Ultrasound bone mass in schizophrenic patients on antipsychotic therapy.

Objective: To determine bone mass using quantitative phalangeal bone ultrasound in institutionalized schizophrenic patients under chronic treatment with antipsychotic drugs.

Methods: A total of 73 patients with schizophrenia (25 women, mean age 59.84 +/- 17.

Oxidative stress in endometrial hyperplasia.

Objective: Reactive oxygen species seem to be involved in the onset and promotion of carcinogenesis. In 80% of cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma type I, a clear association exists with endometrial hyperplasia, which is considered a key factor in the endometrial oncological spectrum. The presence or absence of atypical cells determines oncological potential.

Influence of estradiol and gestagens on oxidative stress in the rat uterus.

Objective: We studied the effect of ovariectomy, estradiol (E2), and E2 + medroxyprogesterone (MPA) on the Wistar rat uterus.

Methods: We used 15 adult female rats. The study was divided into the following four stages: (a) extirpation of the upper half of the left hemi-uterus (basal state) and ovariectomy; (b) animals were maintained for 15 days without treatment, performance of a new laparotomy, and extirpation of the remaining left hemi-uterus (OVX state); (c) beginning of E2 replacement therapy (ERT) (8 microg/day) for 15 days, followed by extirpation of the upper half of the right hemi-uterus (ERT state); and (d) the administration of E2 was continued, and oral treatment with MPA was begun (20 microg/day) to last for a further 15 days.

Influence of estrogen replacement therapy on plasma lipid peroxidation.

Objective: To observe whether any relationship exists between the concentration of plasma estradiol (E2) and the plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) or whether a relationship exists between the concentration of plasma E2 and the activity of the erythrocyte enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, in ovariectomized female Wistar rats (treated and untreated with E2).

Design: We used 40 ovariectomized Wistar rats randomly assigned to four groups. The first group was allowed to evolve freely with no treatment.

Influence of estradiol on oxidative stress in the castrated rat uterus.

Objective: We set out to study how the concentration of estradiol influences oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) and the superoxide dismutase and catalase antioxidant systems in the castrated female Wistar rat uterus.

Methods: We used 28 castrated female Wistar rats: 7 were left to evolve freely and the rest were divided into three groups of 7 animals receiving respective doses of 4, 8, and 16 microg/day of estradiol (E2) for 15 days. At the end of the study period, we determined the plasma concentrations of E2 and the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the uterus.