Background: Growth hormone has been used as an adjunct in ovarian stimulation of IVF cycles for the past three decades. However, the exact mechanism of its role in improving oocyte quality has not been thoroughly investigated. Although a clear indication for GH co-treatment is in infertile women with GH deficiency, GH has been given mostly to poor ovarian responders. Method: This paper is a review of the most recent published data on the role of GH supplementation in improving oocyte quality in younger women who are suboptimal or unexpected poor responders to standard ovarian stimulation. Results: Retrospective cohort and randomized trials demonstrated an improvement in oocyte quality through morphological parameters, mitochondrial function, biomarkers, GH receptors, insulin growth factor, markers of oxidative stress, mature oocytes, good quality embryos, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy and live birth. Conclusion Current data suggest GH supplementation may improve oocyte and embryo qualities, endometrial receptivity, clinical pregnancy and live birth. However, better quality evidence is needed before a recommendation can be made for GH supplementation to be given to infertile women who are suboptimal or poor ovarian responders.
growth hormone ; hormone receptor ; IGF-1 ; IVF

Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans

The roles of estrogen and its receptors are important for control of puberty, pubertal growth spurt, epiphyseal fusion of long bone, and accretion of bone mineral content in adolescent. But, the mechanism of functions of them is not fully understood. The female mice with tissue-specific knock out (KO) of estrogen receptor (ER) were generated to determine the roles of them in the growth and reproductive axis. The serum levels of growth hormone (GH) were decreased but the body lengths were not in somatotrope-specific ERalpha KO mice compared with wild ones. The onset of puberty was delayed in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron-specific ERalpha KO mice. The reproductive axis was disturbed in gonadotrope-specific ERalpha KO mice. Additional studies are required to evaluate the various roles of estrogen and its receptors in growth and pubertal development. Future works will focus on the phenomes of tissue-specific KO of ERbeta or aromatase in mice, other animal models, and in vitro or vivo studies of ER agonists or antagonists.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Aromatase ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Bone Density ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; Estrogens ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Puberty

No abstract available.
Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Myoma* ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

OBJECTIVES: Isoflavone is a plant-derived compound, abundant in soy food, and its character is mixed estrogenic and antiestrogenic action, so it is highlighted as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study is to establish a foundation for isoflavone study in the future, by estimating isoflavone intake in postmenopausal women and by recommending proper isoflavone intake. METHODS: Isoflavone intake was estimated in a total of 189 Korean postmenopausal women over 50 years old, by using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Data were statistically analyzed by t-test, and one-way ANOVA with Turkey's test. RESULTS: The daily average isoflavone intake level was 21.94 +/- 19.96 mg. There is no significant difference in isoflavone intake according to age. About 60 percentile of postmenopausal women intake isoflavone under 20 mg a day, and 2 percentile of postmenopausal women intake about 80 mg isoflavone. CONCLUSION: There was no definite precise amount of isoflavone for reliving postmenopausal symptom and health. But through this study, most postmenopausal women did not intake enough isoflavone, so they have to intake more isoflavone.
Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; Phytoestrogens ; Postmenopause ; Soy Foods ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms and ultrasonographic findings of uterine endometrium. METHODS: Forty-five postmenopausal women undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were included in this study. Women were evaluated for PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms for ER alpha gene after extracting DNA from peripheral blood. The thickness and appearance of uterine endometrium was measured by transvaginal ultrasonography. The association of estrogen receptor gene PvuII and XbaI polymorphisms and ultrasonographic endometrial findings were analyzed. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in endometrial thickness (pp 3.6 +/- 1.5 mm, Pp 4.2 +/- 1.6 mm, PP 3.5 +/- 1.3 mm) or endometrial appearance among the three different groups by PvuII polymorphism. No significant difference was also observed in endometrial thickness (xx 3.6 +/- 1.5 mm, Xx 4.2 +/- 1.4 mm) or endometrial appearance between the two groups of different XbaI genotypes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neither PvuII nor XbaI polymorphism of the estrogen receptor alpha gene may be associated with the ultrasonographic findings of uterine endometrium in postmenopausal women undergoing HRT. Further studies with a larger scale are necessary to confirm these data.
DNA ; Endometrium* ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Genotype ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of experimentally created unilateral anterior crossbite prosthesis on the expression of parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and parathyroid hormone receptor-1 (PTH1R) in mandibular condylar cartilage of SD rat.

METHODSIn experimental groups, the unilateral anterior crossbite metal prosthesis was cemented to the left incisors of the maxilla and mandible of 6-week-old SD rats, respectively. Animals were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were carried out for studying the morphological changes of the condylar cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were performed to detect the levels of expression of PTHrP and PTH1R in the condylar cartilages.

RESULTSThe obvious degenerative changes were found in the condylar cartilages in experimental group at 8 weeks. Comparing to the control group, the expression of PTHrP mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein(P < 0.01) in the experimental group were increased, whereas PTH1R mRNA (P < 0.01) and protein (P < 0.01) levels were decreased.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of PTHrP was increased in the condylar cartilage of rat with unilateral anterior crossbite metal prosthesis but its effects might be limited because of decreased expression of PTH1R in the condylar cartilage. The low level expression of PTH1R should be a part of the constitution of the molecular pathomechanism of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA)-like lesion.

