Bruno Del Bianco Borges

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. In Brazil, it is characterized by regional heterogeneity in incidence, stage at diagnosis, and access to treatment. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological profile, treatments, and common outcomes of breast cancer patients treated at a SUS-based referral center, and to evaluate associations between age at diagnosis and disease stage, tumor characteristics, and outcomes. Methods: Clinical, pathological, treatment, and outcome data were collected from medical records of 300 patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma between the years of 2005 and 2020. Results: 36.4% of patients were younger than 50 years. The initial mode of detection was clinical presentation in 75.7% of cases. Mean tumor size was 28.7 mm (± 19.4). The most common stages were II and I (47.4% and 25.0%, respectively). The median diagnostic interval was 48 days (IQR 34–75.75) and the median treatment interval was 33 days (IQR 25–48.75). Over a median follow-up of 56.0 months, 12 deaths were recorded (274 censored); over a median follow-up of 60.0 months, 35 recurrences were recorded (230 censored). Conclusions: These findings highlight that a substantial proportion of breast cancer cases occurred in women younger than 50 years and support further population-based studies to inform age-specific screening strategies in Brazil. The diagnostic interval exceeded the 30-day target referenced by Brazilian federal legislation. This study provides descriptive, real-world data on the clinicopathological profile and care pathway of breast cancer patients diagnosed and treated within a regional, SUS-based cohort.

Background: Estrogen depletion alters bone mineralization and oxidative stress. Antioxidants like humic acids (HA) may help mitigate bone demineralization and redox imbalances. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of HA on bone mineral composition and oxidative stress markers in an experimental menopause model. Methods: Twenty-four female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 6/group): Sham; Sham + HA; Ovariectomized (OVX); and OVX + HA. The menopause model was induced by bilateral ovariectomy at the beginning of the experiment. HA derived from biomass vermicompost was administered daily by gavage for 28 days. After euthanasia, femurs and fragments of the gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and kidney were collected. Bone elemental composition was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) activities were assessed in muscle, renal, and hepatic tissues. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc test. Results: Untreated OVX mice exhibited a significant reduction in femoral calcium content (p < 0.05). However, HA treatment increased calcium levels and improved the Ca/P ratio (p < 0.05). H₂O₂ activity was reduced in the liver and kidney of OVX + HA mice compared to untreated animals (p < 0.05). CAT activity in muscle increased in the OVX + HA group compared to the OVX (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HA treatment improved femoral elemental composition and modulated oxidative stress markers in an experimental menopause model.

Many hormones, including estrogens, modulate bone metabolism, which plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health. Estrogen depletion, as occurs in menopause, leads to increased bone resorption and decreased formation, resulting in osteopenia/osteoporosis. This study investigates the effects of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) and mulberry (Morus nigra L.) extracts, known for their phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties, against estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in female Wistar rats. These extracts were administered to ovariectomized rats for 60 days. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the presence of some phenolic compounds in the extracts, including trigonelline, gallic acid, theobromine, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid and p-coumaric acid. The extracts improved bone microstructure with higher trabecular bone, bone mineral density, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels, and lower porosity and intertrabecular space in bone tissue. Furthermore, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated in extract-treated animals, indicating enhanced bone tissue formation. Although serum carboxy-terminal fragment levels showed no significant change, the data suggest that flaxseed and mulberry extracts may protect against trabecular bone loss and support bone formation in estrogen-deficient conditions. These results suggest that supplementing these natural extracts holds promise in preventing or alleviating the signs and symptoms associated with estrogenic deficiency.

The increasing prevalence of Anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) among women, driven by the pursuit of improved body aesthetics, characterized by higher lean mass and reduced adipose tissue, raises significant health concerns, particularly due to the limited knowledge regarding their effects on the female organism. Prolonged use and/or high doses of AAS are linked to various harmful side effects, including mood changes, psychiatric disorders, voice deepening, clitoromegaly, menstrual irregularities, and cardiovascular complications, prompting medical societies to discourage their widespread use due to insufficient evidence supporting their safety and efficacy. Studies in female rodents have shown that AAS can lead to increased aggression, inflammation, reduced neuronal density, and negative impacts on the myocardium and blood vessels. Additionally, maternal administration of androgens during pregnancy can adversely affect offspring’s reproductive, neuronal, and metabolic health, resulting in long-term impairments. The complexity of the mechanisms underlying AAS effects, and their potential genotoxicity remains poorly understood. This review aims to elucidate the various ways in which AAS can impact female physiology and that of their offspring, highlight commonly used anabolic substances, and discuss the positions of medical societies regarding AAS use.

Stress, infections, and psychological and social well-being can affect the reproductive system. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can d

Low endogenous estrogen action causes several injuries. Medicinal plants, such as flaxseed and mulberry, contain substances that have been shown to be effective to the organism. The aim was to verify the effects of flaxseed and/or mulberry extracts on ovariectomized Wistar rats. The animals received supplements of extracts and estrogen or saline by gavage for 60 days and were weighed weekly. Vaginal wash, blood, pituitary, uterus, liver, and kidneys were collected. Phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of the extracts, lipid profile, uric acid, liver enzymes, and pituitary weight were measured. Histomorphometric for uterine wall and histopathological analyses for liver and kidney were performed. Flaxseed and mulberry extracts showed great antioxidant activity and large amounts of phenolic compounds. The treatment with extracts had less weight gain, increased pituitary weight, the predominance of vaginal epithelial cells, and reduced TC, LDL-c and lipase activity, similar to estrogen animals. Estrogen or flaxseed + mulberry animals reduced VLDL-c and TAG. HDL-c, uric acid, and liver enzymes did not differ. Estrogen or extracts demonstrated trophic action on the endometrial thickness and have not shown hepatotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. We suggested the beneficial effects of flaxseed and mulberry extract as an alternative to reduce and/or prevent the negative effects caused by low estrogenic action.

Functional foods have nutritional properties and organic functions, which are beneficial to health. Certain types of functional food components are so‐called phytoestrogens, non‐steroidal compounds derived from the metabolism of precursors contained in plants, which originate secondary metabotypes known to induce biological responses and by mimicry or modulating the action of endogenous estrogen. These molecules are involved in several physiological and pathological processes related to reproduction, bone remodeling, skin, cardiovascular, nervous, immune systems, and metabolism. This review aimed to present an overview of phytoestrogens regarding their chemical structure, actions, and effects in the organism given several pathologies. Several studies have demonstrated beneficial phytoestrogen actions, such as lipid profile improvement, cognitive function, menopause, oxidative stress, among others. Phytoestrogens effects are not completely elucidated, being necessary future research to understand the exact action mechanisms, whether they are via estrogen receptor or whether other hidden mechanisms produce these effects. Thus, this review makes a general approach to the phytoestrogen actions, beneficial effects, risk and limitations. However, the complexities of biological effects after ingestion of phytoestrogens and the differences in their metabolism and bioavailability indicate that interpretation of either risk or benefits needs to be made with caution.

The results of this work provide preliminary evidence that ovariectomized rats display the vaginal smear cells typical of the estrous phase of mature rats after long-term ingestion of Colocasia esculenta flavonoid glycosides. Moreover, the treatment caused beneficial effects on endocrine and reproductive organs compared to estradiol. The animals did not exhibit significant body weight alterations among the groups, demonstrating the maintenance of standard metabolism and energy balance. The overall findings obtained with the rat model of menopause highlight the importance of dietary consumption of C. esculenta constituents as potential selective estrogen receptor modulators and suggest that they may prevent some of the metabolic disorders related to estrogen deficiency.