Extending the culture of cleavage-stage embryos to the blastocyst stage after warming increases the chance of live birth: does it have a regenerative effect?

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effect of extending the culture of cleavage-stage embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitrified-warmed cycles on pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This is a retrospectively designed pilot study of a single center. All patients who applied for freeze-all cycle procedures during in vitro fertilization treatment were included in the study. Patients were classified into three subgroups. The embryos obtained were frozen at the cleavage or blastocyst stage. After a warming process, the cleavage-stage embryos were divided into two subgroups: the first group of embryos was transferred (vitrification day 3-embryo transfer (ET) day 3 (D3T3)) on the warming day; for the second group, the embryo culture was extended to the blastocyst stage (vitrification day 3-ET day 5 (after the extension of the embryo culture to the blastocyst stage), (D3T5)). Frozen blastocyst-stage embryos were transferred after warming (vitrification day 5-ET day 5 (D5T5)). Hormone replacement treatment was the only endometrial preparation regimen given during the embryo transfer cycle. The main outcome of the study was live birth rates. The clinical pregnancy rate and positive pregnancy test rate were determined as the secondary outcomes of the study. RESULTS: The study included a total of 194 patients. The positive pregnancy test rates (PPR) and clinical pregnancy rates (CPR) of the D3T3, D3T5, and D5T5 groups were 14.0% and 59.2%; 43.8% and 9.3%; and 56.3% and 39.6%, respectively (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). The live birth rates (LBR) of patients in the D3T3, D3T5, and D5T5 groups were 7.0%, 44.7%, and 27.1%, respectively (p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis of patients with a poor number of 2PN embryos (defined as having < = 4 2PN embryos), the D3T5 group had significantly higher PPR (10.7%, 60.6%, 42.4%; p < 0.001), CPR (7.1%, 57.6%, 39.4%; p < 0.001), and LBR (3.6%, 39.4%, 21.2%; p: 0.001). CONCLUSION: Extending the culture after warming to the blastocyst stage may be a better alternative than a cleavage-stage embryo transfer.

Outcome of ICSI pregnancies with spontaneous loss of a co-twin compared with singleton ICSI pregnancies: Single center experience.

AIM: To compare the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancies complicated by spontaneous loss of a dichorionic co-twin with that of singleton ICSI pregnancies. METHODS: The study group included dichorionic ICSI pregnancies with co-twin loss (n = 33) and the control group included ICSI pregnancies with a singleton from the beginning (n = 327). Primary outcome measures were obstetric complications, including preterm delivery, newborn small for gestational age, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertensive disorders and abruptio placenta; admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and perinatal mortality observed in the study and control groups. Statistical analysis was performed using spss for Windows, version 22.0. RESULTS: In the study group, there were 26 cases of first trimester (early) and 7 cases of second or third trimester (late) co-twin losses. Mean gestational age at delivery and mean birth weight were significantly lower in the whole study group compared to control (P < 0.05). Preterm delivery and NICU admission rates were significantly higher in the whole study group, compared to control (39.3% vs 14.6% and 36.36% vs 11.69% respectively, P < 0.05), but did not show significant difference between early loss subgroup and control (P > 0.05). Preterm delivery rate was significantly higher in the late loss subgroup compared to the early loss subgroup (85.71% vs 26.92% P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Loss of a co-twin in dichorionic ICSI pregnancies is associated with increased risk of preterm birth. This risk is significantly higher in cases with late loss compared to the early loss cases.

Fetal sex discordance in a monochorionic twin pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection: A case report of chimerism and review of the literature.

