Phytoestrogens and the menopause.

Phytoestrogens are defined as naturally occurring plant compounds that are structurally and functionally similar to 17 beta-estradiol or that produce estrogenic effects. The commonest sources are cereals, legumes and grasses. Isoflavones are the most highly investigated subgroup of phytoestrogens.

A cohort study of hormone replacement therapy given to women previously treated for breast cancer.

Unlabelled: Women who have been previously treated for breast cancer are usually advised to avoid hormone therapy for fear of increasing their risk of tumor recurrence. However, for some women, menopausal symptoms are so severe that their quality of life is poor. Because ethic committees are reticent to permit a double-blind randomized trial, we performed a cohort study of hormone therapy after breast cancer.

Effects on menopausal symptoms and acceptability of isoflavone-containing soy powder dietary supplementation.

Objectives: To assess the acceptability of the delivery of an isoflavone supplementation in the form of a powdered drink, and whether the supplementation of dietary isoflavones in this manner decreased the incidence of menopausal flushes. The secondary aims included assessment of other symptoms or parameters of estrogen deficiency and responses to isoflavones.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial comprising 24 postmenopausal women with symptoms of estrogen deficiency was performed over a 12-week period.

Primary care of patients without insurance by community health centers.

Community health centers (CHCs) are in a strong position to meaningfully contribute to health promotion, early detection, and improvement in health care outcomes for some of the most vulnerable person in the nation, since almost one in three users of federally funded CHCs was uninsured in 1994. The purpose of this article is to compare uninsured CHC users with uninsured people nationwide. Data for the analysis came primarily from two population-based surveys: the 1994 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 1995 Community Health Center (CHC) User Survey.

Managing the menopause: phyto-oestrogens or hormone replacement therapy?

Menopause is a natural event, and understandably many women would like to take a natural therapy rather than a drug for managing their menopause symptoms as well as preventing the long-term sequelae of oestrogen deficiency. In this respect phyto-oestrogens show a lot of promise. However, at this point in time clinical data are inconclusive.

The effects of soy protein in women and men with elevated plasma lipids.

Fifty four postmenopausal women with elevated cholesterol were recruited for a randomised, double-blind controlled trial of soy protein containing isoflavones. (ISP+) or a soy protein with a low isoflavone content (ISP-), taken daily for 12 weeks. There was an overall reduction after 12 weeks in total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and luteinizing hormone (LH).

The effects of dietary supplementation with isoflavones from red clover on the lipoprotein profiles of post menopausal women with mild to moderate hypercholesterolaemia.

The effects of dietary isoflavone supplementation using a purified extract of red clover containing approximately biochanin A 26 mg, formononetin 16 mg, daidzein 0.5 mg and genistein 1 mg per tablet at doses of one or two tablets per day were compared to placebo in a three-period, randomised, double blind, ascending dose study in 66 post menopausal women with plasma cholesterol levels between 5.0 and 9.

Effects of estrogens and hormone replacement therapy on breast cancer risk and on efficacy of breast cancer therapies.

This review summarises preclinical and clinical data on effects of endogenous and exogenous estrogens on probability of breast cancer diagnosis, and on the course and efficacy of breast cancer therapies. The data indicate that higher endogenous estrogen exposure (e.g.

A review of 1019 consecutive cases of polycystic ovary syndrome demonstrated by ultrasound.

Analysis of a cohort of 1019 consecutive subjects with ultrasonically demonstrable polycystic ovary (PCO) syndrome demonstrated a significant relationship between biochemical parameters and clinical symptoms such as menstrual frequency and severity of hirsutism. One hundred and forty-four subjects presented with involuntary infertility and only eight cases had unexplained infertility apart from PCO.

Phytoestrogens and the menopause.

For most women, the menopause presents two sets of problems. First, most notice unpleasant symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness, but second, there are long-term sequelae arising from oestrogen deficiency. The main long-term problems are an increased risk of bone loss and cardiovascular disease.

Isoflavone content of infant foods and formulas.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytoestrogen content of different foods, formulas and drinks that may be consumed by infants during their first year of life in an attempt to define levels of exposure on different feeding regimens.

Methodology: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the levels of genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, formononetin and equol in samples purchased from Australian supermarkets. Single lots of duplicate or triplicate samples of soy beverages, cow's milks, infant formulas and infant yoghurts were analysed.

Second generation "peptoid" CCK-B receptor antagonists: identification and development of N-(adamantyloxycarbonyl)-alpha-methyl-(R)-tryptophan derivative (CI-1015) with an improved pharmacokinetic profile.

We have previously described the design and development of CI-988, a peptoid analogue of CCK-4 with excellent binding affinity and selectivity for the CCK-B receptor. Due to its anxiolytic profile in animal models of anxiety, this compound was developed as a clinical candidate. However, during its development, it was determined that CI-988 had low bioavailability in both rodent and nonrodent species.

A twin study of polycystic ovary syndrome and lipids.

Our objective was to assess the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors (particularly androgens) on circulating levels of lipid fractions and to determine the effect, if any, of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on lipid fractions. The study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of the Royal Hospital for Women, Paddington, Sydney, Australia. A group of 19 monozygotic (MZ) and 15 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs was identified from the National Twin Register.

Trends toward a national health care marketplace.

In recent years, the health care industry has experienced considerable growth in organizations that are national in focus-organizations that operate in multiple markets not all clustered in one geographic region. This study summarizes information on trends in ownership of various types of health care organizations (i.e.

Genetic and non-genetic theories on the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder; the precise cause of it remains elusive. This review summarizes the genetic and non-genetic theories that have been postulated to explain the etiology of this enigmatic condition.

A review of the clinical effects of phytoestrogens.

Objective: To review the sources, metabolism, potencies, and clinical effects of phytoestrogens on humans.

Data Sources: The MEDLINE data base for the years 1980-1995 and reference lists of published articles were searched for relevant English-language articles concerning phytoestrogens, soy products, and diets with high-phytoestrogen content.

Methods Of Study Selection: We identified 861 articles as being relevant.

Use of a dipeptide chemical library in the development of non-peptide tachykinin NK3 receptor selective antagonists.

The use of a dipeptide library as the source of a micromolar chemical lead compound for the human tachykinin NK3 receptor is described. The screening of a dipeptide library through a cloned human NK3 receptor binding assay resulted in the identification of Boc(S)Phe(S)PheNH2 (1), which has subsequently been developed, following a 'peptoid' design strategy, into a series of high-affinity NK3 receptor selective antagonists. The structure-activity relationship of the C-terminal portion of this dipeptide lead was first explored and led to the identification of the urea derivative Boc(S)Phe(R)alphaMePheNH(CH2)7NHCONH2 (41, PD157672).