Exploring the relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and male fertility:A meta-analytic and meta-regression perspective on hormonal and seminal factors

Objective:To explore the relationship between Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism(HT)and male fertility,focusing on hormonal and seminal factors.Methods:A systematic literature search was conducted across databases such as PubMed,Web of Science,EMBASE,Scopus,Cochrane,and Google Scholar,covering studies published from January 2000 to March 2024.Studies investigating the impact of HT on semen quality parameters and reproductive hormones were included.Pooled effect estimates were calculated using standard mean difference(SMD)and 95%confidence intervals(CI).Results:A total of 8 studies with 8965 participants were included.HT significantly affected semen quality and reproductive hormone levels.Specifically,there was a notable decrease in progressive morphology(SMD=-0.78;95%CI:-1.40 to-0.17;P=0.01)and sperm motility(SMD=-1.151;95%CI:-1.876 to-0.425;P=0.002).In addition,there were no significant changes in reproductive hormones,although there were elevated levels of luteinizing hormone(SMD=0.437;95%CI:0.000 to 0.874;P=0.050)and follicle-stimulating hormone(SMD=0.293;95%CI:-0.171 to 0.758;P=0.216),with a slight impact on testosterone levels(SMD=-1.143;95%CI:-2.487 to 0.200;P=0.095).Conclusions:This systematic review and meta-analysis provides robust evidence of the detrimental effects of HT on semen quality and reproductive hormones,underscoring the necessity for thorough evaluation and management of thyroid function in male infertility assessments.

Broad Hormonal Responses Induced by Aluminum in Roots of Dwarf Transgenics of Solanum lycopersicum L. cv “Micro-Tom”

The spatial pattern distribution of plant hormones in response to aluminum (Al) toxicity in roots remains to be shown. This study was performed to assess the root hormonal accumulation and gene expression in response to Al toxicity in five transgenic miniature dwarf tomatoes cv. Micro-Tom (MT). MT and MT transgenics to acid indole acetic, cytokinin, gibberellin, abscisic acid and ethylene were cultivated in nutrient solutions containing different Al concentrations. Root growth elongation was measured and cellular damage was visualized by staining Evans’s blue. The GUS reporter gene staining technique was used to visualize hormonal changes in MT apex root tissues. Data indicated that the MT is sensitive to Al that induced significant growth inhibition and cellular damage. Al concentration of 27 μM was significantly toxic, inducing root apex darkening and inhibition of root development. The qualitative evaluation of GUS reporter gene expression showed intense crosstalk among all hormones studied, underscoring the complexity of signaling induced by Al in apex roots. Results point out to a major understanding of the hormonal signaling in response to Al toxicity, which may induce a change of root growth and architecture with growth inhibition and cell constraints modulated by all different hormones evaluated.

Hormonal Status Assessment of Infertile Congolese Men

Background: The pathologies causing male infertility are various (congenital or acquired) and concern several hormone-producing organs: the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, testes and adrenals. The hormonal dosage includes systematically testosterone, FSH and LH. These analyses often highlight hypogonadism hypogonadotropic or hypergonadotropic. They can sometimes be normal. The present study aimed to establish the hormonal profile of infertile men residing in Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study during five years (from 2018 to 2023). It concerned 344 infertilemen with an abnormal spermogram and spermocytogram. The method was performed from the blood dosage of testosterone, FSH, and LH using the Elisa technique. Results: The hormonal assessment was not normal in 48.83% (168/344) of cases. Increased values of testosterone were noted in 6.10% of cases and decreased in 12.20%. Abnormal high values of FSH were observed in 14.24% of cases and decreased values in 8.13%. LH was elevated, i.e. 2.03% of cases and decreased in 6.10% of subjects. Conclusions: A hormonal disturbance was observed in almost half of the infertile men. It concerned the hypothalamus-pituitary and the testes axis and indicated mainly a state of hypogonadism with high FSH and low LH.

