Effects of estrogen treatment in multiple sclerosis

A study by UCLA researchers reveals the cellular basis for how the hormone estrogen protects against damage to the central nervous system in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The researchers found that estrogen treatment exerts positive effects on two types of cells during disease -immune cells in the brain and also cells called oligodendrocytes. Complementary actions on these two types provide protection from disease.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune, neurodegenerative disease marked by visual impairment, weakness and sensory loss, as well as cognitive decline. These symptoms emerge when inflammatory immune cells destroy the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve processes called axons. Loss of that protective insulation disrupts electrical communication between nerve cells. The third trimester of pregnancy has been previously shown to reduce relapse rates by approximately 70 percent as compared to before pregnancy, and other studies have shown benefit over the long term due to multiple pregnancies.

An estrogen unique to pregnancy that is made by the fetus and placenta has been proposed by Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl and colleagues to mediate this pregnancy protection in both the MS mouse model as well as in two successfully completed clinical trials of estriol treatment in MS patients. How that happens has remained a critical question. Voskuhl, who led the latest study, reported mouse studies showing that estrogen protected the brain from damage by activating a protein called estrogen receptor beta (ERb). Her new research identifies which cells within the brain are mediating this protective effect.

The researchers first genetically eliminated ERb in either immune cells of the brain or in oligodendrocytes, the cells that make the myelin sheath, as a way of making cells unresponsive to estrogen during the MS like disease in mice. They then treated mice without or with ERb in these cells to ask if disease protection was lost or not. Loss of protection during treatment meant that the treatment was acting on the cell that had the receptor removed. Results showed that the estrogen-like treatment was acting on both immune cells of the brain as well as on oligodendrocytes, together resulting in repair of myelin and less disability.

Drug developers often optimize therapies by targeting only one single cell type. By contrast, this study confirms that this estrogen-like compound can combat MS via complementary effects on two distinct cell types. Voskuhl and other UCLA researchers are in fact now developing a next-generation estrogen-like compound with robust biochemical effects on oligodendrocytes and immune cells in the brain.
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Alcohol causes different cancers

The more alcohol you drink, the higher your risk of developing at least seven different types of cancers. Drinking small or moderate amounts of alcohol was associated with increased risks for esophogeal, mouth, voice box, liver, stomach, pancreas and breast cancers, and is responsible for more than five percent of cancers and cancer deaths worldwide.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology ASCO has never addressed the link between alcohol and cancer, but is now underscoring the importance of controlling the risk of alcohol consumption to reducing the risk of cancer. While the ASCO does suggest strategies for cutting back on drinking, it also advocates for temperate use of alcohol, rather than recommending give up drinking.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that women should not have more than one drink a day or eight drinks a week. Men drink two drinks a day, or 14 a week. There has been some debate over whether alcohol or other compositions of various alcoholic beverages are cancer-causing. There is an associations between alcohol drinking and cancer risk. Alcohol does not affect each part of the body in the same carcinogenic way.

For head and neck and esophageal cancers, alcohol's breakdown product- acetaldehyde, which is an established carcinogen touches the tissues directly as drinker swallows an alcoholic drink and causes cancer. Liver cancer is caused by cirrhosis, which is caused by drinking. When cirrhosis develops, healthy liver cells are replaced by damaged scar tissue cells, which can become cancer cells. It interferes with the absorption of folate, which leads to development of colon cancer.

When a woman’s estrogen levels become abnormally high, the hormone puts her at higher risk for breast cancer. Alcohol has been shown to increase estrogen levels, thus putting women at greater risk of breast cancer. In fact, ASCO reports that women who drank even one drink of beer or wine which have significantly lower alcohol contents than liquors were five percent more likely to develop premenopausal breast cancer, and nine percent more likely to develop the cancer after menopause.
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Cadmium increases the risk of cancer of the womb

Cadmium is a heavy metal that is produced during the smelting of other metals like zinc, lead and copper.
Cadmium in kidneys and liver of animals, shellfish, mushrooms and cigarettes increases a woman's risk of womb cancer.

Cadmium is a chemical that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. It disrupts the hormonal balance and encourage rapid cell division. Foods rich in cadmium must be eaten in moderation.

Endometrial cancer known as cancer of the womb, has been associated with estrogen exposure because cadmium mimics estrogen, it may lead to an increased growth of the endometrium, contributing to an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

It is common in older women but can occur at any age in matured women. Common symptoms are abnormal bleeding from the vagina, heavier periods, vagina bleeding in between normal periods, pain in the lower abdomen and pain during sex, loss of appetite, tiredness and nausea.
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Menstruation does not affect working memory

Some women assumed their menstrual cycle controls their performance the way some experience stomach cramp and pain during menstruation.

The hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle do not have any effect on cognitive performance. It does not influence cognitive performance.

Researchers examined different women at different stages for two menstrual cycles and discovered that progesterone and estrogen hormones released during menstruation have no effect on working memory.

Researchers looked for differences in performance between individuals and changes in performance over time and discovered nothing related to menstrual cycle.  Menstrual cycle may cause pain and stomach cramp in some women, but it does not affect working memory.
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Plants protein can prevent early menopause

Menopause occurs when ovaries stop producing the hormone known as estrogen that controls the reproductive cycle.

Early menopause is the ending of ovarian function before age 45, it is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline.

Scientists examined many women for two decades and discovered that those who eat more of plants protein had a 59 per cent lower risk of an early menopause than those that eat less.

