Based on the theory of "milk-blood homology", the evidence of Shaoze (SI 1) in treatment of postpartum hypogalactia was explored and the clinical application introduced. In traditional Chinese medicine, small intestine meridian and the functions of small intestine are extensively involved in the procedure of milk formation, i.e. transformation, transportation and connection. Shaoze (SI 1) communicates the meridians of hand-taiyang and hand-shaoyin. It enhances the connection of the small intestine with the heart, spleen and stomach. It is the jing-well point for unblocking and moistening to promote the transformation and transportation of qi and blood and improve lactation. This acupoint is specifically characterized as promoting lactation in the small intestine meridian and is valuable considerably in clinical practice of hypogalactia of deficiency pattern/syndrome.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Lactation ; Lactation Disorders/therapy* ; Meridians ; Postpartum Period

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) on breast milk volume and nutrient composition in postpartum hypogalactia. METHODS: A total of 62 women with postpartum hypogalactia were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off). Electroacupuncture was exerted at Shaoze (SI 1) in the observation group and at Shangyang (LI 1) in the control group, 10 Hz in frequency, 30 min each time, once a day. The treatment for 5 times as one course and 3 courses of treatment were required totally. Separately, before treatment and at the end of 1 course and 3 courses of treatment, the breast milk volume was measured and the composition was analyzed. The breast milk volume, nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein), breast milk energy and density were observed in the two groups. After treatment, the clinical effect was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the observation group, after 1 course of treatment, the breast milk volume and the values of lactose and protein in the breast milk were increased as compared with those before treatment, the breast milk energy and density were increased as compared with those before treatment (all <0.05). After 3 courses of treatment, the breast milk volume and the values of nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein) were improved as compared with those before treatment, and the breast milk energy and density were increased obviously as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (all <0.05). In the control group, after 1 course and 3 courses of treatment, only breast milk volume was increased obviously as compared with that before treatment (both <0.05). After 1 course of treatment, the nutrient composition (lactose and protein), breast milk energy and density in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). After 3 courses of treatment, the levels of breast milk volume, nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein), breast milk energy and density in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group (all <0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the observation group, which was higher than 17.9% (5/28) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture at Shaozhe (SI 1) increases breast milk volume in patients with postpartum hypogalactia and promotes the production of the nutrient composition in breast milk, as well as the breast milk energy and density.
Acupuncture Points ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Lactation Disorders ; therapy ; Milk, Human ; Postpartum Period

We report two rare cases of spontaneously regressed Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC). A 52-year-old woman presented with headache. A pituitary hormone study was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a 0.45-cm³ cystic sellar lesion. The cyst was hyperintense on T1-weighed imaging and hypointense on T2-weighted imaging without rim enhancement, comparable to a RCC. Six months later, brain MRI showed no change in the cyst size. Without any medical treatments, brain MRI 1 year later revealed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to 0.05 cm³. A 34-year-old woman presented with headache and galactorrhea lasting 1 week. At the time of the visit, the patient's headache had disappeared. Her initial serum prolactin level was 81.1 ng/mL, and after 1 week without the cold medicine, the serum prolactin level normalized to 11.28 ng/mL. Brain MRI showed a RCC measuring 0.71 cm³. Without further treatments, brain computed tomography 6 months later showed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to 0.07 cm³. Another 6 months later, brain MRI revealed that the cyst had remained the same size. Neither patient experienced neurological symptoms, such as headache or visual disturbance, during the period of cyst reduction. The RCCs in both patients underwent spontaneous regression without any medical treatment during a period of 6 months to 1 year. Although spontaneous regression of a RCC is rare, it is still possible and a sufficient follow-up period should be considered.
Adult ; Brain ; Central Nervous System Cysts ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Galactorrhea ; Headache ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin

Exposure to lead during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disorders in the offspring. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to low levels of lead acetate (0.2%) in drinking water during pregnancy and lactation causes behavioral impairment and affects the expression of proteins associated with neurodevelopment. Lead exposure altered several parameters in rat offspring compared with those unexposed in open-field, social interaction, and pre-pulse inhibition tests. These parameters were restored to normal levels after clozapine treatment. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampus revealed that several neurodevelopmental proteins were downregulated in lead-exposed rats. The expression was normalized after clozapine treatment (5 mg/kg/day, postnatal day 35–56). These findings demonstrate that downregulation of several proteins in lead-exposed rats affected subsequent behavioral changes. Our results suggest that lead exposure in early life may induce psychiatric disorders and treatment with antipsychotics such as clozapine may reduce their incidence.
Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Behavior Rating Scale ; Blotting, Western ; Clozapine ; Down-Regulation ; Drinking Water ; Female ; Hippocampus ; Incidence ; Interpersonal Relations ; Lactation ; Lead Poisoning ; Models, Animal ; Neurodevelopmental Disorders ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Risk Factors

