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Endometriosis, which can result in infertility, menstrual cramps, and pelvic discomfort, affects up to 15% of American women of childbearing age. When uterine tissue spreads outside of the uterus, it is known as endometriosis. If this growth develops and bleeds, it could result in discomfort and other symptoms.

“Endometriosis depends on estrogen, a hormone well known for regulating a woman’s reproductive functions. Estrogen also affects other organs such as the heart and blood vessels, bones, breasts, skin, hair, mucous membranes, pelvic muscles and the brain,” said corresponding author Dr Sang Jun Han, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology and in the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Treatments centred on gradually reducing oestrogen and employing anti-inflammatory medications have been inspired by endometriosis’ dependency on oestrogen and inflammation.

“However, current endometriosis treatments have low efficacy, high recurrence rate and cause adverse effects in other tissues affected by estrogen,” said Han, who also is a member of Baylor’s Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Our goal in this study published in the Journal of Biomedical Science was to look for a better treatment for this condition.”

Estrogen receptors (ERs) ER-alpha and ER-beta, which mediate the actions of the hormones on cells, play crucial roles in the development and progression of endometriosis since it is an estrogen-dependent illness. The Han lab and other researchers’ earlier work has demonstrated that ER-beta plays a crucial role in the development of endometriosis.

“These findings suggest that selectively suppressing the activity of ER-beta could help treat the condition without side effects of current hormonal therapies targeting ER-alpha,” said first author Dr Yuri Park, a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor.

Han and his coworkers screened a library of natural products using cells in the lab in search of substances that may be utilised to treat endometriosis as non-hormonal therapy. The researchers discovered that oleuropein, a naturally occurring substance present in olive leaves, selectively inhibits ER-beta activity while not ER-alpha activity. Additionally, they discovered that oleuropein effectively inhibits the development of mouse and human endometriosis lesions in mouse models.

“In addition, oleuropein treatment was neither toxic to the liver nor did it affect the ability of female mice to have offspring,” Han said. “In mice with endometriosis, oleuropein improved the pregnancy rate. We are excited by these promising findings as they support further exploration of the value of oleuropein as naturopathy for human endometriosis treatment. Oleuropein is less expensive than hormonal therapy, and our current findings suggest that it is safer than current treatments.”

Throughout the whole course of the illness, from the early stages to the point of androgen independence, where the tumour no longer responds to hormone restriction treatment, researchers have detailed prostate cancer cell dynamics at a single-cell resolution.

Their research in mice, which was published in the journal eLife, shows that prostate cancer exhibits a proliferation of intermediate cells, which is associated with treatment resistance and worse clinical outcomes in people. These cells are castration-resistant, which explains why prostate tumours can resist hormone-related therapies since they can develop even in the absence of testosterone. The most often diagnosed kind of cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the US is prostate cancer.

The likelihood of developing castration-resistant prostate cancer and the lack of comprehensive understanding of the cellular mechanisms behind the disease’s development are both major contributors to this (CRPC).
The two types of epithelial cells that make up the prostate gland epithelium, a type of biological tissue that forms the surface of glands and organs, are basal cells and highly-differentiated luminal cells (cells which have altered in form). However, it has previously been suggested that the luminal cells can develop into a more stem-like, castration-resistant intermediate.

“It has been suggested that normal luminal cells are able to transition into these progenitor cells under castrate conditions,” says lead author Alexandre Germanos, a PhD candidate in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Washington, US, and a graduate student at the Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, US. “There is evidence that these cells contribute to the initial development of tumours in the prostate and resistance to treatment in advanced cancers, although this is yet to be confirmed in other models of CRPC.”

Germanos and colleagues created a “map of prostate cellular composition and evolution” over the course of the illness using a mouse model of CRPC in order to better investigate this.

