanthate used in this study.  Why is this important?  Prior studies have shown significant decrease in adverse event reporting in those funded by pharma--bias.

Hops inhibits aromatase activity.

Hops is a natural aromatase inhibitor

Interesting study looked at Total Testosterone (TT) and free Testosterone (FT) in older men in BMD assessment.  The authors found no change in TT, but a significant decline in free Testosterone.  This fits with other research pointing to free Testosterone as a better functional assessment tool.