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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Research and development in contraception has only limited interest in women over 35 years old, so we know little about safety, side effects, and effectiveness of contraceptives in this age group. In addition, clinical trials use healthy women which further limits our knowledge about contraceptives in women who have cardiovascular problems, diabetes, and liver conditions. Research does indicate, however, that women with high blood pressure should not take oral contraceptives (OCs) after the age of 35. It also shows that healthy and nonobese women over 35 who do not smoke and have no family history of cardiovascular disease before age 45 can take OCs with 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol. Practitioners should provide these women with balanced and up-to-date information on the link between OCs and breast cancer and their apparent protective effect against endometrial cancer. The pregnancy rate for 35-39 year old married women using the diaphragm for at least 5 months stands at 1.1/100 women years. Contrary to popular belief, barrier methods can be harmful, e.g., urinary tract infections are more frequent in women who use the diaphragm than in those who do not. Women older than 35 should consider the condom because of its ability to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV or sexually transmitted diseases. Considerable research exists on women over 35 who use copper releasing IUDs. These IUDs are safe in women who do not have heavy menstrual bleeding. The levonorgestrel releasing IUDs are well tolerated in women over 35 since they reduce the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding. Besides users of these IUDs are less likely to have pelvic inflammatory disease and endometritis than those using copper releasing IUDs. Older women in developing countries often undergo hysterectomy for contraceptive purposes and because of heavy bleeding. Tubal ligation is a significant family planning method for older women in developing countries.
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PMID:Contraception after thirty-five. 131 37

The benefits and side effects of various contraceptive methods are summarized. The condom is supposed to protect from HIV transmission. Some studies claim that the condom protects from HIV at an effectiveness rate of 60%. In combination with a spermicide such as nonoxynol-9, it offers especially good protection against gonococci and chlamydia, according to investigations carried out in Bangkok, Thailand. Similarly, chlorhexidine protects from HIV infections. A Chinese study claimed that the contraceptive gossypol also protects from the multiplication of herpes virus, but a better controlled study refuted this claim. It also proved that nonoxynol-9 and chlorhexidine do indeed offer protection against HIV. This issue is becoming ever more important, because making a vaccine against HIV has an uncertain prospect. In Finland, oral contraceptives (OCs) have been used for more than 30 years. The old high-dose estrogen progesterone pills have been replaced by modern low-dose preparations. The reduction of dosage was also called for by the negative effect on the lipid metabolism of certain kinds of progesterone. The reduction of breast cancer may also be associated with OCs, although three recent studies showed that among women 20-54 years old, the incidence of breast cancer was the same among users and nonusers. Here genetic factors may weigh more heavily than OC use or nonuse. The IUD was recommended for younger nulliparous women in the US (up to 80% of women using IUDs) and also in Finland. The risk of pelvic inflammatory disease requires caution with its use. At the present time in Finland the recommended lowest age limit is 25 years for the IUD. The use of levonorgestrel (LNG) counteracts the effect of estradiol on the endometrium. LNG contraceptives have beneficial effects on menorrhagia in menopause. Estrogen substitution therapy can also be stabilized by an IUD that releases 20 mcg of LNG daily.
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PMID:[Health benefits of contraception]. 134 89

Lentinan, a (1----3)-beta-D-glucan with (1----6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside branches and its related polysaccharides have marked antitumour activity in allogeneic, syngeneic and autochthonous primary hosts, suppress chemical and viral oncogenesis, and prevent cancer recurrence or metastasis after surgery. Results of the clinical application of lentinan have proven prolongation of life-span of the patients with advanced and recurrent stomach, colorectal and breast cancer with only little toxic side effect. These polysaccharides also increase host resistance to various kinds of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections including AIDS. Lentinan appears to represent Host Defence Potentiators (HDPs), which can restore or augment the ability of responsiveness of the host to lympho-cytokines or other intrinsic bioactive factors through maturation, differentiation or proliferation of the important cells for host defence mechanisms. That is, HDPs might make the physiological constitution highly cancer and infection-resistant, which may be a concept in Oriental Medicine, the fundamental principle of which is to regulate homeostasis of the whole body and to bring the diseased person to his normal state. HDPs such as lentinan are the most appropriate drugs to prevent cancer recurrence, or the manifestation of AIDS symptoms in HIV carriers.
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PMID:Recent progress in immunopharmacology and therapeutic effects of polysaccharides. 142 62

