BACKGROUNDImmunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a newly recognized systemic disease that can involve multiple organs and various clinical phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to analyze different types of organ involvement in IgG4-RD patients in China.

METHODSWe conducted a prospective cohort study on IgG4-RD patients to analyze the clinical manifestations and rare features of IgG4-RD. Patients were grouped into different types according to organ involvement regarding organ number and organ site. The constituent ratio in different types was also analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 200 IgG4-RD patients, with a male:female ratio of 2.08:1, were grouped into different types. Cases having involvement of two or three organs were the most common whereas the fewest number of patients had multi-organ (≥4) involvement. Serum IgG4 and IgE levels, IgG4/IgG ratio, and percentage of eosinophils increased as the number of involved organs increased. In addition, constituent ratio analysis revealed that patients with salivary gland/lacrimal gland swelling, who also constituted the largest number of IgG4-RD patients, had higher serum IgG4 concentrations and IgG4/IgG values, had higher percentage of Eos, and were more likely to have had a history of allergies relative to patients with internal organ involvement.

CONCLUSIONSThe characteristic feature of IgG4-RD is multiple organ involvement with various clinical manifestations and different types. Although serum IgG4 levels increased with the number of involved organs, serum IgG4 levels were higher for those patients with salivary gland/lacrimal gland swelling compared with those with internal organ involvement. Thus, valuable clues to the differential diagnosis of IgG4-RD could be obtained by examining the clinical patterns of organ involvement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoimmune Diseases ; complications ; pathology ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Gland ; pathology ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; pathology ; Salivary Glands ; pathology ; Thyroid Gland ; pathology ; Uterus ; pathology ; Young Adult

A case of primary yolk sac tumor of endometrium was retrospectively analyzed and relevant literature was systematically reviewed. We found that the primary yolk sac tumor of endometrium showed low incidence rate and was clinically characterized by abnormal vaginal bleeding, intrauterine lesions and significantly elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level. The final diagnosis should be confirmed by pathological examination. There is no guideline for the treatment of primary yolk sac tumor of endometrium due to its rareness. For now, surgery and chemotherapy are the major therapies and the curative effect is satisfactory in some cases.
Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterus ; pathology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Cocus nucifera L. flowers in reducing the major multiple symptoms of letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) in female rats. METHOD: Female, virgin Wistar rats were treated with letrozole (1 mg/kg body wt) to induce PCOD, and after 21 days of induction rats were administered orally with 100 and 200 mg·kg(-1) of Cocus nucifera flower aqueous extract, respectively. Estrus cycle and blood sugar were monitored once a week throughout the study. After scarification, various biochemical parameters, such as antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH)) of the uterus homogenate, lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG)) of the serum were determined. Weights of the uterus and ovaries were separately monitored. The characteristics of changes in the ovary were evaluated by histopathological studies. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis of the aqueous extract showed the presence of volatile and pharmacologically active phytoconstituents. C. nucifera flower extract-treated groups showed estrus cyclicity and increased uterus weight which indicates the estrogenic effect. The improved blood sugar level, ideal lipid profile, good antioxidant status, and histopathology results revealed the recovery from poly cystic ovaries. CONCLUSION The results indicate that C. nucifera flower is a potential medicine for the treatment of PCOD and this study supports the traditional uses of C. nucifera flower.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cocos ; chemistry ; Estrus ; drug effects ; Female ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Letrozole ; Lipids ; blood ; Nitriles ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ovary ; drug effects ; pathology ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Rats, Wistar ; Triazoles ; Uterus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles or effects of oviductus ranae (OR) or oviductus ranae eggs (ORE) in preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODSIn vivo experiment: Sixty female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 12. To provide an osteoporosis model 4 groups of rats were ovariectomized (OVX), with the 5th being sham operated. Medication commenced 7 days after the operation and lasted continuously for 12 weeks. Sham operated and OVX groups were given equivalent volumes of 5% Tween-80. The other three groups intragastrically received conjugated estrogens (CE), OR or ORE of the corresponding doses. At the 12th week, serum estrogen, bone gla protein (BGP), serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were assayed; bone mineral densities (BMD) were measured and bone scanning was conducted; uteri were weighed, and weight, volume and length of the femoral bones were determined; and cortical thickness of femoral heads and area of bone trabecula were measured by image analyzer. In vitro experiment: Eighty 10-month old SD rats, with equal numbers of males and females, were randomly divided into 8 groups. Osteoblasts were isolated from neonatal rat calvariae, and the cells were exposed to various concentrations of serum from OR and ORE groups to study the impact of these sera on osteoblastic proliferation, ALP activity and mineralization. Osteoclastic numbers were determined using tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP).