Most individuals with advanced prostate cancer have inactive Pten, a gene that codes for an enzyme that suppresses tumours. The scientists compared the populations of epithelial and non-epithelial cell types in Pten-deficient mice with healthy mice using a method known as single-cell RNA sequencing.
They discovered basal, luminal, and luminal progenitor cells among other epithelial cell types in the prostates of healthy mice. They noticed a proliferation of luminal intermediate cells in the prostates of Pten-deficient animals, which were probably produced from basal cells, luminal progenitor cells, and developed luminal cells. This supports recent research in the area and demonstrates that basal cells can develop into intermediate cells after Pten ablation.

The scientists also noticed that after hormone deprivation, malignant intermediate cells continued to grow, greatly increasing the variety of cells inside a tumour (known as tumour heterogeneity). They showed that preventing protein production can limit this heterogeneity.

The scientists then worked to define the effects of this intermediate cell growth brought on by hormone deprivation. They found that a 5-gene signature is especially concentrated in the intermediate cells. They demonstrated that the signature is linked to treatment resistance and subpar clinical outcomes using two datasets of bulk RNA-sequencing data from prostate cancer patients. A fraction of metastatic human prostate cancer cells—tumors that can spread—also exhibit the signature’s enrichment, but not the originating tumour cells.

These results imply that a 5-gene signature established from prostate cancer animal models may be significant for understanding human illness. The existence of this gene signature may be a helpful prognostic indicator for predicting patient outcomes and treatment resistance. The authors request more research to confirm the function of this signature and intermediate-like cell types in men with prostate cancer.

Additionally, their investigation showed that the prostate of mice lacking Pten is substantially enriched for immune cells that encourage the growth of tumours, resulting in a microenvironment that aids tumours in evading immune system suppression.

Epithelial cells and fibroblasts, a kind of cell that aids in the formation of connective tissue, attract pro-tumorigenic macrophages, a specialised cell type involved in the elimination of dangerous organisms. In order to overcome immunotherapy resistance in prostate cancer, it may be possible to stop the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages.

“Overall, our work highlights multiple epithelial and immune cell types that are crucial to prostate cancer initiation and progression, and sheds light on the interactions between specific cell populations that contribute to castration-resistance,” concludes senior author Andrew Hsieh, Associate Professor in the Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, and the Department of Medicine and Genome Sciences (affiliate), University of Washington.”We wanted to provide a broad, searchable resource for cancer researchers and encourage further research in the area. We’ve therefore developed a publicly accessible and interactive website that allows scientists to run cell- and gene-specific queries through all 50,780 cells analysed in our study.”

According to a study published in the online edition of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, on November 22, 2022, people who consume more foods high in the antioxidant flavonols, which are present in many fruits and vegetables as well as tea and wine, may experience a slower rate of memory deterioration.

“It’s exciting that our study shows making specific diet choices may lead to a slower rate of cognitive decline,” said study author Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. “Something as simple as eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more tea is an easy way for people to take an active role in maintaining their brain health.”

Flavonoids, a class of phytochemicals present in plant pigments and recognised for their positive health benefits, including flavonols. The average age of the 961 participants in the trial without dementia was 81. Each year, they responded to a questionnaire on their dietary habits.

Additionally, they had yearly cognitive and memory assessments that involved placing numbers in the right order, memorising lists of words, and recalling word lists. In addition, questions regarding their level of schooling, how much time they spent exercising, and how much time they spent doing cognitively stimulating things like reading and playing video games were asked. They had an average of seven years of follow-up.

Depending on how many flavonols they consumed, the population was split into five equal groups. The research group had an average dietary intake of total flavonols of around 10 mg per day, compared to the average amount of flavonols consumed by US adults, which ranges from 16 to 20 milligrammes (mg) per day.

The top group ingested an average of 15 mg per day, which is about comparable to one cup of dark leafy greens, whereas the lowest group consumed just approximately 5 mg daily.

Researchers utilised a total global cognition score that represented the results of 19 cognitive tests to calculate rates of cognitive decline. For those with no cognitive issues, the average score was 0.5; for those with moderate cognitive impairment, it was 0.2; and for those with Alzheimer’s disease, it was -0.5.

