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.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the endometrium: A rare case report.

Primary endometrial squamous cell carcinomas (PESCC) occur sporadically. It is defined as a primary carcinoma of the endometrium composed of squamous cells of varying degrees of differentiation. A 57-year-old female patient was referred to the gynaecological clinic of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Dr Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital because of abdominal enlargement with pain. Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy were performed. Histopathological examination confirmed a moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, with lymph-vascular invasion. Two weeks after the operation, the patient complained of a mass on her left supraclavicular area. Fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma metastatic in nature. The recommended treatment was paclitaxel (175mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC- 6), combined with pelvic radiotherapy.

Squamous cell carcinoma cervix stage IIIB metastatic to oral cavity: A case report and literature review.

Metastatic cervical cancers to the oral cavity are uncommon. These metastases most commonly present as lesions of the jaw bones and the mandible. A 57-year-old female patient complained of mass lesion in her oral cavity after definitive treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix stage IIIB. On examination a swelling of 3cm in size was found on the left side of buccal vestibule adjacent to the lower canine tooth. Wide local excision was performed, and histopathology results showed a squamous cell carcinoma of moderate differentiation. She was continued with segmental mandibulectomy, supraomohyoid neck dissection and plate-screw reconstruction. Radiotherapy was given as an adjuvant therapy.