Osteoporosis is a major health problem affecting both men and women. statins, besides their action as lipid-lowering agents, seem to have additional pleiotropic properties, among them a beneficial effect on bone mineral density. the entirety of experimental and the majority of clinical studies as well as the only relevant meta-analysis suggest that statins have an anabolic effect on bone metabolism. statins, osteoporosis and adipogenesis share the same pathway, rANKL/OPG. It would appear that an imbalance in this pathway could be responsible for the manifestation of some metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, atherogenesis, multiple myeloma, osteoporosis. Possibly in the future, drugs which can intervene in this biochemical and pathophysiological cascade, like statins, in a variety of doses, could be used for the management of ectopic ossification syndromes and other bone disorders, even as an additive treatment. Until then, further large longitudinal randomized controlled studies for each statin separately are required to confirm this hypothesis.

The present study assesses the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). The questionnaire was administered to 598 healthy individuals from 15 different regions of Greece with a measure of socioeconomic characteristics and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The sample was split into two random halves, and exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor solution. This solution was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis on the second half of the sample. In terms of latent dimensions, the Greek version retains the three-factor structure as proposed by the initial authors. However, adequate fit was achieved only after omitting eight items. The shorter (10-item) version was submitted to further analysis. The shorter version provided satisfactory internal reliability and evidence indicating the validity of the scale with respect to SCL-90-R subscales. The stability of the questionnaire was verified by a high test-retest reliability over a 3-mo. period (r = .86). Sex and age differences were assessed. The 10-item version appears to be a practical, brief tool for clinical use.

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Background: Previous findings regarding a possible association among anti-hypertensive medication and dimensions of depressive symptoms, psychopathology and quality of life are mixed. Objectives: This study examined whether anti-hypertensive medication impacts on depressive symptoms, psychopathology and quality of life in a sample of hypertensive patients. Aims: Using a prospective design we aimed to explore the psychological status of hypertensive patients both at baseline and one year later. Methods: A sample of 198 patients (89 men-108 women, mean age 52, 9 years, SD = 11, 81 ranged 25-78) with a newly diagnosis of essential hypertension was recruited from a general hospital. The questionnaires included at baseline (T1): a) question for the recording of social-demographic characteristics and clinical features, b) The Short Form 36 (SF-36) General Health Survey questionnaire, c) the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and d) The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Sixty-two participants completed the SF-36, BDI-II and SCL-90-R again one year later (T2). Results: Paired t tests showed that there were not significant differences on the psychological measures from baseline to one-year follow-up (Table 1). Conclusions: Our findings do not support that anti-hypertensive medication has any impact on depression, general psychopathology and quality of life scores than those who use only a dietary program.

Introduction:Modern psychosomatic research has found multiple evidence for an impact of psychosocial factors on the development of arterial hypertension.Aims:To evaluate the burden of these factors among the two sexes.Methods:A sample of 198 hypertensive patients (89 men – 108 women, mean age 52,9 years, SD = 11,81 ranged 26–78) participated to the present study. The questionnaires included: a) questionnaire recording social-demographic characteristics and clinical features, b)The Short Form 36 (SF-36) General Health Survey questionnaire, c) the Beck Depression Inventory –II, d) Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and e) The Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ-greek version). SPSS for Windows 14.0 and STATA 10 were used for statistical analysis.Results:Age was not differ significantly among the two sexes (t = −1.638, p =.028). Models of stepwise approach logistic regression, examining the associations between gender and psychological issues, were performed. Model 1 was adjusted for age, socio-demographic variables and clinical parametres. Quality of life, depression, personality traits, and cardiac anxiety scores were introduced in step model 2. In model 3, after controlling for age, socio-demographic variables and clinical features female hypertensive participants had a higher risk of somatization (OR=1.46, 95% CI=1.02–1.29), paranoid ideation (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.04 –1.46) and psychotisism (OR=1.37, 95% CI=1.14–2.45).Conclusions:Findings support the hypothesis that hypertensive women shows a serious psychological dysfunctional behaviour, which can be attributed to their gender. Since this relation was not explained by relevant confounders there is a need for create preventive methods or treatment programmes in order to minimaze these effects