Health effect of chronic exposure to carbon disulfide (C2) on women employed in viscose industry.

Many women are exposed to carbon disulfide (C2) hazards at work every day. Working with C2 may cause some women to experience abnormalities in their reproductive health. Until now obtained data is generally concentrated on the health effects of C2 observed in the viscose industry. To date, C2 has not been studied precisely for its potential to have damaging effects on female reproductive system, especially the frequency of menstrual disturbances and the course of menopause. The aim of the study was to sum up female reproductive health hazards amongst women chronically exposed to C2 in their workplace in the viscose industry. In order to study the effect of C2 in the contemporary viscose industry, exposure measurements should be collected in prospective or cross-sectional studies. In conclusion, reproductive health hazards for women chronically exposed to C2 in the workplace in the viscose industry are the following: 1) menstrual disorders essentially are more frequent than in the case of the healthy women, 2) for women chronically exposed to C2 the average menopausal age is statistically earlier, as compared to healthy women, 3) complex disturbances in neurohormonal system for women exposed to C2, resulting from toxic influences of C2, which cause the secretion of estrogens and progesterone in ovaries and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in the adrenal gland to diminish. Med Pr 2018;69(3):329-335.

New aspects of postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment with micronized estradiol and progesterone.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment with natural sex hormones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The single-blind study included 210 women, randomly allocated to three different groups, with various methods of treatment: Group I (70 controls) received transcutaneous placebo for the course of one year, Group II (70 females, aged 52.2 ± 3.1 years) used oral hormone supplementary therapy (HST), and Group III (70 females, aged 51.9 ± 3.5 years) received transcutaneous modified hormone replacement therapy (MHRT), supplemented with intravaginal lutein, dietary minerals, and 1000 IU of vitamin D3/day. RESULTS: No increase in bone mineral density was observed in the control group. However, mineral density of the vertebral bodies was significantly higher after 3 and 5 years in the HST group (p < 0.05), and after 1 year in the MHRT group (p < 0.01). This increase was even more significant (p < 0.001) after 3 and 5 years in the MHRT group. CONCLUSIONS: Transcutaneous hormone therapy with micronized estradiol and progesterone is the treatment of choice in postmenopausal osteoporosis, as evidenced by bone mineral density and biochemical markers.

Micronized estradiol and progesterone therapy in primary, preinvasive endometrial cancer (1A/G1) in young women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

CONTEXT: This report presents original, combined mode of treatment of preinvasive endometrial cancer (IA/G1) in young women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was the assessment of treatment with natural female sexual hormones in combination with antidiabetic, antioxidative, antidopaminergic, and antiserotonin therapy on the concentrations of hormones and serotonin in blood serum in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome and preinvasive endometrial cancer. DESIGN: This study was performed within 12 months. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Department of Menopause and Andropause of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Poland. PARTICIPANTS AND STUDY DESIGN: Participants were 57 young PCOS women with concomitant preinvasive endometrial cancer (1A/G1). These women were 18­29 years old. They were treated with modified transdermal hormonal replacement therapy. Moreover, in permanent combined treatment, metformax 850 mg/d, bromcriptine mesylate 2.5 mg/d, and melatonin 5 mg/d were applied. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions in the study included blood sampling and dilation and curettage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The concentrations of gonadotropins, estrogens (estrone, 17-estradiol), progesterone, total/free T, and prolactin in basic conditions and after a metoclopramide stimulating test, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and serotonin in blood serum were measured. RESULTS: A significant increase in the concentrations of gonadotropins, estrogens, and progesterone was found. Moreover, the concentrations of androgens, prolactin, and serotonin were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Micronized estradiol and progesterone in primary, preinvasive endometrial cancer (IA/G1) in young women, with polycystic ovarian syndrome with concomitant antidiabetic, antioxidative, antidopaminergic, and antiserotonin therapy, favorably influenced on the concentrations of female sexual hormones and lipid metabolism and caused the restoration of normal endometrium.

Metabolism of histamine in tissues of primary ductal breast cancer.

Histamine performs an important role in the pathologic and physiologic aspects of the breast gland. Among monoamines, histamine demonstrates the greatest proliferative activity in breast cancer. The aim of the study was to evaluate histamine concentration in plasma and tissues of breast cancer dependent on the activity of histamine metabolism enzymes in neoplasmatic tissues of the breast gland. Ninety-five women aged 38 to 70 years were divided into 2 groups. The control group (group I) consisted of 30 healthy women. Group II consisted of 65 women with primary ductal breast cancer. The concentration of histamine in plasma was assessed by immunoenzymatic method. The concentration of histamine in cancerous tissues of the breast and the metabolism of histamine enzymes, specially histidine decarboxylase, decarboxylase of aromatic L-amino acids, N-histamine methyltransferase, monoamine oxydase B, and diamine oxydase, were determined using isotope technique. In the course of 24 hours, excretion of N-methylimidazoleacetic acid was evaluated by the methods of chromatography. The statistical analysis was made based on Statistica Pl Ed (StatSoft, Cracow, Poland, 1998). A significant increase in the concentration of histamine in plasma (P < .01) and tissues of ductal breast cancers (P < .001), and in the activity of histidine decarboxylase (P < .01), aromatic L-amino acids (P < .05), and histamine methyltransferase (P < .05) was found. Activity of monoamine oxidase B (P < .01) and diamine oxidase (P < 0.01) and excretion of N-methylimidazoleacetic acid were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The conclusions are as follows: (1) Concentration of histamine in the plasma of women is dependent on the concentration of histamine in the tissues of ductal breast cancers. (2) The significant increase of histamine in cancerous tissues of ductal breast cancer could suggest the participation of this monoamine in the development of breast cancer. (3) The increase of histamine concentrations in ductal breast cancer tissues can be connected with the disturbances of the balance between synthesis and enzymatic inactivation of this monoamine. (4) The concentration of histamine in the plasma of women with ductal breast cancers is dependent on the number of involved lymph nodes and the grade of histologic malignancy.