The effect of a continuous regimen of drospirenone 3 mg/ethinylestradiol 30 microg on Cox-2 and Ki-67 expression in the endometrium.

Objective: To study Cox-2 expression in relation to bleeding patterns in patients using an oral contraceptive containing 3 mg of drospirenone and 30 microg of ethinylestradiol (DRSP/EE).

Methods: Forty-three patients of reproductive age with symptoms of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea, who were submitted to endometrial resection, were enrolled. Twelve patients were in the proliferative phase and the remaining 31 were either currently using DRSP/EE or had discontinued its use four to eight days prior to hysteroscopy.

Activation of NF-kappaB and COX-2 expression is associated with breakthrough bleeding in patients using oral contraceptives in extended regimens.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an increase in endometrial inflammation associated with the occurrence of breakthrough bleeding in patients using an oral contraceptive in extended regimens. The presence of nuclear factor NF-kappaB and Cox-2 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry in endometrial samples removed by hysteroscopy from patients with breakthrough bleeding during continuous use of an oral contraceptive containing gestodene. All patients had a history of menorrhagia associated or not with the presence of uterine pathology.

Effect of oral contraceptives on vascular endothelial growth factor, Cox-2 and aromatase expression in the endometrium of uteri affected by myomas and associated pathologies.

Background: The study was conducted to evaluate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Cox-2 and aromatase expression in the endometrium of uteri with myomas and other associated pathologies.

Study Design: Hysteroscopy was performed in 118 women of reproductive age with myomas and menorrhagia, 40 of whom were using a pill containing 75 mcg gestodene+30 mcg ethinylestradiol. Aromatase p450, VEGF and Cox-2 expression was detected using immunohistochemistry.

The effect of oral contraceptives on aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.

Objective: To determine the effect of oral contraceptives containing gestodene on aromatase expression in the endometrium of patients diagnosed with endometriosis.

Patients And Methods: Endometrial biopsies were taken at the time of laparoscopy in 40 patients with endometriosis, 16 of whom were using an oral contraceptive containing gestodene at the time of laparoscopy. The remaining 24 patients were receiving no form of treatment for endometriosis.

Aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium of myomatous uteri: the influence of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use.

Aims: To detect aromatase expression in the endometrium of myomatous uteri and to correlate it with the location of the myoma, phase of the menstrual cycle, the presence of menorrhagia and oral contraceptive use.

Method: Aromatase p450 expression was measured using immunohistochemical methods in the endometrium of 116 patients. Sixty-one patients had menorrhagia associated with intramural/submucous myomas and nine had subserous myomas and no excessive bleeding.

Effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in adenomyosis.

Objectives: To determine whether aromatase expression in the eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci is affected by previous use of oral contraceptives containing gestodene, and to determine whether changes in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression occur in adenomyosis during the menstrual cycle.

Patient And Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study carried out in paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue obtained from patients with a histological diagnosis of adenomyosis obtained during the proliferative (n = 25) and luteal (n = 10) phases of the menstrual cycle and following the use of continuous oral contraception with gestodene/ethinyl estradiol (n = 7). COX-2 and aromatase expression were measured in both eutopic endometrium and adenomyotic foci using immunohistochemical methods.

Aromatase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in endometrial polyps during the menstrual cycle.

Objectives: To study the changes in aromatase, Ki-67 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression during the menstrual cycle in both endometrial polyps and normal endometria.

Patients And Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 118 premenopausal patients were submitted to immunohistochemistry for measurement of aromatase, COX-2 and Ki-67 expression. Fifty cases of endometrial polyps and 68 cases of disease-free endometrium were included.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the endometrium and its relationship to bleeding in users of continuous oral contraceptives.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not the presence of irregular bleeding during use of oral contraceptives (OC) is associated with increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression.

Patients And Methods: An observational study was carried out in 26 patients who were using gestodene 75 microg/ethinylestradiol 30 microg prior to endometrial resection. The patients were divided into two groups: those with amenorrhea (n = 14) and those who had irregular bleeding (n = 12).

