Misalignment in the lumbosacral region, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and related strain of pelvic ligaments is common during pregnancy and postpartum. These findings are from an evaluation of 30 women who were followed from their eighth month of pregnancy through three months after childbirth.

According to the study, “static alteration of the pelvis was evaluated in both the sitting and standing positions on the basis of alignment of the posterior superior iliac spines. Irritation of the iliolumbar ligaments, sacrotuberous, sacroiliac, and interspinous ligaments was evaluated by means of pressure palpation. Disorders of sacroiliac joint function were evaluated with the Patrick FABERE test, the standing Gillet test, and the standing and sitting flexion tests.”

The study’s authors found that “in women, in their eighth month of pregnancy and after childbirth, disorders of static alterations in pelvis alignment and sacroiliac joint dysfunction may occur. The state of pregnancy may result in strain symptoms in the lumbosacral region and pelvis with variable pain intensifying in various static positions.”

Specifically, “the most frequently irritated ligaments in the lumbar region are interspinous (60%), iliolumbar (40%), and sacroiliac (36%).” 

JMPT – June 2010;33:370-77.
www.jmptonline.org

High blood levels of vitamin E may ward off Alzheimer’s disease (AD), say scientists.

The analysis included 232 people. All participants were aged 80 years or more, and were dementia-free at the beginning of the study. After six years of follow-up, 57 AD cases were identified.

The blood levels of all eight natural vitamin E components were measured at the beginning of the study. The study found that subjects with higher blood levels of all the vitamin E forms had a reduced risk of developing AD, compared to subjects with lower levels. After adjusting for various confounders, the risk was reduced by 45% to 54%, depending on the vitamin E component.

The protective effect of vitamin E seems to be related to the combination of the different forms, notes lead author, Dr. Francesca Mangialasche. On the other hand, she warns that high doses of a single form may be detrimental.

“Elderly people as a group are large consumers of vitamin E supplements, which usually contain only ±-tocopherol, and this often at high doses,” adds Dr Mangialasche. “Our findings need to be confirmed by other studies, but they open up for the possibility that the balanced presence of different vitamin E forms can have an important neuroprotective effect.”

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease – July 5, 2010;Epub.
www.j-alz.com

Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common hormone imbalance in women of reproductive age, may be more vulnerable to exposure to the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), found in many plastic household items. These findings were presented at The Endocrine Society’s 92^nd Annual Meeting in San Diego .

Researchers divided 71 women with PCOS and 100 healthy female control subjects into subgroups matched by age and body composition (obese or lean). Blood levels of BPA, compared with those of controls, were nearly 60 percent higher in lean women with PCOS and more than 30 percent higher in obese women with the syndrome.

Additionally, as BPA blood level increased, so did the concentrations of the male sex hormone testosterone and androstenedione, a steroid hormone that converts to testosterone.

“Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome should be alert regarding this environmental contaminant’s potential adverse effects on reproductive aspects of their health problem,” says study coauthor, Evanthia Diamanti-Kandarakis, MD, PhD.

The Endocrine Society – June 20, 2010 .
ww.endo-society.org

According to a just-published analysis, low-back pain (LBP) is associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip — but not of the knee.

The study pooled tracked 983 Ontario residents. The participants were 55 or older and had symptomatic hip or knee OA at the beginning of the study, which was between 1996 and 1998. At that time 58% of subjects also reported LBP.

The participants underwent follow-up between 2000 and 2001. After adjusting for confounding factors, the study’s authors conclude: “In a cohort of individuals with OA of the hip or knee, we found that low back pain predicted subsequent OA-related pain and disability in those with hip disease, but not knee disease. Our study provides valuable prognostic information to clinicians involved in the management of patients with OA of the hip and knee.”

JMPT – June 2010;33:349-54.
www.jmptonline.org

Bisphenol A, or BPA is found in many plastic bottles, toys, food liners and other products. Exposure to BPA in the womb and early life may cause long-lasting harm to testicular function, according to a new study conducted in animals. The results were presented Monday at The Endocrine Society’s 92^nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

“We are seeing changes in the testis function of rats after exposure to BPA levels that are lower than what the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency consider safe exposure levels for humans,” said Benson Akingbemi, PhD, the study’s lead author. “This is concerning because large segments of the population, including pregnant and nursing mothers, are exposed to this chemical.”

The Endocrine Society – June 20, 2010.
www.endo-society.org