PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G E Hale

Publications and source records attributed to G E Hale.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Cyclicity of breast tenderness and night-time vasomotor symptoms in mid-life women: information collected using the Daily Perimenopause Diary.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to explore cyclicity of breast tenderness and vasomotor symptoms in menstruating mid-life women using the Daily Perimenopause Diary. METHODS: Untreated mid-life women from a convenience sample completed the Daily Perimenopause Diary for clinical (n = 14) or research (n = 10) assessments. Breast tenderness, sleep disturbance and day and night vasomotor intensity were rated on a 0-4 scale with vasomotor number as a count. Daily oral temperature data were analyzed using the Quantitative Basal Temperature algorithm to assess ovulation and estimate luteal phase length. Analysis of variance tested cyclicity using the mean of three 3-day windows (during flow, at mid-cycle and premenstrually). RESULTS: Ninety-eight complete flow-to-flow diaries (from 24 women, mean age 47 years, cycle length 27 +/- 6.4 (standard deviation) days) were available, with quantitative temperature data for 60 cycles in 16 women. Of assessed cycles, 90% were ovulatory; 25% had luteal phases < 10 days. Breast tenderness was maximal in the premenstrual window overall (p < 0.0001) and in the ovulatory subset. Night sweats were maximal premenstrually (p = 0.0035) except in anovulatory cycles. Daytime flushes were not cyclic (p = 0.1333) except in ovulatory cycles (p = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Daily Perimenopause Diaries from mid-life women show premenstrual increases in breast tenderness and night sweats.

Adult↗

Glomerulonephritis secondary to Barmah Forest virus infection.

Clinical infection with Barmah Forest virus (BFV) is becoming increasingly recognised with serological testing. We report the first case of glomerulonephritis after BFV infection. The patient required diuretic and antihypertensive therapy, but made an almost complete recovery. BFV infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of glomerulonephritis.

Adult↗

Galactose metabolism and ovarian toxicity.

Galactose is an energy-providing nutrient and also a necessary basic substrate for the biosynthesis of many macromolecules in the body. Metabolic pathways for galactose are important not only for the provision of these pathways but also for the prevention of galactose and galactose metabolite accumulation. Problems with galactose metabolism can cause a variety of clinical manifestations in animals and humans. It has been found that the mammalian ovary is particularly susceptible to damage from the accumulation of galactose and galactose metabolites. The galactose metabolites Gal-1-P, galactitol, and UDPgal are all considered to be important in this toxicity and proposed mechanisms include interference with ovarian apoptosis and gonadotrophin signaling. This review addresses the most recent scientific findings regarding the possible mechanisms of galactose-induced ovarian toxicity and also the possible protective role of hormonal and antioxidant therapy. In addition, the available epidemiologic and scientific evidence linking galactose intake with risk of ovarian cancer is discussed.

Animals↗

A double-blind randomized study on the effects of red clover isoflavones on the endometrium.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a red clover-derived isoflavone extract on the Ki-67 proliferative marker of endometrial biopsies in 45-to 50-year-old perimenopausal women. We hypothesized that we would be able to detect a decrease in the Ki-67 proliferative index during the late follicular phase after a 3-month course of approximately 50 mg red clover isoflavones. Isoflavones have been found to have some antiestrogenic effects, and an antiproliferative effect during the perimenopausal period may be especially useful owing to the excessive endometrial proliferation often characteristic of this period. DESIGN: In a double-blind, randomized, controlled study, 30 women between the ages of 45 and 50 years consented to an endometrial biopsy before and after a 3-month course of either placebo or active isoflavone extract. The biopsies were timed as close as possible to days 7-11 of the menstrual cycle, and simultaneous measurements of transvaginal endometrial thickness, uterine artery Doppler, hormone profiles, lipids, and bone markers were performed. RESULTS: Of 30 women, 2 did not return for a second biopsy, and a third had an unsuccessful second biopsy. Four subjects were excluded from the Intention to Treat analysis because they did not have a menstrual bleed within the time frame of the study (3 subjects) or were tested on day 13 instead of between days 7 and 11 of the cycle (1 subject). There was no change in the Ki-67 proliferation index after treatment in either group. Eight subjects in the placebo group and eight in the P-07 group had proliferative endometrial biopsies that were synchronized with estradiol levels at baseline and post-treatment, and analysis of these subjects revealed no detectable change in the relationship between estradiol levels and Ki-67 with treatment in either group. There was no change in fasting lipids, bone markers, uterine Doppler resistance, or pulsatility index. CONCLUSION: In this small pilot study, we did not find, using immunohistochemical quantification of the Ki-67 antigen, that red clover isoflavones had an antiproliferative effect in the endometrium. Small sample size, examination of a relatively short interval in the menstrual cycle, and isoflavone formulation may have contributed to our lack of findings; however, we believe that the issue of isoflavones and their possible antiproliferative effect is deserving of further study. A simpler physiological model with less hormonal variability, such as healthy, recently menopausal women on predetermined doses of estrogen, may prove to be more informative.

Cell Division↗