Evaluating the toxicity of estetrol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, and their combination with drospirenone on zebrafish larvae: A behavioural and proteomic study.

Objective: To characterise and compare the toxicity of estetrol (E4) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), and their respective mixture with the progestin drospirenone (DRSP) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

Methods: Zebrafish embryos were exposed to E4, EE2, DRSP, E4+DRSP, and EE2+DRSP in a fish embryo acute toxicity (FET) test. A second test examined behavioural responses and, using label-free proteomics, identified changes in protein expression in response to hormonal treatments, across a range of concentrations, including those that are considered to be environmentally relevant.

Estetrol/drospirenone versus 17α-ethinylestradiol/drospirenone: An extended one generation test to evaluate the endocrine disruption potential on zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Combined oral contraceptives, comprising of both an oestrogen and a progestin component, are released in aquatic environments and potentially pose a risk to aquatic wildlife by their capacity to disrupt physiological mechanisms. In this study, the endocrine disruptive potential of two mixtures, 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic oestrogen, or estetrol (E4), a natural oestrogen, with the progestin drospirenone (DRSP) have been characterised in three generations of zebrafish, according to an adapted Medaka Extended One Generation Reproduction Test. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to a range of concentrations of EE2/DRSP and E4/DRSP (∼1×, ∼3×, ∼10× and ∼30× predicted environmental concentration, PEC).

Estetrol has a lower impact than 17α-ethinylestradiol on the reproductive capacity of zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Natural and synthetic oestrogens are commonly found in aquatic ecosystems. The synthetic oestrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) is widely used in oral contraceptives and its ecotoxicological effects on aquatic organisms have been widely reported. The natural oestrogen estetrol (E4) was recently approved for use in a new combined oral contraceptive and, after therapeutic use, is likely to be found in the aquatic environment.

Lipidomic analysis of mussel hemocytes exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics.

Plastics production and usage has exponentially increased in the last decades around the world. Due to the insufficient waste management, a significant amount of plastic ends up in the environment, where they tend to fragment into micro- and nano-plastics (NPs), and accumulate in aquatic organisms with still unknown effects. Although studies have indicated that lipid metabolism is a main target of NPs, this mechanism has not been extensively explored.

A double-blind, randomized prospective study evaluating topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% versus topical tacrolimus 0.1% in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Background: Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic condition usually responsive to topical corticosteroids.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the efficacy (reduction of signs and symptoms) and safety of clobetasol propionate 0.05% and tacrolimus 0.

Biopsychosocial predictors of postmenopausal dyspareunia: the role of steroid hormones, vulvovaginal atrophy, cognitive-emotional factors, and dyadic adjustment.

Introduction: Although dyspareunia experienced after menopause is widely attributed to declining estrogen levels and vulvovaginal atrophy, critical reviews of the literature have suggested that these factors are incomplete as explanatory mechanisms. Little is known about psychosocial factors that may also be implicated in postmenopausal dyspareunic pain.

Aim: To determine the extent to which levels of estrogens and progesterone, vulvovaginal atrophy, cognitive-emotional factors, and dyadic adjustment are predictive of postmenopausal dyspareunic pain intensity.

Challenging atrophied perspectives on postmenopausal dyspareunia: a systematic description and synthesis of clinical pain characteristics.

This study investigated the clinical attributes of postmenopausal dyspareunia. The authors obtained a systematic description of pain symptomatology from 182 postmenopausal dyspareunia sufferers using a structured interview, quantitative sensory testing, a standardized pain measure, and gynecological examination. The authors conducted a cluster analysis to examine whether sufferers could be categorized using clinical pain and gynecological factors.

Asymptomatic endometrial thickening.

Objective: To formulate clinical recommendations for the assessment of endometrial thickening when it is found on ultrasound in a postmenopausal patient without bleeding.

Outcomes: Ensure that women with asymptomatic thickening and endometrial polyps found on ultrasound are managed appropriately.

Evidence: Published literature was retrieved through searches of English language articles from the EMBASE, Cochrane, and PubMed databases for relevant peer-reviewed articles dating from 1970 to 2009, using appropriate controlled vocabulary (e.

SOGC clinical practice guidelines: Adhesion prevention in gynaecological surgery: no. 243, June 2010.

Objectives: To review the etiology and incidence of and associative factors in the formation of adhesions following gynaecological surgery. To review evidence for the use of available means of adhesion prevention following gynaecological surgery.

Options: Women undergoing pelvic surgery are at risk of developing abdominal and/or pelvic adhesive disease postoperatively.

Impact of labor at prior cesarean on lower uterine segment thickness in subsequent pregnancy.

Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the factors associated with sonographic lower uterine segment (LUS) thickness near term in women with prior low transverse cesarean.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study of women with a single prior low transverse cesarean was conducted. LUS thickness was quantified by transabdominal ultrasound with repeated transvaginal measurement when necessary.

Impact of chromic catgut versus polyglactin 910 versus fast-absorbing polyglactin 910 sutures for perineal repair: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: The goal of our study was to compare the impact of 3 suture materials on perineal pain and on resumption of sexual intercourse.

Study Design: This randomized, controlled trial compared 3 types of suture materials (chromic catgut, polyglactin 910, fast-absorbing polyglactin 910) for second-degree perineal laceration or uncomplicated episiotomy. Patients were enrolled in early labor and assigned randomly to 1 of the 3 suture materials.