Exclusive Hormonal Therapy in Breast Cancer in Elderly Women:Clinical Response and Survival over 10 Years

Breast cancer is the first cancer of women in the world and in France.In very elderly patients,the treatment options are often very limited.Neoadjuvant hormone therapy has shown similar or even better results than chemotherapy.This is why we decided to evaluate the clinical response following exclusive hormonal therapy and the 5,then 10 years survival in these very elderly women.This was a retrospective,longitudinal cohort-type study with descriptive and analytical purposes.The study population consisted of 59 patients,with an average age of 85 years.Fifteen(15,25%)of our patients had a complete clinical response after two years of treatment,16(27%)a partial clinical response,23(39%)lesion stabilization and 5(9%)cancer progression.The presence of metastasis at diagnosis increased the risk of cancer progression by 2.84.Overall 5-year survival was 72.5%,and breast cancer mortality 5.88%.The 10-year survival was 27.5%and breast cancer mortality 15%.In the age group 85 and over increased the risk of death by 3.25 in the first 10 years of treatment.The clinical response after 2 years was marked by a low rate of cancer progression.Mortality over 5 and 10 years was mostly related to patient comorbidities.

Apoptosis and hormonal milieu in ductal system of normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Aim: To study the apoptotic rate (AR) and the androgen and estrogen milieu in the proximal and distal ductal sys-tems of prostate, in order to help exploring the effects of these factors on prostatic growth and the pathogenesis of be-nign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Methods: The proximal and distal ends of the ductal system were incised from20 normal prostate as well as the hypertrophic prostate tissue from 20 patients with BPH. The AR was determined bythe DNA end-labeling method and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estrodiol (E_2), by radioimmunoassay. Results:There was no significant difference in DHT and E_2 density between the proximal and distal ends of the ductal systems innormal prostate. E_2 appeared to be higher in BPH than in normal prostatic tissues, but the difference was statistically in-significant. In normal prostatic tissue, the AR was significantly higher in the distal than in the proximal ends of theductal system (P<0.05), while the AR of the proximal ends was significantly higher (P <0.01) than that in theBPH tissue. No significant correlation was noted between the DHT and E_2 density and the AR both in the normalprostate and BPH tissues. Conclusion: The paper is the first time describing a difference in AR in different regionsof the ductal system of normal prostate, while the hormonal milieu is similar, indicating a functional inhomogeneity ofthese regions. A low AR in the proximal duct, where BPH originates, and an even lower AR in the BPH tissue, sug-gesting the participation of apoptosis in the BPH pathogenesis.

Hormonal therapy might be a better choice as maintenance treatment than capecitabine after response to first-line capecitabine-based combination chemotherapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative,metastatic breast cancer

Background:Both hormonal therapy(HT) and maintenance capecitabine monotherapy(MCT) have been shown to extend time to progression(TTP) in patients with metastatic breast cancer(MBC) after failure of taxanes and anthracycline?containing regimens.However,no clinical trials have directly compared the efficacy of MCT and HT after response to first?line capecitabine?based combination chemotherapy(FCCT) in patients with hormone receptor(HR)?positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)?negative breast cancer.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 138 HR?positive and HER2?negative MBC patients who were in non?progression status after FCCT and who were treated between 2003 and 2012 at the Cancer Institute and Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,in Beijing,China.The median number of first?line chemotherapy cycles was 6(range,4–8);combined agents included taxanes,vinorelbine,or gemcitabine.Of these 138 patients,79 received MCT,and 59 received HT.Single?agent capecitabine was administered at a dose of 1250 mg/m2 twice daily for 14 days,followed by a 7?day rest period,repeated every 3 weeks.Of the 59 patients who received HT,37 received aromatase inhibitors(AIs),8 received selective estrogen receptor modulators(SERMs),and 14 received goserelin plus either AIs or SERMs.We then compared the MCT group and HT group in terms of treatment efficacy.Results:With a median follow?up of 43 months,patients in the HT group had a much longer TTP than patients in the MCT group(13 vs.8 months,P ease?free surviv= 0.011).When TTP was adjusted for age,menopausal status,Karnofsky performance status score,disal,site of metastasis,number of metastatic sites,and response status after FCCT,extended TTP was still observed for patients in the HT group(hazard ratio:0.63;95% confidence interval:0.44–0.93;P = 0.020).We also observed a trend of overall survival advantage for patients in the HT group vs.patients in the MCT group,but the difference was not significant(43 vs.37 months,P tients in the MCT g= 0.400).In addition,patients in the HT group gen?erally tolerated the treatment well,whereas paroup experienced grades 3–4 adverse events,the most frequent of which were hand?foot syndrome(15.8%) and hematologic abnormalities(7.6%).Conclusion:For HR?positive and HER2?negative MBC patients,HT might be considered a treatment after response to FCCT but prior to MCT as a long?term administration.

