Low-temperature leaf photosynthesis of a Miscanthus germplasm collection correlates positively to shoot growth rate and specific leaf area.

Background And Aims: The C4 perennial grass miscanthus has been found to be less sensitive to cold than most other C4 species, but still emerges later in spring than C3 species. Genotypic differences in miscanthus were investigated to identify genotypes with a high cold tolerance at low temperatures and quick recovery upon rising temperatures to enable them to exploit the early growing season in maritime cold climates. Suitable methods for field screening of cold tolerance in miscanthus were also identified.

Three Giants in the Cradle of Reproductive Medicine; Reproduction Theories of the Seventeenth Century as Discerned by Pregnancy Portraiture in the Oeuvre of Jan Vermeer.

Portraits of pregnant women are rare in Catholic Renaissance art. In seventeenth-century Holland, the Catholic rule of Spain had been thrown off and a Protestant Calvinistic republic emerged, freeing Dutch artists to choose an unorthodox subject matter for their paintings. The Golden Age of Holland was characterized by extreme wealth, originating from overseas trade, which fostered a marked interest in philosophy, science, medicine, as well as art.

Can the exceptional chilling tolerance of C4 photosynthesis found in Miscanthus × giganteus be exceeded? Screening of a novel Miscanthus Japanese germplasm collection.

Background And Aims: A clone of the hybrid perennial C4 grass Miscanthus × giganteus (Mxg) is known for achieving exceptionally high rates of leaf CO2 uptake during chilling. This is a requisite of success in the early spring, as is the ability of the leaves to survive occasional frosts. The aim of this study was to search for genotypes with greater potential than Mxg for photosynthesis and frost survival under these conditions.

Mifepristone: where do we come from and where are we going? Clinical development over a quarter of a century.

Administration of mifepristone followed by the prostaglandin, misoprostol, has been used successfully in the medical termination of pregnancy for over 25 years, and the method is registered in 35 countries. Single doses of mifepristone are also effective as an emergency postcoital contraceptive. Mifepristone administered for 3 months or longer to women with uterine leiomyomas, is associated with a reduction in pain and bleeding with improvement in quality of life and decrease in fibroid size.

Free alpha-subunit is the most sensitive marker of gonadotropin recovery after treatment of central precocious puberty with the histrelin implant.

Background: Gonadotropin free alpha-subunit (FAS) levels paradoxically increase during GnRH agonist (GnRHa) treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). The histrelin implant suppresses gonadotropins and estradiol (E(2)) levels for 1 yr, but effects on FAS have not been described.

Objectives: We aimed to determine whether FAS levels remain elevated during treatment with the implant, to assess the dynamics of FAS after removal, and to ascertain the reliability of FAS for monitoring gonadotropin secretion.

The effect of screening on the prevalence of diagnosed type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Objective: To investigate to what extent differences in diagnosed diabetes prevalence can be attributed to differences in the general practitioner's (GP) screening activity.

Design: An analysis of electronic patient files in combination with a survey among GPs. Setting.

Relationships between FSH, inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone, and testosterone during long-term treatment with the GnRH-agonist histrelin in patients with prostate cancer.

Objectives: Medical castration with long-acting GnRH-agonist (GnRHa) is a well-established treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Our aim was to explore the relationships between FSH, inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and testosterone during treatment with an implant releasing GnRHa.

Design: Analysis of hormone levels in frozen serum samples.

Clinical utility of progesterone receptor modulators and their effect on the endometrium.

Purpose Of Review: In view of the spate of recent publications related to mifepristone and some second generation progesterone receptor modulators (PRMs), this appears to be an opportune time to view the clinical status of these compounds.

Recent Findings: Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials have been conducted with mifepristone, CDB-4124 (Proellex), CDB-2914 (VA 2914, Ulipristal) and asoprisnil (J867). All these PRMs are effective in the treatment of uterine fibroids where they are associated with a reduction in pain, bleeding and improvement in quality of life and decrease in fibroid size.

Partial androgen suppression consequent to increased secretion of adrenal androgens in a patient with prostate cancer treated with long-acting GnRH agonists.

We present a case report of a patient with prostate cancer who failed to demonstrate consistent testosterone suppression to castration levels and incomplete suppression of serum prostate-specific antigen, although treated with gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists for 48 months. Serum dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, as well as the androgen metabolite, androsterone glucuronide, were elevated compared to the other patients. The present data suggest that those prostate cancer patients who have even marginally elevated adrenal androgens may especially benefit from combined androgen blockade.

Is sildenafil citrate associated with an amelioration of the symptomatology of androgen decline in the aging male?

Purpose: We examined whether treatment of erectile dysfunction with sildenafil citrate is associated with amelioration of the symptomatology of androgen decline in the aging male, and whether this alters the endocrine pattern.

Materials And Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled, crossover study with sildenafil citrate was conducted in 60 men (age range 47 to 75 years old) who presented with erectile dysfunction and screened positively for androgen decline in the aging male by the questionnaire of the same name. The patients were randomized to receive sildenafil citrate or placebo in a 1:1 ratio and were crossed over after 3 months of treatment for an additional 3 months.

