Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction Due to Dyspareunia with Solid-State Vaginal Laser and Recombinant Platelet-Derived Epidermal Growth Factors A Viable Possibility?

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological and non-ablative options (or a combination of these) for postmenopausal dyspareunia. Mechanism: Narrative review on non-pharmacological and non-ablative options (or a combination of these) for postmenopausal dyspareunia. Findings in Brief: Dyspareunia is the most bothersome symptom of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, often complicated by decreased sexual interest and arousal. Solid-state vaginal laser (SSVL) and recombinant plateletderived epidermal growth factors (RGFs) are new alternatives are new alternatives that improve female sexual dysfunction resulting from dyspareunia. Conclusions: SSVL is a new alternative the treatment of postmenopausal dyspareunia either alone or in combination with other alternatives with efficacy and safety similar to the classical options

Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction Due to Dyspareunia with Solid-State Vaginal Laser and Recombinant Platelet-Derived Epidermal Growth Factors: A Viable Possibility?

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of non-pharmacological and non-ablative options (or a combination of these) for postmenopausal dyspareunia. Mechanism: Narrative review on non-pharmacological and non-ablative options (or a combination of these) for postmenopausal dyspareunia. Findings in Brief: Dyspareunia is the most bothersome symptom of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, often complicated by decreased sexual interest and arousal. Solid-state vaginal laser (SSVL) and recombinant plateletderived epidermal growth factors (RGFs) are new alternatives are new alternatives that improve female sexual dysfunction resulting from dyspareunia. Conclusions: SSVL is a new alternative the treatment of postmenopausal dyspareunia either alone or in combination with other alternatives with efficacy and safety similar to the classical options

Effect of human interferon-alpha-2b on experimental endometriosis in rats: comparison between short and long series of treatment

Objective: A randomised and controlled experimental study was carried out to determine the effect of short and long series of treatment with recombinant human interferon-alpha-2b on surgically induced endometriosis in rats. Study design: Ninety-six Wistar adult female rats, which had undergone an autotransplant into the peritoneal cavity of four endometrial fragments measuring 4.5 mm at the side, were randomly divided into three groups. One third of the animals were manipulated like the treated animals but were not given treatment and served as control (group C). Another third (group S) were treated with three doses (one every 48 h, 100,000 U per dose) of recombinant human interferon-alpha-2b (subcutaneous route), and the last third (group L) were treated with fifteen doses of interferon (100,000 U every 48 h). Results: Before interferon was administered, there were no differences between groups in the average growth of experimental endometriosis per animal (17.3 6.7, 18.1 9.2, 16.4 5.6 mm in groups C, S and L respectively). After the treatment, experimental endometriosis per animal was significantly smaller in the groups treated with interferon than in the control non-treated group (p < 0.001), and in the group treated with 15 doses versus the group treated with 3 doses (p < 0.05), (17.6 7.5, 14.0 9.5, 9.4 6.0 mm in groups C, S, and L respectively). While the implants of the animals in the control group showed no change in size throughout the study (120 days) (+1.96% of variation), the mean size of the implants in the treated rats decreased, (22.7% with the short and 42.8% with the long series of treatment with interferon). Only one implant in group C (0.8%) disappeared, while this occurred in 27 cases (22.5%) in group S (p < 0.001) and in 45 (37.5%) in group L (p < 0.001 versus group C and p < 0.05 versus group S). Conclusion: The long series of treatment with human interferon-alpha-2b was more effective than the short one in reducing the size of surgically induced endometriosis in the peritoneal cavity of the rat

Pharmacological interactions and menopausal hormone therapy a review

Importance and Objective: Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) is widely used, and there are several statements of international scientific societies to guide prescribers; however, a summary of existing literature about possible drug interactions with HT does not exist, although many midlife women take medications for other conditions. Therefore, our objective was to create a document that presents and synthesizes the most relevant interactions. The impact of the interaction itself and the number of candidates for HTwho are likely to use other treatments are considered based on the best available evidence. Methods: A systematic review was performed to determine the best evidence of interaction effects on relevant outcomes of interest for decision making. Aworking framework was developed to formulate explicit and reasoned recommendations according to four predefined categories for coadministration: (1) can be used without expected risks, (2) acceptable use (no evidence of negative interaction), (3) alternative treatment should be considered, and (4) nonuse without express justification. The project protocolwas registered in the Open Science Framework platform (doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/J6WBC) and in PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020166658). Results: Studies targeting our objective are scarce, but 23 pharmacological groups were assigned to one of the predefined categories of recommendation for concomitant use of HT. Vaginal HTwas assigned to category 1 for 21 of the analyzed pharmacological groups. For oral and transdermal HT (estrogen-only or combined) and tibolone, there were 12 pharmacological groups assigned to category 1, 12 to category 2, 5 to category 3, and 4 to category 4. Results are shown in crossed-tables that are useful for counseling and prescription. Discussion and conclusions: Available evidence of HT interactions with other drugs is scarce and mainly indirect. It comes from biological plausibility, knowledge of extensive concomitant use without reported incidents, and/or extrapolation from hormonal contraception, but there are pharmacological groups in all categories showing that information is useful. These eligibility criteria summarize it and can help in the decision process of HT coadministration with other drugs. Decisions should be taken based on these recommendations but also individualized risk/benefit evaluation, according to underlying pathology, patient's clinical requirements, and the existence or nonexistence of alternatives

