Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0600142 (hot flushes)
 1,242 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

4-Hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (formestane) is a selective aromatase inhibitor. It is indicated for postmenopausal patients with advanced breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione on the bile secretion and metabolism of 4-(14)C-cholesterol to bile acid. The experiments were carried out in the ovariectomized and sham-operated female Wistar rats. Formestane (20 mg/kg, i.m., daily) was administered to animals for 2 weeks. Twenty four hours after the last drug administration, rats were anesthetized with ethyl urethane. 4-(14)C-cholesterol (740 kBq/kg, s.a. 2.28 GBq/mmol) was infused for 1 min by catheter inserted into the jugular vein. Bile samples were assayed for total 14C radioactivity 14C-bile acids were determined in bile (after thin-layer chromatographic separation) by the use of isotopic technique with liquid scintillator. Previous studies showed that systemic adverse effects occurred in about 12% of patients following intramuscular drug administration. Many of them such as hot flushes, vaginal spotting and emotional lability were related to the mechanism of action of formestane i.e. estrogen suppression. Lethargy, rash, nausea, dizziness, indigestion, ataxia, cramps and facial swelling have also been reported. The results of the present study have shown that formestane administered to the female ovariectomized rats decreased the bile secretion and diminished conversion of 4-(14)C-cholesterol to trihydroxy bile acids. The decreased synthesis of trihydroxy bile acids and increased concentrations of cholesterol and litocholic acid in bile may be associated with increased risk of gallstone formation.
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PMID:Effect of 4-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (formestane) on the bile secretion and metabolism of 4-(14)C-cholesterol to bile acids. 1638 15

Hot flashes occur frequently in menopausal women and in women with breast cancer, diminishing their quality of life. A report from the Women's Health Initiative published in 2002 raised concerns about the long-term safety of estrogen therapy. As a result, nonhormonal alternatives have emerged as preferred treatments. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that the United States Food and Drug Administration approved as an adjunct therapy for partial seizures and postherpetic neuralgia. Somnolence, dizziness, ataxia, fatigue, nystagmus, and peripheral edema are adverse effects commonly associated with gabapentin in the treatment of epilepsy and postherpetic neuralgia. The North American Menopause Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend the use of gabapentin as an option for managing hot flashes in women who are unwilling to take estrogen-containing supplements. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin for the treatment of hot flashes in women with menopause and/or breast cancer, we performed a search of the MEDLINE database (1966-March 2008) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, as well as manually searching reference articles for relevant articles and abstracts; 10 clinical studies were identified. Although the studies were few, all showed gabapentin to be safe and effective in the treatment of hot flashes. At doses used to control hot flashes, gabapentin was well tolerated, with drowsiness as its most reported adverse effect. Gabapentin can be considered effective in the treatment of hot flashes and should be considered a reasonable alternative when estrogen therapy is not desired.
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PMID:Use of gabapentin in patients experiencing hot flashes. 1911 98