Researchers discovered that the cognitive score of those with the highest intake of flavonols fell at a pace of 0.4 units per decade less slowly than those with the lowest intake after controlling for other variables that may impact the rate of memory decline, such as age, sex, and smoking. Holland remarked that this is likely caused by flavonols’ innate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities.

The four components of the flavonol class—kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, and isorhamnetin—were also broken down in the study. For example, kale, beans, tea, spinach, and broccoli contributed the most kaempferol; tomatoes, kale, apples, and tea contributed the most quercetin; tea, wine, kale, oranges, and tomatoes contributed the most myricetin; and pears, olive oil, wine, and tomato sauce contributed the most isorhamnetin.

The rate of cognitive deterioration was 0.4 units per decade slower in individuals with the highest consumption of kaempferol than in those with the lowest intake. The rate of cognitive deterioration was 0.2 units per decade slower among individuals who consumed the most quercetin compared to those who consumed the least. Additionally, individuals who consumed the most myricetin had a rate of cognitive deterioration that was 0.3 units per decade lower than those who consumed the least. Global cognition and dietary isorhamnetin were not related.

Holland pointed out that while the study does not establish that dietary flavonols directly contribute to a slower pace of cognitive decline, it does demonstrate a relationship between greater intakes of dietary flavonols and a slower rate of cognitive decline.

Women’s health is affected by physical & socio-economic factors which could lead to severe health complications. Proper nutrition, hormonal imbalance, lifestyle changes & menopausal transition are often neglected by women in today’s hectic lifestyle. Thus, emphasis on women’s health is the need of the hour.

The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) is creating awareness-Gyan Jyoti to promote health. FOGSI is a professional organization representing practitioners of obstetrics and gynecology in India. With 262 member societies and over 38,000 individual members spread over the length and breadth of the country, FOGSI is probably one of the largest membership-based organizations of specialized professionals.

The President of FOGSI, Dr. Hrishikesh Pai has initiated the BADLAV clinic that will be inaugurated on 18th December. This clinic will offer free treatment to all women on the 18th of every month at a PAN India level. The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with more than 38,000 members will be joining hands through this noble initiative. Moreover, with a motto of enhancing the well-being of Women & society, Gyan Jyoti aims to bring a change-Badlaav by sharing knowledge for healthy living, it will educate her about topics that are new and will encourage her to participate in bringing change.

The Public Awareness Committee of FOGSI under the Chairpersonship of Dr. Priyankur Roy is organizing ’Gyan Jyoti’- a Public Awareness initiative that will be held in Hotel Sheraton Saket, New Delhi on Sunday 18th December 2022 in association with Madhukar Rainbow Hospital, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi. Dr. Anita Sabharwal, Dr. Jayshree Sundar, Dr. Vidhu Modgil, Dr. Kalyan Barmade, Dr. Monica Umbardand, and others have put in valiant efforts towards making this initiative of ‘Sukhi Naari, Swasth Naari’ a grand success.

The associated partners will be the recognized obstetrics and gynecological societies like NARCHI, AOGD, ISCCP. In this program we are going to highlight various important aspects of women’s health like the prevention of cervical cancer, the impact of non-communicable diseases, safe abortion practices, contraceptive uses, and the most important topic menstrual hygiene & Preserve the Uterus. “Uterus is a vital organ in a woman’s body for its capability for bringing a new life to the world but also its presence keeps the hormones required to keep the women healthy even 10 years post menopause. Those hormones are required for keeping cardiovascular health, bone health, as well as psychosomatic health in place.

Now there are various diseases like dysfunctional uterine bleeding, hormonal causes for bleeding, structural diseases like polyp which has alternative approaches like conservative management, medical management. endometrial ablation, Mirena insertion, hormonal and non-hormonal pills and lifestyle modification.