Genetic, hormonal, and environmental control of tillering in wheat

Tillering contributes greatly to grain yield in wheat.Investigating the mechanisms of tillering provides a theoretical foundation and genetic resources for the molecular breeding of wheat.The regulation of tillering is a complex molecular process that involves a multitude of factors.Little is known about the molecular mechanisms in the wheat genome,although progress has been made in rice.Here we review the developmental characteristics of tillers and summarize current knowledge of the roles of endogenous and environmental factors in wheat tillering.We propose directions for future studies and advanced technologies to be used for gene identification and functional studies.

Hormonal contraception in Chinese men: variations insuppression of spermatogenesis with injectable testosteroneundecanoate and levonorgestrel implants

Aim: To explore the causes of the difference in spermatogenic suppression between responders and non-responders in Chinese men treated with levonorgestrel (LNG) implants plus testosterone undecanoate (TU) injectable. Methods: The 16 Chinese volunteers treated were divided into two groups in regard to the sperm count during the treatment period, 7 men in the responder group (Group R), including 6 azoospermia and one severe oligozoospermia, and the remaining 9 in the non-responder group (Group N), including 4 oligozoospermia and 5 with sperm counts greater than 20×106/mL. The differences in serum profiles of FSH, LH, T, LNG and T/LH ratio were compared between the two groups and the correlation between the seminal fluid parameters and serum reproductive hormones was analyzed. Results: The serum FSH level was lower in Group R than that in Group N (P<0.05), while the serum LH and LNG levels were higher in Group R than those in Group N (P<0.05). The sperm density (P<0.01, r=0.235), motility (P<0.01, r=0.326) and vitality (P<0.01, r=0.219) showed significantly positive correlation with the serum FSH level. Conclusion: The blood LNG and T levels, the degree of FSH inhibition and/or the sensitivity of the pituitary-testis axis to exogenous steroids, as well as the individual spermatogenetic potential and the functional status of the Leydig cells may be factors bringing about individual differences in spermatogenic suppression in Chinese men treated with LNG and TU.

The feasibility and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with low-dose external beam radiotherapy as supplemental therapy for advanced prostate cancer following hormonal therapy

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound （HIFU） combined with （＋） low-dose external beam radiotherapy （LRT） as supplemental therapy for advanced prostate cancer （PCa） following hormonal therapy （HT）. Our definition of HIFU＋LRT refers to treating primary tumour lesions with HIFU in place of reduced field boost irradiation to the prostate, while retaining four-field box irradiation to the pelvis in conventional-dose external beam radiotherapy （CRT）. We performed a prospective, controlled and non-randomized study on 120 patients with advanced PCa after HT who received HIFU, CRT, HIFU＋LRT and HT alone, respectively. CT/MR imaging showed the primary tumours and pelvic lymph node metastases visibly shrank or even disappeared after HIFU ＋LRT treatment. There were significant differences among four groups with regard to overall survival （OS） and disease-specific survival （DSS） curves （P=0.018 and 0.015）. Further comparison between each pair of groups suggested that the long-term DSS of the H IFU ＋ LRT group was higher than those of the other three groups, but there was no significant difference between the HIFU＋LRT group and the CRT group. Multivariable Cox＇s proportional hazard model showed that both HIFU＋LRT and CRT were independently associated with DSS （P=0.001 and 0.035） and had protective effects with regard to the risk of death. Compared with CRT, HIFU ＋LRT significantly decreased incidences of radiation-related late gastrointestinal （GI） and genitourinary （GU） toxicity grade ≥ II. In conclusion, long-term survival of patients with advanced PCa benefited from strengthening local control of primary tumour and reRional lymph node metastases after HT. As an alternative to CRT, HIFU＋LRT showed Rood efficacy and better safety.