Venlafaxine is a serotonergic and noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor which is used for the treatment of depression. We report a case of galactorrhea in a patient with major depressive disorder after starting treatment with venlafaxine. In particular, we discuss the course of hyper and normoprolactinemic galactorrhea. We managed this side effect initially by dose reduction and further by switching to essitalopram. Physicians should be aware of endocrinologic side effects such as galactorrhea during the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor treatment.
Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Female ; Galactorrhea* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin ; Serotonin ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride*

Galactorrhea, as an adverse effect of psychotropic medications, usually develops due to high dose of antipsychotics. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been reported to be related to galactorrhea. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study reported galactorrhea with methylphenidate (MPH) use. Hereby, we report a case of an adolescent girl who developed galactorrhea after increasing his modifed-release oral MPH to 50 mg/day while under treatment of sertraline and very low dose haloperidol.
Adolescent* ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Female ; Galactorrhea* ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Methylphenidate* ; Pregnancy ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Sertraline

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively investigate the reliability of breast ultrasound (US) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) final assessment in mammographically negative patients with pathologic nipple discharge, and to determine the clinical and ultrasonographic variables associated with malignancy in this group of patients. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with 67 mammographically negative breast lesions that were pathologically confirmed through US-guided biopsy were included. RESULTS: Of the 53 BI-RADS category 4 and 5 lesions, eight (15.1%) were malignant (six ductal carcinomas in situ, one invasive ductal carcinoma, and one solid papillary carcinoma). There was no malignancy among the remaining 14 category 3 lesions. Malignant lesions more frequently displayed a round or irregular shape (75.0%, 6/8; p=0.030) and nonparallel orientation (33.3%, 4/12; p=0.029) compared to the benign lesions. The increase in the BI-RADS category corresponded with a rise in the malignancy rate (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The BI-RADS lexicon and final assessment of breast US reliably detect and characterize malignancy in mammographically negative patients with pathologic nipple discharge.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Mammography ; Nipples* ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography*

While fluoxetine (FXT) is a frequently prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), with few major side-effects; altered serotonergic transmissions in hypothalamic pathways might lead to a distressing, and often embarrassing, manifestation of galactorrhea by altering prolactin release in those on FXT. We report here a case of FXT-induced hyperprolactinemic galactorrhea developing late into treatment on a stable regimen, who responded well to subsequent replacement with sertraline. Based on present finding, we suggest that while SSRIs may share similar mechanisms of action, there exist individual differences in their effects on prolactin secretion pathways.
Female ; Fluoxetine* ; Galactorrhea* ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Individuality ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin ; Secretory Pathway ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; Sertraline

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Wuji Powder (WP) and a small dose aripiprazole in treatment of antipsychotic drug-induced phlegm dampness type amenorrhea.

METHODSSeventy female schizophrenic patients with antipsychotic drug-induced galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome (GAS) were recruited and randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 35 in each group. All patients received antipsychotic drug therapy. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WP, while those in the control group took aripiprazole (at the daily dose of 5 mg, once daily). The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. Prolactin levels and obesity indices[body weight, waist aircumstance, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hit ratio (WHR)] were determined before and after treatment. The efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTSThe treatment course was completed in 95.71% of patients. The total effective rate of the 33 patients of the treatment group was 93.94% (31/33), while it was 91.18% (31/34) in the 34 patients of the control group. There was no difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). Prolactin levels in both group after treatment were significantly lower than those of the baseline (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in prolactin levels between the two groups after treatment (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment, body weight, BMI, waist circumstance, and waist-hip ratio obviously decreased after treatment, showing significant difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in body weight, BMI, waist circumstance, and waist-hip ratio in the control group between before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth WP and aripiprazole could lower high prolactin levels of schizophrenics with phlegm dampness type amenorrhea. They showed equivalent efficacy. But WP showed more obvious effect in reducing obesity indices.

Aged ; Amenorrhea ; drug therapy ; Antipsychotic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Aripiprazole ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Obesity ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Quinolones ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; utilization ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Lactation Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Postpartum Period ; physiology ; Qi ; Young Adult