Hysterectomy causes deprivation of a women to feel reproductively complete mentally as well as physically as after hysterectomy even if we preserve the ovaries still the blood supply to ovaries becomes compromised for which various side effects like reduced bone mineral density, cardiovascular side effects, early menopausal symptoms comes into play. So always if hysterectomy is performed for reasons other than cancer ovary preservation of ovaries to keep up the hormone levels is necessary also if hysterectomy is performed proper follow becomes necessary. Conserving uterus and not doing a hysterectomy is the need of the hour to regain women’s mental and physical health” says Dr. Jayasree Sundar, Director OBGY, Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital. We are also going to discuss various aspects of organ and blood donation with included social activities like Tree plantation, Walkathon & Zumbathon will also be a part of this campaign.

College students who are anxious about their upcoming exams might want to include walnuts in their regular diet. At a recent clinical study, eating walnuts while in school had a favourable effect on the biomarkers of general health and self-reported indices of mental health in undergraduate students. Walnuts may be able to lessen the damaging effects of academic stress on the gut flora, especially in females, according to a University of South Australia study that was published in the journal Nutrients.

The findings, according to the study’s principal investigators, PhD candidate Mauritz Herselman and Associate Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya, contribute to the expanding body of studies associating walnuts to better gut and brain health.

“Students experience academic stress throughout their studies, which has a negative effect on their mental health, and they are particularly vulnerable during exam periods,” Herselman says.

Clinical evaluations of 80 undergraduate students, divided into treatment and control groups, were place over the course of three intervals: at the start of a 13-week semester at the university, throughout the exam period, and two weeks following the exam period. Over these three intervals, the treatment group was given walnuts to eat every day for 16 weeks.

“We found that those who consumed about half a cup of walnuts every day showed improvements in self-reported mental health indicators. Walnut consumers also showed improved metabolic biomarkers and overall sleep quality in the longer term.”

In the weeks leading up to examinations, students in the control group experienced more stress and despair than those in the treatment group did. In comparison to the controls, the walnut eaters also noted a substantial decline in depressive symptoms between the first and last visits.

Previous studies have demonstrated that walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, melatonin (a hormone that induces sleep), polyphenols, folate, and vitamin E, all of which support brain and gastrointestinal health.

“The World Health Organization has recently stated that at least 75 per cent of mental health disorders affect people under the age of 24 years, making undergraduate students particularly vulnerable to mental health problems,” Herselman says.

According to Associate Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya, mental health issues are widespread among college students and can have a negative impact on both their academic performance and long-term physical health.

“We have shown that consuming walnuts during stressful periods can improve mental health and general well-being in university students, as well as being a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many recipes, to fight some negative effects of academic stress,” Assoc Prof Bobrovskaya says. “Due to fewer numbers of males in the study, more research is needed to establish sex-dependent effects of walnuts and academic stress in university students. It’s also possible that a placebo effect might have come into play as this was not a blind study.”

According to the first study to show long-term alcohol use and issues in this cohort, adolescents who had metabolic and bariatric surgery as teenagers are more prone to drink.
After eight years, researchers found that more than half of the study subjects had alcohol use disorders, problems, or other indications of alcohol-related harm. Results have been published in the Annals of Surgery journal.

“The increased alcohol use we found in this study surpasses that expected from others in this age group in the general population,” said study author and principal investigator Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, Surgeon-in-Chief and Director of Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, as well as Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “We also know the anatomic changes after surgery result in increased sensitivity to alcohol, so that ounce for ounce, greater effects and consequences of alcohol intake are seen after these operations.”

In the multicenter trial, 217 patients (aged 13 to 19) reported drinking alcohol prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery as well as every year for up to eight years afterward. Dr. Inge and colleagues discovered an eight-fold rise in potentially dangerous drinking, a five-fold rise in indications of alcohol-related damage, and a 13-fold rise in alcohol-related difficulties during the postoperative period.

“The persistent and concerning pattern of alcohol use in the years after surgery emphasizes the need to integrate screening, education, and guidance around alcohol use into the routine primary care for adolescents who have had surgery,” said Dr Inge, who also holds the Lydia J. Fredrickson Board Designated Professorship in Pediatric Surgery.

