Sulawesi propolis induces higher apoptotic activity and lower inflammatory activity in a rat endometriosis model.

Background: Endometriosis has a major impact on women's quality of life. The two primary pathologies are chronic inflammation and altered apoptotic activity. Sulawesi propolis has been shown to have known anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic properties in other diseases. Objective: To investigate the effects of Sulawesi propolis in the rat endometriosis model. Methods: An autologous endometriosis model was created in 60 female Wistar rats by laparotomy. Rats were divided into four groups (n = 15 in each group): control group (CG), dienogest group (DG), propolis 50 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day (P50) group, and propolis 100 mg/kg BW/day (P100) group. Each treatment group was divided into three different treatment durations (n = 5 in each treatment group): 2, 4 and 6 weeks. After treatment, laparotomy was performed to determine endometriotic tissue growth, apoptosis [caspase-3 and Bcl-2-associated X/Bcl-2 (Bax/Bcl)] and inflammation [prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-1B (IL-1B)]. Results: A significant difference was seen in endometriotic tissue growth between the P50 group and the CG, with the greatest reduction in the P50 6-week (P50-6) group, reaching 70.66% of the initial area. Highest Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression was shown in the P50-4 and P100-4 groups, highest caspase-3 expression was shown in the P50-2 and P50-4 groups, and lowest IL-1B expression was shown in the P50-4 group; all differed significantly from the CG. No significant difference in PGE2S mRNA was found between the groups. Conclusion: Sulawesi propolis extract suppressed endometriotic tissue growth in the rat model by increasing apoptotic activity. The effects were time-dependent, with 50 mg/kg BW as the optimal dose.

Differences in expression of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-γ in early-onset preeclampsia and late-onset preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: PPARγ is a ligand-binding transcription factor that has been reported to be implicated in lipid metabolism, immune function, and cellular growth and differentiation. It has been suspected to play a role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, although the mechanism is yet to be elaborated. This study aims to investigate the expression of PPARγ in early onset preeclampsia (EOPE), late onset preeclampsia (LOPE), and normal pregnancy. We conducted this study using primary trophoblastic cell culture incubated with serum from EOPE, LOPE, and normal pregnancy. The expression of PPARγ in these cells was analyzed using Western Blot. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test. p < 0.05 is considered significant. RESULTS: Serum from normal pregnant women and EOPE did not induce any difference in the expression of PPAR-γ (p > 0.05). In contrast, expression of PPAR-γ was increased in those cells induced by serum from LOPE (p < 0.001). Therefore, we conclude that hypothetically PPAR-γ might play role in the pathophysiology of LOPE but not in EOPE. Other possibility is the activity of PPAR-γ in EOPE is inversely correlated with its expression, therefore the high enzymatic activity of PPAR-γ is tightly regulated by attenuating its expression.

A clinical trial of hydroxyethylrutosides in the treatment of haemorrhoids of pregnancy.

The safety and efficacy of 500 mg O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)rutosides given orally twice daily in the treatment of 97 patients with first-, second-, or third-degree haemorrhoids were investigated in a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. The rutosides produced a significant (P less than 0.001) improvement in patient-assessed subjective symptoms (pain, bleeding, exudation and pruritus) compared with placebo. There was also a significant (P less than 0.001) improvement in clinician-assessed subjective and objective signs (bleeding, inflammation and dilatation of the haemorrhoidal plexus) after 2 and 4 weeks' treatment compared with placebo. There were three mild, transient side-effects reported in the active treatment group and no drug-related problems in the pregnancy or delivery were observed. The results suggest that O-(beta-hydroxyethyl)rutosides provide a safe and effective treatment for women with haemorrhoids of pregnancy.