Progress in understanding hormonal regulation during the postembryonic development of Helicoverpa armigera

Lepidoptera,with 0.16 million species,is the second largest order of insecta.This order includes silk worms,butterflies,and many agricultural pests.The cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera(Hubner)is one of the pests in Lepidoptera that seriously harms cotton plant and other crops in China and other countries.This pest develops resistance to chemical insecticides rapidly.Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)transgenic cotton plants are developed to control H.armigera population in the field.However,duri ng the past years,the rapid evoluti on of Bt toxi n resista nee is observed in H.armigera in tran sge nic cott on fields.New approaches for the development of new envir on mentally friendly insecticides to control H.armigera have become necessary,and the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and physiological processes of this species need to be further understood.Considerable progress in the study of H.armigera development and physiology has been achieved in the last decade.This mini-review summarizes the main fin dings on the molecular mechanisms of horm onal regulation of the development of H.armigera to present new target genes for developing new approaches to control the pest.

Retinal vein occlusion associated with combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring use

Dear Editor,We read with interest your recent article on the impact of combined oral contraceptives on ocular tissues.We report a case of a branch retinal vein occlusion（BRVO）associated with use of an etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring（NuvaR ing）,an implantable combined hormonal contraceptive,in a young healthy female with no other identifiable risk factors.

Bone flare after initiation of novel hormonal therapy in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer:A case report

BACKGROUND The 2020 European Association of Urology prostate cancer guidelines recommend androgen deprivation therapy(ADT)in combination with apalutamide and enzalutamide,a new generation of androgen receptor antagonists,as first-line therapy.A decrease in prostate-specific antigen(PSA)levels may occur in the early stages of novel hormonal therapy;however,radionuclide bone imaging may suggest disease progression.During follow-up,PSA,radionuclide bone imaging,and prostate-specific membrane antigen(PSMA)positron emission tomography–computed tomography(PET-CT)are needed for systematic evaluation.CASE SUMMARY We admitted a 56-year-old male patient with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.Initial radionuclide bone imaging,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),and PSMA PET-CT showed prostate cancer with multiple bone metastases.Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of the prostate revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate with a Gleason score:5+4=9.The final diagnosis was a prostate adenocarcinoma(T4N1M1).ADT with novel hormonal therapy(goseraline sustained-release implant 3.6 mg monthly and apalutamide 240 mg daily)was commenced.Three months later,radionuclide bone imaging and MRI revealed advanced bone metastasis.However,PSMA PET-CT examination showed a significant reduction in PSMA aggregation on the bone,indicating improved bone metastases.Considering that progressive decrease in the presenting lumbar pain,treatment strategies were considered to be effective.CONCLUSION ADT using novel hormonal therapy is effective for treating patients with prostate adenocarcinoma.Careful evaluation must precede treatment plan changes.

The effects of aqueous extracts of Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds on the hormonal parameters of male guinea pigs

