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

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

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

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

Osteoporosis is a silent disease which causes a serious morbidity such as fracture. Once osteoporosis risk has been established in postmenopausal women, dietary and lifestyle changes, such as exercise, discontinuing tobacco and alcohol use, are helpful in the prevention of osteoporosis. Fall prevention, calcium and vitamin D supplementation remain the foundation. When pharmacologic intervention is warranted, bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulator have shown the benefit in preventing bone loss and lowering fracture rates. Short term use of estrogen can be considered for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms. Calcitonin and parathyroid hormone are also options for the treatment of osteoporosis. Several new agents are in late-stage development and may offer another treatment alternatives.
Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Diphosphonates ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal* ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Tobacco ; Vitamin D

Osteoporosis becomes a serious health threat for aging postmenopausal women by predisposing them to an increased risk of fracture. Conventional pharmacological options are available for osteoporosis therapy, including bisphosphonates, the SERM raloxifene, estrogens, clacitonin, and parathyroid hormone. Although alternative treatment regimens, such as phytoestrogens, herbals, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) also show beneficial effect on bone density and health, further study to determine optional formulation is needed. Several new drugs are available or are in clinical development.
Aging ; Bone Density ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; Diphosphonates ; Estrogens ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Phytoestrogens ; Raloxifene ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; Raloxifene Hydrochloride