Nearly 2 years ago we reported the first study on the association between resveratrol and endometriosis, the disease involving most frequently pelvic pain and infertility (1). The preliminary tests (2) on mice showed that the organic antioxidant poliphenol might have application in therapy of endometriosis. This devious disease seems to escape every treatment option, so the prospect was more than promising. Today we see that resveratrol has come up to our expectations. A group of Brazilian scientists conducted an interesting clinical trial (3) investigating the impact of resveratrol added to conventional oral contraceptives on pain level. In addition the researchers examined the expression of aromatase (enzyme responsible for aromatization of androgens into estrogens) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 in the endometrial tissue. Both tests provide encouraging results. Read full text »

Apart from being annoying to household members, snoring during gestation poses serious threat to a mother and a fetus. Scientists from Michigan report in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (1) (AJOG) that pregnancy-onset snoring is independently associated with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. According to WHO both conditions are the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity (2). Researchers admit that, although the mechanism of this relationship is unclear, the treatment of habitual snoring alone might significantly reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy.

Read full text »

Condom ceases to be the only common method of HIV prevention. As far as ‘dream’ about anti-HIV vaccination is out of range of modern medicine, scientists are looking for new kinds of pre-exposure prophylaxis. A new development of this group is intravaginal ring containing experimental drug – Dapivirine, which is supposed to prevent viral infection. Currently, a large trial is running in five African countries in order to test effectiveness an extended safety of this contraceptive. Results are expected in early 2015. Read full text »

Recently the world has held breath as the new dangerous disease was discovered. The Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AOIS) resembles Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) not only in its name, but more importantly in its clinical course. Patients, who were born almost exclusively in Thailand or Taiwan present with symptoms of multiple opportunistic infections. Authors of the study (1) on AOIS, published in the August issue of prestigious New England Journal Of Medicine, claim there is no evidence on the viral etiology of the disease. However, as some media hailed AOIS as “HIV 2.0”, the tension remains. Read full text »

In the pursuit of a career, high standard of living and fulfilling the dreams both, women and men are increasingly postponing the decision to enlarge the family “for later”. Most of them starts from the assumption that if they are fulfilled people, they will be better parents. Therefore, they wait with the decision about a child for the right moment in their lives. However, increasingly despite the advent of the “right moment”, longed for positive pregnancy test results do not appear. When this condition is prolonged the partners begin to wonder what the problem is and how to deal with it. Read full text »

The comorbidity of endometriosis and migraine was first discovered in 1975, but until now has not been fully acknowledged. Although both diseases share some epidemiological and clinical features, the nature of their relationship remains unclear. Does endometriosis cause headaches? Or is it migraine that makes endometriosis more detectable? Why do they have so much in common? These issues are discussed in the population-based study performed by Taiwanian scientists, which proves that indeed „women with endometriosis are more likely to suffer from migraines” (1). Read full text »

In 1983 in Paris, a virus was isolated. To this day it fills physicians and the public with fear. This small organic molecule has the power of progressive destruction of the body and, consequently, deprival of life. Will the pre –exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)- so keenly supported by the specialists from the Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee – be accepted by the strict FDA committee? Read full text »