A 39-year-old woman who became pregnant with twins after an intracytoplasmic sperm injection was referred at the ninth gestational week to determine chorionicity. Ultrasonographic examination showed a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy. First trimester nuchal translucency measurements of the fetuses were 1.6 and 2.7 mm. A non-invasive prenatal test was performed and revealed low risk. One fetus appeared to be female and the other male at the 14th gestational week. Second trimester anatomic scanning results were otherwise normal for both fetuses. The newborns delivered at term appeared to be normal female and male babies phenotypically. At the fourth month, buccal cell analysis showed chimeric karyotypes, 46,XX[98]/46,XY[2] and 46,XY[98]/46,XX[2] in the female and male infant, respectively. The recognition of sex discordance despite monochorionicity may be a clue for the diagnosis of such rare cases of chimerism in dizygotic twins, most of which occur in pregnancies obtained by assisted reproductive technology.

The effect of raloxifene on left ventricular hypertrophy in postmenopausal women: A prospective, randomized, and controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: In healthy women, there is a progressive age-related increase in myocardial mass that is not seen in their male counterparts and occurs primarily in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has estrogenic actions on bone and the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of raloxifene on myocardial hypertrophy in postmenopausal patients. METHODS: A total of 22 postmenopausal osteoporotic women were included in this open-label, randomized, prospective, controlled study. Patients were randomized into two groups: 11 of the patients (group 1) were treated with raloxifene 60 mg/day, and the other 11 patients(group 2) were defined as the control group. Quantitative 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic examination was performed in all patients at the beginning and repeated at the end of the 6-month follow-up period. Left ventricle mass (LVM) and left ventricle mass index (LVMI) were calculated for all patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.2±3.9 years, and baseline clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. After 6 months of raloxifene treatment, there was no difference in echocardiographic parameters of LVM and LVMI compared with the control group (201.2±25.9 gr vs. 169.7±46.2 gr, p=0.14 and 120.4±25.9 gr/m2 vs. 105.5±26.3 gr/m2, p=0.195, respectively). There was also no significant difference in LVM and LVMI in the within-group analysis of both groups. CONCLUSION: Raloxifene therapy does not affect myocardial hypertrophy in postmenopausal women after 6 months of treatment.

Adnexal Masses Treated Using a Combination of the SILS Port and Noncurved Straight Laparoscopic Instruments: Turkish Experience and Review of the Literature.

Objective. To report our experience treating adnexal masses using a combination of the SILS port and straight nonroticulating laparoscopic instruments. Study Design. This prospective feasibility study included 14 women with symptomatic and persistent adnexal masses. Removal of adnexal masses via single-incision laparoscopic surgery using a combination of the SILS port and straight nonroticulating laparoscopic instruments was performed. Results. All of the patients had symptomatic complex adnexal masses. Mean age of the patients was 38.4 years (range: 21-61 years) and mean duration of surgery was 71 min (range: 45-130 min). All surgeries were performed using nonroticulating straight laparoscopic instruments. Mean tumor diameter was 6 cm (range: 5-12 cm). All patient pathology reports were benign. None of the patients converted to laparotomy. All the patients were discharged on postoperative d1. Postoperatively, all the patients were satisfied with their incision and cosmetic results. Conclusion. All 14 patients were successfully treated using standard, straight nonroticulating laparoscopic instruments via the SILS port. This procedure can reduce the cost of treatment, which may eventually lead to more widespread use of the SILS port approach. Furthermore, concomitant surgical procedures are possible using this approach. However, properly designed comparative studies with single port and classic laparoscopic surgery are urgently needed.

Paraoxonase lactonase activity (PON-HTLase), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and platelet activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) activity in non-obese women with PCOS.

