92242776 Regional changes in body composition by time of year in healthy postmenopausal women

91 bleeding and endometrial response. Study design: Seventy-nine postmenopausal women on sequential estrogen-progestogen treatment were switched to continuous combined estrogen-progestogen therapy comprising conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg daily with either norethindrone acetate 0.35 mg twice daily or medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg twice daily added continuously for 78 weeks. All bleeding was recorded, and endometrial biopsies were performed at 26 and 78 weeks. Results: Only one third of the women who starting the study had amenorrhea by week 78, but 46 (62%) of these women had withdrawn, mainly because of chronic irregular bleeding. Endometrial atrophy was observed in the majority of biopsy specimens. The two progestogens had similar effects. Bleeding patterns were useful predictors of subsequent bleeding, but not of endometrial response. Conclusions: Persistent irregular bleeding is common with continuous combined estrogen-progestogen therapy. Women with persistent early bleeding should probably revert to sequential treatment. Regular endometrial sampling is advised. 92238400 Im#aed oateecIast deveIopment after estrogen loss: MedIatIon by InterIeukIn-6 Jilka R.L.; Hangoc G.; Girasole G.; Passeri G.; Williams DC.; Abrams J.S.; Boyce B.; Broxmeyer H.; Manolagas S.C. Section of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Department of VA Medical Center, Indianapolis. IN 46202 SCIENCE 1992 25715066(88-91) Osteoclasts, the cells that resorb bone, develop from hematopoietic precursors of the bone marrow under the control of factors produced in their microenvironment. The cytokine interleukin-6 can promote hematopoiesis and osteoclastogenesis. Interleukin-6 production by bone and marrow stromal cells is suppressed by 17-estradiol in vitro. In mice, estrogen loss (ovariectomy) increased the number of colonyforming units for granulocytes and macrophages, enhanced osteoclast development in ex vivo cultures of marrow, and increased the number of osteoclasts in trabecular bone. These changes were prevented by l’lcstradiol or an antibody to interleukin-6. Thus, estrogen loss results in an interleukin&mediated stimulation of osteoclastogenesis, which suggests a mechanism for the increased bone resorption in postmenopausal osteoporosis. 92242776 Reg&maI changes In body eompositioa by the of year ia healthy p&n~~~~pausai women Dawson-Hughes B.; Harris S. Calcium&me Metabolism Laboratory, USDA Human Nutr. Res. Ctr. on Aging, Tufts University, 711 Wmhington Street, Boston. MA 02111 AM. J. CLIN. NUTR. 1992 56/2 (307-313) We examined regional changes in fat, lean, and bone tissue for > 1 y in 125 postmenopausal women. Duplicate whole-body scans were performed at 6-mo intervals. Period 1 was June or July to December or January and period 2 was December or January to the following June or July. Lean and bone tissue mass in the arms, legs, trunk, and whole body increased in period 1 and decreased in period 2 [eg, lean tissue in legs increased 1.84 f 0.41% (x- f SE) in period I and decreased 2.84 f 0.39% in period 2, P < O.OOl].In each region except the arms, fat tissue decreased in period 1 and increased in period 2. Quadriceps muscle strength was correlated with lean tissue mass of the legs [r(p) (controlled for height) = 0.24, P = 0.021 and physical activity was correlated with quadriceps strength. Overall, body weight did not change significantly (0.17 f 0.41% increase, P > 0.20); however, there was a net loss of 1.08 f 0.39% (P c 0.01) in lean tissue in the legs and a net increase of 3.43 f 1.12% (P < 0.01) in fat tissue in the trunk. 92249258 Sex hennonm and postmenqn~nsaI breast cancer: A prospctive study ia an adult community Garland C.F.; Friedlander N.J.; Barrett-Connor E.; Khaw K.-T. Division of Epidemiology, Community/Family Medicine Department, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093-0607 AM. J. EPIDEMIOL. 1992 135/l 1 (1220-1230)