-
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology Jan 2021Increasing evidence indicates that ovarian hormones affect brain structure, chemistry and function of women in their reproductive age, potentially shaping their behavior... (Review)
Review
Increasing evidence indicates that ovarian hormones affect brain structure, chemistry and function of women in their reproductive age, potentially shaping their behavior and mental health. Throughout the reproductive years, estrogens and progesterone levels fluctuate across the menstrual cycle and can modulate neural circuits involved in affective and cognitive processes. Here, we review seventy-seven neuroimaging studies and provide a comprehensive and data-driven evaluation of the accumulating evidence on brain plasticity associated with endogenous ovarian hormone fluctuations in naturally cycling women (n = 1304). The results particularly suggest modulatory effects of ovarian hormones fluctuations on the reactivity and structure of cortico-limbic brain regions. These findings highlight the importance of performing multimodal neuroimaging studies on neural correlates of systematic ovarian hormone fluctuations in naturally cycling women based on careful menstrual cycle staging.
Topics: Brain; Estrogens; Female; Humans; Menstrual Cycle; Neuroimaging; Progesterone
PubMed: 33098847
DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100878 -
Gynecologic Oncology Apr 2012To investigate the efficacy of progestin treatment to achieve pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia (CAH) or... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Efficacy of oral or intrauterine device-delivered progestin in patients with complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia or early endometrial adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the efficacy of progestin treatment to achieve pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia (CAH) or early endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC).
METHODS
A systematic search identified 3245 potentially relevant citations. Studies containing less than ten eligible CAH or EC patients in either oral or intrauterine treatment arm were excluded. Only information from patients receiving six or more months of treatment and not receiving other treatments was included. Weighted proportions of patients achieving pCR were calculated using R software.
RESULTS
Twelve studies met the selection criteria. Eleven studies reported treatment of patients with oral (219 patients, 117 with CAH, 102 with grade 1 Stage I EC) and one reported treatment of patients with intrauterine progestin (11 patients with grade 1 Stage IEC). Overall, 74% (95% confidence interval [CI] 65-81%) of patients with CAH and 72% (95% CI 62-80%) of patients with grade 1 Stage I EC achieved a pCR to oral progestin. Disease progression whilst on oral treatment was reported for 6/219 (2.7%), and relapse after initial complete response for 32/159 (20.1%) patients. The weighted mean pCR rate of patients with grade 1 Stage I EC treated with intrauterine progestin from one prospective pilot study and an unpublished retrospective case series from the Queensland Centre of Gynaecologic Oncology (QCGC) was 68% (95% CI 45-86%).
CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of high quality evidence for the efficacy of progestin in CAH or EC. The available evidence however suggests that treatment with oral or intrauterine progestin is similarly effective. The risk of progression during treatment is small but longer follow-up is required. Evidence from prospective controlled clinical trials is warranted to establish how the efficacy of progestin for the treatment of CAH and EC can be improved further.
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Administration, Oral; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; Progestins; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 22196499
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.11.043 -
Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic... Apr 2023Periconceptional maternal obesity is linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Identifying periconceptional biomarkers of pathways affected by maternal obesity... (Review)
Review
Periconceptional maternal obesity is linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Identifying periconceptional biomarkers of pathways affected by maternal obesity can unravel pathophysiologic mechanisms and identify individuals at risk of adverse clinical outcomes. The literature was systematically reviewed to identify periconceptional biomarkers of the endocrine, inflammatory and one-carbon metabolic pathways influenced by maternal obesity. A search was conducted in Embase, Ovid Medline All, Web of Science Core Collection and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, complemented by manual search in PubMed until December 31, 2020. Eligible studies were those that measured biomarker(s) in relation to maternal obesity, overweight/obesity or body mass index (BMI) during the periconceptional period (14 weeks preconception until 14 weeks post conception). The ErasmusAGE score was used to assess the quality of included studies. Fifty-one articles were included that evaluated over 40 biomarkers. Endocrine biomarkers associated with maternal obesity included leptin, insulin, thyroid stimulating hormone, adiponectin, progesterone, free T4 and human chorionic gonadotropin. C-reactive protein was associated with obesity as part of the inflammatory pathway, while the associated one-carbon metabolism biomarkers were folate and vitamin B12. BMI was positively associated with leptin, C-reactive protein and insulin resistance, and negatively associated with Free T4, progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin. Concerning the remaining studied biomarkers, strong conclusions could not be established due to limited or contradictory data. Future research should focus on determining the predictive value of the optimal set of biomarkers for their use in clinical settings. The most promising biomarkers include leptin, adiponectin, human chorionic gonadotropin, insulin, progesterone and CRP.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Humans; Female; Leptin; C-Reactive Protein; Obesity, Maternal; Adiponectin; Progesterone; Obesity; Biomarkers; Insulin; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Carbon
PubMed: 36520252
DOI: 10.1007/s11154-022-09762-5 -
BMJ Clinical Evidence Feb 2007Median survival from metastatic breast cancer is 12 months without treatment, but young people can survive up to 20 years with the disease, whereas in other metastatic... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Median survival from metastatic breast cancer is 12 months without treatment, but young people can survive up to 20 years with the disease, whereas in other metastatic cancers this would be considered unusual.
