Inhibitory effects of estetrol on the invasion and migration of immortalized human endometrial stromal cells.

Endometriosis, a common gynecological disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial gland and stroma outside the uterus, causes several symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, and chronic abdominal pain. 17ß estradiol (E2) stimulates the growth of endometriotic lesions. Although estetrol (E4), produced by human fetal liver, is also a natural estrogen, it may have the opposite effects on endometriotic cells. We investigated different effects of E4 and E2 on the invasion and migration of immortalized human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) and evaluated whether E4 affects the expression of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family member 1 (WASF-1). We measured the invasion of HESCs by a Matrigel chamber assay. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay and cell tracking analysis. The expression of WASF-1 was confirmed by independent real-time PCR analysis. Transfection of cells with siRNAs was carried out to knock down the expression of WASF-1 in HESCs. E4 significantly inhibited E2-induced invasion and migration of HESCs. WASF-1 was found to be a potential mediator based on metastasis PCR array. WASF-1 was upregulated by E2 and downregulated by E4. Knockdown of WASF-1 inhibited migration. Our results suggest that E4 may inhibit E2-induced growth of endometriotic lesions. Downregulation of WASF-1 is involved in the inhibitory effects of E4 on migration. The use of E4 combined with progestins as combined oral contraceptives may cause endometriotic lesions to regress in women with endometriosis.

Ameliorating Effect of the Edible Mushroom Hericium erinaceus on Depressive-Like Behavior in Ovariectomized Rats.

Estrogen deficiency during menopause causes a variety of neurological symptoms, including depression. The edible Lion's Mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers. (HE), is a medicinal mushroom that has the potential for a neuroprotective effect and ameliorating neurological diseases, such as depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. HE contains phytoestrogens, including daidzein and genistein. However, the ameliorating effect of HE on menopausal symptoms is not well understood. Here we investigated the impact of methanol extract of the HE fruiting body on depressive-like behavior in postmenopausal model rats. The activation of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) causes body weight loss and uterine weight gain. Body weight gain and uterine weight loss by estrogen deficiency in ovariectomized (OVX) rats were reversed with 17ß-estradiol (E2) but not with HE. Thus, the phytoestrogens in HE may hardly activate ERα. Estrogen receptor beta (ERß) is expressed in the brain, and activation of ERß ameliorates menopausal depressive symptoms. Notably, depressive-like behavior in OVX rats evaluated in forced swim test was reduced by administration of not only E2 but also HE for 92 d. Long-term activation of ERα increases the risk of breast and uterine cancers. HE, therefore, may be effective in treating menopausal depression without the risk of carcinogenesis caused by ERα activation.

Effects of maternal magnesium sulfate treatment on newborns.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ) has been used with mothers, but the influence of MgSO4 on the fetus is unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine whether longer antenatal MgSO4 exposure correlates with adverse effects in newborns. METHODS: The clinical data of 77 infants born to mothers treated with MgSO4 were collected. The infants were divided into two groups according to (1) the serum Mg concentration, (2) cumulative Mg dose, and (3) duration of antenatal maternal Mg treatment, respectively. RESULTS: The serum Mg level of the infants correlated with that of the mothers but not with the duration of Mg treatment or the cumulative dose of Mg. There were no significant differences in the infants' clinical variables according to either the duration of Mg treatment or the cumulative dose of Mg. By contrast, enteral feeding tolerance began at a significantly later age and the heart rate on admission was significantly lower in infants with a serum Mg level ≥4.0 mmol/L than in those with a serum Mg level <4.0 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: Modest effects on the clinical variables of infants with higher serum Mg levels were determined, whereas neither the duration of Mg treatment nor the cumulative Mg dose correlated with the clinical variables of the infants. Thus, in newborns with only moderately elevated serum Mg levels, serious adverse effects are unlikely.

Effects of androgenic properties of progestin combined with ethinyl estradiol on vascular endothelial reactivity, plasma lipids and free radical production in women with endometriosis.

