Resveratrol is a potent inhibitor of vascularization and cell proliferation in experimental endometriosis.

STUDY QUESTION: Does the phytochemical compound resveratrol inhibit vascularization of endometriotic lesions? SUMMARY ANSWER: Resveratrol suppresses the development of new microvessels in endometriotic lesions by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Establishment and progression of endometriosis is crucially dependent on angiogenesis. Resveratrol is a pleiotropic agent, which dose-dependently suppresses the development of new blood vessels. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This was a randomized study in a mouse model of endometriosis. Twenty female BALB/c mice with surgically induced endometriosis were treated with resveratrol (40 mg/kg/day, n = 10) or vehicle (n = 10) for 4 weeks. MATERIAL, SETTING, METHODS: Peritoneal and mesenteric endometriotic lesions were surgically induced by uterine tissue transplantation into the abdominal cavity of BALB/c mice. The animals were daily treated with resveratrol (40 mg/kg) or vehicle by oral gavage. Lesion growth, vascularization, apoptosis and cell proliferation were subsequently analyzed by means of high-resolution ultrasound imaging, caliper measurements, histology and immunohistochemistry throughout an observation period of 4 weeks. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Resveratrol inhibited angiogenesis in peritoneal and mesenteric endometriotic lesions, as indicated by a significantly reduced microvessel density when compared with controls. Additional immunohistochemical analyses revealed that this was caused by a decreased proliferating activity of CD31-positive endothelial cells in the newly developing microvasculature of the lesions. In line with these findings, lesions in resveratrol-treated mice exhibited a reduced growth rate and a smaller final size than controls. This was associated with lower numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen- and Ki67-positive stromal and glandular cells. Apoptotic cells were not detectable in either group. To limit the role of chance, the experiments were conducted under standardized laboratory conditions with appropriate controls. Statistical significance was accepted for a value of P < 0.05. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Endometriotic lesions were surgically induced by uterine tissue transplantation without the use of pathological endometriotic tissue of human origin. Therefore, the results obtained in this mouse model may not fully correlate to human patients with endometriosis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Resveratrol is a potent inhibitor of vascularization in endometriotic lesions. This, most probably, causes the suppression of lesion growth. Accordingly, resveratrol represents a promising candidate therapy for future phytochemical treatment of endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by a grant of the 'Freunde des Universitätsklinikums des Saarlandes'. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Xanthohumol inhibits growth and vascularization of developing endometriotic lesions.

BACKGROUND: Xanthohumol is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from hops, which is known to act as a pleiotropic cancer chemopreventive agent owing to its anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic properties. In the present study, we analyzed, for the first time, whether this dietary compound may also be used for the treatment of endometriosis. METHODS: Peritoneal and mesenteric endometriotic lesions were surgically induced in BALB/c mice by uterine tissue transplantation into the abdominal cavity. The animals were treated daily with 100 µM xanthohumol (n= 8) or vehicle (control, n= 8) via the drinking water, starting 3 days before tissue transplantations. Lesion growth, cyst formation and vascularization were subsequently analyzed by means of high-resolution ultrasound imaging (at Day 0 and then once per week for 28 days), caliper measurements, western blotting, histology and immunohistochemistry over 4 weeks. RESULTS: In the treatment and control groups, uterine grafts developed typical endometriotic lesions with cyst-like dilated glands surrounded by a vascularized endometrial stroma. However, xanthohumol efficiently decreased the size of these lesions at Day 28, independent of their localization within the peritoneal cavity, compared with control (peritoneal: P =0.041; mesenteric: P =0.038). This was associated with a reduced level of phosphoinositide 3-kinase protein. Moreover, vascularization of xanthohumol-treated lesions was suppressed, as indicated by a significantly lower microvessel density at Day 28 when compared with vehicle-treated controls (peritoneal: P =0.026; mesenteric: P =0.004). Additional analyses revealed that treatment with xanthohumol did not affect the histomorphology, proliferation and vascularization of the uterine horns and ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these experimental findings suggest that xanthohumol inhibits the development of endometriotic lesions in mice without inducing serious side effects in the reproductive organs. Thus, xanthohumol represents a promising dietary phytochemical that, after further testing, may be considered for the use in the selective treatment of endometriotic lesions.

Optimization of cytokine stability in stored amniotic fluid.

OBJECTIVE: Many studies use stored amniotic fluid samples to assay cytokines and other proteins for outcome-based research; however, there is little information on the optimal methods of storage. The objective of our study was to evaluate cytokine stability in amniotic fluid stored at different temperatures both with and without a proteolytic enzyme inhibitor. STUDY DESIGN: Patients undergoing midtrimester genetic amniocentesis for routine indications gave consent for the study. After the sample was centrifuged, the acellular portion of the sample was mixed to homogeneity and aliquoted in 0.5-mL increments and stored for 1 year at 4 degrees C, -20 degrees C, and -80 degrees C with and without the protease inhibitor aprotinin. Enzyme-linked immunoassays for angiogenin, interleukin-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor were performed simultaneously on each aliquot. RESULTS: Thirty samples were assayed for each storage condition. Results were calculated as the percentage of its own sister aliquot stored at -80 degrees C without aprotinin. In all samples, there was a significant relation between storage temperature and cytokine levels, with the lowest levels found at 4 degrees C and the highest at -80 degrees C (angiogenin, P =.004; interleukin-6, P <.001; vascular endothelial growth factor, P =.02). The addition of aprotinin improved stability only for angiogenin at all temperatures (all P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Degradation of cytokines occurs when amniotic fluid samples are stored for prolonged periods at temperatures greater than -80 degrees C. The addition of a protease inhibitor helps stem the degradation of some cytokines.