METHODS AND OUTCOMES
We conducted a systematic review and aimed to answer the following clinical questions: What are the effects of first-line hormonal treatment? What are the effects of second-line hormonal treatment in women who have not responded to tamoxifen? What are the effects of first-line chemotherapy? What are the effects of first-line chemotherapy in combination with a monoclonal antibody? What are the effects of second-line chemotherapy? What are the effects of treatments for bone metastases? What are the effects of treatments for spinal cord metastases? What are the effects of treatments for cerebral or choroidal metastases? We searched: Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and other important databases up to June 2006 (Clinical Evidence reviews are updated periodically, please check our website for the most up-to-date version of this review). We included harms alerts from relevant organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
RESULTS
We found 63 systematic reviews, RCTs, or observational studies that met our inclusion criteria.
CONCLUSIONS
In this systematic review we present information relating to the effectiveness and safety of the following interventions: anthracycline-based non-taxane combination chemotherapy regimens; bisphosphonates; capecitabine or semisynthetic vinca alkaloids for anthracycline-resistant disease; chemotherapy plus monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab); classical non-taxane combination chemotherapy; combined gonadorelin analogues plus tamoxifen; hormonal treatment with antioestrogens (tamoxifen) or progestins; intrathecal chemotherapy; non-anthracycline-based regimens; non-taxane combination chemotherapy; ovarian ablation; radiation sensitisers; radiotherapy (alone, or plus appropriate analgesia, or plus high-dose corticosteroids); selective aromatase inhibitors; chemotherapy (standard, or high dose); surgical resection; tamoxifen; and taxane-based combination chemotherapy.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Anthracyclines; Bone Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Diphosphonates; Humans; Tamoxifen
PubMed: 19454050
DOI: No ID Found -
Cancers Aug 2020Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is an appropriate treatment for women with the climacteric syndrome. The estrogen component of MHT effectively alleviates climacteric... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is an appropriate treatment for women with the climacteric syndrome. The estrogen component of MHT effectively alleviates climacteric symptoms but also stimulates the endometrium and thus may increase the risk of endometrial cancer (EC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search of the databases PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify controlled and uncontrolled clinical trials reporting on the prevalence and/or incidence of EC among women using MHT.
RESULTS
31 publications reporting on 21,306 women with EC diagnosed during or after MHT were identified. A significantly reduced risk of EC among continuous-combined (cc)MHT users with synthetic progestins (SPs) was demonstrated in 10/19 studies with odds ratios (ORs)/hazard ratios (HRs) between 0.24 and 0.71. Only one study documented an increased risk of EC among long-term users (≥10 years), not confirmed in three other sub-group analyses of women with ≥6, ≥5, and >10 years of ccMHT use. A significantly increased risk of EC among users of sequential-combined (sc)MHT with SPs was demonstrated in 6/12 studies with ORs/HRs between 1.38 and 4.35. Number of days of progestin per month was a significant modulator of EC risk. A decreased risk of EC was seen in obese women. Two studies documented an increased risk of EC among users of cc/scMHT with micronized progesterone. A significantly increased risk of EC among estrogen-only MHT users was demonstrated in 9/12 studies with ORs/HRs between 1.45 and 4.46. The adverse effect of estrogen-only MHT was greatest among obese women.
