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Cholesterol is a precursor of steroid hormones and an essential component of the cell membrane, however, altered regulation of the synthesis, absorption and excretion of cholesterol predispose to cardiovascular diseases of atherosclerotic origin. Despite, the recognition of historical events for 200 years, starting with Michel Chevreul naming «cholesterol», later on, Lobstein coining the term atherosclerosis and Marchand introducing it, Anichkov identifying cholesterol in atheromatous plaque, and Brown and Goldstein discovering LDL receptor, as well as the emerging of different drugs, such as fibrates, statins and cetrapibs this decade, promising to increase HDL and the most recent ezetimibe and anti-PCSK9 to inhibit the degradation of LDL receptor, however morbidity has not been reduced in cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of low-dose conjugated equine estrogens (E) on circulating neurotransmitters and the efficacy for the treatment of psychological symptoms.Design: Controlled comparative clinical study.Setting: Endocrine Research Unit, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico.Patient(s): Thirty postmenopausal women received conjugated equine E. Ten women acted as a comparison group.Intervention(s): Conjugated equine E, 0.312 mg/day, for 21 days per cycle during six cycles and added chlormadinone acetate, 2 mg/day, for the last 5 days of each cycle. Green scale for climateric women and Blatt-Kupperman Menopausal Index were used for measuring psychological well-being.Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline, serotonin, and β-endorphin were quantified by specific assays at baseline and at the end of treatment.Result(s): Low baseline levels of DA, serotonin, and β-endorphin increased significantly (P<.001) from 181.9 ± 47.8 pg/mL to 202.9 ± 32.8 pg/mL (mean ± SD); from 206.4 ± 94.2 ng/mL to 279.2 ± 67.9 ng/mL; from 11.2 ± 1.8 pmol/L to 13.8 ± 2.4 pmol/L, respectively, after conjugated equine E. In parallel, augmented baseline noradrenaline levels diminished significantly (P<.05) from 30.2 ± 4.7 ng/mL to 24.0 ± 4.7 ng/mL. All neurotransmitter levels had a significant correlation with 17β-E2 concentrations at the end of the study. Alleviation of psychological symptoms was observed in all but eight treated women.Conclusion(s): Low-dose conjugated equine E associated with periodic administration of chlormadinone acetate elicited favorable changes in neurotransmitters and relieved psychological symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is now generally accepted that the primary goal of osteoporosis management is to prevent fractures, which is accomplished by stopping bone loss and improving bone strength. Elderly postmenopausal women show a high prevalence of osteoporosis which in turn increases the risk of fracture. Men suffer of osteoporosis when either cortisone therapy is used or long periods of immobility. Antiresorptive drugs and bone anabolic are the two types for pharmacologic treatment; calcium and vitamin D should be considered adjuvant therapy for all individuals. Choice of treatment depends of age, the presence of fractures, and the degree of bone mineral density measured at the spine and hip. The main inconvenient for the adherence of treatment is the high cost of the medicaments as well as the poor information given to the patients. Probably one of the single most important factor for administering therapy for a condition that is largely asymptomatic is the patients compliance with the regimen that has been selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]