Hormonal treatment for endometriosis associated pelvic pain

Background: Endometriosis is a common gynecological problem associated with chronic pelvic pain. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of current hormonal treatments of endometriosis associated pain. Materials and Methods: Randomized Controlled studies identified from databases of Medline and Cochrane Systemic Review groups were pooled. 7 RCTs were recruited for evaluation in this review. Data from these studies were pooled and meta-analysis was performed in three comparison groups: 1) Progestogen versus GnRHa; 2) Implanon versus Progestogen (injection); 3) Combined oral contraceptive pills versus placebo and progestogen. Response to treatment was measured as a reduction in pain score. Pain improvement was defined as improvement ≥1 at the end of treatment. Results: There was no significant difference between treatment groups of progestogen and GnRHa (RR: 0.036; CI:-0.030-0.102) for relieving endometriosis associated pelvic pain. Long acting progestogen (Implanon) and Mirena are not inferior to GnRHa and depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) (RR: 0.006; CI:-0.142-0.162). Combined oral contraceptive pills demonstrated effective treatment of relieving endometriosis associated pelvic pain when compared with placebo groups (RR:0.321CI-0.066-0.707). Progestogen was more effective than combined oral contraceptive pills in controlling dysmenorrhea (RR:-0.160; CI:-0.386-0.066), however, progestogen is associated with more side effects like spotting and bloating than the combined contraceptive pills. Conclusion: Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP), GnRHa and progestogens are equally effective in relieving endometriosis associated pelvic pain. COCP and progestogens are relatively cheap and more suitable for long-term use as compared to GnRHa. Long-term RCT of medicated contraceptive devices like Mirena and Implanon are required to evaluate their long-term effects on relieving the endometriosis associated pelvic pain

Signaling mechanisms of pertussis toxin-induced myelomonocytic cell adhesion: Role of tyrosine phosphorylation

Pertussis toxin (PTX) was thought to bind Mac-1 integrin receptor (CD11b/CD18) on TGF-β1/D 3-primed U937 cells and induced cellular adhesion to serum-coated plate. The present study was to investigate the signal transduction pathway utilized by PTX to initiate myeloid cell adhesion in serum. Immunoblotting study showed that PTX induced tyrosine phosphorylation of two cytoplasmic proteins of 150 kDa and 90 kDa in TGF-β1/D 3-primed U937 cells in a time-dependent manner. In addition, PTX-induced myelomonocytic cell adhesion was abolished in the presence of genistein (100 μM), a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 2LPM19c (2 μg/ml), a mouse monoclonal antibody against the CD11b subunit of Mac-1 integrin, or ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA, 5 mM) prevented PTX-mediated U937 cell adhesion. On the other hand, nifedipine (1 μM), a calcium channel blocker, significantly reduced PTX-induced U937 cell adhesion. Taken together, it is suggested that binding of PTX to Mac-1 integrin receptor on primed U937 cells triggers protein tyrosine phosphorylation and, to a lesser extent, Ca +2 influx, which eventually lead to monocytic cell adhesion in serum.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A retrospective study of laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) in virgins and nulliparae

Objective: To study the feasibility and result of LAVH performed in virgins and nulliparae. Study design: Retrospective review of 297 consecutive cases of LAVH using the Biswas Uterine Vaginal Elevator (BUVE) in a private hospital in Hong Kong for benign gynaecological conditions between July 2006 and February 2009. Variables analysed included patient demographics, operative times, uterine weight, hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, and operative complications. Patients who were virgins and nulliparae were compared to each other and to a control group of patients receiving LAVH during the same period of time. Results: All 297 cases of LAVH were successfully performed without any conversion. Ninety-seven LAVHs were performed on 31 virgins and 66 nulliparae, while 200 LAVHs were performed on parous patients during the same study period. The uterine sizes in the virgin group were significantly larger than those in the other two groups. The operation times in the virgin and nullipara groups were significantly longer than those in the control group. The complication rates of LAVH in these three groups were 6.4%, 12.1% and 3% in the virgin, nulliparous and control groups respectively. The overall complication rate of this series was low at 5.3%. Conclusions: LAVH is feasible with acceptable safety in virgins and nulliparae in spite of their narrow and tight vaginas. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Activation of angiotensin II type-2 receptor protects against cigarette smoke-induced COPD

10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105223Pharmacological Research161105223

Targeting the p38α pathway in chronic inflammatory diseases: Could activation, not inhibition, be the appropriate therapeutic strategy?

10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108153Pharmacology and Therapeutics235108153

Toxicological and pharmacokinetic analysis at therapeutic dose of SRS27, an investigational anti-asthma agent

10.1007/s00210-020-01966-3Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology394195-10

Angiotensin II type-2 receptor activation in alveolar macrophages mediates protection against cigarette smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106469Pharmacological Research184106469

Isthmin-1 attenuates allergic Asthma by stimulating adiponectin expression and alveolar macrophage efferocytosis in mice

10.1186/s12931-023-02569-1241269

Expression of a constitutively active p38α mutant in mice causes early death, anemia, and accumulation of immunosuppressive cells

10.1111/febs.15697FEBS Journal288133978-399