Endometrial, breast and liver safety of soy isoflavones plus Lactobacillus sporogenes in post-menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety of a nutraceutical compound containing soy isoflavones and Lactobacillus sporogenes on endometrium, breast and liver function. SETTING: Outpatient Menopausal Clinic. STUDY DESIGN: 130 healthy postmenopausal women suffering from menopausal symptoms were randomized to receive soy isoflavones 60 mg and Lactobacillus sporogenes 1 billion spores (group E: 65 women) or calcium and vitamin D3 (group C: 65 women). Safety of the treatment was assessed at baseline and after 1 year taking into account endometrial thickness, mammographic density, serum levels of transaminases, γ-GT and bilirubin. Efficacy of the treatment was evaluated rating the score of menopausal symptoms at baseline and every 3 months. The statistical analysis was carried out with χ², Fisher exact's test and ANOVA. RESULTS: After 12 months of treatment mammographic density, endometrial thickness and hepatic function did not show significant differences between groups, while menopausal symptoms were progressively and significantly reduced in severity and frequency during treatment with soy isoflavones plus Lactobacillus sporogenes versus calcium plus vitamin D3. CONCLUSION: A 12 months treatment with a nutraceutical compound based on isoflavones and Lactobacillus sporogenes at the recommended doses is safe for endometrium, mammary glands and liver function in postmenopausal women.

E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to determine whether modulation of expression of cell adhesion molecules may occur in neoplastic transformation of endometrial epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: E-Cadherin and α-catenin protein expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 124 biopsies representative of normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium. RESULTS: In normal endometrium (proliferative, secretive and atrophic endometrium) strong homogeneous, E-cadherin and α-catenin reactivity was found; 58.3% and 66.6% of biopsies representative of simple hyperplastic endometrium were homogeneously positive for E-cadherin and α-catenin, respectively, whereas no samples representative of atypical hyperplasia showed evidence of homogeneous E-cadherin or α-catenin expression. No expression of homogeneous E-cadherin was seen in endometrial adenocarcinomas; α-catenin homogeneous immunostaining was observed in 2 G1 and 2 G2 out of 22 adenocarcinoma samples (18.2%). A homogeneous co-expression of both molecules was seen only in normal (70%) and simple hyperplastic (46%) endometrium. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that E-cadherin and α-catenin down-regulation might be associated with neoplastic transformation of endometrial tissues.

Voluminous mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary in a 13-year-old girl.

BACKGROUND: Mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary constitutes about 15% of ovarian tumors. It is more common in women between 20 and 40, but is rare in teenagers and exceptional in pre-menstrual girls. Malignant transformation is possible in 5-10% of cases. Spontaneous or iatrogenic breaks are more common. It makes the different diagnosis of pseudomixoma peritonei more difficult. CASE REPORT: A 13-year-old girl came to the National Cancer Institute "Regina Elena" of Rome, with increasing abdominal distension over 2 months. The abdominal mass was removed and a left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histological examination of the mass revealed a 40-cm diameter mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary. CONCLUSION: The rapid enlargement of the ovarian mass, the young age and the difficulty of certain pre-operative diagnosis, make this case interesting. Management of this pathology and fertility-conserving treatment need careful follow-up because of the possibility of recurrence in the remaining ovary.