Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the urethral epithelium of castrated adult female rats treated with tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the urethral epithelium of castrated rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six adult, castrated, female Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly divided into two groups: group I (n = 16, control), receiving only propylene glycol, and group II (n = 20, tamoxifen), treated with 250 microg/day of tamoxifen for 30 consecutive days by gavage. On the 31st day, the animals were sacrificed and the urethras were immediately removed, separated into the proximal and distal segments and processed for VEGF immunohistochemistry. The data were analysed using Student's t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean percentage of VEGF expression in the epithelium of the proximal urethra of the animals in groups I and II was 64.47+/-3.70 and 74.69+/-3.03, respectively (p < 0.03), whereas the mean percentage of VEGF expression in the distal urethral epithelium of the animals in groups I and II was 53.49+/-4.64 and 68.57+/-3.67, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that, at the dose and during the time of treatment used, tamoxifen increased VEGF expression in the urethral epithelium of castrated rats.

Evaluation of insulin-like growth factor-I in postmenopausal women with breast cancer treated with raloxifene.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate serum IGF-I levels in postmenopausal women with breast cancer treated primarily with raloxifene. METHODS: Twenty-two postmenopausal patients with operable, stage I or II, estrogen receptor-positive carcinomas participated in this study. Following confirmation of diagnosis, the patients received 60 mg of raloxifene for 28 days prior to definitive surgery. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of serum IGF-I levels prior to initiating medication and following a 28-day treatment course. Student's t-test for paired samples was used in the statistical analysis. Significance was established at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Mean serum IGF-I levels pre- and post-raloxifene treatment were 143.7 +/- 9.7 ng/ml and 94.8 +/- 7.6 ng/ml, respectively. This reduction in serum IGF-I levels following treatment with raloxifene was statistically significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Raloxifene significantly reduced serum IGF-I levels in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

Effect of tamoxifen on extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the urethra of castrated female rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen in activating extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 in the urethras of castrated female rats. STUDY DESIGN: Twelve castrated adult female rats were divided into a control group (n=6) in which the animals received vehicle, and the experimental group (n=6) in which the rats received tamoxifen 250 µg/day by gavage for 28 days. Then, the animals were sacrificed and their urethras removed. Proteins were extracted, quantified and processed by Western blot analysis with specific phospho-ERK1 and 2 antibodies. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: A significant increase occurred in phospho-ERK1 levels in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01), while no difference was found in phospho-ERK2 levels between the groups (p=0.313). CONCLUSION: The present results indicate that, at the doses and during the time of treatment used, tamoxifen significantly increased phospho-ERK1 levels in the urethras of castrated female rats.

Management of lithiasis in pelvic kidney through laparoscopy-guided percutaneous transperitoneal nephrolithotripsy.

We report the case of a patient with pain and an abdominal palpable mass whose tests showed a left pelvic kidney with a 1.5-cm stone in the renal pelvis. We describe the successful management through videolaparoscopy-guided percutaneous transperitoneal nephrolithotripsy, stressing that this method is a therapeutic option in such cases.