Lipstick may boost self-esteem, complete an outfit, and prevent chapped lips. Sharing a tube with a friend or member of your family, though, can transfer disease. Cranberry extract was added to the mix by researchers at ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces to produce a version with antibacterial properties.

Viruses, bacteria, and a fungus that cause disease that come into touch with their deep crimson cream are swiftly rendered inactive. According to historians, the first humans to wear makeup were those in ancient Egypt, who applied pastes derived from local minerals and other ingredients. Although the formulas have changed over the years, experts are once more turning to natural substances.

For instance, according to recent studies, lipstick formulations including natural colourants, such red dragon fruit, can produce goods that have both bright hues and antibacterial action. Additionally, cranberry extract has previously been demonstrated to render bacteria, fungi, and viruses inactive. Angel Serrano-Aroca and associates aimed to develop a deep red lip colour with antibacterial qualities using cranberry extract.

Cranberry extract was blended into a lipstick cream foundation that also included shea butter, vitamin E, provitamin B5, babassu oil, and avocado oil by the study team. In trials, cultures containing several viruses, bacteria, and one type of fungus were put along with the reddish cream. Within a minute of coming into touch with the cranberry-containing cream, both enveloped and non-enveloped virus types were entirely rendered inactive.

Within five hours of using the cream, the multidrug-resistant bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungus were mostly rendered inactive. The researchers hypothesise that a number of disease-causing germs may be shielded from by their cutting-edge lipstick mix. The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation as well as the Fundacion Universidad Catolica de Valencia San Vicente Martir have provided financing to the writers.

Although it has a bad reputation for posing a health concern when blood levels of cholesterol are too high, cholesterol is an essential component of the membrane that encircles every human cell. The key to optimal health is having the appropriate amount of cholesterol in the right places. Cholesterol homeostasis refers to maintaining healthy levels. New details on how cells keep cholesterol homeostasis within the cell membrane have been discovered by researchers at Kyoto University in Japan’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS). The Journal of Biological Chemistry publishes the findings.
The density of cholesterol molecules within the cell membrane regulates the fluidity, thickness, and flexibility of the membrane.

These features are essential for the membrane to function as a selective semi-permeable barrier, allowing for precise regulation of the chemicals that can enter and exit cells.

“Disturbances in cholesterol homeostasis can lead to some serious diseases, but it has been unclear how cells detect and respond to changes in cholesterol levels in the cell membrane,” says iCeMS cellular biochemist Kazumitsu Ueda.

A crucial function of two proteins in preserving an optimal distribution of cholesterol inside cells and their membranes has recently been identified by Ueda and his colleague Fumihiko Ogasawara. ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1), the first protein, transports cholesterol within the membrane. A lipid bilayer, consisting of inner and outer layers of fatty molecules (phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids) that are positioned in opposition to one another, makes up the cell membrane.

The ABCA1 protein regulates the movement of cholesterol molecules from the inner layer to the outer layer, which is a significant new discovery revealed in the current study. This procedure is known as “cholesterol flipping” by the researchers. Their earlier research focused on how this protein helps high-density lipoprotein (HDL), sometimes known as good cholesterol, transport cholesterol through the circulation.

Aster-A, a protein that transfers cholesterol, was also discovered by Ueda and Ogasawara to work in conjunction with ABCA1 to maintain the essential asymmetric distribution of cholesterol, with more cholesterol in the outer layer of the cell membrane than the interior. The endoplasmic reticulum of the cell contains Aster-A, which is inside the cell.

Aster-A creates a bridge that transports cholesterol from the cell membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum when the amount of cholesterol in the inner layer of the cell membrane rises.
The researchers explain how cholesterol may act as a signalling agent in the membrane due to its uneven distribution, with the degree of asymmetry determining how it affects other cellular functions. They contend that this explains why flaws in ABCA1’s normal operation can result in improper molecular signalling, which can cause cancer and autoimmune disorders.

“The progress we have made needs to be built on to better understand all the implications of these cholesterol homeostasis processes in both health and disease,” Ueda concludes. He hopes this may eventually open new avenues to treating diseases linked to cholesterol imbalance.