Animals ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular ; Incisor ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Mandibular Condyle ; Osteoarthritis ; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1 ; Temporomandibular Joint

Drynariae Rhizoma has great significance in the clinical practice of osteoporosis treatment. Based on the perspective of integrative pharmacology, the study explored the mechanism of action of Drynariae Rhizoma in the treatment of osteoporosis. Six active components in Drynariae Rhizoma were obtained, mainly including glycosides and sterols. Taking the median of 2 times of "node connectivity" as the card value, the core node of the Chinese medicine target disease gene interaction network was selected. Based on this, three topological structural eigenvalues, such as "node connectivity" "node tightness" and "node connectivity" were calculated, thereby screening out four core targets of Drynariae Rhizoma treatment for osteoporosis, including thyroid parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R), parathyroid hormone 2 receptor (PTH2R), calcitonin receptor gene (CALCR), and SPTBN1 gene (SPTBN1). Based on the gene ontology database GO and KEGG pathway database, the molecular function, intracellular localization, and biological reactions and pathways of proteins encoded by drug target genes were determined. Combined with enrichment calculation, it is predicted that osteoporosis may play a role in biosynthetic processes, such as circulatory system, nervous system, energy metabolism, prolactin signal pathway, GnRH signaling pathway, neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and other pathway. The conclusion of this study is certain with the existing research results, and the new target and new pathway could also be used as a theoretical basis for the further verification of osteoporosis.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Polypodiaceae ; chemistry ; Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Receptor, Parathyroid Hormone, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Spectrin ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Several biologically plausible mechanisms have been proposed for estrogen-associated changes in lipid and bone metabolism. These effects are thought to be mediated via estrogen receptor (ER). Several polymorphisms in the gene encoding estrogen receptor alpha may modify the effects of hormone replacement therapy on lipid and bone density in postmenopausal women. METHODS: We examined 284 postmenopausal women for thymine-adenine (TA) repeat polymorphism at the ER gene locus and its relationship to lipid and bone density. Their mean age was 52.2+/-5.0 years. We also investigated the association between ER TA repeat polymorphism and changes in lipid and bone density after 3 months and 1 year of hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: According to the mean number of TA repeats, the women were divided into two groups: group H, with higher number of repeats (TA>16)(n=110); group L, with lower number of repeats (TAhormone replacement therapy than in group H (changes in total cholesterol: -8.4+/-11.3% vs. -4.2+/-12.5%, p=0.019), (changes in LDL cholesterol: -18.7+/-18.4% vs -8.8+/-30.1%, p=0.006). There was no significant relationship between TA repeat polymorphism and changes in HDL cholesterol, triglyceride levels and bone density after 1 year hormone replacement therapy. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that ER TA repeat polymorphism may be one of the predictors of lipid response to hormone replacement therapy.
Bone Density* ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; Estrogens* ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: Extended treatment with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) after tamoxifen has shown effectiveness in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer. However it is very difficult to start on AIs for patients who become postmenopausal after tamoxifen because tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that influences menopause, confusing the menopausal status of patients. We assessed the menopausal status and hormone concentrations at the start of letrozole treatment in women with breast cancer who were premenopausal when diagnosed with breast cancer and who became postmenopausal during 5 years of tamoxifen therapy. METHODS: We evaluated 164 patients with breast cancer who received extended letrozole therapy between May 2006 and December 2007. All had been premenopausal at diagnosis but became postmenopausal during 5 years of tamoxifen therapy. Menopause was defined as amenorrhea for >1 year, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration > or =30 mIU/mL or serum estradiol (E2) concentrations < or =20 pg/mL. FSH and E2 concentrations were monitored for 2 years after starting letrozole therapy. RESULTS: The median ages of the 164 patients were 45 years at surgery, 46 years when they became amenorrheic, and 50 years at the start of letrozole treatment. Of the 164 patients, 157 (95.7%) were amenorrheic, 14 (9.3%) had FSH concentrations > or =30 mIU/mL and 113 (70.2%) had E2 concentrations < or =20 pg/mL at the start of letrozole. FSH concentrations > or =30 mIU/mL were observed in 87 patients (57.6%) after 6 months of letrozole and in 133 (88.1%) after 2 years, and E2 concentrations < or =20 pg/mL were observed in 164 patients (100%) after 2 years. Times to reach FSH > or =30 mIU/mL and E2 levels < or =20 pg/mL were not significantly related to age at surgery (p=0.836 and p=0.228, respectively), at start of letrozole (p=0.855 and p=0.357, respectively), or at amenorrhea (p=0.098 and p=0.154, respectively). CONCLUSION: Applying postmenopausal ranges of hormone concentrations observed in normal healthy people to patients who completed 5 years of tamoxifen is inappropriate, because tamoxifen itself may affect FSH concentration. Further studies should focus on identifying an indicator of ovarian function so that these patients can start extended hormone therapy.
Amenorrhea ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Estradiol ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; Menopause ; Nitriles ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Tamoxifen ; Triazoles