RU-486 or mifepristone is best known as an antiprogestin and an abortifacient, but it has broad medical applicability. The drug is also a potent blocker of corticosteroid receptors, and it has shown promise in the treatment of breast cancer, inoperable meningioma, and cushing's disease. Cushing's is a model for the symptomatology of aging which may involve enhanced response to corticosteroid. RU-486 has reversed the osteoporosis, thinning of skin, muscle atrophy, obesity, adult onset diabetes, depression, hypertension, and immunosuppression associated with this disease. RU-486 may be of value in aiding cervical dilation, lactation, and the treatment of endometriosis. In addition, breast, bowel, kidney tumors, hepatomas, endometrial cancer, and fibrosarcomas can show corticosteroid dependency, suggesting that RU-486 may have clinical value against inoperable tumors. In a preliminary 1987 phase I study, in estrogen-positive, chemotherapy-refractory breast cancer patients in Montpelier, France, Ru-486 produced objective tumor regression (6 of 22) that was prolonged (3 months) in 4 patients. Clinical relief of bone pain was observed in 7 of 23 patients with a decline in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tumor makers in 8 patients. Growing in vitro data also show that RU-486 can directly inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation. RU-486 has application for HIV infection, based on data that there is a serum factor in AIDS patients that enhances corticosteroid lympholysis. IN addition, the immune restorative action of RU-486 suggests that it could counteract the immunosuppression seen in aging, in cancer, or in viral or stress-related disease, which has recently focused clinical attention on its potential in the treatment of senile dementia and depression. Scientific conferences and workshops are needed to alert scientists, physicians, and the public to the potential medical benefits of this drug.
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PMID:RU 486: how abortion politics have impacted on a potentially useful drug of broad medical application. 150 96

We have employed a recombinant plasmid pBHIV-1 carrying the Long Terminal Repeat sequences (LTR) of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) linked to the reporter chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene and to the aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (aph) gene as a selectable marker. We have introduced pBHIV-1 DNA in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and obtained the MCF-7HIV-1 cell line, resistant to geneticin. We have studied the effect of hexamethylene-bisacetamide (HMBA), cis-platin, interferon-aB, dexamethasone and tamoxifen on the LTR regulated CAT activity in MCF-7HIV-1 cells. It was found that HMBA and cis-platin stimulated CAT activity, whereas interferon-aB, dexamethasone and tamoxifen had no significant effect.
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PMID:Hexamethylene bisacetamide and cis-platin stimulate the expression from the HIV-1 long terminal repeat sequence in human MCF-7 cells. 152 34

This study contrasts the effect of chemotherapy-induced and viral-induced (HIV-1) immunocompromise on natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell function. The ability of NK and LAK cells isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy controls, breast cancer patients receiving or not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, and HIV-1 seropositive individuals to lyse K562 and U937 targets was determined. Exponential regression analysis of the cytolytic data was used to derive the cytolytic variables A (indicative of the maximal cytolytic kill of a target) and k (indicative of the lytic efficiency of individual effector cells). Overall LU20 values were ascertained and adjusted to incorporate absolute lymphocyte numbers. Such analysis indicates that the cytolytic NK and progenitor LAK cell pools are diminished in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. However, the ability of individual NK and LAK cells from treated patients to lyse targets remain unchanged. In contrast, the diminution of NK and LAK cell function in HIV-1 seropositive individuals is associated with reductions in both NK and LAK cell pool sizes as well as their cytolytic functions.
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PMID:Differential effects of chemotherapy-induced and HIV-1-induced immunocompromise on NK and LAK activities using breast cancer and HIV-1 seropositive patient populations. 206 53

