Associations of alcohol, height, and reproductive factors with serum hormone concentrations in postmenopausal Japanese women

We measured serum levels of estradiol (E₂), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in 61 postmenopausal women drawn from female residents in a community in Japan to evaluate the relationships between these hormone levels and potential breast cancer risk factors. The information on reproductive history, body size, alcohol use, and physical activity was obtained by means of a self-administered questionnaire. There was a significant trend in increasing E₂ level with increasing height after taking account of age and body mass index (BMI) (p for trend = 0.04). BMI was inversely associated with SHBG level after controlling for age (p for trend = 0.01). Decreasing progesterone with increasing BMI was observed after controlling age and history of hysterectomy (P=0.05). Alcohol consumption was positively associated with E₂ level and there was a strong linear trend after controlling for age, height, and BMI (p for trend=0.001). Trend for increasing DHEAS with alcohol consumption was also statistically significant after controlling for age and history of hysterectomy (p for trend=0.01). Reproductive factors as well as physical activity were not related to any of the hormone levels.     

No association between immunohistochemical expression of p53, c-erbB-2, Ki-67, estrogen and progesterone receptors in female papillary thyroid cancer and ionizing radiation

An association has previously been reported between exposure to medical diagnostic ionizing radiation and papillary thyroid cancer in women. To further evaluate potential mechanisms in carcinogenesis, the expression of p53, c-erbB-2, as well as Ki-67, estrogen and progesterone receptors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 19 women exposed to X-rays and for comparison in nine women without such reported exposure. They all had papillary thyroid cancer. No difference was found between these groups. The results of this study showed that p53, c-erbB-2, Ki-67, estrogen and progesterone receptors are not involved in papillary thyroid cancer associated with exposure to medical diagnostic ionizing radiation.     

Tamoxifen aziridine binding to cytosolic proteins from human breast specimens is negatively associated with estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, pS2, and cathepsin-D

[³H]Tamoxifen Aziridine ([³H]TAZ) is a derivative of the antiestrogen tamoxifen that covalently labels the Estrogen Receptor (ER), and perhaps other uncharacterized proteins. In a previous article we described that [³H]TAZ binds to a cytosolic protein from human uterine tissues that shares some, but not all, the ER properties. Here we have extended these studies to [³H]TAZ binding to cytosol proteins from human breast cancer specimens, and studied its quantitative association with other molecular markers and clinico-pathological variables. Cytosols were obtained in hypotonic buffer containing 20 mM molybdate and protease inhibitors, incubated with [³H]TAZ, and subjected to Sucrose Gradient Analysis (SGA). A [³H]TAZ labeled peak that consistently migrated with the 4S fractions was found in most of the assayed cytosols (range of 0 to 1278 fmol/mg p.). The 4S peak of [³H]TAZ was partially inhibited by both estrogens and antiestrogens. When [³H]E₂ was used instead of [³H]TAZ, only an 8S peak was detected. [³H]TAZ was covalently bound to a protein with an apparent MW of 65 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE and fluorography. The mean of [³H]TAZ binding was significantly higher in the subgroups of samples classified as ER-, PR-, pS2- or cathepsin D-, than in the respective positive subgroups (P < 0.01 in all the cases). [³H]TAZ binding was not associated with clinico-pathological variables, except that its mean was significantly larger in tumors larger than 5 cm than in smaller tumors. These results, and those previously reported, suggest that: 1) [³H]TAZ labels a cytosolic protein present in human breast cancers and uterine tissues that does not share all the ER properties, and 2) the [³H]TAZ binding by breast cancer cytosols is negatively associated with markers of estrogenic dependency, and its quantification may provide valuable information on antiestrogen responsiveness of a given tumor.     

The Follicular Endocrine Environment in Stimulated Cycles of Women with Endometriosis: Steroid Levels and Embryo Quality

Objective: To assess the endocrine milieu in follicles of stimulated cycles comparing women with and without endometriosis. Steroids were measured in follicular fluid (FF) and in in vitro culture of granulosa-luteal cells, and this status was related to the quality of the embryos obtained after IVF.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: IVF program at the Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad.

