Human Free Estriol ELISA Kit

Objectives: The aim of this research was to assess the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser energy for treating vaginal atrophy and lichen sclerosus. Materials and Methods: The first study population was 23 postmenopausal women diagnosed with vaginal atrophy via microscopic evaluation and who were symptomatic. The second study population was 27 postmenopausal women diagnosed with lichen sclerosus by biopsy and who were symptomatic. Patients with vaginal atrophy had 3 treatment sessions spaced at 4-6 weeks between each session. Laser settings for this group were: power: Watts, 30; time, 1000 microseconds; and spacing, 1000 micrometers. For the lichen sclerosus group, the power was set at 20 Watts and 3-4 treatments were given at 4-6-week intervals. Results: In the vaginal atrophy cohort, 22/23 women who previously complained of dryness and discomfort had these symptoms alleviated and vaginal microscopic exam showed significant changes in color, elasticity, and wetness following 3 courses of CO2 laser fractional treatment; additionally 20/23 women had elimination of urinary frequency and urgency, 18/21 women had alleviation of dyspareunia. In the lichen sclerosus cohort 24/27 patients who had laser treatment reported cessation of itching and pain/discomfort; and 26/27 women demonstrated visible improvement of skin color, elasticity, vascularity following 3-4 laser treatments. All examinations were performed with the operating microscope. Conclusions: The fractional CO2 laser beam is useful for treating vaginal atrophy and lichen sclerosus. This new technique represents a significant divergence from estrogenic-, steroid- and corticosteroid-bulwark dependence. All treatments were performed in an office setting and were associated with either no pain or, at the most, minimal and temporary discomfort. This new use of the CO2 laser is an excellent alternative for managing these two troublesome problems, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Estrogens are a group of steroid compounds found in the human body that are eventually discharged and ultimately end up in sewer effluents. Since these compounds can potentially affect the endocrine system its detection and quantification in sewer water is important. In this study, estrogens such as estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and ethynylestradiol (EE2) were discriminated and quantitated using Raman spectroscopy. Simulated Raman spectra were correlated with experimental data to identify unique marker peaks, which proved to be useful in differentiating each estrogen molecules. Among these marker peaks are Raman modes arising from hydroxyl groups of the estrogen molecules in the spectral region 3200-3700 cm(-1). Other Raman modes unique to each of the estrogen samples were also identified, including peaks at 1722 cm(-1) for E1 and 2109 cm(-1) for EE2, which corresponds to their distinctive structures each containing a different set of functional groups. To quantify the components of estrogen mixtures, the intensities of each identifying Raman bands, at 581 cm(-1) for E1, 546 cm(-1) for E2, 762 cm(-1) for E3 and 597 cm(-1) for EE2, were compared and normalized against the intensity of a common peak at 783 cm(-1). Quantitative analysis yielded most results within an acceptable 20% error. Published by Elsevier B.V.