Strong modulation of optical properties in black phosphorus through strain-engineered rippling

Controlling the bandgap through local-strain engineering is an exciting avenue for tailoring optoelectronic materials. Two-dimensional crystals are particularly suited for this purpose because they can withstand unprecedented non-homogeneous deformations before rupture: one can literally bend them and fold them up almost like a piece of paper. Here, we study multi-layer black phosphorus sheets subjected to periodic stress to modulate their optoelectronic properties. We find a remarkable shift of the optical absorption band-edge of up to ~0.7 eV between the regions under tensile and compressive stress, greatly exceeding the strain tunability reported for transition metal dichalcogenides. This observation is supported by theoretical models which also predict that this periodic stress modulation can yield to quantum confinement of carriers at low temperatures. The possibility of generating large strain-induced variations in the local density of charge carriers opens the door for a variety of applications including photovoltaics, quantum optics and two-dimensional optoelectronic devices.Comment: 16 pages main text + 13 pages S

Is a bowel resection necessary for deep endometriosis with rectovaginal or colorectal involvement?

Background: The purpose of this paper is to report the long-term results of surgery without bowel resection in patients suffering from deep infiltrating endometriosis with rectovaginal or colorectal involvement. Methods: This retrospective observational study identified 42 patients suffering with deep infiltrating endometriosis who underwent surgery. Conservative surgery was performed in 23 women (only one of them with bowel resection), and 19 women underwent a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (HBSO). In the conservative surgery group, a later HBSO was performed in eight patients as a second operation. Pregnancies, recurrences, reoperations, use of hormone replacement therapy, and outcomes during long-term follow-up were analyzed. Results: The average follow-up duration was 7 ± 5.7 years in conservative surgery cases. Only one patient was treated with sigmoid bowel resection in 1997 and had complications. In this conservative surgery group, 13 patients (56%) received medical treatment after surgery, 10 patients wanted to get pregnant (of whom seven [70%] were successful), and eight patients underwent a subsequent HBSO because of recurrent symptoms and/or endometrioma. Therefore, HBSO was performed in 27 patients, of whom 14 (51.8%) used hormone replacement therapy for 5.6 ± 3.6 years. No recurrences or complications were observed in patients after HBSO with or without hormone replacement therapy. Conclusion: Good clinical results can be obtained by performing only conservative surgery and/or HBSO without bowel resection, an alternative that could reduce the number of colorectal resections that are performed very frequently nowadays. After HBSO, patients may use hormone replacement therapy for several years with total satisfaction and well-being

Spanish Menopause Society position statement: use of tibolone in postmenopausal women

Tibolone is a drug with complex tissue-specific action that exhibits a combination of estrogenic, progestogenic, and slight androgenic activity. Its variable profile explains its clinical effects, depending on the target tissue where it is metabolized, its metabolites’ affinity for and potency in hormone receptors, and probable enzymatic activity modulation. In recent reviews and clinical trials, the effectiveness of tibolone in alleviating different hot flush menopause symptoms, mainly in mood and sexuality disorders, has been noted. In Spain, tibolone is the most prescribed hormonal treatment, and one of the most common complaints among postmenopausal women is change in sexual drive. For such reason, a panel of experts from the Spanish Menopause Society met to develop usage recommendations based on the best evidence available

Solidaritat intergeneracional i responsabilitat social en envelliment actiu: cançons per a activar la memòria i el cos

Las personas generosas y empáticas, haciendo uso de su responsabilidad ciudadana, se agrupan y unen sus esfuerzos en busca de una mayor justicia social. Este principio, unido a la formación entre iguales para un envejecimiento activo, llevó a desarrollar en la UA en el marco del Proyecto Europeo PEER TO PEER SUPPORT FOSTERING ACTIVE AGEING, la iniciativa de voluntariado basada en la solidaridad intergeneracional y cuyo eje de acción ha sido la música llevada a centros de mayores, residencias de ancianos, geriátricos y centros municipales