OBJECTIVE: Paraoxonase1 (PON1), exhibits both esterase activity (PON1-AREase) and homocysteine thiolactonase activity (PON1-HTLase) which respectively prevent LDL oxidation and detoxify homocysteine thiolactone (HTL). Platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is an antioxidant enzyme preventing LDL oxidation by hydrolysis of oxidized phospholipids. Both of these enzymes exhibit a proatherogenic role. ADMA is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis causing endothelial dysfunction. The aim was to compare non-obese PCOS patients with a BMI matched control group using the following characteristics: serum PON1-HTLase, ADMA, PAF-AH, and lipid and hormonal parameters. RESULTS: 77 women with PCOS and 25 healthy subject were recruited for this study, The controls were non-obese BMI and age matched with the patients. There were no significant differences with respect to age, BMI, FSH, free testosterone, DHEA, androstenadion, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, VLDL, fasting glucose/insulin ratio and HOMA-IR among the groups (p > 0.05). However, total testosterone and fasting glucose levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, PON1-HTLase levels (39.6 ± 5.77 vs. 33.8 ± 8.2, p = 0.02) were significantly lower in the PCOS group while ADMA levels (1.14 ± 0.6 vs. 3.37 ± 6.4, p = 0.004) were significantly higher in the PCOS group. However, there was no significant difference in PAF-AH activity among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased PON1-HTLase and increased ADMA levels might be a relevant marker for the development of future atherosclerotic heart disease (AHD) in non-obese PCOS patients. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Why women request cesarean section without medical indication?

OBJECTIVE: To understand the reasons of the cesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) without medical indication would help to reduce the rates of unnecessary cesarean-delivery (CD). The objective of this study is to determine the basal knowledge of women regarding normal delivery (ND) and CD and also to assess their attitudes about CDMR, and to find out the reasons influencing those attitudes. METHODS: The study included 400 women who completed a 45-item questionnaire that assessed their basal knowledge of ND, CD, and their attitudes and beliefs about the mode of delivery and CDMR. RESULTS: Mean age of the study population was 32 ± 10.2 years (range 18-66). Majority of the women would choose the ND because of its 'being completely natural' (89%) and no anesthesia and operative risk related with ND (76%). Only 33% of the women indicated that ND might cause genital organ prolapse and/or stress urinary incontinence and just 26% and 24% of the women would choose CD to prevent pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, respectively. On the other hand, 50% and 54% of the women would indicate that they could choose CD in order to prevent labor pain and to minimize the risk of fetal distress during the labor. Furthermore, 47% of the women had an opinion that that CD could be performed by maternal request without medical indication. Educational level had no effect of CDMR although more educated women had more accurate knowledge about the some risk and benefits of ND and CD. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that fear of labor pain (p = 0.02, OR: 15.0, CI: 0.494-0.966), maternal age (p = 0.01, OR: 6.3,CI: 1.00-1.05), and knowledge about the relation between the ND and pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence (p < 0.001, OR: 4.8, CI: 0.549-0.966) were the independent prognostic variables for the CDMR. CONCLUSION: Although majority of the women had wrong idea or no idea about the risks and benefits of CD, nearly half of them indicated that women can always demand CDMR. This study shows that basal knowledge of the women should be improved by education.

Sublingual misoprostol for cervical ripening before diagnostic hysteroscopy in premenopausal women: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of sublingual misoprostol for cervical ripening before diagnostic hysteroscopy in premenopausal women. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): Fifty-two women with an indication for diagnostic hysteroscopy. INTERVENTION(S): Randomized women who had received either 200 mug of misoprostol (n = 25) or placebo (n = 27) sublingually 2 hours before hysteroscopy. Two subgroups (women with or without previous vaginal delivery) were formed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Number of women requiring cervical dilatation, duration of dilatation, ease of dilatation, and complications during procedure. RESULT(S): In the misoprostol group, 14 patients needed cervical dilatation, versus 21 in the placebo group. Duration of dilatation was longer in the placebo group than in the misoprostol group. In subgroup 1, seven patients in the misoprostol group (n = 13) and nine patients in the placebo group (n = 12) needed cervical dilatation. The duration of the dilatation was similar between the groups. In subgroup 2, both the need for cervical dilatation (58.3% vs. 80.0%) and the duration of dilatation (31.0 +/- 18.8 vs. 73.0 +/- 82.0 seconds) were found to be lower in the misoprostol (n = 15) than in the placebo (n = 12) group, respectively. Those differences were all not significant. CONCLUSION(S): Sublingual misoprostol before diagnostic hysteroscopy did not seem to facilitate cervical ripening statistically; however, the results are remarkable and are promising clinically. Further studies are required to reassess the use of sublingual misoprostol in patients before hysteroscopy.

