OBJECTIVE While estrogen treatment exacerbates disease in models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the effects of progesterone are unclear. This study was undertaken to assess the effects of continuous progesterone treatment on autoantibody production and spontaneous glomerulonephritis (GN) in a mouse model of SLE. METHODS Female (NZBxNZW)F1 (NZB/NZW) mice were treated with vehicle, 2 mg...

Recent clinical trials in hormone therapy (HT) for women approaching or past menopause have been disappointing. Most women who have been taking conjugated equine estrogens combined with synthetic progestins have been encouraged to stop these supplements because of increased health risks. The results of the clinical trials may be accurate about the risks associated with the synthetic compounds a...

The actions, localization, and regulation of activin in the human ovary are unknown. Therefore, the aims of this study were (a) to define the effects of recombinant activin-A and its structural homologue, inhibin-A, on mitogenesis and steroidogenesis (progesterone secretion and aromatase activity) in human preovulatory follicular cells; (b) to localize the activin-A dimer in the human ovary by ...

Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often not capable to keep bloodgas values at a normal level, they are hypoxaemic and/or hypercapnic. During sleep these patients are even more hypoxaemic and /or hypercapnic due to hypoventilation, especially during the REM state (Vos, 1992). To improve bloodgas values respiratory stimulants such as medroxyprogesterone acetat...

Synthetic progestins are used by millions of women as contraceptives and in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), although their molecular mechanisms of action are not well understood. The importance of investigating these mechanisms, as compared to those of progesterone, has been highlighted by clinical evidence showing that medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a first generation progestin, increas...

Supplements and growth promotants containing steroid hormones are routinely administered to beef cattle to improve feeding efficiency, reduce behavioral problems, and enhance production. As a result, beef cattle manure will contain both synthetic steroids as well as a range of endogenous steroids including androgens, estrogens, and progestogens. A two-year controlled study was conducted in whic...

The vaginal contraceptive ring is very effective and user dependent. In this article, we will discuss the different types of rings, namely, etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (ENG/EE) (NuvaRing, Merck, Rahway, NJ, USA) segesterone acetate (SA)/EE (Annovera, Mayne Pharma, Raleigh, NC, ring. details dosing administration, indications, advantages, disadvantages, cost-effectiveness are presented. This ...

Despite the widespread availability of highly effective methods of contraception, unintended pregnancy is common. Unplanned pregnancies have been linked to a range of health, social and economic consequences. Emergency contraception reduces risk of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, and represents an opportunity to decrease number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Emergency contrace...

The present study aimed to determine the effect of administrating prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and GnRH at the time of artificial insemination (AI) on the pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) and the pregnancy survival rate of dairy cows. A number of 830 lactating Holstein cows were randomly divided into four groups. Cows in group 1 (n=200) treated with 150 µg d-cloprostenol. In group 2 (n...