ERB-041, a selective ER beta agonist, inhibits iNOS production in LPS-activated peritoneal macrophages of endometriosis via suppression of NF-kappaB activation.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of selective ER beta (ER beta) agonist on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production in peritoneal macrophages (PMs) of endometriosis (EMS).

Methods: ER alpha (ER alpha) and ER beta expressions in PMs were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunoblot. The PMs of endometriosis were exposed to increasing concentrations of ER beta agonist ERB-041 over a period from 0.

NF-kappaB decoy oligonucleotides suppress RANTES expression and monocyte chemotactic activity via NF-kappaB inactivation in stromal cells of ectopic endometrium.

Background: The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway is a critical mediator of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) gene regulation and therefore represents a potential target for therapy of endometriosis-associated symptoms.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NF-kappaB decoy oligonucleotides (ODNs) on NF-kappaB activation, RANTES expression, and monocyte chemotactic activity in ectopic endometrial stromal cells in vitro.

Methods: A specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify RANTES expression in ectopic and normal endometrial stromal cells stimulated by interleukin (IL)-1beta.

Ectopic, autologous eutopic and normal endometrial stromal cells have altered expression and chemotactic activity of RANTES.

Objective: To evaluate if the expression and chemotactic activity of RANTES are different in IL-1beta treated autologous eutopic endometrial stromal cells compared to ectopic and normal endometrium.

Study Design: Conditioned media from IL-1beta-treated ectopic, autologous eutopic and normal endometrial stromal cells were analyzed with a specific sandwich ELISA to quantify RANTES. The monocyte chemotactic activity of RANTES was assayed in a Boyden Chamber.

[Quantitative analysis of circulating DNA in serum of cancer patients].

Objective: To develop a method for ng quantitation of circulating DNA in serum and explore the value in the diagnosis of cancer.

Methods: Serum DNA was extracted by commercial "genomic DNA extraction kit" and detected by fluorescent dye (SYBR green I) staining. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at BRCA1 (D17S579, D17S855) and p53 (TP53, D17S786) in serum DNA was analyzed by PCR-based method.

[Benefit of palliative surgery for bowel obstruction in recurrent ovarian carcinoma].

Objective: Intestinal obstruction is a frequent sequela of recurrent ovarian cancer and difficult to deal with. We analyzed a series of such patients to determine if their outcomes have changed after undergoing palliative surgery.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed 67 patients undergoing surgery for intestinal obstruction due to recurrent ovarian carcinoma and 75 patients receiving non-surgical treatment from 1997 to 2002.

[Epithelial ovarian carcinoma metastatic to the brain: report on ten cases with review of literature].

Objective: To investigate the incidence, the diagnosis, the multimodal treatment and the relevant factors of the brain metastases in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).

Method: The clinical data were analysed in 10 cases of brain metastases from 478 cases of EOC after treatment between 1996 - 2001.

Results: The incidence of brain metastases in EOC was 2.