AIM: Endothelial reactivity is inhibited and oxidative stress is enhanced in women with endometriosis. Testosterone may adversely affect lipids and endothelium. We investigated the effects of androgenic properties of progestins combined with ethinyl estradiol (EE) on endothelial function, lipids and free radical production in such women. METHODS: Women with endometriosis were treated with 20 µg EE + 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) or 35 µg EE + 1 mg norethisterone (NET) for 3 months. Plasma concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), lipids, copper (Cu), derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), nitrite/nitrate, endothelin-1 and asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured before and after treatment. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was measured by ultrasonography. RESULTS: DRSP group, but not NET group, significantly increased FMD and concentrations of nitrite/nitrate and small dense LDL cholesterol, while decreased endothelin-1 concentrations. In both groups, ADMA and LDL cholesterol concentrations were significantly decreased, but triglyceride, SHBG, d-ROMs, Cu and ceruloplasmin concentrations increased, and BAP concentrations did not change. DRSP group significantly increased HDL cholesterol concentrations, whereas NET group decreased its concentrations. Changes in triglyceride correlated positively either with changes in SHBG (r = 0.57, P < 0.001) or with small dense LDL cholesterol (r = 0.45, P = 0.005). Changes in Cu correlated positively with changes in d-ROMs (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Androgenic properties of progestin may counteract EE's favorable effects on endothelial function and HDL cholesterol, while eliminating its adverse effects on increased triglyceride-induced small dense LDL cholesterol in women with endometriosis.

Mitigation of Memory Impairment in Ovariectomized Rats Using Garlic Powder Treated with Subcritical Water.

Women with estrogen deficiency are at the risk of suffering from neurological symptoms such as memory impairment. In the present study, we investigated the effect of garlic, Allium sativum L. (Asparagales: Amaryllidaceae), treated with subcritical water on memory impairment in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. OVX rats were administered garlic powder for 84 d. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory was assessed using the Morris water maze test. Escape latency of the OVX rats increased compared with that of sham-operated rats. The prolonged escape latency of the OVX rats decreased to the level of that of sham-operated rats upon the administration of garlic powder (0.5% in feed). The weights of the body, uterus, and brain were not affected by the garlic powder administration. These results suggest that garlic powder treated with subcritical water mitigates memory impairment in OVX rats.

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in gynecological cancer.

AIM: Risk factors for cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN) vary by population. This study aimed to assess risk factors for CIN in patients with gynecological cancer. METHODS: Patients who underwent cisplatin-based chemotherapy for gynecological cancer between January 2009 and December 2015 at Aichi Medical University School of Medicine were included in this study. CIN was defined according to the 'risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage kidney disease' (RIFLE) criteria and classified as either risk (Class R) or injury (Class I). Analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among 112 patients enrolled, 30 had CIN. Multivariate analysis revealed that hydration with magnesium (odds ratio [OR], 0.223), history of cisplatin use (OR, 4.420), and hypoalbuminemia (OR, 4.170) were risk factors for Class R, and that frequency of cisplatin administration (OR, 5.620) and hydration with magnesium (OR, 0.216) were risk factors for Class I. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that hydration without magnesium, history of cisplatin use, frequency of cisplatin administration, and hypoalbuminemia are significant risk factors for CIN.

Annual report of the Women's Health Care Committee, Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2015.

The activity of the Women's Health Care Committee over a two year period up to June 2015 focused upon: (i) management of breast diseases in obstetrics and gynecology; (ii) investigation of lifestyle-related disease and bone mineral density after gynecologic cancer therapy; (iii) postoperative women's health care; (iv) current surgical treatment for pelvic organ prolapse among gynecologists in Japan; (v) cesarean indication for pregnant women with active/inactive genital viral lesions; (vi) health care of young female athletes concerned about menstrual cycle abnormalities, stress fractures and premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder; (vii) a training program for women's health care advisers; and (viii) a new edition of the oral contraceptive and low-dose estrogen-progestogen guideline. Detailed activities of the eight subcommittees are described in the text.

Young Coconut Juice Supplementation Results in Greater Bone Mass and Bone Formation Indices in Ovariectomized Rats: A Preliminary Study.

Young coconut juice (Cocos nucifera Linn.) (YCJ) has traditionally been consumed to alleviate symptoms associated with menopause by women in Southeast Asia. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of YCJ on bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. Female 10-week-old Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following 4 groups: Baseline, Sham, Ovx, and Ovx + YCJ (n = 10 rats per group). Rats in the Baseline group were sacrificed immediately, and those in the other groups were subjected to either sham operation (Sham) or bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx and Ovx + YCJ). The Ovx + YCJ rats were administered 5×-concentrated YCJ at a dose of 10 mL/kg body weight per day. Six weeks after surgery, the rats were sacrificed, and indices of bone mass and bone histomorphometry were measured. The bone mineral density of the left femur was significantly higher in the Ovx + YCJ group compared with the Ovx group. In addition, the Ovx + YCJ group showed significantly higher measurements for bone formation rate compared with the Ovx group. These findings suggest that YCJ supplementation has a positive effect on bone metabolism and thus represents a possible intervention to slow the bone loss observed following menopause.