Melanoma is a known estrogen sensitive cancer.  This study finds ER Beta loss correlates with thickness of lesion.  The authors propose ERalpha/ERbeta ratio be assessed.  ERbeta has been shown to decrease proliferation, promotes differentiation, and decrease inflammation in breast studies.  In contrast, ERalpha promotes proliferation, decreases differentiation, and promotes inflammation.  Here, the same effects seem to apply to melanoma. Of interesting note, men have lower skin ERbeta than women and ERbeta declines with age and menopause in women.  Essentially, the loss of the ability to differentiate, decrease proliferation and inflammation  occurs with increase estrogen stimulus--set up for estrogen promoting cancers.

Progesterone decreased melanoma cell growth in cell line study.  This inhibition occurred through non-progesterone receptor pathways.

Study of men < 70 finds that low Total Testosterone and Free Testosterone is associated with increased Carotid Intima-media thickness (CIMT), increased endothelial dysfunction.  Atherosclerotic plaque and hsCRP were also found to correlate but were adjusted out when age, DM, HgbA1c, lipids, and BMI were excluded.

Study finds that hospitalized men with poorly controlled Diabetes have lower Testosterone than healthy men.  

to be read article on the communication between gut microbiota and intestinal epithelial cells and the resultant metabolic impact.

This is a really nice study.  Altered sleep-wake cycles result in altered food consumption which leads to altered gut microbiota diurnal oscillations.  Gut microbiota have a normal diurnal oscillation.  This altered gut flora then leads to increase insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes...

Testosterone therapy aids weight loss in study of obese men.  The presentation of the potentially biased study (study was funded by the makers of the Testosterone used in the study) proposes Testosterone as a pharmacologic bariatric treatment.  That conclusion is ludicrous!  Testosterone therapy has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, improve glucose uptake, reduces inflammation, improve muscle building, and reduce the parameters of metabolic syndrome--all of which underlies the obesity.  Thus, men with low T and obesity, Testosterone therapy is playing a causal role in the obesity and thus Testosterone therapy is treating the cause.  But to describe it as pharmacologic bariatric therapy is false and misleading. http://ow.ly/CKrje 

Rosemary, basil, and marjoram shown to reduce inflammation.

ERK inhibits NF-kappaB.

TNF-alpha stimulates NF-kappaB through non ERK, p38MAPK, and or JNK pathways.

ERK pathway activation required for NF-kappaB activation.

ERK activation negatively regulates NF-kappaB transcriptiont of inflammatory cytokines.

This study looked at Total Testosterone and prevalence of low T symptoms.  As the authors stated, increased prevalence was found between 320 and 375 ng/dl.  Whereas, < 300 ng/dl was consistent with predictable low T symptoms.  It would have be more thorough if they had looked at salivary Testosterone levels and bioavailable as well.

Chemotherapy is associated with a decline in lean body mass.  This could play a role in increase weight, especially in pre menopause women.

ER beta expression and the ratio of ER alpha/ER beta is important in prognosis and effectiveness of SERM therapy like tamoxifen.  This study looked at the aromatase inhibitor anastrazole as well.

Increased survival in those with ER beta + and ER alpha -.  Early relapse was associated with lack of ER beta expression.  ER beta is transcribed from a different genomic location than ER alpha.  

weight gain in cancer treatment seems to be directed at adjuvant therapy (chemo) and premenopausal status.

The increased weight with tamoxifen is seen premenopausal women, but less with postmenopausal women.

Study finds that leptin, PAI-1, and hsCRP are positively associated with increasing metabolic syndrome components.  Adiponectin was negative associated with increasing MetS.  Not a lot of new info here.

Metabolic Syndrome is associated with CAD.  No surprise here, but increase in # of metabolic syndrome parameters was associated with increasing % of Triple vessel disease.   No surprise that MetS was associated with TNF-alpha, IL-6, IR, and hsCRP.