Patient(s): Twenty-four women with laparoscopically documented endometriosis and 26 controls undergoing IVF.

Intervention(s): Individual follicular aspiration, oocyte isolation, FF storage, and preparation of luteinized granulosa cells for culture; oocyte insemination and embryo cleavage in standard IVF.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum (day of ovum pickup) and FF measurements of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione. Secretion of progesterone was measured in the cell-conditioned medium. Results were compared between patients with endometriosis and controls, as well as between oocytes that yielded embryos of different quality.

Result(s): Levels of progesterone in the FF increased with the severity of the disease, whereas testosterone accumulation in the FF decreased with the severity of the disease. An increase in progesterone accumulation in vitro was observed in basal and hCG-induced granulosa cell cultures. No difference was observed in terms of embryo quality, and no steroid marker was able to identify follicles with oocytes that displayed embryos of good or bad quality under the inverted microscope.

Conclusion(s): The data show differences in the steroidogenesis of follicles from stimulated women with and without endometriosis. These changes indicate good endocrine health but are not predictive of embryo quality.     

孕酮对东莨菪碱所致记忆损伤小鼠的作用及机制

目的观察孕酮对东莨菪碱所致记忆损伤小鼠的作用及机制。方法东莨菪碱(1mg·kg-1,ip)造成小鼠记忆损伤模型,利用被动逃避实验评价小鼠记忆成绩,并测定给药后24h小鼠皮质和海马胆碱酯酶(AChE)和胆碱乙酰转移酶(ChAT)的活性。结果在被动逃避实验中,东莨菪碱造成小鼠记忆损伤,孕酮(1、10mg·kg-1,sc)预处理能减少跳台错误次数(P<0.05),延长跳台潜伏期(P<0.01)和避暗潜伏期(P<0.01)。东莨菪碱增加皮质和海马AChE活性,降低ChAT活性,孕酮(1mg·kg-1,sc)预处理抑制皮质和海马AChE活性的增加(P<0.01),升高皮质(P<0.05)和海马(P<0.01)ChAT活性。结论孕酮可以改善东莨菪碱所致记忆损伤,机制可能与其抑制皮质和海马AChE活性、升高ChAT活性有关。     

多囊卵巢综合征患者卵泡液LIF、IL-1β及性激素水平与IVF-ET结局关系的研究

目的:探讨多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)患者卵泡液中白血病抑制因子(LIF)、白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)及性激素水平与IVF-ET结局的关系。方法:用酶联免疫双抗夹心法和时间分辨免疫荧光法前瞻性研究了行IVF-ET的11例PCOS患者、14例对照组患者卵泡液中IL-1β、LIF及雌二醇(E2)和孕酮(P)的定量表达。结果:PCOS组卵泡液中LIF为21.1±11.1pg/mL,P为191.9×103nmol/L,明显低于对照组(33.5±11.8pg/mL,305.9×103nmol/L,P<0.05);而PCOS组卵泡液IL-Iβ为39.9±11.5pg/mL,E2浓度为3334.00nmol/L,明显高于对照组(28.3±10.6pg/mL,2138.1nmol/L),P<0.05。PCOS组胚胎种植率为8.8%,临床妊娠率为18.2%,明显低于对照组(16.7%,42.9%),P<0.05;PCOS组OHSS发生率为27.3%,明显高于对照组(7.1%,P<0.05)。LIF与E2在两组患者呈负相关(r=-0.442,P=0.027)、LIF与LH/FSH比值在PCOS组呈负相关(r=-0.682,P=0.021);IL-Iβ与E2在PCOS组呈正相关(r=0.612,P=0.045);LH/FSH比值与P在PCOS组呈负相关(r=-0.780,P=0.005);LIF与IL-Iβ水平两者间无明显相关性。结论:LIF可能是PCOS患者低种植率的关键因子;IL-Iβ可能是PCOS患者在控制性超排卵过程中易发生OHSS的一个致病因子;卵泡液IL-Iβ、LIF受卵巢激素调控。     

