Estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) is one of the two key receptors (ERα, ERβ) that facilitate biological actions of 17β-estradiol (E2). ERβ is widely expressed in many tissues, and its expression is reduced or lost during progression of many tumors. ERβ facilitates estrogen signaling by both genomic (classical and non-classical) and extra-nuclear signaling. Emerging evidence suggests that ERβ functions as a tissue-specific tumor suppressor with anti-proliferative actions. Recent studies have identified a number of naturally available selective ERβ agonists. Targeting ERβ using its naturally available ligands is an attractive approach for treating and preventing cancers. This review presents the beneficial actions of ERβ signaling and clinical utility of several natural ERβ ligands as potential cancer therapy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Equol ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Humans ; Ligands ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis in adolescent patients.

METHODSix cases of adolescent endometriosis in our hospital were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTEndometriosis is the most common cause of chronic pelvic pain in adolescents. There may be a natural progression of endometriosis from atypical lesions in adolescents to classic lesions in adults. Congenital abnormalities of the reproductive tract are the main reasons for the adolescent endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONEndometriosis should be strongly suspected in adolescent girls with chronic pelvic pain, especially unresponsive to oral contraceptives and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The treatment involves the operations and medicines.

Adolescent ; Child ; Danazol ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Estrogen Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Pelvic Pain ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

CYP2D6 is primarily responsible for the metabolism of clomiphene citrate (CC). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CYP2D6 genotypes, concentrations of CC and its major metabolites and drug response in infertility patients. We studied 42 patients with ovulatory dysfunction treated with only CC. Patients received a dose of 100 mg/day CC on days 3-7 of the menstrual cycle. CYP2D6 genotyping and measurement of CC and the major metabolite concentrations were performed. Patients were categorized into CC responders or non-responders according to one cycle response for the ovulation. Thirty-two patients were CC responders and 10 patients were non-responders with 1 cycle treatment. The CC concentrations were highly variable within the same group, but non-responders revealed significantly lower (E)-clomiphene concentration and a trend of decreased concentrations of active metabolites compared to the responders. Nine patients with intermediate metabolizer phenotype were all responders. We confirmed that the CC and the metabolite concentrations were different according to the ovulation status. However, our results do not provide evidence for the contribution of CYP2D6 polymorphism to either drug response or CC concentrations.
Adult ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Clomiphene/blood/metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6/*genetics ; Estrogen Antagonists/analysis/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infertility/*drug therapy/genetics ; Ovulation Induction ; Phenotype ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Republic of Korea ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

We report on an angioedema patient with a genetic defect in complement 1 inhibitor, manifesting migraine-like episodes of headache, effective prophylaxis with Danazol, and triptan for a treatment of acute clinical episode. The patient was 44-yr-old Korean man with abdominal pain and headache, who was brought into the Emergency Department of Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul. He suffered from frequent attacks of migraine-like headache (3-7 per month), pulsating in nature associated with nausea. Severities were aggravated by activity and his headache had shown recent progression with abdominal pain. No remarkable findings were observed on radiologic examination, brain magnetic resonance images and intracranial and extracranial magnetic resonance angiography. Danazol 200 mg every other day was subsequently used. Following administration of Danazol, symptoms showed improvement and the patient was discharged. While taking Danazol, the migraine-like episodes appeared to be prevented for about 2 yr. At the eighth month, he suffered a moderate degree of migraine-like headache; however, administration of naratriptan 2.5 mg resolved his problem. A case of genetic defect of C1-INH deficiency presented with headache episodes, and was controlled by Danazol and triptan. It suggests that pathogenic mechanism of headache in hereditary angioedema may be mediated by the neurogenic inflammatory-like physiology of migraine.
Adult ; Angioedemas, Hereditary/*complications/diagnosis/*genetics ; Brain/radionuclide imaging ; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein/*genetics/metabolism ; Danazol/therapeutic use ; Estrogen Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Migraine Disorders/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Piperidines/therapeutic use ; Tryptamines/therapeutic use ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use