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Summary: Background & Aims: Despite substantial efforts in promoting prevention and the advancements in surgical and minimally invasive techniques, breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Genetics and risk factors, including diet and lifestyle, play a critical role in determining the susceptibility to this neoplasm. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the pivotal role of adherence to the Mediterranean diet in breast cancer prevention. Additionally, we assessed differences in diet, Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking and alcohol habits, work shifts, exposure to environmental pollutants, and hormonal factors between patients with previously diagnosed breast cancer and healthy subjects. Methods: The validated CREA questionnaire, alongside additional inquiries, was administered to the Italian population. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was examined, and respondents were categorized into two groups: the general population and patients with a previous cancer diagnosis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to assess all risk factors among these groups. Results: Results revealed low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, particularly among less educated individuals, those engaged in 24-hour shift work, smokers, and those with a high BMI. Furthermore, significant differences in working time distribution, consumption of meat, milk, and alcohol, as well as significant differences in hormonal factors such as age of menarche and menopause, age of first pregnancy, number of children and abortions, breastfeeding time, and contraceptive use were observed between these groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions and personalized strategies to address specific risk factors and enhance preventive measures for individuals at risk.

Marco Alexandre Dias da Rocha,1 Markéta Saint Aroman,2 Valérie Mengeaud,3 Fabienne Carballido,4 Gautier Doat,5 Ana Coutinho,6 Edileia Bagatin1 1Department of Dermatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Corporate Medical Direction Dermocosmetics Care & Personal Care, Pierre Fabre, Toulouse, France; 3Laboratoires Dermatologiques Ducray, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, Lavaur, France; 4Laboratoires Dermatologiques A-Derma, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, Lavaur, France; 5Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, Lavaur, France; 6Laboratorios Pierre Fabre do Brasil LTDA, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilCorrespondence: Marco Alexandre Dias da Rocha, Departamento de Dermatologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Botucatu, 821 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04039-001, Brazil, Tel +55-(11)-3129-5007, Email marcoderm@hotmail.comAbstract: Previously considered a skin disease exclusively affecting adolescents, characterized by inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions, acne vulgaris is now increasingly observed in adult life, including post-menopause. Today, adult female acne (AFA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, with polymorphic lesions presenting as open or closed comedones, papules, pustules, and even nodules or cysts, often with the presence of sequelae. AFA may persist from adolescence or manifest de novo in adulthood. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic, hormonal, dietary, and environmental factors, yet still incompletely understood. Increased sebum production, keratinocyte hyper-proliferation, inflammation, and reduced diversity of Cutibacterium acnes strains are the underlying disease mechanisms. During menopausal transition, a relative increase in androgen levels occurs, just as estrogens begin to decline, which can manifest itself as acne. Whereas most AFA exhibit few acne lesions with normo-androgenic serum levels, baseline investigations including androgen testing panel enable associated comorbidities to be eliminated, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or tumors. Another interesting feature is AFA’s impact on quality of life, which is greater than in adolescents, being similar to other chronic diseases like asthma. The therapeutic approach to AFA depends on its severity and associated features. This review investigates the intricate facets of AFA, with a specific focus on incidence rates, treatment modalities, and the curious impact of menopause. Utilizing insights from contemporary literature and scientific discussions, this article seeks to advance our understanding of AFA, offering new perspectives to shape clinical practices and improve patient outcomes.Keywords: adult female acne, epidemiology, treatment, dermocosmetics, menopause, hormonal dynamics

