STAR PAPER
Efficacy and safety of tarenflurbil in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a randomized phase II trial
Wilcock GK, Black SE, Hendrix SB, et al; on behalf of the Tarenflurbil Phase II Study investigators
Lancet Neurol 2008;7:483–93
Background. Amyloid-beta peptide Abeta(42) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study is to test the effects of tarenflurbil, a selective Abeta(42)-lowering agent, on cognition and function in patients with mild to moderate AD.
Method. Two hundred and ten patients who had a mini-mental state examination score of 15–26 were randomly assigned to receive tarenflurbil twice per day, 400 or 800 mg or placebo for 12 months.
Results. Patients with mild AD in the 800 mg tarenflurbil group had lower rates of decline in their daily activities than of those in the placebo group. In patients with moderate AD, 800 mg of tarenflurbil twice per day had no significant effects. Adverse events included diarrhoea, nausea and dizziness.
Conclusion. Eight hundred milligrams of tarenflurbil twice per day was well-tolerated and helped those with mild AD.
Predictors of the timing of natural menopause in the multiethnic cohort study
Henderson KD, Bernstein L, Henderson B, Kolonel L, Pike MC
Am J Epidemiol 2008;167:1287–94
Objective. What factors determine the timing of natural menopause?
Study. A total of 96,000 women with an average age of 59.7 years were questioned. The multiethnic study comprised Whites, Japanese Americans, African-Americans, Native Hawai'ians, and Latinos.
Results. Race/ethnicity was a significant independent predictor of the timing of natural menopause. Insignificant predictors were smoking, age at menarche, parity and body mass index.
Conclusion. These results support the hypothesis that the timing of natural menopause is driven by a combination of genetic, reproductive and lifestyle factors.
Gender differences in mortality after mitral valve operation: evidence for higher mortality in perimenopausal women
Song HK, Grab JD, O'Brien SM, et al.
Ann Thorac Surg 2008;85:2040–4
Background. Hormonal status is a potentially important cause for the gender differences in outcomes after cardio-vascular operations. This may be due to withdrawal states that potentiate ischaemia-reperfusion injury by impairing endothelial cell function and increasing inflammatory cytokine levels.
Hypothesis. Does gender and age influence mortality after mitral valve operations, especially during the periods of declining ovarian function?
Methods. A total of 25,000 patients (49% women) between 2002 and 2005 who had mitral valve repair or replacement were included in this study.
Results. Women aged 40–49 and 50–59 years had significantly greater hospital mortality than men of the same age. The highest risk group was women aged 40–49, but this risk progressively decreased in the four subsequent age groups; 40–49 versus 70–79 and 80–89, respectively.
Conclusions. Changes in ovarian function may be an important cause for this gender–age interaction and are a potential target for novel hormone-based therapies.
Gender differences in colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, hospitalization and surgical procedures in Canada
Gao RN, Neutel CI, Wai E
J Public Health (Oxford) 2008;30:194–201
Background. Recently, there have been changes in the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer.
Objective. The objective of this study is to examine the gender differences in incidence, hospitalization, hospital-based procedures and mortality for colorectal cancer.
Results. Rates of incidence and mortality for colorectal cancer are decreasing, but remain substantially higher for males. Men were more commonly affected with rectal cancer, which was third highest for women, whereas right colon cancer was highest for women. Distal colonic cancers are more common in men, and the incidence is increasing.
Conclusions. The lower rates for women for distal cancer are compatible with a degree of hormonal protection based on oral contraceptive and hormone-replacement therapy.