Long-term administration of mifepristone (RU486): clinical tolerance during extended treatment of meningioma.

Background: Mifepristone (RU486) is an oral antiprogestational and, to a lesser extent, antiglucocorticoid agent commonly used for short-term (single-day) therapy. However, treatment of neoplasms or chronic conditions will require long-term administration. Meningioma is a benign central nervous system tumor that is often progesterone-but not estrogen-receptor positive, making long-term antiprogestational therapy a logical treatment strategy.

Progesterone receptor antagonists.

Since the discovery of the progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone, numerous additional compounds, which display a spectrum of biological actions ranging from full antagonist to those with mixed agonist/antagonist activity, have been synthesized. The latter are referred to as selective progesterone receptor modulators. Long-term administration of these agents is associated with an antiproliferative action on the endometrium as well as amenorrhea and often inhibition of ovulation.

Management of patients receiving long-term treatment with mifepristone.

Objective: To determine clinical side effects and biochemical and hematological abnormalities in patients with nonresectable meningioma on long-term mifepristone (RU 486) therapy.

Design: Long-term mifepristone administration in patients with meningioma.

Setting: Outpatient clinic of a university hospital.

The histrelin implant: a novel treatment for central precocious puberty.

Objective: Standard treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP) consists of intramuscular or subcutaneous administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRHa) at 3- to 4-week intervals. Although generally effective in suppressing clinical and laboratory parameters of puberty, GnRHa injections are painful, and the need for monthly clinic visits may contribute to poor compliance. Recently, a subcutaneous implant was developed that releases the GnRHa histrelin at an average rate of 65 microg/day.

Dynamic assays of inhibin B, anti-Mullerian hormone and estradiol following FSH stimulation and ovarian ultrasonography as predictors of IVF outcome.

Background: We evaluated basal and dynamic hormonal markers [(FSH, inhibin B, estradiol and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)] during the follicular phase and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and ultrasonic ovarian morphology as predictors of IVF outcome.

Methods: Fifty-six women, aged <38 years, with normal day 3 FSH levels were included prospectively. Serum estradiol, inhibin B and AMH were measured before and 24 h after administration of 300 IU of recombinant FSH on cycle day 3-4 and during the luteal phase.

Vaginal ring delivering estradiol and progesterone: a possible alternative to relieve climacteric symptoms.

Background: Relief of climacteric symptoms is currently the main role of hormone therapy. However, vaginal bleeding complicating this therapy is among the leading causes for its early discontinuation.

Objectives: To assess the effect of a vaginal ring delivering estradiol and progesterone in postmenopausal women and to determine whether continuous administration can relieve climacteric symptoms, produce an acceptable pattern of vaginal bleeding and control endometrial proliferation.

Serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women with polycystic ovaries with and without hyperandrogenism.

Background: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is expressed in pre- and small-antral follicles. High serum levels are found in women with polycystic ovaries (PCO), accordant with their increased content of small follicles. To evaluate the relationship between AMH, folliculogenesis and hyperandrogenism, we compared serum AMH levels between women with PCO with and without hyperandrogenism and normal controls during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).

Selective progesterone receptor modulators and progesterone antagonists: mechanisms of action and clinical applications.

Since the discovery of the antiprogestin mifepristone, hundreds of similar compounds have been synthesized, which can be grouped in a large family of progesterone receptor ligands. This family includes pure agonists such as progesterone itself or progestins and, at the other end of the biological spectrum, pure progesterone receptor antagonists (PA). Selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRM) have mixed agonist-antagonist properties, and occupy an intermediate position of the spectrum.

Reversibility of androgen deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer.

Purpose: We determined the duration of testosterone suppression and recovery in patients with prostate cancer treated with a hydrogel implant releasing the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist histrelin or treated with a depot GnRH agonist.

Materials And Methods: Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) responses were monitored in 3 groups. Group 1 comprised 7 patients treated with histrelin implant, which is inserted into the arm of the patient while under local anesthesia, and suppresses LH and testosterone.

Mifepristone does not induce cervical softening in non-pregnant women.

Background: Many techniques have been developed to soften the cervix to reduce complications following surgical dilatation. Progesterone inhibits myometrial contractility and its secretion during pregnancy ensures cervical competence. We used the progesterone antagonist mifepristone as a cervical ripening agent and evaluated its effect prior to office hysteroscopy.

Pharmacological properties of mifepristone: toxicology and safety in animal and human studies.

Roussel Uclaf in partnership with the INSERM unit of Prof. E.E.

Progesterone antagonists and progesterone receptor modulators: an overview.

Since the original description of the structure of the antiprogestin, mifepristone, was published, numerous related compounds have been synthesized which may function as progesterone antagonists (PAs) or progesterone receptor modulators (PRMs). The latter are mixed agonists-antagonists. Both PAs and PRMs have therapeutic applications in female health care.

Progesterone antagonists and progesterone receptor modulators.

Since the discovery of the antiprogestin RU 486 (mifepristone), other compounds have been synthesised that function as pure progesterone antagonists or progesterone receptor modulators. The latter are mixed agonists-antagonists. Mifepristone is usually used to terminate pregnancy but these compounds have numerous other applications in female healthcare.