腹腔镜手术治疗中重度内膜异位症的术后用药

目的　探讨中重度内膜异位症腹腔镜手术治疗后 ,加用内分泌治疗的必要性以及副作用。方法　 1 9位患者术后不用药 (A组 )、 1 9例加用人工合成孕激素治疗 (B组 ) ,1 8例促性腺激素释放激素激动剂(GnRH -a)治疗 (C组 ) ,比较三组患者术后复发、妊娠结局及用药副作用情况。结果　A组 1 5 8%复发 ,B组2 6 3%复发 ,C组 1 7 0 %复发 ,三组差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。三组不孕患者妊娠情况差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。B组 7例患者未完全闭经 ,C组全部闭经 ,B组及C组闭经时间分别为 (4 4 0± 2 3 7)d及 (4 0 0± 1 3 6 )d ,复潮时间分别为 (4 8 7± 2 6 6 )d及 (5 8 1± 1 7 4 )d ,两组间差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ,但B组患者闭经及复潮的发生更加不确定。B组患者以高雄激素症状为主 ,5例患者服药后声音变低钝 ,C组患者以低雌激素所至围绝经期征候为主 ,均于停药后恢复。结论　对于有生育要求的患者 ,手术者若能彻底地清除盆腔内膜异位病灶 ,术后可不用药。 6～ 1 2个月后未妊娠者 ,考虑用药及助孕治疗。孕激素类药物使用前应充分交代该药的副作用 ,特别注意特殊职业的患者     

简便微囊制备法——卵巢细胞微囊化的制备与功能检测

目的探讨微囊化制备在卵巢细胞体外增殖培养研究中的作用。方法将卵巢细胞分离培养并使用简便微囊制备法将卵巢细胞微囊化,观察细胞体外增生及测定培养液中雌激素和孕酮的含量,以检测卵巢细胞的内分泌功能和微囊的通透性能。结果增生培养至第6代与原代卵巢细胞雌、孕激素的分泌量相近,而且微囊化后雌、孕激素的分泌量差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论体外培养的卵巢细胞有内分泌功能,微囊化后不影响其分泌物的释放。     

孕激素对围绝经期综合征的治疗作用

目的探讨应用孕激素治疗围绝经期妇女月经紊乱及围绝经期综合征的作用。方法选择有围绝经症状伴子宫异常出血或月经周期改变的122例围绝经期妇女作为研究对象。分为2组:A组(54例):月经过多、异常出血,经诊刮术病理证实为子宫内膜异常增生的功能性子宫出血患者。给予炔诺酮6~8 mg/d×22 d×2个周期,之后于月经第16天服用安宫黄体酮6~8mg/d×10 d×1个周期。B组(68例):月经周期改变,稀发或不规律,月经量正常、轻度增加或减少者。月经周期第16天给予安宫黄体酮6~8 mg/d×10 d×3个周期。用药前后2组计有85例进行了促卵泡生成素(FSH)、促黄体生成素(LH)、雌二醇(E2)的测定,有围绝经综合征的94例进行G reene评分。2组用药前后均用B超测量子宫内膜厚度。结果2组用药前及用药后比较,FSH值明显下降(P<0.01),E2值明显上升(P<0.05),差异均有统计学意义。而LH值虽有下降,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。122例患者中有围绝经期症状的计有94例(77%)。用孕激素治疗3月后G reene评分明显降低,用药前后比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。2组之间FSH、LH、E2、G reene评分值比较差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。2组用药后子宫内膜厚度均明显变薄(P<0.01)。结论围绝经期妇女应用孕激素治疗能够有效缓解围绝经症状,调整月经周期,并对子宫内膜产生保护作用。