Progestins counteract the positive effect of the estrogen component in oral contraceptives (OCs) on cholesterol levels thus increasing the risk of atherosclerosis. Low androgenic potency progestins do not have a negative effect, however. Other research indicates that the lower the estrogen dose in OCs the lower the risk of deep vein and superficial thrombosis. OC users, especially low dose OC users, with no other risk factors (e.g. smoking and hypertension) are not at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Some research demonstrates elevated risk of stroke in OC users, however. Elevated cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and other factors further increases the risk of stroke. Combined OCs protect against endometrial and ovarian cancer and this effect increases with use and continues after use. Moreover OC users are not at increased risk of pituitary adenoma. Results of some studies shows an increased risk of cervical cancer, but other only demonstrates a slight increase. So far research does not indicate the following to increase breast cancer risk among OC users: early age at 1st OC use, formulation, family history, and history of benign breast disease. There is an increased risk for liver tumors in OC users, nevertheless it is rare. OCs do not raise the risk of diabetes or gallbladder disease. High dose formulations increases the risk of high blood pressure, but not so with low dose formulations. OC use does not impair, fertility, but delayed conception often occurs. Most research demonstrates no increase in pelvic inflammatory disease in OC users. OCs do not cause congenital malformations. Combined OC use is contraindicated for breast feeding mothers, but progestin only OCs can be used with no advance effects. Results of 1 study demonstrates an increase in HIV infection in OC users, but another study has opposite results. The article concludes with recommended clinical management practices.
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PMID:Reassessment of the metabolic effects of oral contraceptives. 185 68

In summarizing the reports regarding cellular immunity in the household contacts of patients with malignant tumors, household contacts of patients with neuroblastoma, ostegenic sarcoma, malignant melanoma, breast cancer and colonic cancer demonstrated significantly higher reactivity against tumor associated antigens (TAA), but those of hypernephroma did not so. The positiveness against TAA of household contacts had no genetical relationship, collaborating with the positiveness of anti-viral antibody in household contacts of patients with malignant tumors closely related with virus, for example, EB virus, HTLV, HIV and so on. These results suggest a possible vertical transmission of immunogen from cancer patients to their household contacts.
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PMID:[Immunity in cancer patients and their household contacts]. 359 61

Chronic consumption of alcohol in levels typically consumed by alcoholic women clearly produces adverse health consequences, including a shorter life expectancy. The health consequences of alcohol use appear to depend on the characteristics of the person consuming the alcohol (genetic vulnerability to particular diseases, the particular point in the life span when the majority of the alcohol is consumed, and the pattern of consumption typical for that individual). For adolescence and young adulthood, emphasis is placed on increased rates of accidental and suicidal mortality. For middle age, breast cancer risk and risk for developing osteoporosis is discussed. Finally, use of alcohol alone and in combination with psychoactive drugs presents special problems for older women. Other specific adverse effects of alcohol are reviewed with respect to gender differences in cardiovascular, hepatological, and neuropathological outcome, as well as with respect to HIV/AIDS. Psychiatric comorbidity and domestic violence are also discussed with respect to gender differences.
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PMID:Mental and physical health consequences of alcohol use in women. 762 40

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a 41-amino acid peptide which mediates behavioural and physiological responses to stress. A major target of CRH is the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. Three transcription factors have been identified that affect transcription of the POMC gene by binding to two different sites within the CRH-responsive element of that promoter. We searched Genbank and found that nucleotide sequences in the POMC promoter which bind POMC-transcription factors are also contained in the genome of HIV-1 and cytomegalovirus, in c-fes and human MAT-1 breast cancer oncogenes, and in proinflammatory molecules, such as the interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme. We hypothesise a mechanism of hormone action by which a peptide hormone, such as CRH, might affect disease susceptibility by eliciting the production of transcription factors which may bind to unexpected intracellular targets, such as viruses, oncogenes, or the genes encoding for inflammatory mediators. Infection, inflammation, and possibly neoplastic transformation would thus be facilitated. This hypothesis can be tested. If confirmed, CRH antagonists may prove useful in the treatment of disorders whose pathophysiology involves molecules that respond to CRH-regulated POMC transcription factors.
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PMID:A molecular mechanism for stress-induced alterations in susceptibility to disease. 762 47


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