Comparison of two regimens of a monthly injectable contraceptive containing dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide and estradiol enanthate.

Introduction: This study compared two regimens of a monthly injectable contraceptive containing dihydroxyprogesterone acetophenide 150 mg and estradiol enanthate 10 mg (Perlutan) over 12 cycles of use.

Methods: Three hundred sixty-five adolescents were randomized into two groups. The patients in Group 1 received an initial injection of Perlutan on the 1st-5th day of their menstrual cycle and subsequent injections every 30 +/- 3 days, whereas those in Group 2 followed the traditional schedule of administration in which the first injection is administered between Days 7 and 10 of their menstrual cycle and subsequent injections 7-10 days after Day 1 of withdrawal bleeding.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression in endometrial polyps during menopause.

Objective: To determine whether cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is expressed in endometrial polyps during menopause and how previous hormone use may affect this expression.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-two postmenopausal patients with endometrial polyps were enrolled for this study. Eighteen patients had no history of previous hormone use, while the remaining patients had used vaginal conjugated estrogens for short periods of time (n = 25) or were long-term users of tibolone (n = 5) or tamoxifen (n = 4).

Effect of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptives on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in the endometrium.

Objective: To compare the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and proliferation markers (Ki-67) in the endometrium of patients with ovulatory cycles with those in the endometrium of patients using oral contraceptives.

Patients And Methods: Endometrial biopsies from 104 premenopausal patients with regular ovulatory cycles (n=90) or using an oral contraceptive (n=14) were selected for this study. Using immunohistochemical methods, both COX-2 (Novocastra clone 4H12) and Ki-67 (Dako clone MIB-1) expression were determined in the endometrium during the various phases of the menstrual cycle or following the use of oral contraceptives.

Effect of menstrual cycle and hormonal treatment on ki-67 and bcl-2 expression and adenomyosis.

Objective: To study the expression of proliferation markers (ki-67) and anti-apoptotic protein (bcl-2) in adenomyotic lesions during the menstrual cycle or following the use of steroid hormones.

Patients And Methods: Ninety patients of reproductive age were included, who were submitted to endometrial resection for treatment of adenomyosis-related menorrhagia. Seven patients were using oral contraceptives and another seven had a levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD) (Mirena) in the uterine cavity at the time of the hysteroscopic procedure.

Ki-67, Bcl-2 and p53 expression in endometrial polyps and in the normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Objective: To determine the presence of proteins related to proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (Bcl-2, p53) in endometrial polyps and normal endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Design: Retrospective study using paraffin embedded tissue.

Setting: Hospital affiliated to the university.

Insertion of mirena after endometrial resection in patients with adenomyosis.

Study Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Mirena, a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, after endometrial resection for treatment of menorrhagia caused by adenomyosis.

Design: Open, randomized, observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Private hospital.

Detection of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) in postmenopausal endometrium.

Objectives: To detect the presence of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) in the endometrium of postmenopausal patients.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-three postmenopausal patients with endometrial polyps (n=48), hyperplasia (n=12) and endometrioid carcinoma (n=3) were enrolled for this study. The diagnosis of EIN was made by using morphological criteria and immunohistochemical methods for detection of PTEN and bcl-2.

P53 expression in spontaneous and estradiol-induced endometrial hyperplasia during menopause.

Objective: To determine the percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression in both spontaneously occurring cases or following the use of unopposed estradiol.

Methods: Fifty-four postmenopausal patients with endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed by endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy were recruited to this study. Thirty-three patients had used unopposed estradiol for periods of time from 1 to 3 years.

c-erbB2 over-expression in endometrial hyperplasia induced by estrogens.

Objective: To determine whether the presence of c-erbB2 expression in both spontaneous and estrogen-induced hyperplasia can affect the number of Ki-67-positive cells.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-two postmenopausal women with endometrial hyperplasia occurring spontaneously or after using unopposed estrogens were studied. The number of cells undergoing mitosis was estimated by immunohistochemical detection of the Ki-67 antigen and compared with the presence or absence of c-erbB2 over-expression.