Dr. Rajat Gupta, Senior Consultant, Cosmetic Surgeon Rosewalk Healthcare

The Mommy Makeover is a procedure designed especially for problems faced by women after Pregnancy and Breastfeeding. The surgical technique has found its way into mainstream media with it becoming the procedure of choice among Hollywood elite. Fortunately for mothers everywhere, there are many ways to address these changes and make yourself feel better about yourself. One such way is through mommy makeover surgery.

Mommy makeover surgery empowers you by helping you attain a contour body figure and a healthy, glowing skin effectively by the combination of surgical as well as a non-surgical procedure, including liposuction, tummy tuck, breast lift, facial rejuvenation, and additional skincare treatment.

A mother after 2 childbirths and breastfeeding routines, the patient faced issues of subcutaneous fat accumulation in the abdomen area, sagging abdominal skin, enlarged, loose and sagging breasts, deflated buttock area, and undesirable body shape. The patient also suffered back and neck pain and distorted posture due to enlarged breasts.

Dr Rajat Gupta, an experienced and board – certified surgeon with a track record of more than 800 Mommy Makeover procedures performed till date, carried out the procedure. 360O Liposuction, Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Reduction Mammaplasty (Breast Reduction), and Buttock Augmentation was recommended for the patient. She was examined for physical health, found in sound health conditions, and ready to receive the procedure. The patient was a non-smoking patient. She received 2 consultation sessions for a complete understanding of all the procedure inclusions. Each session lasted 45 minutes. The patient also checked the before and after images of previous surgery results performed by the surgeon. She found the results satisfactory and understood the procedure timeline, recovery timeline, and post-op care to be taken.

He started with the liposuction of the back followed by the liposuction of upper abdomen, the flank region called love handles, and the lower abdomen. This procedure is called 360 liposuction. It was performed to achieve harmonious results. To give a natural, hourglass shape, hi-definition liposuction was performed.

To remove the sagging and hanging skin, complete contouring of the abdomen, also known as Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, was performed to give a highly aesthetic and natural-looking shape to the abdomen, along with an extremely shapely navel. During the tummy tuck, all the extra skin was removed, and the edges of the skin were sutured with the other edge of the skin. The skin was perfectly tightened on the abdomen area to remove all signs of sagging. The bikini incision was made to excise the extra skin tissue and was kept extremely low to keep it hidden inside the pelvic crease.

To achieve the hourglass shape, the divarication of the recti muscles was also corrected. The two muscles in the midriff, called recti, are usually joined in the midline, but after pregnancy, Mrs. Khatri(Name Changed) was facing divarication, which means the muscles had gone apart. Using his immense expertise, Dr. Gupta sutured the muscle layers together – one edge of the muscle to the other to bring them together. This helped in achieving a thinner waistline.

The fat removed from this zone was used to augment the lateral hips to provide a good elevation to the buttock area. This made the buttocks not wider but lifted and achieved the hourglass shape for the patient. The waist went in, and the buttocks slightly came out; thus, Mrs Khatri(Name Changed) received the desired hourglass shape.

For the breast reduction procedure, Dr Gupta performed liposuction to remove extra fat from the breasts. He then excised the excess amount of breast tissue and hanging skin and sutured it after lifting the breasts, giving them a natural, more youthful shape, proportionate to the rest of her body. The nipple and areola were also placed at an elevated position to give them a youthful appearance. This gave the patient an aesthetic-looking, fuller cleavage.

The aesthetics of the body and the shape have immensely improved. The results will improve over the next few weeks as the swelling and bruising settle down In all the abdominoplasty and body contouring procedures, the surgeon used MicroAire and VASER liposuction techniques. Other contouring devices were used to give the perfect natural-looking results as the patient desired. Tummy tuck combined with hi-def 360O lipo, breast reduction, and lateral raise of the buttocks combined together proved to be a highly successful procedure for Mrs. Khatri(Name changed), who was looking to regain the body shape she lost after multiple pregnancies.