Globally, ovarian cancer is the 6th most common malignancy in developed countries, responsible for 100,300 new cases and 64,500 deaths annually (Jemal et al., 2011). Approximately 90% of ovarian cancers arise within the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) or the fallopian tube surface epithelium; the remainder of ovarian malignancies develops from other ovarian tissues (sex cord-stromal, germ cell...

OBJECTIVE To review the efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) when used to reduce daily oral corticosteroid (OCS) requirements in patients with severe persistent asthma and periodic requirements in patients with acute asthma exacerbations. DATA SOURCES Clinical studies of the OCS-sparing effects of ICSs were located by searching MEDLINE databases from 1966 onward using the ter...

BACKGROUND Treatments for patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU)chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who were unresponsive to antihistamines include oral corticosteroids (OCS). Risks of OCS-related side effects in these patients have not been described quantitatively. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between OCS use and the risk of developing side effects possibly attributab...

Oral contraceptive (OC) pills are frequently prescribed for a variety of clinical purposes. These medications--which contain varying amounts of estrogenand progestin-based compounds--essentially "override" a woman's innate hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and frequently help ameliorate the effects of a maturing reproductive system while preventing pregnancy. This article reviews the clinical...

OBJECTIVE To assess the risk of venous thrombosis in current users of different types of hormonal contraception, focusing on regimen, oestrogen dose, type of progestogen, and route of administration. DESIGN National cohort study. SETTING Denmark, 1995-2005. PARTICIPANTS Danish women aged 15-49 with no history of cardiovascular or malignant disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Adjusted rate ra...

The use of oral corticosteroid (OCS) drugs is advocated because of their potent anti-inflammatory effects. They also possess many potential adverse effects. No study has assessed physician prescribing practices of OCS therapy in high school (HS) or college (COL) athletes. This paper reports the prescribing patterns of sports medicine physicians who used short-term OCS therapy and to describe as...

Endometriosis is a chronic disease in which a persistent state of heightened inflammation is maintained by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. The progestins present in oral contraceptives are potent inhibitors of NF-κB translocation to cell nuclei, while Pycnogenol® (Pinus pinaster) acts by blocking post-translational events. In this study, the effects of Pycnogenol on pain scores were ...

Cyclin D1, an important cell cycle regulator, is overexpressed in several human cancers including breast. Both estrogens and progestins activate the transcription of the gene; antiestrogens have been shown to reduce cyclin D1 protein levels. Cyclin D1 protein overexpression has been strongly associated with well-differentiated, estrogen receptor-positive tumors. Little is known, however, as to ...

Main aim of this study is to quantify and analyze the utilization and utilization trends of oral hormonal contraceptives in the City of Zagreb, 2008-2010, and to propose potential interventions, if necessary. Data gathered from Zagreb pharmacies were assessed by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification of drugs and Daily Defined Dose methodology. An alarming decrease in total utilization ...

Key Points A number of studies suggest that current use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) appears to slightly increase the risk of breast cancer, especially among younger women. However, the risk level goes back to normal 10 years or more after discontinuing oral contraceptive use. Women who use oral contraceptives have reduced risks of ovarian and endometrial cancer. This protective...