Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of connective tissue manipulation (CTM) on the severity of constipation and health-related quality of life in individuals ...diagnosed with chronic constipation. Methods Fifty patients with a diagnosis of chronic constipation according to Rome III criteria were recruited and randomized to an intervention (n = 25) or control group (n = 25). The intervention group received CTM in addition to the lifestyle advice, whereas the control group was given only lifestyle advice for constipation. All assessments were performed at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the Constipation Severity Instrument. Secondary outcomes included Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire, Bristol Stool Scale, and 7-day bowel diary. Differences between groups were analyzed with t tests, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test. Results Compared with the control group, subjects in the intervention group reported significantly greater improvement in total and subscale scores of the Constipation Severity Instrument and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire ( P < .05). Based on the results from bowel diaries, the improvements in the number of bowel movements, duration of defecation, stool consistency, and the feeling of incomplete evacuation in the intervention group were also significantly more than the control group ( P < .05). Conclusion This study showed that CTM and lifestyle advice were superior to reducing symptoms of constipation and quality of life compared with lifestyle advice alone for patients with chronic constipation.
Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS), as a bunch of metabolic disorders mainly characterized by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, atherosclerosis, central adiposity, and abdominal obesity ...triggering androgen deficiency, is one of the most critical threats to men. Although many significant preclinical and clinical findings explain CMS, new approaches toward common pathophysiological mechanisms and reasonable therapeutic targets are lacking.
To gain a further understanding of the role of androgen levels in various facets of CMS such as the constellation of cardiometabolic risk factors including central adiposity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, and arterial hypertension and to define future directions for development of effective therapeutic modalities.
Clinical and experimental data were searched through scientific literature databases (PubMed) from 2009 to October 2019.
Evidence from basic and clinical research was gathered with regard to the causal impact and therapeutic roles of androgens on CMS.
There are important mechanisms implicated in androgen levels and the risk of CMS. Low testosterone levels have many signs and symptoms on cardiometabolic and glycometabolic risks as well as abdominal obesity in men.
The implications of the findings can shed light on future improvements in androgen levels and add potentially predictive risk for CMS, as well as T2DM, abdominal obesity to guide clinical management in the early stage.
This comprehensive review refers to the association between androgens and cardiovascular health. A limitation of this study is the lack of large, prospective population-based studies that analyze the effects of testosterone treatment on CMS or mortality.
Low testosterone levels have several common features with metabolic syndrome. Thus, testosterone may have preventive role in the progress of metabolic syndrome and subsequent T2DM, abdominal obesity, and cardiovascular disease and likely affect aging men's health mainly through endocrine and vascular mechanisms. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the therapeutic interventions directed at preventing CMS in men.
Kirlangic OF, Yilmaz-Oral D, Kaya-Sezginer E, et al. The Effects of Androgens on Cardiometabolic Syndrome: Current Therapeutic Concepts. Sex Med 2020;8:132–155.
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