GenderBiology.net

Irregular Heartbeat Affects Women Taking Osteoporosis Drug

SOURCE:  Medical News Today

DATE:  April 29. 2008

EXCERPT: "Chronically irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) affected women who had taken Merck's bisphosphonate drug Fosamax (alendronate) to combat the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis nearly twice as often as women who had never used it according to new research from the US."  more

RELATED PUBMED LINK:

Heckbert SR, Li G, Cummings SR, Smith NL, Psaty BM. Use of alendronate and risk of incident atrial fibrillation in women. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Apr 28;168(8):826-31.

Low thyroid output tied to heart attacks in women

SOURCE: MedlinePlus (HealthDay News)

DATE:  April 29, 2008

EXCERPT:  "Increasing levels of thyrotropin within the normal range may increase the risk of fatal coronary heart disease in women, a Norwegian study finds. Thyrotropin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, is released into the blood and acts on the thyroid gland to stimulate its growth and function. ... "[The researchers stated] Overall, thyrotropin levels within the reference range were positively associated with coronary heart disease mortality; the trend was statistically significant in women but not in men. ....  These results indicate that relatively low but clinically normal thyroid function may increase the risk of fatal coronary heart disease." "  more   (articles display for 90 days)

RELATED PUBMED LINK:

Asvold BO, Bjøro T, Nilsen TI, Gunnell D, Vatten LJ. Thyrotropin Levels and Risk of Fatal Coronary Heart Disease: The HUNT Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Apr 28;168(8):855-60.

Migraine Frequency Linked With Women's Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease

SOURCE: Medical News Today

DATE:  April 20, 2008

EXCERPT: "New research shows women who have weekly migraine are significantly more likely to have a stroke than those with fewer migraines or no migraine at all, but those with lower migraine frequency may face increased risk of heart attacks."  more

Memory Problems In Older People Affects Men More Than Women

SOURCE: Medical News Today

DATE: April 17, 2008

EXCERPT: "Scientists in the US have discovered that mild cognitive impairment, as characterized by problems with memory and thinking and known to be a transition stage before dementia, appears to affect older men more than it does older women." more

Link Between Bone Loss And Diuretics In Older Men

SOURCE: Medical News Today

DATE: April 17, 2008

EXCERPT: "[R]esearchers have found increased rates of hip bone loss in older men who take frequently prescribed heart failure and hypertension drugs called loop diuretics."    more

RELATED PUBMED LINK:

Lim LS, Fink HA, Kuskowski MA, Taylor BC, Schousboe JT, Ensrud KE; Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study Group. Loop diuretic use and increased rates of hip bone loss in older men: the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Apr 14;168(7):735-40.

Gene Variants Indicate Opposite Survival Outcomes For Women And Men With Colon Cancer

SOURCE: Medical News Today

DATE: April 16, 2008

EXCERPT: "A new study ... found that specific gene variants linked to the development of colon cancer resulted in opposite survival outcomes for men and women."  more

RELATED PUBMED LINK

Press OA, Zhang W, Gordon MA, Yang D, Lurje G, Iqbal S, El-Khoueiry A, Lenz HJ. Gender-related survival differences associated with EGFR polymorphisms in metastatic colon cancer. Cancer Res. 2008 Apr 15;68(8):3037-42.