The purpose of the present study was to examine the profile of selected proinflammatory cytokines in maternal serum of first-trimester pregnancies complicated by threatened abortion (TACP) and its relevance to obstetric outcome. Serum levels of Th1-type cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and Th2-type cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured, by ELISA, in 22 women with TACP and adverse outcome at admission (group A) and compared with the corresponding levels of 31 gestational age-matched women with TACP and successful outcome at admission (group B1) and discharge (group B2) and 22 gestational age-matched women with first-trimester uncomplicated pregnancy (group C) who served as controls. Mann-Whitney U or Wilcoxon test was applied as appropriate to compare differences between groups. IL-1β and TNF-alpha were detected with significantly higher levels in group A, compared to all other groups. On the contrary, IL-6 levels were detected with no significant difference among all the other groups studied. It is concluded that in first-trimester TACP with adverse outcome, a distinct immune response, as reflected by elevated maternal IL-1β, TNF-alpha, and unaltered IL-6 levels, is relevant to a negative obstetric outcome.

These results may indicate that within the postmenopausal range, endogenous sex hormones may be associated with the presence of SUI in women not on menopausal hormone therapy. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:121-125, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of estrogen, two regimens of continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT), tibolone and raloxffene on serum lipid, apolipoprotein A1 and B and lipoprotein(a) levels in Greek postmenopausal women. A total of 350 postmenopausal women were studied in a prospective open design. Women were assigned to one of the following regimens depending on the presence of risk factors for osteoporosis, dimacteric symptoms and an intact uterus: conjugated equine estrogen 0.625 mg (CEE, n = 34), continuous combined CEE 0.625 mg plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 5 mg, (n = 80), continuous combined 17beta-estradiol 2 mg plus norethisterone acetate (NETA) 1 mg (n = 58), tibolone 2.5 mg (n = 83) and raloxifene HCl 60 mg (n = 50). Forty-five postmenopausal women with no indications for HRT served as controls. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholestrol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels were assessed in each subject at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months of therapy. All therapy regimens lowered TC levels compared to baseline (4.2-8.0% decrease). This effect was more prominent in the subgoup of women with high baseline TC levels (9.1-20.4% decrease). LDL cholesterol decreased significantly in CEE, CEE/MPA and raloxifene groups (-11.2%, -11.9% and -11.0%, respectively). Hypercholesterolemic women exhibited a steeper decrease in LDL cholesterol (10.6-27.8% in all therapy groups). TG levels increased significantly in the CEE and CEE/MPA groups (23.7% and 21.8%, respectively), while estradiol/NETA had no effect on TG levels. Tibolone decreased TG levels markedly, by 20.6%, while raloxifene had no TG-lowering effect. HDL cholesterol and ApoA1 were increased by CEE and CEE/MPA (HDL cholesterol, 7.4% and 11.8%, respectively; ApoA1, 17.8% and 7.9%, respectively) and decreased by tibolone (HDL cholesterol, -13.6%; and ApoA1, -9.9%). All therapy regimens except raloxifene lowered Lp(a) levels, with tibolone having the more pronounced effect (-13.2 to -29.0%). In conclusion, each therapy regimen had a diferent effect on lipid-lipoprotein levels, exerting favorable and unfavorable modifications. Hypercholesterolemic women seemed to benefit more from the cholesterol-lowering effect of estrogen replacement therapy/HRT. The choice for a particular regimen should be based on individual needs, indications and lipid-lipoprotein profile.