They discovered that high consumption of plants protein is linked to a lower risk of early menopause. According to the new research, women can lower their risk of reaching menopause early by eating plants protein

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Vegetable oils and their health benefits

Extra virgin olive oil
It protects memory, prevents dementia, reduces inflammation in the body and could help with conditions such as psoriasis, arthritis and eczema.

Coconut oil
Caprylic and lauric fatty acids in coconut oil reduce inflammation. It is used for treating viral and bacterial infections and skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Flaxseed oil
For treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and rosacea.
The hormone-balancing lignans and plant estrogens in flaxseed stabilise a woman's estrogen-progesterone ratio, they can have beneficial effects on the menstrual cycle, and relieve the hot flashes of perimenopause and menopause.

Sunflower oil
It is rich in oleic-acid. It contains Vitamin E, which prevents dangerous free radicals from oxidizing the body’s cholesterol. It protects against hazardous effects of UV radiation, offers photoprotection and effectively works on wrinkles, blemishes & patchy skin.

Walnut oil
Walnut oil contains high levels of monounsaturated oils such as omega 9 which help to keep arteries supple. The flexibility of the arteries promotes the flow of blood free of any hardening leading to hypertension and heart disease. It reduces inflammation and prevent diseases like arthritis. Walnuts are rich in phytonutrients and are an excellent source of selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, zinc, iron, and calcium that stabilize body hormones.

Peanut oil
Peanut oil massage is helpful for relieving arthritic pain in joints. It helps in arthritis because it is anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
Peanut oil boosts blood circulation, massage with peanut oil improves the level of prostaglandins in blood. Peanut oil is also a good cooking oil.

Avocado oil
Avocado oil consists of oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. This type of fat has been proven to help lower high blood pressure and lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. It reduces arthritis symptoms, boosts nutrients absorption and fights breast and prostate cancer.
Vitamin E and the carotenoid lutein in avocado oil reduces risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Rapeseed oil
Is a good source of vitamin E, high in monounsaturated fats, it has plant sterols, which are very good at lowering cholesterol.

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Breastfeeding reduces risk of endometrial cancer

Women who breastfeed their babies for the recommended six months may lower their risk of developing endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in high-income countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

The World Health Organization recommends that women exclusively breastfeed for the first six months, then continue breastfeeding even after beginning to introduce solid foods.

The researchers analyzed pooled data from studies participating in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium, including 10 from the United States and others from Canada, Europe, China and Australia.

They looked at more than 26,000 women who had ever had a child, whether they breastfed, and for how long. This included about 9,000 women with endometrial cancer.

After accounting for other factors that can influence endometrial cancer risk, including age, race, education, oral contraceptive use, menopausal status, years since last pregnancy and body mass index (BMI), researchers found the apparent protective effect of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding hindered the growth of endometrial cancer because estrogen hormone is suppressed during breastfeeding.

Hormone replacement therapy may increase risk of hearing loss

Hearing loss is inability to hear sounds of 25 decibels or under in speech. This often leads to difficulties understanding conversations and hearing certain sounds.

Women seem to be at a significantly lower risk of hearing loss than men. Between the ages of 20 and 69, men are twice as likely as women to develop speech-frequency hearing loss.

While it is not known why women tend to be protected from hearing loss, some studies have suggested that estrogen
suggested that the female hormone may protect the inner ear.

Women that are affected by hearing loss experience it after menopause when During levels of progesterone and
estrogen start to reduce.

Prolonged use of hormone therapy HT at menopause raise hearing loss risk
The study analyzed existing data on almost 81,000 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study II, making this research the first large-scale study to examine the use of HT in relation to hearing loss among menopausal and postmenopausal women.

The women were between 27 and 44 years at the beginning of the study, and they were clinically followed for 22 years between 1991 and 2013. During this time, the women reported how they used HT and lost hearing.

Almost 23 percent of the participants reported some degree of hearing loss during the follow-up period. HT taken by the participants consisted of either estrogen therapy or estrogen plus progestogen.

This shows that HT in postmenopausal women, as well as prolonged use of oral HT, correlated with a higher risk of hearing loss. HT increases the risk of hearing loss.

Aspiring can lower risk of breast cancer

Regular use of low-dose of aspirin can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 20 percent.

Researchers discovered a protective link between low-dose of aspirin and breast cancer," said lead author Christina A. Clarke, Ph.D., M.P.H., from the Cancer Prevention Institute of California.

Aspiring is a weak aromatase inhibitor, breast cancer is treated with stronger aromatase inhibitors since they reduce the amount of estrogen postmenopausal.

 Aromatase  reduces the development of cancer, improves cancer treatment and reduces the risk of cancer development.
 Researchers analyzed data recorded in questionnaires submitted by 57,164 women in the California's Teacher's Study.

In 2005, participants answered questions regarding family history of cancer and other conditions like use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and other necessary conditions. Before 2013, 1,457 of these participants developed invasive breast cancer.

Swimming condition in the uterus and fertility

Before conception can take place in mammals, the semen and the egg must be in good condition. Male and female mammals have to contribute to conception before it can take place.

Researcher in Washington State University has found that uterus in female mice has enzymes that can break semen into watery form and make it easier to swim for conception to take place.

Female mice produce the enzyme using estrogen to cause the process of breaking down the semen. Lack of gene to induce the process will leads to failure of the semen in the uterus.