Objective:To investigate the effects of the aqueous extracts of the seeds of Tetracarpidium conophorum and the effect of Proviron(12.5 mg/kg)(as standard) on the hormonal parameters of male guinea pigs,compare the effects of the seeds of Tetracarpidium conophorum and Proviron,and screen the phytochemical constituents of the seeds of Tetracarpidium conophorum.Methods:The hormonal effects of the Tetracarpidium conophorum and Proviron were tested by hormonal assay,using enzyme immuno assay method.This was done by reaction of antibody with serum testosterone and testosterone label,magnetic solid phase separation and colour development step.Phytochemical screening was done using standard procedures. Results:The aqueous extract of the Tetracarpidium conophorum seeds(100-400 mg/kg) caused a statistically significant increase(P【0.05,ANOVA) in the level of testosterone of male guinea pigs,from(2.60±0.06) ng/mL to(3.40±0.05) ng/mL,(3.00±0.60) ng/mL and(3.30±0.45) ng/mL on the 7th,14th and 21st day of the administration of the extracts,respectively.The highest increase was obtained after the 7th day of treatment[(3.40±0.05) ng/mL].These effects were very comparable to the effects of Proviron on the testosterone of male guinea pigs,which were obtained to be(2.80±0.01) ng/mL,(2.90±0.16) ng/mL and(3.10±0.30) ng/mL on the 7th, 14th and 21st day,respectively.These effects were dose-and time-dependent.The optimum effect on testosterone level under dose-dependent study f(4.70±0.45) ng/mL]was obtained at 300 mg/kg of Tetracarpidium conophorum after 7 days treatment.Finally,the phytochemical screening of the seeds of Tetracarpidium conophorum revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannin,alkaloids,carbohydrate,volatile oils,terpenoids,saponins and cardiac glycosides. Conclusion:This study supports the claims on the use of the seeds of this plant by traditional medicine practitioners as a fertility agent.However,further studies need to be done to isolate and characterize the active principle(s) responsible for this activity in this plant.

Effects of aqueous extracts of Irvingia gabonensis seeds on the hormonal parameters of male guinea pigs

Objective:To investigate the effects of the aqueous extracts of Irvingia gabonensis(Irvingaceae) seeds on the hormonal parameters of male guinea pigs.Methods:The hormonal effects of Irvingia gabonensis on hormonal parameters of male guinea pigs were investigated and compared with that of proviron using enzyme immuno assay method,which was done by reaction of antibody with serum testosterone and testosterone label,magnetic solid phase separation and colour development step.The phytochemical screening of Irvingia gabonensis seeds was also carried out using standard procedures.Results:The aqueous extract of the Irvingia gabonensis seeds(50-400 mg/kg) caused a statistically significance increase(P【0.05 ANOVA) of testosterone in male guinea pigs,from (2.70±0.26) ng/mL to(3.10±0.42) ng/mL on the 7th day and to(3.30±0.48) ng/mL on the 28th day of the administration of the extracts.The highest increase was(3.30±0.48) ng/mL,being obtained after 28 days of treatment.These effects were similar to that of proviron,which was (2.80±0.28) ng/mL and(3.00±0.41) ng/mL on the 7th and 28th day of treatment respectively. The phytochemical screening of Irvingia gabonensis seeds revealed the presence of flavonoids. tannin,alkaloids,carbohydrate,volatile oils,terpenoids,saponins and cardiac glycosides. Conclusions:This study supports the claims on the use of the seeds of Irvingia gabonensis by traditional medicine practitioners as a fertility agent.However,further studies need to be done to isolate and characterize the active principle(s) responsible for this activity in this plant.

Effectiveness and adverse effects of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer： Japanese experience and perspective

Recently, novel anti-androgens and inhibitors of androgen biosynthesis have been developed through the elucidation of mechanisms of castration resistance of prostate cancer. We believe that these new developments will improve hormonal therapy. On the other hand, there has been an increase in criticism of hormonal therapy, because hormonal therapy is supposed to induce adverse effects such as cardiovascular disease. In this review, we have introduced the Japanese experience of hormonal therapy, because we believe that there may be ethnic differences between Caucasians and Asian people in the efficacy and adverse effects of hormonal therapy. First, we showed that primary hormonal therapy can achieve long-term control of localized prostate cancer in some cases and that quality of life of patients receiving hormonal therapy is rather better than previously thought. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormonal therapy in cases undergoing radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy are very useful for high-risk or locally advanced prostate cancer. Further clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy of neoadjuvant or adjuvant hormonal therapy. We showed that the death from cardiovascular dis- eases in Japanese patients receiving hormonal therapy was not higher than that in the general population. However; efforts should be made to decrease the adverse effects of hormonal therapy, because life-style change may increase the susceptibility to adverse effects by hormonal therapy even in Japan. Managements of endocrine and metabolic dysfunction, such as diabetes mellitus, are essential. New hormonal compounds such as selective androgen receptor modulators capable of specifically targeting prostate cancer are expected to be developed.