Previously considered a skin disease exclusively affecting adolescents, characterized by inflammatory and non-inflammatory skin lesions, acne vulgaris is now increasingly observed in adult life, including post-menopause. Today, adult female acne (AFA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, with polymorphic lesions presenting as open or closed comedones, papules, pustules, and even nodules or cysts, often with the presence of sequelae. AFA may persist from adolescence or manifest de novo in adulthood. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic, hormonal, dietary, and environmental factors, yet still incompletely understood. Increased sebum production, keratinocyte hyper-proliferation, inflammation, and reduced diversity of Cutibacterium acnes strains are the underlying disease mechanisms. During menopausal transition, a relative increase in androgen levels occurs, just as estrogens begin to decline, which can manifest itself as acne. Whereas most AFA exhibit few acne lesions with normo-androgenic serum levels, baseline investigations including androgen testing panel enable associated comorbidities to be eliminated, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or tumors. Another interesting feature is AFA's impact on quality of life, which is greater than in adolescents, being similar to other chronic diseases like asthma. The therapeutic approach to AFA depends on its severity and associated features. This review investigates the intricate facets of AFA, with a specific focus on incidence rates, treatment modalities, and the curious impact of menopause. Utilizing insights from contemporary literature and scientific discussions, this article seeks to advance our understanding of AFA, offering new perspectives to shape clinical practices and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Obesity affects over 650 million globally, with rising rates posing significant public health challenges, especially among Saudi Arabian women. Obesity correlates with menstrual irregularities and reproductive health issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Bariatric surgery (BS), particularly laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), is increasingly used due to its safety and effectiveness in treating obesity-related conditions. This study explores LSG's impact on menstrual cycles and fertility in Saudi women, aiming to optimize patient care and understand surgical effects on hormonal dynamics and reproductive health. Methodology It is a cross-sectional design among Saudi women post-sleeve gastrectomy from December 2023 to May 2024. Variables included age, marital status, and region, with primary outcomes focusing on menstrual cycle changes post surgery. Results Our study includes 387 participants, and demographic characteristics showed a significant proportion aged 26-35 years (n=147, 38.0%) and 36-45 years (n=119, 30.7%), with the majority being married (n=230, 59.4%). Regional distribution highlighted the south as the most represented (n=139, 35.9%), followed by the central (n=74, 19.1%). About 30.2% (n=117) reported chronic conditions. Post surgery, 70.5% (n=273) experienced menstrual changes, with regular cycles being the most common (n=102, 26.3%). Logistic regression indicated younger age as a protective factor against menstrual changes (p=0.028), while pre-surgery menstrual irregularities significantly predicted post-surgery changes (p=0.002). Regional analysis showed no significant association between geographic location and post-surgery menstrual changes (p=0.140). Overall, quality of life post-surgery was rated highly by participants, with 70.8% (n=274) giving ratings of 4 or 5. Conclusion Our study highlights a high prevalence of post-sleeve gastrectomy menstrual changes, predominantly regular cycles. Younger age appears protective, while pre-existing menstrual irregularities strongly predict postoperative changes. Regional differences did not significantly influence outcomes. Overall, participants reported high satisfaction with their quality of life post surgery., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Research Ethics Committee at King Khalid University (HAPO-06-B-001) issued approval Ecm#2023 -2043. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Alsareii et al.)

Pine pitch canker (PPC), caused by Fusarium circinatum, affects Pinus species worldwide. Although no effective solutions have yet been found to control it, there is a growing interest in using biological control agents (BCA) such as Trichoderma to avoid the application of chemical‐based products. Using species with an increasing level of susceptibility to PPC (Pinus pinea, Pinus pinaster and Pinus radiata), this study aimed to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma viride pre‐inoculation on disease development, assessing several physiological and hormonal parameters. A 2‐week period elapsed between T. viride and F. circinatum inoculation. Sampling for each species was performed independently when at least 50% of the plants of one of the inoculated groups developed disease symptoms. Fusarium circinatum infection reduced water status and photosynthesis, but increased proline, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid concentrations in plants of P. radiata and P. pinaster with symptoms; while in P. pinea water relations were maintained and anthocyanin accumulation occurred in the presence of F. circinatum. In P. radiata, T. viride pre‐inoculation accelerated disease progression, with some PPC‐induced responses augmented (decreased water potential and photosynthesis; increased substomatal CO2 concentration) and novel changes not found in seedlings inoculated exclusively with F. circinatum (increased electrolyte leakage and salicylic acid; decreased relative water content). This suggests that T. viride may be initially recognized as an invading organism, subverting the plant defence mechanisms for successful root colonization. If seedlings are not allowed to recover from this state, pathogen infection may thus be facilitated, highlighting the importance of application timing in BCA strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various species of fish living in coral reef communities show sequential hermaphroditism, or