Fenofibrate causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model.

Fenofibrate -a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-a agonist- is an angiostatic agent that is commonly used in human liver diseases, therefore it may interfere with the angiogenetic process required for endometriosis. In a rat endometriosis model, we demonstrated that peritoneal implant areas and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the peritoneal flud were significantly decreased in high dose or low dose finofibrate and luprolide acetate treated groups compared to control.

Doxycycline causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Doxycycline (Dox) has a number of non-antibiotic properties. One of them is the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Dox in a rat endometriosis model. METHODS: Endometriosis was surgically induced in 40 rats by transplanting of endometrial tissue. After 3 weeks, repeat laparotomies were performed to check the implants and the animals were randomized into four groups: Group I, low-dose Dox (5 mg/kg/day); Group II, high-dose Dox (40 mg/kg/day); Group III, leuprolide acetate 1 mg/kg single dose, s.c.; and Group VI (controls), no medication. The treatment, initiated on the day of surgery and continuing for 3 weeks, was administered to the study groups. Three weeks later, the rats were euthanized and the implants were evaluated morphologically and histologically for immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and -9, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in the peritoneal fluid was assayed. RESULTS: Treatment with leuprolide acetate, or high-dose or low-dose Dox caused significant decreases in the implant areas compared with the controls (P = 0.03, P = 0.006, and P = 0.001, respectively). IL-6 levels in peritoneal fluid decreased in Group I (P = 0.02) and Group III (P < 0.05). MMP H scores were significantly lower in the group that received low-dose Dox in both epithelial and stromal MMP-2 and -9 immunostaining when compared with the control group [P = 0.048, P = 0.002, P = 0.007 and P = 0.002, respectively, MMP-2 (epithelia), MMP-2 (stroma), MMP-9 (epithelia) and MMP-9 (stroma)]. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose Dox caused regression of endometriosis in this experimental rat model.

Sublingual misoprostol after surgical management of early termination of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of sublingual misoprostol after surgical management of early termination of pregnancy (ETP) regarding duration and amount of bleeding, presence of retained products of conception (RPOC), and endometrial thickness. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): One hundred five patients admitted for possible management of early pregnancy failure and unwanted pregnancy. INTERVENTION(S): Manual vacuum aspiration (control and study groups) plus 400 microg sublingual misoprostol (study group) at pregnancy termination, and transvaginal ultrasonography (both groups) 10 days after the procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Duration and amount of bleeding and presence of RPOC and endometrial thickness 10 days after the procedure. RESULT(S): Bleeding lasted 3.2 and 5.1 days in the study and control groups. Severe vaginal bleeding occurred in two patients in the study group and in six patients in the control group. Mean endometrial thickness was 5.5 mm in the study group and 6.9 mm in the control group. These differences were statistically significant. No cases of RPOC occurred in the study group; two cases occurred in the control group. CONCLUSION(S): In countries in which surgical management of ETP is still done, using sublingual misoprostol postoperatively may reduce the duration and amount of bleeding.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with elevated plasma soluble CD40 ligand, a marker of coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of plasma soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Baskent University School of Medicine in Turkey. PATIENT(S): Thirty-one patients with PCOS and 31 non-PCOS (control) patients. INTERVENTION(S): Determination of plasma sCD40L and homocysteine levels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Plasma sCD40L, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), LH, FSH, E(2), total T, DHEAS, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, homocysteine, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). RESULT(S): The mean serum fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group. The mean serum homocysteine level was significantly higher in the PCOS group. Despite a trend for higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the PCOS group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. The mean plasma sCD40L level in the PCOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group (5.14 +/- 3.65 ng/mL vs. 3.45 +/- 2.64 ng/mL, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with elevated levels of sCD40L and homocysteine.