CONCLUSION
ccMHT with SPs reduces the risk of EC, whereas estrogen-only MHT increases the risk. scMHT with SPs and cc/scMHT with micronized progesterone increase the risk of EC depending on type of progestin, progestin dosage, and duration of MHT use.
PubMed: 32781573
DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082195 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Mar 2012About 5% of women experience severe symptoms called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), only in the two weeks before their menstrual periods. Treatment with progesterone may... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
About 5% of women experience severe symptoms called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), only in the two weeks before their menstrual periods. Treatment with progesterone may restore a deficiency, balance menstrual hormone levels or reduce effects of falling progesterone levels on the brain or on electrolytes in the blood.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives were to determine if progesterone has been found to be an effective treatment for all or some premenstrual symptoms and if adverse events associated with this treatment have been reported.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group's Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO to February 2011. We contacted pharmaceutical companies for information about unpublished trials, for the first version of this review.The search strings are in Appendix 2.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of progesterone on women with PMS diagnosed by at least two prospective cycles, without current psychiatric disorder.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two reviewers (BM and OF) extracted data independently and decided which trials to include. OF wrote to trial investigators for missing data.
MAIN RESULTS
From 17 studies, only two met our inclusion criteria. Together they had 280 participants aged between 18 and 45 years. One hundred and fifteen yielded analysable results. Both studies measured symptom severity using subjective scales. Differing in design, participants, dose of progesterone and how delivered, the studies could not be combined in meta-analysis.Adverse events which may or may not have been side effects of the treatment were described as mild.Both trials had defects. They intended to exclude women whose symptoms continued after their periods. When data from ineligible women were excluded from analysis in one trial, the other women were found to have benefited more from progesterone than placebo. The smaller study found no statistically significant difference between oral progesterone, vaginally absorbed progesterone and placebo, but reported outcomes incompletely.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
The trials did not show that progesterone is an effective treatment for PMS nor that it is not. Neither trial distinguished a subgroup of women who benefited, nor examined claimed success with high doses.
Topics: Female; Humans; Premenstrual Syndrome; Progesterone; Progestins; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 22419287
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003415.pub4 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2023Transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA) and postoperative adjuvant estrogen and progestin are the main treatments for cavity adhesions, but the recurrence rate after... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
The effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Transcervical resection of adhesion (TCRA) and postoperative adjuvant estrogen and progestin are the main treatments for cavity adhesions, but the recurrence rate after surgery is still high. It was showed that aspirin could promote endometrial proliferation and repair after TCRA in patients with severe cavity adhesions, but the effect on reproduction was uncertain.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion.
METHODS
The databases used included Cumulative Index to PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database. Studies published before June 2022 were included. Each participant received an aspirin-based intervention aimed at improving uterine status, which was compared to a sham intervention. The primary outcome measure was a change in endometrium thickness. Secondary outcomes included uterine artery resistance index, blood flow index, and endometrial arterial resistance index.
RESULT
A total of 19 studies ( = 1361 participants) that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. The aspirin-based intervention was strongly associated with better clinical outcome at second-look endometrium thickness (MD 0.81, CI 0.46-1.16; < .00001) and blood flow Index (FI) (MD 4.1, CI 2.3-5.9; < .00001). Besides, the analysis of arterial pulsatility index (PI) showed a significantly reduced after transcervical resection of adhesion (MD -0.9, CI -1.2 to 0.6; < .00001); whereas no significant difference was found in endometrial arterial resistance index (RI) (95% CI, -0.30 to 0.01; = .07).
