[Medical care for working women].

This study aimed to investigate the influences of menorrhagia, premenstrual syndrome and perimenopausal syndrome on health-related quality of life (HR QOL) of working women. HR QOL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. Menorrhagia and premenstrual syndrome significantly decreased the scales of HR QOL, respectively.

Expression and function of activin receptors in human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells.

Menstrual cycle-dependent expressions of activin A in normal human endometrial tissues have been reported. Expression of activin receptor mRNAs and increased activin A production were also observed in human endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues, suggesting that activin A might enhance cell proliferation and inhibit apoptotic signaling in endometrial cancer cells. In this study, we have examined the effects of activin A on cell proliferation, anticancer drug-induced apoptosis and Fas-mediated apoptosis in 3 differentiated human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines, namely HEC-1, HHUA and Ishikawa.