Raloxifene has favourable effects on metabolic parameters but has no effect on left ventricular function in postmenopausal women.

In this prospective randomized study, we investigated the effect of raloxifene on the echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular diastolic and systolic function and on blood levels of lipids, homocysteine, and lipoprotein (a) in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients and compared the results with those treated with risedronate. A total of 44 women were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Twenty-two patients received raloxifene 60 mg/day (group 1), and 22 patients received risedronate 5mg/day (group 2; the control group). All patients underwent quantitative two-dimensional pulsed wave Doppler and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Levels of fasting total-C, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, homocysteine, and lipoprotein (a) were measured. All echocardiographic and biochemical parameters were assessed at the beginning of the study and after the 6-month follow-up. Demographic characteristics and baseline metabolic and echocardiographic parameters were similar in the two groups. After 6 months of the therapy, serum levels of total-C, LDL-C, and homocysteine decreased significantly (P=.04, P=.02, P=.008, respectively) in the treated group when compared with the control group. All echocardiographic measurements except a wave from level of basal interventricular septum were similar in the two groups both before and after 6 month of therapy. In the control group, a wave from level of basal interventricular septum increased significantly (P=.019). In conclusions raloxifene may decrease serum levels of total-C, LDL-C, and homocysteine in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients and raloxifene therapy seems to have no significant effect on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Ovarian ectopic pregnancy after ICSI-ET: a case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy (OEP) is one of the the rarest form of extratubal pregnancies and its pathophysciological mechanism is not fully understood. On the other hand, OEP after intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection with embryo transfer (ICSI-ET) is even more rare and just a few cases have been reported in literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case with OEP after ICSI-ET presented and managed by conservative laparoscopic approach. Also, literature associated with OEP after ICSI-ET have been summarized. Pubmed search using "Ovarian ectopic pregnancy" and "ICSI-ET" keywords revealed four similar case in the literature. CONCLUSION: Underlying pathophysiological mechanism of OEP after ICSI-ET is unclear. Indeed, gynecologists should be aware about the development of the OEP after ICSI-ET. Early diagnosis will give the opportunity to use conservative managements for these infertile patients.

Immunohistochemical characteristics of intramural leiomyomata that enlarge during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to determine the immunohistochemical characteristics of intramural leiomyomata that enlarged during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) for in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: For this retrospective case-control clinical study and immunohistochemical analysis, 5 patients with enlarged intramural leiomyomata during COH for IVF, who had undergone myomectomy immediately after a failed IVF cycle, were recruited retrospectively. Fifteen consecutive patients who had had myomectomy for intramural leiomyomata <5 cm, but had never undergone any infertility treatment, served as the control group. Histological examinations and immunohistochemical staining with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and fibronectin were performed on all specimens taken from the study and control groups. The main outcome measures were defined as histological and immunohistochemical scores. RESULTS: Hematoxylin and eosin as well as PCNA staining showed increased mitotic index, cellularity and proliferation index in these growing leiomyomata (study group). There were neither increased mitoses nor cellularity in the leiomyomata of the control group, while PCNA, TGF-beta and fibronectin scores in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION(S): This study is the first to report increased TGF-beta, PCNA, cellularity and mitosis in leiomyomata enlarging during COH for IVF. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to determine the role of TGF-beta, PCNA and fibronectin in the growth of leiomyomata during COH.