Symptomatic changes in postmenopause with different methods of hormonal therapy

Objective: The diversity of opinions on the adverse effects of medications used to treat postmenopausal symptoms has prompted the use of various routes and mechanisms of action that need to be explored because bioavailability of the medications can vary. In order to select the appropriate route of administration for hormonal therapy (HT), it is necessary to determine baseline therapeutic efficacy. Design: We designed a prospective, randomized study consisting of four groups of postmenopausal wo-men: group 1 received oral conjugated estrogens, group 2 received a synthethic steroid, group 3 received estradiol nasally in spray form, and group 4 used transdermal estradiol in the form of patches. Criteria used to evaluate effectiveness was the Greene scale, which evaluate six components. These criteria were applied to each patient before hormonal intervention and then each month for 6 months. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating horone (FSH) and estradiol concentration were determined by chemiluminescence. Student’s t-test was used for intra-group comparisons before and after treatment. Results: There was a significant decrease in the vasomotor and sexual component (p < 0.05) with the use of four HT types. For depression, a difference was observed with synthetic steroids and oral estrogens. Upon analyzing the somatic component there was a decrease in symptoms with nasal and transdermal routes. Psychological changes were observed with the use of oral synthethic steroids and transdermal patches. Anxiety component demonstrated differences with nasal spray and oral estrogens, although all HT forms in this component showed a pattern of irregular changes. Conclusions: Changes in the response could be due each route of administration and medication used. Absorption variability may exist, which has repercussions in the control of symptoms and should be taken into consideration when selecting the appropriate route of administration for patients beginning HT.

Egyptian male breast carcinoma:patients' hormonal profile,management and outcome

Objective:Male breast cancer(MBC) represents < 1% of all breast cancers.Hormone receptors and Her-2/neu status are established prognostic factors in female breast cancer but not yet studied enough in male breast cancer.The aim of the study was to verify the clinico-pathologic profile of male patients with breast cancer including analysis of hormone receptors and Her-2/neu state and its impact on survival rate.Methods:This is a retrospective study carried on a total of 123 male patients presented to the National Cancer Institute(NCI),Cairo University,Egypt-with breast carcinoma from January 1999 to December 2009.Results:The patients had a median age of 58(ranged from 29-92) years.About 39.8% of the patients presented with T4 lesion.At presentation,12.2% of the cases had metastasis with bone represented 86.7% of metastatic sites.About 92.7% of patients were subjected to modified radical mastectomy and radical mastectomy.Invasive duct carcinoma reported in 91.1%,and 76.4% of the patients had grade II pathology.Hormone profile was reported in 74% of the patients with 71.4% positive ER and 69.2% positive PR.Among 57 cases tested for Her-2/neu,10.5% were positive.Luminal A was the most common subtype detected in male breast carcinoma patients constituting 66.7%.Comparison with female patients with breast carcinoma revealed some differences regarding stage,hormone profile,Her-2/neu status and breast cancer subtypes.Chemotherapy as adjuvant,neo-adjuvant and metastatic was given for 73.1%,17.3% and 9.6% of the cases,with 83% of them had an anthracyclin-containing regimen.Sixty-nine patients received radiation treatment,65.2% and 34.8% of them with adjuvant and palliative aim,respectively.Dose of adjuvant radiotherapy had a median value of 4410(3400-5000) cGy.Adjuvant hormonal treatment(Tamoxafin) was given for 47 patients all of them with ER and/or PR positive for a median period of 33.5(4-60) months.The 5-year overall survival(OS),loco-regional control(LRC),metastasis-free survival(MFS) rates were 63%,68%,and 62%,respectively.Axillary lymph node metastasis and advanced tumor stage significantly worsen all survival rates.While,higher grade was associated with a poor overall survival,this was not reflected on LRC and MFS rates.Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy had significantly improved all survival rates.Conclusion:Some gender differences were detected regarding stage,hormone profile,Her-2 state,and tumor subtypes.