CONCLUSION
Our study proved the effect of aspirin on uterine arterial blood flow and endometrium in moderate and severe intrauterine adhesion after transcervical resection of adhesion. However, the review requires evidence from additional randomized controlled trials and high-quality research. More strictly designed research studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of aspirin administration after transcervical resection of adhesion.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aspirin; Uterine Artery; Uterine Diseases; Endometrium; Uterus
PubMed: 37286223
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2209818 -
Cells May 2023Deep endometriosis (DE) is the most severe subtype of endometriosis, with the hallmark of lesions infiltrating adjacent tissue. Abnormal vascularisation has been... (Review)
Review
Deep endometriosis (DE) is the most severe subtype of endometriosis, with the hallmark of lesions infiltrating adjacent tissue. Abnormal vascularisation has been implicated in contributing to endometriosis lesion development in general, and how vascularisation influences the pathogenesis of DE, in particular, is of interest. This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines to elucidate and examine the evidence for DE-specific vascularisation. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL Library and Europe PubMed Central databases. The databases were searched from inception to the 13 March 2023. A total of 15 studies with 1125 patients were included in the review. The DE lesions were highly vascularised, with a higher microvessel density (MVD) than other types of endometriotic lesions, eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis and control tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor, its major subtype (VEGF-A) and associated receptor (VEGFR-2) were significantly increased in the DE lesions compared to superficial endometriosis, eutopic endometrium and control tissue. Progestin therapy was associated with a significant decrease in the MVD of the DE lesions, explaining their therapeutic effect. This review comprehensively summarises the available literature, reporting abnormal vascularisation to be intimately related to the pathogenesis of DE and presents potentially preferential therapeutic targets for the medical management of DE.
Topics: Humans; Female; Endometriosis; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Endometrium
PubMed: 37174718
DOI: 10.3390/cells12091318 -
Advances in Therapy Nov 2022Although several studies suggest beneficial effects of low-dose estrogen-progestins (LEPs) and progestins on dysmenorrhea in Japanese women, the difference in efficacy... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
INTRODUCTION
Although several studies suggest beneficial effects of low-dose estrogen-progestins (LEPs) and progestins on dysmenorrhea in Japanese women, the difference in efficacy between drugs remains unknown.
METHODS
We identified studies by searching the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and ICHUSHI databases and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used total dysmenorrhea score and visual analogue scale (VAS) as outcome measures to evaluate LEPs and progestins for primary and secondary dysmenorrhea. We analyzed results by meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (NMA).
RESULTS
We identified 10 articles on eight RCTs and included seven drugs (six LEPs and one progestin, i.e., dienogest) and placebo in the analysis. Meta-analysis showed improvements in total dysmenorrhea score and VAS for almost all drugs compared with placebo. In NMA, VAS in secondary dysmenorrhea improved more with dienogest than with norethisterone/ethinylestradiol (mean difference - 25.84 [95% CrI - 44.46 to - 7.15]). In the comparison of administration regimens, VAS improved more with progestin-continuous than LEP-cyclic and the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) of LEP-extended and progestin-continuous appeared to be higher than that of LEP-cyclic.
CONCLUSIONS
We confirmed that LEPs and dienogest are effective for primary and secondary dysmenorrhea and suggest that continuous regimens may be more effective than cyclic regimens in improving outcomes.
Topics: Dysmenorrhea; Estrogens; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Japan; Network Meta-Analysis; Norethindrone; Progestins
PubMed: 36048405
DOI: 10.1007/s12325-022-02298-9 -
Systematic Reviews Jul 2016Use of menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT)-containing estrogen and a synthetic progestin is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. It is unclear if... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Use of menopausal hormonal therapy (MHT)-containing estrogen and a synthetic progestin is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. It is unclear if progesterone in combination with estrogen carries a lower risk of breast cancer. Limited data suggest differences between progesterone and progestins on cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and glucose metabolism. Whether this translates to differences in cardiovascular outcomes is uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the existing evidence about the effect of progesterone in comparison to synthetic progestins, each in combination with estrogens, on the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular events.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus through 17 May 2016 for studies that enrolled postmenopausal women using progesterone vs. synthetic progestins and reported the outcomes of interest. Study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted using the random effects model.
RESULTS
We included two cohort studies and one population-based case-control study out of 3410 citations identified by the search. The included studies enrolled 86,881 postmenopausal women with mean age of 59 years and follow-up range from 3 to 20 years. The overall risk of bias of the included cohort studies in the meta-analysis was moderate. There was no data on cardiovascular events. Progesterone was associated with lower breast cancer risk compared to synthetic progestins when each is given in combination with estrogen, relative risk 0.67; 95 % confidence interval 0.55-0.81.
CONCLUSIONS
Observational studies suggest that in menopausal women, estrogen and progesterone use may be associated with lower breast cancer risk compared to synthetic progestin.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cardiovascular Diseases; Estrogen Replacement Therapy; Female; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Progesterone; Progesterone Congeners; Progestins; Risk Factors
PubMed: 27456847
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-016-0294-5