RESULTSIn vivo experiment: The body weight of the four OVX groups increased significantly (P<0.01). Uterine weight of the CE group was the highest (P<0.01); Compared with the model group, estrogen level, BMD, bone scanning/bone imaging index weight of the femoral bones, cortical thickness of femoral heads in the OR and ORE groups increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01); femoral volume in the ORE group increased significantly (P<0.05); and the content of osteocalcin, phosphorus, and ALP in serum decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). In vitro experiment: Sera from OR and ORE groups had notable effects on the proliferation of osteoblasts (P<0.05 and P<0.01, repsectively) and stimulated the formation of calcium nodes (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the enhancement of ALP activity in osteoblasts was significant (P<0.05, P<0.01). The number of TRAP-positive cells was significantly reduced as well (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSOR and its eggs could effectively suppress OVX-induced osteoporosis in rats, and increase bone turnover possibly by both an increase in osteoblastic activity and a decrease in osteoclastic activity. The present study provides evidence that OR and its eggs could be considered a complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Calcification, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Male ; Materia Medica ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; Ovum ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Uterus ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive effects and possible underlying mechanism of different extracts of Kanggushu () on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

METHODSOne hundred and sixtyfive female SD rats were divided into 11 groups: control, sham, model, Xianling Gubao Capsule (), nilestriol, Kanggushu aqueous extract high-, medium-, and low-dose and suet extract high-, medium-, and low-dose groups. The osteoporosis model was made by ovariectomizing the rats. The latter 8 groups were administered intragastricly with Xianling Gubao Capsule, nilestriol, Kanggushu aqueous extract and suet extract for 12 weeks, respectively, while the other 3 groups were administered orally saline. The whole body bone mineral density, bone mineral content, organ coefficient of uterus, serum estradiol and alkaline phosphatase contents, blood calcium, phosphorus, interleukin 6 and bone Gla-protein levels after treatment were monitored. Additionally, three-point bending test of femur, HE staining, and scanning electron microscope were performed to explore the pharmacodynamics and underlying mechanisms.

RESULTSIn comparison with ovariectomized rats of model group, Kanggushu aqueous extract high-dose resulted in an increased bone mineral density, bone mineral content and organ coefficient of uterus, improved estradiol level, and improved maximum load and structural stiffness (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Two-dimensional and three-dimensional trabecular structure was also observed under HE staining and scanning electron microscopy, and the number and thickness of trabecular bone in Kanggushu aqueous extract high-dose group was significantly increased compared to the model group, while the lipid droplets in bone marrow cavity were significantly less. However, there were no significant differences in blood calcium, total serum alkaline phosphatase and bone Gla protein among different treatment groups. Overall, the osteoprotective effects of Kanggushu aqueous extract were comparable to those of nilestriol and were significantly more effective than those of Xianling Gubao Capsule.

CONCLUSIONThe preventive effects of Kanggushu aqueous extract might be partly due to the increased estradiol level, accelerated restoration of bone trabecular reticulate structure, and accordingly increased bone mineral density in osteoporosis rats.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiopathology ; ultrastructure ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Osteocalcin ; metabolism ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Ovariectomy ; Phosphorus ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterus ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of MMPs-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in cesarean section scar healing.

METHODSThe expressions of the MMPs-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were detected by EnVision immunohistochemistry in 22 pregnant women with serious complications of the uterine scar, including 8 with early caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) and 14 with full-term pregnancy undergoing hysterectomy for placenta previa or implanted placenta. Thirty-eight full-term pregnant women without serious complications of the uterine scar and 32 normal full-term pregnant women served as the control I and control II groups, respectively.

RESULTSThe expressions of MMPs-9 and TIMP-1 differed significantly between the 3 groups (P<0.05), whereas TIMP-2 did not (P>0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the expression of MMPs-9 in the uterine scar tissues was positively correlated with poor uterine scar healing with the correlation coefficients of 0.309 and 0.643. An increased severity of poor healing scar was associated with a significantly increased expression of MMPs-9 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe imbalanced expressions of MMPs-9 and TIMP-1 in injury repair can be related to poor uterine scar healing and CSP.

