Bleeding patterns in recent postmenopausal outpatients with uterine myomas: comparison between two regimens of HRT

Objectives: To evaluate and to compare the bleeding patterns obtained with two regimens of hormone replacement therapy given to early postmenopausal women with asymptomatic uterine leiomyomas. Methods: In this randomised prospective 1-year study 50 early postmenopausal women with one to four asymptomatic uterine leiomyomas were enrolled into two study-groups to take two regimens of hormone replacement therapy for 12 28-day cycles: (A) Tibolone, 2.5 mg/day; (B) conjugated equine estrogens (CEE), 0.625 mg/day plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), 5 mg/day. The bleeding patterns and the changes in uterine volume of the 47 outpatients who completed the study were evaluated and compared. Results: Amenorrhea incidence was higher in group A (75.0% of the cycles) than in group B (65.6% of the cycles), while irregular bleeding and irregular spotting incidences were higher in group B (29.7 and 4.7% of the cycles, respectively) compared to group A (22.6 and 2.4% of the cycles, respectively). The mean bleeding and spotting lengths were not statistically different between patients in group A and those in group B. Finally, at the end of the study period transvaginal ultrasonography showed no significant change in leiomyoma size. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that, in early postmenopausal patients with asymptomatic uterine leiomyomas, Tibolone treatment seems to be preferable compared to CEE–MPA continuous combined treatment in relation to the lesser occurrence of irregular bleeding. Furthermore, neither Tibolone nor CEE–MPA therapy, at the doses used here, promote fibroid growth.     

Early impact of hormone replacement therapy on vascular hemodynamics detected via ocular colour Doppler analysis

Objective: To determine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on ocular blood flow.

Study design: In a prospective controlled study, 40 healthy women who presented to the menopause clinic between December 2000 and December 2001 were randomly assigned into the study. The HRT-receiving group was administered estradiol 17-valerate 2 mg the first 11 days, and estradiol 17-valerate 2 mg plus ciproterone acetate 1 mg the next 10 days of the monthly cycle for 6 months. The control group did not receive any HRT for 6 months. The ocular colour Doppler analysis were performed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. The ocular Doppler analysis was performed in the first half of the cycle in the HRT-receiving group.

Results: Central retinal artery and ophthalmic artery basal Doppler index (peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistive index and pulsatility index) values of the two groups at the beginning of the study did not show any statistically significant difference. Both the right and the left central retinal artery pulsatility index (PI) values of the study group, who received HRT at the end of the third and sixth months, showed a statistically significant decline (paired-samples test, P < 0.05), while the decrease in the resistive indexes was not significant.

Conclusion: These results suggest that 6 months of combined hormone replacement therapy with estradiol 17-valerate 2 mg plus ciproterone acetate 1 mg improves ocular vascular Doppler indices which may be a reflection of cerebral vascular status.     

Issues to debate on the Women's Health Initiative: estrogen: an instrument or the conductor of the orchestra?

Although it is well known that cyclic production of sex hormones is essential to establish reproductive function and female characteristics, distant impacts of the activity of the female endocrine system result from a concert of delicate mechanisms. Estrogen is rather an instrument than a conductor in this physiological orchestra of the female. Thus, controversies in the explanation of results from studies on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention might be eliminated, if we analyse not only the role of estrogen but a broader spectrum of factors leading to CVD. Authors would like to hypothesize that haemorheological changes in women around menopause, such as increased blood and plasma viscosity, haematocrit and fibrinogen, are largely responsible for the increased mortality in the post-menopausal life period. We believe that a cyclic withdrawal bleeding establishes a more favourable haemorheological condition, thus, sequentially administered estrogen might be protective in post-menopausal women. Nevertheless, other factors, that decrease blood viscosity, such as daily exercise, intake of ample amount of fluids as well as ideal nutrition, are equally important. We are confident that sequential HRT, as well as healthy life style and risk prevention programmes have their proper place in the management of this issue.     

Influence of HRT on prognostic factors for breast cancer: a systematic review after the Women's Health Initiative trial

INTRODUCTION: Mortality due to breast cancer has been reported to be the same or even lower in HRT users than in non-users. This has been attributed to earlier diagnosis and to better prognosis. Nevertheless, more advanced disease in HRT users was reported recently by the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. The objective of this study was to assess, using a systematic review of current literature, whether the data of the WHI study are in contradiction to observational data. METHODS: We selected 25 studies, for which we evaluated the methodology, the characteristics of the studied populations, confounding breast cancer risk factors and prognostic indicators. RESULTS: The WHI study, showing a worsening of some prognostic parameters, is in contradiction to most published observational studies. Most observational studies are retrospective, not well matched and did not consider most confounding factors. Their methodology and selection criteria varied considerably and the number of patients was often small. No differences in the distributions of histology, grade or steroid receptors were observed in the WHI trial, while this was the case in some of the observational studies. Other parameters (S phase, protein Neu, Bcl-2 gene, protein p53 and E-cadherin, cathepsin D) were not reported in the WHI trial. CONCLUSIONS: In view of these data, the current clinical message to patients should be changed: one can no longer declare that breast cancers developed while using HRT are of better prognosis.     