Condom sense and privacy.

PIP: During the last 5 years college campuses across the US have experienced safe sex educational initiatives. Commonly these programs promote the use of condoms for contraceptive use and help prevent the spread of STDs including AIDS. A significant problem with distributing condoms is developing a distribution system that ensures privacy. It people have to publicly acknowledge that are trying to obtain condoms, they will be less likely to do so than if it can be cone discreetly. At the University of Florida condoms have been sold inexpensively to students through the pharmacy at the student health clinic for over 10 years. A new initiative was started to encourage condom use and the clinic developed a new system of distribution that has proven to be very successful. Students obtain confidential request forms to order a variety of contraceptive products including condoms. The forms look like prescription forms and are placed on tables near health literature and magazine displays in the pharmacy waiting area. More than 50% of condom requests are made using these confidential forms. The student checks off which products are desired and turns the form into the pharmacy window. The order is filled and the product is placed in an opaque bag. A sales slip is generated, given to the student, who then takes it to the cashier. The slip does not identify the product whether it is prescription or over the counter (condoms). If the product is not currently available, the cashier points to the item on the slip and asks if another product should be substituted. The cashier is careful never to say out loud what any of the products are. A 100% increase in condom sales over the 1987-88 fiscal year after this new program was started.^ieng

The relationship between alcohol use and attempts and success at smoking cessation.

This study assessed the relationships between alcohol use and smoking cessation in a general population sample (N = 2115) of adults living in a county in north Florida. Nearly half of the sample had ever smoked. Of these, 44% had successfully quit; 34% had tried unsuccessfully to quit; 21% reported never having tried to quit. In multivariate analyses which controlled for background factors, heavy drinkers were found to be less likely to attempt to quit smoking. And, if they had attempted to quit, they were less likely to succeed. Having quit drinking was very strongly related to success at smoking cessation, and slightly negatively related to attempts to quit smoking. Individuals who enjoyed smoking with alcohol were more likely to attempt to quit smoking and to be successful at quitting than those who did not enjoy smoking and drinking concurrently. Those who enjoyed smoking at stressful times were less likely to have tried to quit than those not using smoking to cope with stress. The authors suggest social-situational and stress perspectives as conceptual frameworks for future research.

ERCG: endoscopic retrograde catheterization of the gallbladder.

This report describes a newly developed catheter system with the aid of which the cystic duct and gallbladder can be reliably catheterized, retrograde, via an endoscope. In 8 out of 10 autopsy preparations, transpapillary gallbladder catheterization was successfully achieved, with an average fluoroscopic duration of 12 minutes (range: 4-20 minutes). Neither macroscopic nor microscopic traumatization of the gallbladder was observed. The procedure described in this paper opens up a diagnostic and therapeutic approach to the gallbladder.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among Mexican Americans and Anglos.

The study reports epidemiologic field survey data on the distribution of depressive symptoms among Anglos (n = 637) and two Mexican-American subsamples (n = 551) living in Santa Clara County, California. One of the Mexican-American subsamples was interviewed in English (n = 330) and the other in Spanish (n = 221). Analysis of variance indicated that those with low educational achievement, females, those in disrupted marital statuses, and those under 30 years of age had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than their counterparts. The prevalence of depressive symptoms for the Anglo and Mexican-American English-speaking samples was very similar and much lower than that reported by the Spanish-speaking Mexican-American subsample. Differences in educational levels appear to be accounting for many of the variations in depressive symptoms between the Anglo and English-speaking subsamples and the Spanish-speaking one. The authors suggest that the lack of language skills along with low educational achievement may be indicating a relative lack of acculturation and societal integration which in turn may be accounting for some of the increased symptoms among the Spanish-speaking subsample. The results of multiple stepwise regression analyses indicate that age, sex, marital status, and educational attainment explain relatively low and fluctuating amounts of the total variance. These analyses also indicate that social and demographic factors are differentially related to depressive symptoms for each of the subsamples. The variables education, female, and separated were significant in all of the equations, but their order of entrance and the amount of variance explained by them varied.

Mental health needs assessment approaches: a case for applied epidemiology.

This paper briefly describes the political and social factors which have prompted the rapid development of needs assessment as a research activity. It also suggests reasons for the likelihood of continuing assessment mandates through the 1980s. The five most commonly employed needs assessment methodologies are outlined and a critique is offered for each. The major focus of the paper is on the development and uses of an applied epidemiologic survey assessment model which has been designed and tested extensively by the authors in a variety of geographic areas and agency settings. Illustrations of how field survey data can be presented for enumerating mental health needs are also presented.