Dr. Goodyear

Study finds decreased ovarian reserve in women 20-29 with metabolic syndrome compared to controls.  They determined this via ovarian volume measurements as FSH, LH, Estradiol, and Progesterone did not differ.   One item of interest was that women with MetS, had significantly higher Testosterone levels compared to controls.  This association of MetS and elevated Testosterone in women has been shown consistently in the literature.  This should bring great questions to the doping of Testosterone in women today.

Individuals with obesity and type II Diabetes been found to have significantly different gut bacteria populations compared to healthy individuals.  This is not new information.  The firmicutes:bacteroidetes ratio has been long known to be elevated in obese individuals vs those that are lean.  The question here is cause and effect.  Is the change in the bacterial population leading to obesity and type II diabetes?  Or is diabetes and obesity leading to changes in the bacterial population?  A heavy-laden carb diet is know to lead to a change to a more unhealthy gut bacterial population--maybe it is just a product of diet?  Maybe it is effected by vaginal delivery vs cesarean delivery?  Maybe breast feeding plays a role.  Maybe, all the above is required. The point is that the cause of obesity and type II diabetes may have its origins deep, deep in the...well you know. http://ow.ly/yqDML 

Interesting article.  "Small metabolite" of HCG found to provide anti-cancer effect.  The authors called this molecule hCG-like inhibitory Products.  This is very premature information.  

Good review of the different ANA patterns and what they imply as it relates to autoimmune disease

Very interesting article.  Early Progesterone treatment, in animal model, shown to improve neuropathic pain recovery.  This is by no means the first study to show this.  This has been shown numerous times in TBI, but the timing of therapy was the purpose of this article.  What is very interesting here is that the metabolites implicated here in the recovery are the same metabolites implicated in an increased tumor potential.

Another mark for cucumin in the battle against cancer.  This article looked at the mechanism behind the inhibition of cell proliferation by curcumin.  The proposed mechanism is via Nrf2 induction in the MCF-7 cell culture lines.

vitamin D3 associated with down regulation of most TLRs associated with inflammation.  Though, vitamin D3 did increase TLR-10.

abstract only, but the article is a good review of DHEA metabolism

Nice review of the inherent risks associated with 5alpha-reductase inhibition therapy.

low T appears to be associated with cognitive decline in men.  If low T is present on testing, then therapy is appropriate to improve cognition.

Telomere length is shorter in active Cushing's syndrome compared to inactive Cushing's syndrome.  This suggests that elevated Cortisol is associated with shorter Telomere length.

Article looked at the anabolic effect of low-intensity resistance exercise.  This study found a decrease in cortisol post-exercise, but no increase in anabolic effects: GH and total Testosterone.  The exercise was in untrained men, which could explain some of the decrease in the anabolic effect with the men in this study.

The progesterone metabolites effect ER expression.

Bisphenol A (BPA) negatively effects estrogen metabolism. Bisphenol A preferentially increases 4OH-estrone which is the most toxic estrogen metabolite.

Just the abstract available here.  Article states the complexity of hormones found in hormone metabolism.  I love the authors quote, "As steroid hormones are known to be converted to many other steroids occupying different receptors and thereby exerting various different effects..."  Doesn't fit into the "know your numbers" marketing deception does it?

Might the enzymes be more important than the hormones themselves?  The number is important i.e. progesterone, but how the number came to be is more important as it points to the underlying etiology.  Here, the balance of enzymes are found to direct cell line tumor potential.  The enzyme 5alpha-reductase increased production of the 5alpha-pregnanes which increased tumor potential.  In contrast, the enzymes 20alpha-hydrosteroid oxidoreductase and 3alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase increase production of the 4alpha-pregnanes, which decreased tumor potential.

Context, context, context.   In the year 2006, there were 1.5 million adverse events reported directly related to prescription drugs at a cost of 3.5$ billion.  One often hears of the dangers of supplements.  This analysis from 2008 found 275 adverse events reported.  Contrast 1.5 million versus 275 and it really puts into context where the dangers lie.

Very interesting study.  In ER/PR + breast cancer cells, Estradiol and 5alpha-dihydroprogestorone increase the membrane expression of 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone receptors.  This has a pro-growth, pro-metastatic potential.  In contrast, the metabolites 3alpha-dihdroprogesterone and 20alpha-HP inhibit the same membrane receptor expression thus giving an antigrowth, anti-metastatic potential.

As much fanfare that is given to ER/PR + breast cancer, the large percentage of breast cancers are ER/PR -.  Thus, hormonal therapy doesn't work...at least that is how the story goes. This study finds the metabolites of Progesterone to be equally telling.  Two Progesterone metabolites play significant roles in growth versus inhibition of growth.  The metabolite 5alpha-dihydroprogesterone is procarcingenic in in vitro and in vivo studies and the metabolite 3alpha-dihydroprogesterone inhibits the pro growth effects in the same in vitro and in vivo studies.

Meta analysis finds no benefit for Ginkgo biloba for memory in "healthy" individuals.