Ultrasonographic observation of the breast in early postmenopausal women during therapy with Cimicifuga foetida extract and sequential therapy with estrogen and progestin

Comparison Of Cimicifuga foetida extract and different hormone therapies regarding in causing breast pain in early postmenopausal women

This study aimed to compare the influence between Cimicifuga foetida extract and different hormone therapies on breast pain in early postmenopausal women. A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted among 96 early postmenopausal women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: group A received 1 mg/day estradiol valerate plus 4 mg/day medroxyprogesterone acetate on days 19-30; group B received 1 mg/day estradiol valerate plus 100 mg/day micronized progesterone on days 19-30; group C received C. foetida extract, 1talet (contains 33.3 mg extract), t.i.d. Breast pain diary and numerical rating scale was used to access the breast pain. For 6 months' treatment, the total incidence of breast pain in group A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (p < .05). The duration (day) of breast pain in each month decreased over time in group A and B while it was continuously low and without significant change in group C (p > .05). The intensity of breast pain was mild in most participants and did not differ among three groups (p > .05). During treatment of early postmenopausal women with C. foetida extract for 6 months, the incidence and duration of breast pain were lower than upon treatment with E2 plus cyclic MPA or m-P and did not change over time.

Influence of hormone therapy or C. foetida extract on breast tenderness in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of breast tenderness in a population treated with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) or Cimicifuga foetida extract.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted. Ninety-six postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to three groups: group A, 1 mg estradiol valerate daily plus 4 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), days 19-30; group B, 1 mg estradiol valerate daily plus 100 mg micronized progesterone (MP), days 19-30; group C, 100 mg C. foetida extract daily. Breast tenderness was evaluated daily for 12 months.

RESULTS

Seventy-three patients completed the study. Group A had the highest prevalence of breast tenderness, while group C had the lowest. More than 50% of all participants reported no symptoms throughout the period. The participants in group A experienced a sharp increase in breast tenderness after treatment, but decreased after 1 month. No significant decline was found in the duration of pain in group B. The patients in group C reported no remarkable changes after 1 month. Compared to estrogen only, estrogen plus MPA/MP led to a higher incidence of prolonged breast symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to MHT groups, C. foetida extract had the lowest prevalence of breast tenderness. Most participants experienced mild or no symptoms.

Efficacy and safety evaluation of Cimicifuga foetida extract in menopausal women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with Cimicifuga foetida extract in menopausal women.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 96 early postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to three groups: group A received 1 mg estradiol valerate daily plus 4 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate on days 19-30; group B received 1 mg estradiol valerate daily plus 100 mg micronized progesterone on days 19-30; group C received 100 mg C. foetida extract daily. The efficacy was evaluated. Safety parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 81 patients completed the treatment and follow-up visit. The modified Kupperman Menopausal Index scores decreased after 3 months in all groups. No significant changes were observed in the liver, renal function and components of metabolic syndrome in group C (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidences of metabolic syndrome among the three groups (p > 0.05). After 24 months, the endometrial thickness increased significantly in group B (p = 0.014), but not in the C. foetida extract group (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

C. foetida extract is safe and effective for the treatment of menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

Viability of homologous and heterologous subcutaneous transplantation of fresh germ cells in rabbits

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare heterologous to homologous transplantation of fresh ovarian germ cells in rabbits.

METHODS

Twelve female white New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were randomly numbered and submitted to bilateral oophorectomies. The ovaries from the six odd-numbered rabbits were dissected and cortical germinal tissue was digested in collagenase type 1 to obtain six solutions containing stromal and germ cells, which were injected in the abdominal region of the odd-numbered rabbits themselves (homologous transplantation) and of the even-numbered rabbits (heterologous transplantation) off immunosuppression. Sixty days after transplantation, the tissue around the transplanted region was excised, processed and sent to histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Bcl-2 immunohistochemistry to verify the presence and viability of the transplanted cells.

RESULTS

The analyzed specimens contained ovarian stroma, while follicular cells were found in 66.6% of the homologous and in 60% of the heterologous transplant specimens. Mild inflammatory reaction was observed in all heterologous specimens, and in only one (16.7%) of the homologous specimens. However, this inflammatory reaction was not so intense as to cause the death of the implanted cells. Except for the specimens from rabbits 7 and 8, all specimens were stained for Bcl-2, indicating that most of them were viable.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study supported the viability of heterologous transplantation of fresh ovarian germ cells. However, more studies are required to further our understanding and improve the germ cell separation technique.

Actein Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration in Human Osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma is one of the most common malignant bone cancers worldwide. Although the traditional chemotherapies have made some progression in the past decades, the mortality of osteosarcoma in children and adolescent is very high. Herein, the role of actein in osteosarcoma was explored.

Material/Methods

Cell viability assay was performed in osteosarcoma cell lines 143B and U2OS. Colony formation analysis was included when cells were treated with different doses of actin. Cell cycle assay was conducted to further examine the role of actein. Cell apoptotic rate and the relative activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 were detected in 143B and U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, transwell assays were used to explore the effects of actein on cell metastasis.

Results

Actein significantly inhibited osteosarcoma cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Actein also dramatically suppressed the colony formation ability in osteosarcoma143B and U2OS cells. It was revealed that osteosarcoma cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase in the cell cycle progression and induced to apoptosis by administration of actein. The activities of pro-apoptotic factors such as caspase-3 and caspase-9 were significantly increased by actein. Furthermore, administration of actein decreased cell migrated and invasive abilities in both 143B and U2OS cell lines.

Conclusions

Actein inhibits tumor growth by inducing cell apoptosis in osteosarcoma. The inhibitive roles of actein in cell proliferation, migration and invasion suggest that actein may serve as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of osteosarcoma.