The results of our study suggest that ET alone in hysterectomized postmenopausal women increases the vaginal blood flow and improves some domains of sexual function, but it may not have an impact on diminished sexual desire or activity. Compared with systemic therapy, topical vaginal preparations are found to correlate with better symptom relief despite the lower serum level of estradiol.

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Background information. The common phenotypes of cancer and stem cells suggest that cancers arise from stem cells. Oestrogen is one of the few most important determinants of breast cancer, as shown by several lines of convincing evidence. We have previously reported a human breast epithelial cell type (Type 1 HBEC) with stem cell characteristics and ERα (oestrogen receptor α) expression. A tumorigenic cell line, M13SV1R2, was developed from this cell type after SV40 (simian virus 40) large T-antigen transfection and X-ray irradiation. The cell line, however, was not responsive to oestrogen for cell growth or tumour development. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that deprivation of growth factors and hormones may change the tumorigenicity and oestrogen response of this cell line. Results. The M13SV1R2 cells lost their tumorigenicity after culturing in a growth factor/hormone-deprived medium for >10 passages (referred to as R2d cells) concomitant with the expression of two tumour suppressor genes, namely those coding for maspin and α6 integrin. However, these cells acquired oestrogen responsiveness in cell growth and tumour development. By immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and flow cytometry analysis, oestrogen treatment of R2d cells was found to induce many important effects related to breast carcinogenesis, namely: (i) the emergence of a subpopulation of cells expressing CD44 +/high /CD24 −/low breast tumour stem cell markers; (ii) the induction of EMT (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition); (iii) the acquisition of metastatic ability; and (iv) the expression of COX-2 (cyclo-oxygenase-2) through a CD44-mediated mechanism.Conclusion. An oestrogen-responsive cell line with ERα and CD44 + /CD24 −/low expression can be derived from breast epithelial stem cells. The tumorigenicity and oestrogen response of these cells could depend on the cell culture conditions. The findings of this study have implications in regard to the origins of (1) ERα-positive breast cancers, (2) CD44 + /CD24 −/low breast tumour stem cells and (3) the metastatic ability of breast cancer.

Perigee/Apogee® and Prolift® devices for POP repair have comparable success rates, mesh-related morbidities, and similar impacts on functional outcome.

Women with POP may experience improvement of their OAB symptoms after transvaginal mesh repair. Both age and DO were two predictors in our univariate analysis, and the latter was the only significant predictor of symptom relief after adjusting age factor.

TVT-O tape results in a less acute angle and localises to a more distal part of the urethra, resulting in less urethral compression and a lower rate of urethral dynamic kinking.

Urethral obstruction after TVT is a relatively uncommon condition. It can be effectively treated with transvaginal lateral excision of the tape. Recurrent stress incontinence seems to be less likely to occur when the takedown procedure occurs beyond 14 days after the initial TVT operation.

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