Black cohosh and fluoxetine in the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms: a prospective, randomized trial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluoxetine and black cohosh in the treatment of women with postmenopausal symptoms. A total of 120 healthy women with menopausal symptoms were recruited to this prospective study with a follow-up period of 6 mo. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups and were treated with fluoxetine or black cohosh. After entry into the study, patients were examined at the first, second, third, and sixth months of the treatment period. The women kept diaries in which they reported the daily number and intensity of hot flushes and night sweats. In addition, at the beginning and end of the third month, they completed questionnaires consisting of a modified Kupperman Index, Beck's Depression Scale, and a RAND-36 Quality-of-Life Questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were noted in the Kupperman Index and Beck's Depression Scale at the end of the third month in both groups compared with baseline values. In the black cohosh group, the Kupperman Index decreased significantly compared with that in the fluoxetine group by the end of the third month. On the other hand, in the fluoxetine group, Beck's Depression Scale decreased significantly compared with that in the black cohosh group. Monthly scores for hot flushes and night sweats decreased significantly in both groups; however, black cohosh reduced monthly scores for hot flushes and night sweats to a greater extent than did fluoxetine. At the end of the sixth month of treatment, black cohosh reduced the hot flush score by 85%, compared with a 62% result for fluoxetine. By the sixth month of the study, 40 women had discontinued the study--20 (33%) in the fluoxetine group and 20 (33%) in the black cohosh group. Compared with fluoxetine, black cohosh is more effective for treating hot flushes and night sweats. On the other hand, fluoxetine is more effective in improvements shown on Beck's Depression Scale.

Genistein causes regression of endometriotic implants in the rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of raloxifene and genistein on experimentally induced endometriosis in a rat model. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized animal study. SETTING: Animal surgery laboratory in a university hospital. ANIMAL(S): Thirty-three adult, mature female Wistar-Albino rats in which endometriotic implants were induced by transplanting autologous uterine tissue to ectopic sites on the peritoneum. INTERVENTION(S): After the endometriotic implants were formed surgically, the 33 rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (genistein group, 10 rats) were given 500 mg/kg per day of oral genistein. Group 2 (raloxifene group, 10 rats) were given 10 mg/kg per day of oral raloxifene. Group 3 were given no medication and served as controls (13 rats). All the rats continued to receive treatment for 21 days, and then were killed to assess the implants' size and for histologic examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The surface area of the endometriotic implants and the score of histologic analysis. RESULT(S): At the beginning of the medical treatment, the mean surface areas of the endometriotic implants were comparable in all three groups. At the end of the medical treatment, the mean surface area of implants in groups 1 and 2 was smaller than that of implants in the control group. The decrease in the surface area of the endometriotic implants was greater in group 1 and group 2 than found in the control group. The histologic assessment revealed that the mean of the histopathologic score of the implants at the end of the treatment was lower in groups 1 and 2 when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION(S): Genistein caused a statistically significant regression of endometriotic implants.

The effect of raloxifene in association with vitamin D on vaginal maturation index and urogenital symptoms in postmenopausal osteoporotic women.

In elderly women with osteoporosis, raloxifene treatment with vitamin D supplementation improves vaginal maturation index and vaginal pH.

High-dose atorvastatin causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model.

BACKGROUND: This prospective randomized-controlled animal study was designed to determine the effects of atorvastatin on experimentally induced endometriosis in a rat model. METHODS: Thirty-seven Wistar-Albino rats in which endometriotic implants were induced were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (Low-dose atorvastatin group, eight rats) were given 0.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group II (High-dose atorvastatin group, 10 rats) were given 2.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1) oral atorvastatin. Group III were given a single dose of 1 mg kg(-1) s.c. leuprolide acetate (GnRH agonist group, nine rats). Group IV were given no medication and served as controls (10 rats). All rats received the treatment for 21 days and were then euthanized to assess the implants' size, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in peritoneal fluid and histological score. RESULTS: At the end of the treatment, the mean areas of implants were smaller and VEGF levels in peritoneal fluid were lower in Groups II and III than those in Group I and the control group (all P < 0.05). The mean areas of implants decreased from 41.2 +/- 13.9 to 22.7 +/- 13.9 mm(2) after medication in Group II and decreased from 41.2 +/- 18.1 to 13.1 +/- 13.8 mm(2) in Group III (both P < 0.05), whereas in Group I, the mean area increased from 43.0 +/- 12.7 to 50.5 +/- 13.9 mm(2) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-dose atorvastatin caused a significant regression of endometriotic implants.