Epidemiologic studies have reported inconsistent associations between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer risk. To our knowledge, a meta-analysis for the association between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer has not been reported. Relevant published studies of menarcheal age and ovarian cancer were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science through the end of April, 2012. Two authors (T-TG and Q-JW) independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. We pooled the relative risks (RR) from individual studies using a random-effects model and performed heterogeneity and publication bias analyses. A total of 27 observational studies consisting of 22 case-control and 5 cohort studies were included in our analysis. In a pooled analysis of all studies, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between menarcheal age (for the oldest compared with the youngest category) and ovarian cancer risk (RR=0.85; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.75–0.97). The pooled RRs of ovarian cancer for the oldest versus the youngest categories of menarcheal age in prospective and case-control studies were 0.89 (95% CI 0.76–1.03) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.70–0.99), respectively. Inverse associations between menarcheal age and ovarian cancer risk were observed in most sub-groups, but the association was restricted to invasive and borderline serous ovarian cancer. In conclusion, findings from this meta-analysis support that menarcheal age was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. More large studies are warranted to stratify results by different cancer grading and histotype of ovarian cancer.

MRI of the epidural cavernous hemangioma showed the characteristic lobulated contour, which encircled the spinal cord. T(1)WI on the MRI presented as isointense and T(2)WI presented as hyperintense and a homogeneously strong enhancement, so we first proposed the sign of wafting silk. The widening of the intervertebral neural foramen and erosion of the adjacent bones can easily be observed. MR imaging has an important role in the detection and diagnosis of pure spinal epidural cavernous hemangioma.

Overexpression of Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) related with a role in ovarian cancer tumorigenesis while little is known about the molecular mechanism alteration by HE4 up regulation. Here we reported that overexpressed HE4 promoted ovarian cancer cells proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, human whole genome gene expression profile microarrays revealed that 231 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were altered in response to HE4, in which MAPK signaling, ECM receptor, cell cycle, steroid biosynthesis pathways were involved. The findings suggested that overexpressed HE4 played an important role in ovarian cancer progression and metastasis and that HE4 has the potential to serve as a novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

The main aims of this study were to determine the expression of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in endometrial cancer and to explore the relationships between HE4 expression, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect HE4 expression in 102 cases of endometrial cancer, 30 cases of endometrial atypical hyperplasia, and 20 cases of normal endometrium. The positive expression rate of HE4 in endometrial carcinoma was 84.62%, significantly higher than 66.67% in atypical hyperplasia (P < 0.05) and 15.00% in normal endometrium (P < 0.0.01). With the exception of stage II, HE4 expression in endometrial cancer showed an increasing tendency with increased clinical stage (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of HE4 increased with a decrease in the degree of differentiation. A statistically significant difference was observed between the highly differentiated group and the poorly differentiated group (P < 0.05). Mortality in endometrial cancer patients with high HE4 expression was significantly higher than that in patients with low HE4 expression (P < 0.05). Endometrial cancer patients with high HE4 expression have a poor prognosis.