Purified and specific cytoplasmic pollen extract: a non-hormonal alternative for the treatment of menopausal symptoms

Research into non-hormonal, alternative therapies is necessary for women for whom menopausal hormone therapy is contraindicated or for women who do not wish to take hormones. This review focuses on one such non-hormonal option, namely, purified and specific cytoplasmic pollen extract, or PureCyTonin (R). This extract has been evaluated in several preclinical and clinical studies, where it demonstrated its value as a safe and non-estrogenic alternative for menopause. This review presents the beneficial effects of PureCyTonin (R) in the treatment of menopausal symptoms (e.g. hot flushes) in healthy women, as well as in premenstrual syndrome. We discuss the mechanism of action of PureCyTonin (R), an SSRI-'like' therapy. The lack of estrogenic effect demonstrated in preclinical studies suggests that PureCyTonin (R) may also be a suitable option for the management of menopausal symptoms in women with breast cancer

Biogenesis of the inner membrane complex is dependent on vesicular transport by the alveolate specific GTPase Rab11B

Apicomplexan parasites belong to a recently recognised group of protozoa referred to as Alveolata. These protists contain membranous sacs (alveoli) beneath the plasma membrane, termed the Inner Membrane Complex (IMC) in the case of Apicomplexa. During parasite replication the IMC is formed de novo within the mother cell in a process described as internal budding. We hypothesized that an alveolate specific factor is involved in the specific transport of vesicles from the Golgi to the IMC and identified the small GTPase Rab11B as an alveolate specific Rab-GTPase that localises to the growing end of the IMC during replication of Toxoplasma gondii. Conditional interference with Rab11B function leads to a profound defect in IMC biogenesis, indicating that Rab11B is required for the transport of Golgi derived vesicles to the nascent IMC of the daughter cell. Curiously, a block in IMC biogenesis did not affect formation of sub-pellicular microtubules, indicating that IMC biogenesis and formation of sub-pellicular microtubules is not mechanistically linked. We propose a model where Rab11B specifically transports vesicles derived from the Golgi to the immature IMC of the growing daughter parasites

Transfer of newborns to neonatal care unit: a registry based study in Northern Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reduction in neonatal mortality has been slower than anticipated in many low income countries including Tanzania. Adequate neonatal care may contribute to reduced mortality. We studied factors associated with transfer of babies to a neonatal care unit (NCU) in data from a birth registry at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 21 206 singleton live births registered from 2000 to 2008 were included. Multivariable analysis was carried out to study neonatal transfer to NCU by socio-demographic factors, pregnancy complications and measures of the condition of the newborn.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 3190 (15%) newborn singletons were transferred to the NCU. As expected, neonatal transfer was strongly associated with specific conditions of the baby including birth weight above 4000 g (relative risk (RR) = 7.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.5-8.0) or below 1500 g (RR = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.3-4.0), five minutes Apgar score less than 7 (RR = 4.0; 95% CI: 3.4-4.6), and preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation (RR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5-2.1). However, pregnancy- and delivery-related conditions like premature rupture of membrane (RR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9-2.7), preeclampsia (RR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.5), other vaginal delivery (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.9) and caesarean section (RR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.8-2.1) were also significantly associated with transfer. Birth to a first born child was associated with increased likelihood of transfer (relative risk (RR) 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.5), while the likelihood was reduced (RR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) when the father had no education.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In addition to strong associations between neonatal transfer and classical neonatal risk factors for morbidity and mortality, some pregnancy-related and demographic factors were predictors of neonatal transfer. Overall, transfer was more likely for babies with signs of poor health status or a complicated pregnancy. Except for a possibly reduced use of transfer for babies of non-educated fathers and a high transfer rate for first born babies, there were no signs that transfer was based on non-medical indications.</p

Alveolar proteins stabilize cortical microtubules in Toxoplasma gondii

Single-celled protists use elaborate cytoskeletal structures, including arrays of microtubules at the cell periphery, to maintain polarity and rigidity. The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii has unusually stable cortical microtubules beneath the alveoli, a network of flattened membrane vesicles that subtends the plasmalemma. However, anchoring of microtubules along alveolar membranes is not understood. Here, we show that GAPM1a, an integral membrane protein of the alveoli, plays a role in maintaining microtubule stability. Degradation of GAPM1a causes cortical microtubule disorganisation and subsequent depo-lymerisation. These changes in the cytoskeleton lead to parasites becoming shorter and rounder, which is accompanied by a decrease in cellular volume. Extended GAPM1a depletion leads to severe defects in division, reminiscent of the effect of disrupting other alveolar proteins. We suggest that GAPM proteins link the cortical microtubules to the alveoli and are required to maintain the shape and rigidity of apicomplexan zoites

Progestogens as a component of menopausal hormone therapy: the right molecule makes the difference.

Optimizing menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) requires an awareness of the benefits and risks associated with the available treatments. This narrative review, which is based on the proceedings of an Advisory Board meeting and supplemented by relevant articles identified in literature searches, examines the role of progestogens in MHT, with the aim of providing practical recommendations for prescribing physicians. Progestogens are an essential component of MHT in menopausal women with a uterus to prevent endometrial hyperplasia and reduce the risk of cancer associated with using unopposed estrogen. Progestogens include natural progesterone, dydrogesterone (a stereoisomer of progesterone), and a range of synthetic compounds. Structural differences and varying affinities for other steroid receptors (androgen, glucocorticoid, and mineralocorticoid) confer a unique biological and clinical profile to each progestogen that must be considered during treatment selection. MHT, including the progestogen component, should be tailored to each woman, starting with an estrogen and a progestogen that has the safest profile with respect to breast cancer and cardiovascular effects, while addressing patient-specific needs, risk factors, and treatment goals. Micronized progesterone and dydrogesterone appear to be the safest options, with lower associated cardiovascular, thromboembolic, and breast cancer risks compared with other progestogens, and are the first-choice options for use in 'special situations,' such as in women with high-density breast tissue, diabetes, obesity, smoking, and risk factors for venous thromboembolism, among others