Impact of cytochrome P450 2D6 polymorphisms on decision-making and clinical outcomes in adjuvant hormonal therapy for breast cancer

BACKGROUND There are concerns that tamoxifen is less effective in Asian women because of the high prevalence of impaired function cytochrome P4502D6(CYP2D6)polymorphisms.AIM To evaluate how knowledge of CYP2D6 genotype impacted the choice of hormonal agent and how CYP2D6 genotype and agent were associated with clinical outcomes.METHODS Eighty-two women were recruited.Seventy-eight completed CYP2D6 genotyping and were categorized into poor,intermediate(IM)and extensive or ultra metabolizer phenotypes.Women with poor metabolizer and IM phenotypes were recommended aromatase inhibitors as the preferred agent.RESULTS More than 70%of the women had an IM phenotype,32%an extensive or ultra metabolizer phenotype,and 0%had a poor metabolizer phenotype.Regardless of genotype,more women opted for aromatase inhibitors.Overall,80%of women completed 5 years of hormonal therapy.Five women developed recurrence,3 contralateral breast cancer,5 died,and 1 was diagnosed with a second primary cancer.Five-year recurrence-free and overall survival were slightly better in women with the extensive or ultra metabolizer phenotype compared to those with the IM phenotype,though not statistically significant[P=0.743,hazard ratio(HR):1.441,95%confidence interval(CI):0.191 to 10.17 and P=0.798,HR:1.327,95%CI:0.172 to 9.915,respectively].Women receiving aromatase inhibitors also appeared to have a better,but also nonsignificant,5-year recurrence-free and overall survival(P=0.253,HR:0.368,95%CI:0.031 to 0.258 and P=0.292,HR:0.252,95%CI:0.005 to 4.951,respectively).CONCLUSION The IM phenotype was highly prevalent but was not associated with clinical outcome.

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Ovarian Hormonal Receptors in Canine Mammary Tumors

Background: In female dogs, ovarian hormones have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of mammary tumors. Ovarian hormones interact with nuclear receptors, estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β (ERβ), progesteron receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) respectively. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of correlations between biological behaviour and immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β (ERβ), progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) in canine mammary tumors. A total of sixty-four tumors were examined. Results: The expression of every receptor was higher in normal tissue and benign tumors than in malignant neoplasm. Among malignancies, the lowest levels of every receptor were detected in high grade carcinomas (p α and PR were associated with regional (p .01) and/or distant (p < 0.05) metastasis. A lower expression of ERβ was found in carcinomas with nodal positive status (p < 0.05). High level of AR seemed weakly associated with the development of distant metastasis (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The expression of ERα and/or PR showed the positive prognostic value for the Spearman’s rank test (p β also displayed a positive prognostic significance (p < 0.05). The levels of AR were inversely correlated only with grading of a slight positive correlation with metastatic power of carcinoma (p > 0.05). In human breast carcinoma, AR seems to be involved in metastatic development by up-regulation of metalloprotease of matrix (MMP). Therefore, evaluating the correlation among the presence of AR, expression of MMP and appearance of distant metastasis also in canine mammary tumors could be very interesting.

Effect of Hormonal Contraceptives on the Total Antioxidants Status of Women from Isolo, Lagos State, Nigeria

The use of hormonal contraceptives has been implicated in the depletion of serum antioxidants and resultant promotion of oxidative stress which is associated with various disorders including cardiovascular disease and cancer. This study investigated serum total antioxidant status (TAS) in women taking hormonal contraceptives and compared their results with non-contraceptive users (age- and sex-matched). Sixty women aged 30 - 45 years, were enrolled for the study which included forty-five users of hormonal contraceptives from the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, Isolo, Lagos state and fifteen age-matched, apparently healthy, non-contraceptive users from the same geographical location were selected as controls. The in vitro determination of the serum total antioxidant status (TAS) was performed using Biorex enzymatic kit. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using student’s t-test and P < 0.05 was considered significant. The serum levels of TAS in the users of hormonal contraceptives were significantly lower than non-users (P < 0.05). The study concluded that women on hormonal contraceptives especially those taking either combined oral or combined injectable contraceptives were at risk of developing disorders associated with reduced levels of serum antioxidants.