激素替代治疗子宫内膜异位症根治术后42例疗效观察

目的:探讨应用激素替代治疗改善子宫内膜异位症根治术后围绝经期症状的疗效和安全性。方法:2002年1月~2004年12月因重度子宫内膜异位症行根治术出现围绝经期症状的患者42例,随机分成2组。观察组22例口服倍美力0.3 mg,1次/d,对照组20例口服利维爱1.25 mg,1次/d。治疗前后检测血清FSH(卵泡刺激素)和E2(雌二醇)水平,记录治疗期间盆腔痛、性交痛等子宫内膜异位症相关症状,Kupperm an(K评分)1次/月。结果:两组治疗后围绝经期症状均明显改善,血清E2水平上升,治疗前后比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.01),无内膜异位症复发表现。治疗后的E2水平观察组高于对照组,两组比较差异有显著性意义(P<0.01),但均在安全范围内。结论:小剂量倍美力和利维爱用于重度子宫内膜异位症根治术后患者,能有效地控制围绝经期症状,安全,无复发。     

雌激素对机体的影响及其导致子宫内膜癌的分子机制

女性的性激素,尤其是由卵巢分泌的雌激素,在女性的一生中起着非常重要的作用.这一作用是由下丘脑-腺垂体-卵巢轴（HPOA）所形成的完整而协调的神经内分泌系统调控的结果.雌激素水平的规律性、周期性稳定,是女性高水平生活质量的保证.为促进女性身体健康,提高生活质量,现将雌激素对女性一生的影响,包括激素替代治疗（HRT）对靶器官的影响及雌激素增高导致子宫内膜癌的分子机制,综述如下.旨在阐述如何使女性防病于未然,提高女性的健康水平和生活质量.     

对围绝经期妇女激素补充治疗的认知度调查

目的探讨医护人员和妇女主任对激素补充治疗(HRT)的知晓率及培训需求情况。方法采用自行设计的调查问卷,对桐乡市医护人员和妇女主任进行问卷调查,调查表的主要内容分为一般情况、对HRT的利弊认知度、推荐与否、培训需求等方面。结果共调查医护人员430人、妇女主任206人,两组人员在平均年龄、工作年限、文化程度等基本特征方面无统计学差异。68.9%的妇女主任认为围绝经期妇女有必要应用HRT,明显高于医护人员。只有8.6%的医护人员表示一定会推荐患者使用HRT,明显低于妇女主任。医护人员不推荐使用HRT的原因主要是对副作用的担心。医务人员组更倾向于从相关书籍、期刊获得信息,而妇女主任组更倾向于从医生及媒体获得相关信息。结论桐乡市部分医护人员对HRT的相关知识了解不够,担心HRT发生不良反应,HRT的推荐率低。医护人员和妇女主任在HRT的认知上存在差异。针对不同人群,开展形式多样的HRT知识宣教及培养妇女主任成为HRT知识的传播者是提高HRT应用的关键措施。     

Different hypersensitivities against homologous proteins of MGL_1304 in patients with atopic dermatitis

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is exacerbated by sweating, and the skin of most patients with AD are resided by Malassezia (M.) fungi. Recently, MGL_1304 produced by Malassezia globosa was identified as the major histamine releasing antigen in human sweat.

Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of SERMs

In humans, structural and functional changes attributable to aging are more visibly evident in the skin than in any other organ. Estrogens have significant effects on skin physiology and modulate epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and melanocytes, in addition to skin appendages including the hair follicle and the sebaceous gland. Importantly, skin aging can be significantly delayed by the administration of estrogen. This paper reviews the effects of estrogens on skin and the mechanisms by which estrogens can alleviate the changes due to aging that occur in human skin. The relevance of estrogen replacement therapy (HRT) in post-menopausal women and the potential value of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) as a therapy for diminishing skin aging are also highlighted.     

心衰患者窦性心率震荡检测及多因素影响分析

目的　观察心力衰竭患者窦性心率震荡 (HRT)现象的特征并探讨其临床意义。方法　 2 0 0 4 - 0 1～ 0 4哈尔滨医科大学第一临床医学院门诊 30例心衰患者及 30名健康对照者均接受 2 4hHolter检查 ,分别计算HRT的初始值 (TO)、HRT的斜率 (TS) ,并进行TO、TS与年龄、左室射血分数 (LVEF)、左室舒张末期内径 (LVED)、室早数目、室早前心率、联律间期、代偿间期的相关分析及不同起源室早TO、TS的组间比较。结果　心衰者与健康者HRT间存在明显差别 :心衰者TO明显高于对照者 (0 5 7± 4 71%与 - 1 5 6± 2 6 0 % ,P <0 0 2 5 ) ;心衰者TS明显低于对照者 (3 17± 2 0 3%与 9 6 4± 6 4 7,P <0 0 0 1)。TO、TS与年龄、LVEF、LVED、室早数目相关 ,与室早前心率、联律间期、代偿间期不相关 ,起源不同室早的TO、TS间无明显差异。结论　慢性心衰患者中窦性心率震荡现象明显减弱 ,由于TO、TS与LVEF、LVED相关 ,可凭借TO、TS对心衰患者进行危险分层 ,但它对预后的预测价值有待于大样本长期随访来证实。