Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), occurs mostly in women and sex hormones may play a role in the pathogenesis and clinical course. The objective of this study was to determine the status and prevalence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in PTC with regard to age, gender, tumor size and lymph node involvement.Methods: Immunohistochemical stains were performed on 92 tissue blocks of PTC for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in tumor cells. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to determine statistical difference using statistical software SPSS.Results: The mean age of patients was 39.32±1.7 years (range 13-80) with 79 (85.9%) women and 13 (14.1%) men. Lymph node involvement was seen in 76.1% of patients. The average tumor size was 3.6±2.21 cm. The rate of ER and PR expression were 46.75% and 5.6%, respectively. ER expression for females was higher than males (P=0.014), but no relation was found between males and females in PR expression (P=0.7). Also there was no statistical difference between ER and PR expression with respect to age, lymph node involvement and tumor size.Conclusion: Our study showed higher ER expression in females than males with PTC. No relation was found between the expression of these receptors and age of presentation, lymph node involvement and tumor size. Further investigation is required to determine the prognostic importance of ER and PR in PTC.

Background: Epulis Fissuratum (Epulis Fissuratum (EF) or Denture Epulis or inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia) is a common hyperplastic tumor-like lesion with reactive nature, related to loose and ill-fitting, full or partial removable dentures and it is more common in women than men. For this reason, hormonal influences may also play role in its creation. The effect of steroid hormones especially sex hormones (Estrogen and progesterone) on oral mucosa is identified in some studies. In the present study, the distribution pattern and presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in epithelial, stromal, endothelial and inflammatory cells in Epulis Fissuratum was investigated.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 30 samples of paraffin blocks with Epulis Fissuratum diagnosis and 30 samples of normal mucosal tissues as a control group who have had surgery as a margin beside the above lesions and had been obtained from the oral and maxillofacial pathology departement of Babol Dental School since 2003 up to 2010. Intensity of staining and immunoreactivity were evaluated using subjective index and considering the positive control group (breast carcinoma).Results: Epithelial, stromal, endothelial and inflammatory cells didn’t show reaction with monoclonal antibodies against estrogen and progesterone in none of the samples.Conclusion: It seems that the hypothesis of the existence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in epulis fissuratum and normal oral mucosa is ruled out. The possibility of direct effect of estrogen and progesterone in occurring of epulis fissuratum is rejected.

Breast cancer is the first among the top ten cancers as a significant public health issue for women in Iraq. The study was conducted to investigate the association of estrogen and progesterone risks in breast cancer. This study contained sixty paraffin blocks divided into 40 samples of breast cancer blocks and 20 samples of normal breast tissues to examine the expression of estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors in Iraqi patients with breast cancer. The samples were immunohistochemical examined with Dako kits (Dako, Denmark), with higher scores suggesting the presence and density of these receptors (ER and PR). According to the findings of this investigation, the majority of patients were tested positive for ER and PR receptors. There is increasing evidence that ER and PR receptors have a role in the development of breast cancer, making it a desirable protein to become a key target for cancer treatment.

Background: It is well known that progesterone (i.p.) have a potent anticonvulsant effect in human and animal. This study was designed to evaluate the involvement of opioid receptors in this effect of progesterone in ovariectomized mice.Methods: All animal received intraperitoneal injection of drugs (progesterone and naloxone) two week s after surgery, for ovariectomy. Convulsion induced by subcutaneous injection of drugs. Onset, Number, death time and duration of convulsion were recorded for evaluation of the convulsion.Results: Progesterone (25, 50 mg/kg i.p.) decreased the convulsive symptoms. Anticonvulsant effect of high dose of progesterone was abolished by naloxone (5 mg/kg i.p.). Administration of the same doses of the naloxone, did not alone affect strychnine- induced convulsion.Conclusion: These results suggest that central opioids receptors may be play an important role in the anticonvulsant effect of progesterone.