sex change. In a typical case, an individual first matures as a female, and later, when it becomes dominant in the mating group, it becomes a male (i.e., protogynous sex change). Many species show only unidirectional changes but some of coral reef fishes exhibit bidirectional sex changes, in which even a dominant male may revert to female when a socially more dominant competitor arrives. However, bidirectional sex change has rarely been observed in natural conditions, even among those species exhibiting it under experimental conditions. Here we explain the rarity of bidirectional sex change by studying dynamics of hormones controlling sex expression. We consider social status factor, S F , which is elevated when the individual becomes more dominant in the mating group. When the S F level is high, the dynamics would culminate with low estradiol expression and high testosterone expression, suggesting a male phenotype. In contrast, when S F level is low, the system converges to an equilibrium with high estradiol expression and low testosterone expression, suggesting a female phenotype. There is a parameter region in which the dynamics exhibit bistability. The model demonstrates hysteresis: as S F increases smoothly, the system undergoes a sudden transition in the levels of sex hormones. The model can explain why species show unidirectional sex change, in that an individual's switch to a new sex is irreversible, even if the individual's social situation returns to the original subdominant status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year follow-up study was performed of bone metabolism and bone changes induced by surgical menopause as a consequence of hysterectomy and oophorectomy (OVX) is 52 nonmenopausal women. We investigated 22 bone parameters and determined seven bone indices as indicators of bone mineral content by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and microdensitometry (MD). The significant correlations between levels of sex hormones and/or bone parameters and bone indices demonstrated that marked sex-steroid deficiency after surgical menopause induced bone uncoupling during high bone turnover and subsequent rapid bone loss on the early period after OVX. Principal component analysis using correlation coefficients suggested a seven-loading-factor matrix composed of bone parameters and a two-loading-factor matrix composed of bone indices. Two groups of parameters--estradiol and estriol, and androstenedione together, and luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone together--indicated that the rate of bone loss was greater in the trabecular bone than in the cortical bone. Three other groups of parameters--urine calcium, urine hydroxyproline, and serum bone Gla-protein together; serum alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium, and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D] together; and plasma tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase--indicated that bone uncoupling, with a prevalence of resorption over formation of bone, was greater in trabecular bone than is cortical bone and also that magnitude and rate of bone loss in the axial vertebrae surpassed those in the appendicular metacarpals after OVX. Two other groups of parameters, namely, trabecular bone mineral density (Dd) and bone mineral content (Dc), both measured by DXA, and bone mineral density (L2, L3), measured by QCT, together; and the cortical thickness index (MCI), cortical bone mineral density (sigmaGS/D), and the ratio of GSmin/max, measured by MD, indicated that the relative rates of bone reduction at the 3-year follow-up were greater in the axial vertebrae than in the appendicular metacarpals. Thus, bone change in the trabecular bone was associated with rapid loss during the early phase after OVX, whereas that in the cortical bone was slow during the late phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multicellular organisms, such as plants, fungi, and animals, develop organs with specialized functions. Major challenges in developing such structures include establishment of polarity along three axes (apical-basal, medio-lateral, and dorso-ventral/abaxial-adaxial), specification of tissue types and their coordinated growth, and maintenance of communication between the organ and the entire organism. The gynoecium of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana embodies the female reproductive organ and has proven an excellent model system for studying organ establishment and development, given its division into different regions with distinct symmetries and highly diverse tissue types. Upon pollination, the gynoecium undergoes dramatic changes in morphology and developmental programming to form the seed-containing fruit. In this review, we wish to provide a detailed overview of the molecular and genetic mechanisms that are known to guide gynoecium and fruit development in A. thaliana. We describe networks of key genetic regulators and their interactions with hormonal dynamics in driving these developmental processes. The discoveries made to date clearly demonstrate that conclusions drawn from studying gynoecium and fruit development in flowering plants can be used to further our general understanding of organ formation across the plant kingdom. Importantly, this acquired knowledge is increasingly being used to improve fruit and seed crops, facilitated by the recent profound advances in genomics, cloning, and gene-editing technologies., (© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)