No abstract

Estetrol (E4) is a steroid hormone found in the urine of pregnant women in 1965. E4 is produced only during pregnancy and enters the maternal bloodstream through the placenta. Its concentration in maternal human plasma increases during pregnancy, reaching a maximum by the end of pregnancy (1 ng/mL). The pharmacological properties of E4 make it a promising agent for hormonal therapy and contraception. To date, phase II and III studies have shown promising results with the combination of 15 mg of E4 and 3 mg of drospirenone: this combined oral contraceptive has shown a good effect with a neutral metabolic effect. However, evidence is scarce about the effect of the new combination on the breast and bone tissue. Further studies are needed to consolidate the available data and to investigate possible side effects of prolonged use of E4-containing combined oral contraceptives compared to known ethinylestradiol and estradiol-containing combinations.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. There is evidence that PD has a wider prevalence among men, which indicates the existing role of sex hormones in the pathogenesis of the disease. The article presents an overview of studies devoted to the study of sex differences in the incidence and symptoms of PD. Drug therapy with androgens, androgen precursors, antiandrogens and drugs that modify androgen metabolism is available for the treatment of various endocrine conditions, having translational significance for PD, but none of these drugs has yet shown sufficient effectiveness. Although PD has now been proven to be more common in men than in women, androgens do not always have any effect on the symptoms or progression of the disease. 5α-reductase inhibitors have shown neuroprotective and anti-dyskinetic activity and need further investigation. Despite the fact that the neuroprotective effect of dutasteride was observed only before damage to DA neurons, the absence of a negative effect makes it an attractive drug for use in patients with PD due to its anti-dyskinetic properties.

Cervical cancer is a leading global health problem and the second most common form of cancer in women living in developing countries. Despite the available methods of diagnosis and treatment, cervical cancer is still the cause of a large number of deaths among vulnerable groups of the female population, which makes further research relevant. The aim of this study was to summarize new technological developments and scientific information about proteomics, which will allow for deepening the understanding of the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and developing new methods of diagnosis and treatment of this pathology. Recent achievements in the field of analytical research methods and bioinformatics provide a wide range of alternatives in the field of proteomic research. To date, proteomic analysis can be performed on almost any biological sample (tumor tissue, blood, urine, saliva, vaginal secretions). Each type of biological sample represents a potential source of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as potential targets for therapy. The main limitation of proteomic studies aimed at finding potential biomarkers of the disease is the high variability of the results depending on the specific laboratory. There is variability in concentrations and even in the type of biomarker identified, even though research teams are working with the same samples.

Endometriosis is a chronic and debilitating disease with chronic pelvic pain and infertility. This pathology affects 1 in 10 women worldwide. Chronic pelvic pain is the main complaint of patients with endometriosis, which causes the most discomfort and has a strong impact on the quality of life. Today, the main generally accepted criterion for the severity of pain is the volume of the affected tissue, but most often it does not correspond to the real pain sensations of the patients. In this review of the literature, we have identified and compared the main pathophysiological mechanisms of the development of pain in endometriosis, which help to answer some urgent questions. We have identified 6 mechanisms that sequentially activate and reinforce each other's action, leading to the formation of persistent pain syndrome. There are still gaps in the pathophysiological mechanisms described by us, which requires additional clinical studies. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of pain in endometriosis will help improve diagnostic capabilities, as well as treatment that will be directed at each link in the pathological process.