Adult ; Cesarean Section ; adverse effects ; Cicatrix ; etiology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Placenta Previa ; surgery ; Pregnancy ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism ; Uterus ; pathology ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

Equine endometriosis is a multifactorial disease considered to be a major cause of equine infertility. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of histomorphological grading for biopsy-like samples compared to entire uterine wall samples, to examine the association between the degree of endometriosis with animal age, and to investigate the role of inflammation in endometriosis and the expression of different matrix metalloproteinases in equine endometrium. Histomorphological lesions in 35 uterine samples were examined while comparing biopsy-like samples and entire-wall samples. Seventeen uterine samples were stained with antibodies against MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-14, and TIMP-2. The morphologic evaluation results of the biopsy-like tissue and entire-wall samples were significantly correlated. Endometriosis in older mares (>12 years of age) was more severe than in young mares (2~4 years of age), confirming the positive correlation between animal age and disease severity, while inflammation was poorly related to the degree of endometriosis. MMP-2 and MMP-14 were detected in stromal cells, while MMP-9 and TIMP-2 were both found in stromal and glandular epithelial cells. There were no significant differences in MMPs expression between the two groups (young vs. old mares). Additional studies on the activity of MMPs could further define the role of these enzymes in equine endometriosis.
Animals ; Endometriosis/metabolism/pathology/*veterinary ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/*physiology ; Horse Diseases/metabolism/*pathology ; Horses ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Inflammation/pathology/*veterinary ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Uterus/metabolism/pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Radix Angelica and Rhizoma Chuanxiong with different proportions (1 : 0, 2 : 1, 1.5 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 1.5, 1 : 2, 0 : 1), different extraction in order (by water, by ethanol, firstly by alcohol then by water) on dysmenorrhea model mice in order to observe their compatibility rules and material foundation.

METHODThe mice model of primary dysmenorrhea was used to study the effect of Radix Angelica and Rhizoma Chuanxiong with different proportions and preparation methods on writhing response and the levels of nitric oxide and calcium ion in mice uterine tissue.

RESULTDanggui-Chuanxiong (1. 5 : 1) and solution extracted firstly by alcohol then by water showed the strongest effect on primary dysmenorrhea by reducing the writhing times, increasing nitric oxide (NO) concentration and reducing calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration in uterine tissue.

CONCLUSIONRadix Angelica and Rhizoma Chuanxiong with different proportions and preparation methods showed different antidysmenorrheic trend on dysmenorrhea model mice, which was related with the containing constituents.

Animals ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dysmenorrhea ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

The recombined adenovirus DNA was transfected into 293 cells for packing and amplification of replication-deficient Ad-CMV-E6/E7, Ad-K14 -E6/E7 virus was purified by CsCl density gradient centrifugation , recombined adenovirus Ad-CMV-E6/E7, Ad-K14 -E6/E7 were used as experimental group, while pAd-CMV and pAdtrack-K14 were used as control group. Four of them were injected through one main vein of nude mice tail respectively. These mice were then treated with 0.05 mg 17beta-estradiol over 12 weeks. Mice were anaesthesiaed with 2.5% Avertint and the vagina, mammary gland, ovaries and uterus were dissected and fixed in 3.75% paraformaldehyde overnight at 4 degrees C. Paraffin-embedded sections, HE staining and identification of P53 and Bcl-2 protein via immunohistochemistry were performed. The expression of E6/E7 was verified by RT-PCR in different tissue of nude mice. HE staining showed evident hyperplasy in cervix-uterus transformation zone of experimental group 2. The expression of mutant P53 and Bcl-2 were higher than control group via immunohistochemical S-P method in uterus stroma-cell. Western blotting also showed that E6 protein was expressed. The expression of E6/E7 was higher than control group by human cytokeratin promoter 14 and hyperlasy changes were detected in epithelial tissue of cervix-uterus transformation zone.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; pathology ; virology ; Genitalia, Female ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ovary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Papillomaviridae ; metabolism ; physiology ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Uterus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vagina ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of the Yifuning soft gelatin capsules(YFN)on estrogen receptor (ER) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in ovariectomized rats.

METHODFifty female mature sprague-dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal control; model control; diethylstilbestrol tablets (DT); YFN (high dose and low dose). After 4 weeks' treatment, the serum E2 levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. The estrogen receptor (ER) levels of uterus and artery were detected with method of radioligand binding assay of receptor (RBAR). The uterus pathologic changes were investigated with light microscope. NO and NOS levels of the artery and the uterus index were detected too.

RESULTYFN can obviously improve serum E2, increase index and ER of uterus (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and ameliorate the uterus' pathologic changes in OVX rats. It also can increase the artery' ER, NO and NOS levels.

CONCLUSIONYFN can cure the climacteric syndrome and prevent the cardiovascular disease after post-menopause.

Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Materia Medica ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Oviducts ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rana temporaria ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Uterus ; metabolism ; pathology