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Biomedical subjects

G R Huggins

Publications and source records attributed to G R Huggins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Oral contraceptives and breast disease.

Epidemiologic data support the hypothesis that the types of OCs used before the mid-1970s protected against most forms of benign breast disease. It is unclear whether current low-dose progestogen OCs will confer the same protection. Further studies are necessary to clarify this. For breast cancer, the relationship is more complex. It is possible that prolonged use of high-dose OCs exert a small increased risk for breast cancer development in women before age 45. Furthermore, prolonged use before a first term pregnancy may result in a small increase in risk for breast cancer before age 45. Studies evaluating the effect of current low-dose OCs are necessary to elucidate what, if any, effect they may have on breast cancer development. Furthermore, as our population ages, studies will be able to determine what effect, if any, may be present in women over age 60, those women with the highest underlying risk of breast cancer. And finally, more research of basic breast tissue physiology and the effect of endogenous and exogenous hormones on this complex organ is needed.

Breast↗
PubMed1990

Fertility after contraception or abortion.

There is a very small correlation, if any, between the prior use of OCs and congenital malformations, including Down's syndrome. There are few, if any, recent reports on masculinization of a female fetus born to a mother who took an OC containing 1 mg of a progestogen during early pregnancy. However, patients suspected of being pregnant and who are desirous of continuing that pregnancy should not continue to take OCs, nor should progestogen withdrawal pregnancy tests be used. Concern still exists regarding the occurrence of congenital abnormalities in babies born to such women. The incidence of postoperative infection after first trimester therapeutic abortion in this country is low. However, increasing numbers of women are undergoing repeated pregnancy terminations, and their risk for subsequent pelvic infections may be multiplied with each succeeding abortion. The incidence of prematurity due to cervical incompetence or surgical infertility after first trimester pregnancy terminations is not increased significantly. Asherman's syndrome may occur after septic therapeutic abortion. The pregnancy rate after treatment of this syndrome is low. The return of menses and the achievement of a pregnancy may be slightly delayed after OCs are discontinued, but the fertility rate is within the normal range by 1 year. The incidence of postpill amenorrhea of greater than 6 months' duration is probably less than 1%. The occurrence of the syndrome does not seem to be related to length of use or type of pill. Patients with prior normal menses as well as those with menstrual abnormalities before use of OCs may develop this syndrome. Patients with normal estrogen and gonadotropin levels usually respond with return of menses and ovulation when treated with clomiphene. The rate for achievement of pregnancy is much lower than that for patients with spontaneous return of menses. The criteria for defining PID or for categorizing its severity are diverse. The incidence of PID is higher among IUD users than among patients taking OCs or using a barrier method. The excess risk of PID among IUD users, with the exception of the first few months after insertion, is related to sexually transmitted diseases and not the IUD. Women with no risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases have little increased risk of PID or infertility associated with IUD use. There appears to be no increased risk of congenital anomalies, altered sex ratio, or early pregnancy loss among spermicide users. All present methods of contraception entail some risk to the patient. The risk of imparied future fertility with the use of any method appears to be low.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1990

Contraception.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1988

Benefits and risks of menopausal estrogen and/or progestin hormone use.

Current evidence is reviewed here on risks and benefits of estrogen and progestin use by peri- and postmenopausal women in relation to the following conditions: endometrial cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and coronary artery disease (CAD). On balance, estrogen therapy appears to be beneficial for menopausal women, as it probably reduces the risks of CAD and osteoporosis, two of the major causes of mortality and morbidity. Although unopposed estrogen therapy increases the risk of endometrial cancer, that cancer is relatively rare and is not fatal in the vast majority of cases associated with estrogen use. Definitive conclusions about the relation of menopausal estrogens to breast cancer cannot be drawn due to inconsistent evidence to date. Although evidence from randomized controlled trials is lacking, biochemical and clinical evidence suggest that progestin supplementation is associated with a reduction in endometrial cancer risk in women taking menopausal estrogens. Progestin supplementation also may augment the beneficial effects of estrogens in providing protection against osteoporosis, although this effect is not yet well established. There is little direct evidence bearing on the relation of menopausal progestins to breast cancer. Although studies of CAD per se are lacking at present, progestins probably unfavorably alter lipoprotein profiles, thereby increasing a user's risk of CAD. Given the relatively high incidence and mortality of CAD in postmenopausal women, any negative effects on CAD risk could potentially counterbalance beneficial effects on other causes. We conclude that estrogen replacement therapy is of potential benefit to postmenopausal women, but that the question of progestin supplementation requires further study, particularly for CAD risk.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

Emotional distress in morning-after pill patients.

The self-administered SCL-90 test was utilized to collect emotional distress data on 120 female patients requesting morning-after pill pregnancy interception. SCL prescores were significant in anxiety, guilt and depression factors. The 2-week post-treatment results showed a significant decrease in these factors. This test provides reliable measurement of emotional distress factors in gynecologic GYN patients. The results must be considered supportive for the use of DES interceptive therapy in spite of other clinical considerations relative to its safety.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed1979

A synthetic steroid (R2323) as a once-a-week oral contraceptive.

Five milligrams of the steroid R2323 (13 beta-ethyl-17 alpha-ethynyl-17-hydroxygona-4,9,11-trien-3-one (R2323) were administered orally once weekly to 28 subjects for a total of 138 treatment cycles. No pregnancies occurred. The predominant side effects were irregular vaginal bleeding, headache, weight gain, and acne. Administration of the drug was stopped by the investigator in four patients (14%) because of the onset of headaches. Four patients discontinued the drug for other reasons. In 8 of 26 subjects (31%), endometrial biopsy in the third treatment cycle showed secretory endometrium. This suggests a variable central suppression with the 5-mg dose schedule. Patients were enthusiastic about the once-weekly oral administration. This contraceptive may be useful in a select group of women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Alterations in the organic compounds of vaginal secretions caused by sexual arousal.

The low-molecular weight organic constituents of human vaginal secretions from normally cycling subjects were analyzed both before and after sexual stimulation. Gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were employed in the analyses of the secretions. Consistent increases were noted for a number of the lipid constituents of the secretions, suggesting that they are derived at least in part from the plasma and transude into the vaginal lumen during arousal. In addition, the increases in the concentrations of glycerol and stearic acid with respect to baseline levels were significant (P is equal to and less than 0.05). Compounds which are produced intravaginally appear to decrease in concentration during the arousal interval because of dilution by the transudate. No consistent qualitative changes were noted in the secretion.

Acetates↗
PubMed1976

Volatile constituents of human vaginal secretions.

Vaginal secretions were serially studied for 44 ovulatory cycles from 12 patients by means of combined gas chromatograph--mass spectrometry to identify small organic volatile compounds. In 10 of these cycles ovulation was documented with plasma radoioimmunoassays for progesterone, estrogens, and LH. These secretions contain a complex mixture of acids, alcohols, hydroxyketones, and aromatic compounds. Lactic acid, acetic acid, and urea were found to be present in all patients and underwent sharp cyclical variations in concentration with maxima in all patients occurring at midcycle. Small-chain, volatile C2-C5 aliphatic acids which have been shown to induce mating behavior in male rhesus monkeys were found in only four patients. In these patients the above acids were found predominantly at midcycle and during the luteal phase.

Alcohols↗