Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. The etiopathogenesis of the disease remains uncertain. Additionally, a full consensus has not been reached regarding PCOS diagnostic criteria. Several attempts have been made to diagnose PCOS with a simple clinical biomarker, but most of them failed. This study aims to investigate the possible association between PCOS and anogenital distance (AGD), which is an important sign of intrauterine androgen exposure. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 130 women. The study group contained 65 women with PCOS whereas 65 healthy women were recruited for the control group, all between 18 and 40 years in age. The groups were compared in terms of demographics and clinical and laboratory parameters. Both anterior and posterior AGDs and associated ratios were recorded for each woman. Results: The mean ratio of anterior AGD to posterior AGD for the PCOS and control group were 4.4 ± 1.0 and 4.9 ± 1.0, respectively (p = 0.003). Regression analysis demonstrated that this ratio significantly and positively correlated with the waist to hip ratio and negatively correlated with the free androgen index. Conclusion: AGD was initially used to define sexual differentiation of animals. Subsequent human studies showed that boys have longer AGDs than girls. Recent studies supporting the hypothesis that extreme prenatal androgen exposure contributes to PCOS found that AGD in adult PCOS patients was longer than control PCOS patients. However, a novel biomarker other than AGD needs to be identified to standardize these measurements. This work represents the first study to evaluate the ratio of anterior AGD to posterior AGD in PCOS patients. In this study, AGD anterior and posterior measurements were longer in PCOS patients than in controls. However, the strongest predictor of PCOS is the ratio of anterior to posterior AGD.
In this study, levels of progranulin (PGRN) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured to detect the presence of inflammation in lean polycystic ovary (PCOS) patients. 40 lean PCOS patients were assessed by Rotterdam criteria. Forty healthy women with regular menstrual cycles and without biochemical and clinical hyperandrogenism were involved in our study. Blood samples were taken from the patient and control groups for the measurement of progranulin (PGRN), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), lipid parameters, glucose, insulin, and other hormones. Serum PGRN and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in patients with lean PCOS, compared with the control group (p = .037, p = .041). PGRN levels were positively correlated with TNF-α levels in lean PCOS patients. PGRN is known as a ligand for the TNF-α receptor. PGRN level increase in lean PCOS patients may be due to inhibiting the inflammatory effects of TNF-α. To observe the PGRN and TNF-α connection in obesity, further study is needed in obese PCOS patients and obese control groups.
1 December 2018 in Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction
Objective: To evaluate the effect of a pre-procedural information video on anxiety levels in patients undergoing hysterosalpingography (HSG). Material and Methods: Among a total of 131 primary or secondary infertile patients, 66 were shown an information video and 67 control patients received standard care between August 2014 and January 2016. The video included information on the procedure, personnel, and the room for the procedure; the video was shown on the morning of the procedure. Patients were randomized using the complete randomization technique through which patients were included in the study and control groups week by week, randomly. The Beck Anxiety Inventory scale was conducted to the patients one hour before the procedure. Results: There were no differences in demographic data. The history of previous gynecologic operations was higher in the control group. The Beck Anxiety score was significantly lower in the study group compared with the control group (6 vs 10). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that as an easy intervention to implement, a pre-procedural video education may be a beneficial tool for the management of HSG-related anxiety.
Antiphospholipid syndrome, uterine anomalies, and chromosomal aberrations are identifiable causes of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Herein, our aim is to investigate the relationship between celiac disease (CD) specific antitransglutaminase antibodies (ATA) and unexplained RPL.
Introduction: We aimed to investigate serum dynamic thiol and disulfide levels in patients with molar pregnancy (MP), and compare these concentrations with those of healthy pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Forty-one patients who were diagnosed with MP and 41 gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women were included in this prospective study. MP cases were separated in two groups as complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) and partial hydatidiform mole (PHM). Demographic features and thiol/disulfide homeostasis were recorded for each woman. Results: There was a significant correlation between the decrease in the total thiol and native thiol levels in MP patients. However, no significant difference was observed between CHM and PHM groups in terms of serum disulfide levels. Conclusion: OS is increased in MPs both in complete and partial moles, as determined by thiol/disulfide analysis.