Age, body mass index, and serum level of DHEA-S can predict glucocorticoid receptor function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Endometrial Heparin-Binding Epidermal Growth Factor Gene Expression and Hormone Level Changes in Implantation Window of Obese Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

INTRODUCTION

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder amongst reproductive-age women, and 61% to 76% of women with PCOS are obese. Obese women with PCOS are usually burdened with infertility problems due to implantation failure. Thus, progesterone treatment is usually used to improve implantation rates. Although Hb-EGF expression is actively involved in endometrial receptivity and implantation, the data on heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (Hb-EGF) expression following progesterone therapy in obese women with PCOS are still lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA), progesterone and oestradiol levels and Hb-EGF expression in obese women with PCOS during the implantation window following progesterone therapy.

METHOD

A total of 40 participants aged 18-40 years old were recruited following the provision of written consent. The participants were divided into the obese PCOS, normal-weight PCOS, obese fertile and normal-weight fertile groups. First blood collection was done before ovulation. Then, daily oral micronised progesterone (Utrogestan 200 mg) was given to the PCOS group for 10 days. The treatment was followed by a second blood collection and endometrial tissue sampling by using a Pipelle de Cornier catheter. In the fertile group, ovulation was confirmed by using ultrasound, and a second blood sample was collected on days 7 to 9 postovulation. The serum levels of FSH, LH, DHEA, progesterone and oestradiol were measured in all participants. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare FSH, LH, DHEA, progesterone and oestradiol levels during pre- and postovulation. Mann-Whitney test was performed to compare FSH, LH, DHEA, progesterone and oestradiol levels between two groups: (1) the PCOS group and the fertile group, (2) the obese PCOS group and the non-obese PCOS group and (3) the obese group and the non-obese fertile group.

RESULT

Serum FSH levels were lower in obese women in their follicular phase than in women with normal weight regardless of their PCOS status, whereas serum LH/FSH ratios and DHEA levels were higher in women with PCOS than in women without PCOS. However, endometrial Hb-EGF expression was lower in the obese PCOS group than in the normal-weight PCOS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Different patterns of hormonal levels and Hb-EGF expression levels were seen between the studied groups. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to investigate the mechanism underlying the changes in FSH, LH/FSH ratio, DHEA and Hb-EGF expression in PCOS after progesterone treatment.

Cortisol and polycystic ovarian syndrome - a systematic search and meta-analysis of case-control studies

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has become an emerging disorder affecting women of reproductive age group. Its intricate presentation of signs and symptoms makes it a disease of interest to research. While there are varied hypotheses related to its cause and pathogenesis, role of stress in this disease is yet to be grounded. There is emerging body of evidence on cortisol and PCOS, although it is currently equivocal.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched from March 1985 to March 2020 using MeSH terms. After dual quality assessments and data abstraction, the final articles were included for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies qualified for the analysis. Pooled meta-analysis showed that the level of cortisol was significantly higher in PCOS when compared to healthy controls (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42-1.23) with highly significant heterogeneity (I² = 94%). Subgroup analysis done based on type of sample stated high effect size for blood cortisol levels (SMD = 0.9, 95%CI = 0.32; 1.51) compared to overall effect.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis on cortisol and PCOS have helped in generating evidence regarding the role of cortisol in the pathogenesis of PCOS and the use of cortisol estimation as a potential stress marker in PCOS.

Overview of the detection methods for equilibrium dissociation constant KD of drug-receptor interaction

Drug-receptor interaction plays an important role in a series of biological effects, such as cell proliferation, immune response, tumor metastasis, and drug delivery. Therefore, the research on drug-receptor interaction is growing rapidly. The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) is the basic parameter to evaluate the binding property of the drug-receptor. Thus, a variety of analytical methods have been established to determine the KD values, including radioligand binding assay, surface plasmon resonance method, fluorescence energy resonance transfer method, affinity chromatography, and isothermal titration calorimetry. With the invention and innovation of new technology and analysis method, there is a deep exploration and comprehension about drug-receptor interaction. This review discusses the different methods of determining the KD values, and analyzes the applicability and the characteristic of each analytical method. Conclusively, the aim is to provide the guidance for researchers to utilize the most appropriate analytical tool to determine the KD values.

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Aging and anti-aging: a Combo-Endocrinology overview

Aging and its underlying pathophysiological background has always attracted the attention of the scientific society. Defined as the gradual, time-dependent, heterogeneous decline of physiological functions, aging is orchestrated by a plethora of molecular mechanisms, which vividly interact to alter body homeostasis. The ability of an organism to adjust to these alterations, in conjunction with the dynamic effect of various environmental stimuli across lifespan, promotes longevity, frailty or disease. Endocrine function undergoes major changes during aging, as well. Specifically, alterations in hormonal networks and concomitant hormonal deficits/excess, augmented by poor sensitivity of tissues to their action, take place. As hypothalamic-pituitary unit is the central regulator of crucial body functions, these alterations can be translated in significant clinical sequelae that can impair the quality of life and promote frailty and disease. Delineating the hormonal signaling alterations that occur across lifespan and exploring possible remedial interventions could possibly help us improve the quality of life of the elderly and promote longevity.

Identification of new biomarker candidates for glucocorticoid induced insulin resistance using literature mining

BACKGROUND

Glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory agents used for the treatment of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. Unfortunately, usage is limited because of metabolic side-effects, e.g. insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and diabetes. To gain more insight into the mechanisms behind glucocorticoid induced insulin resistance, it is important to understand which genes play a role in the development of insulin resistance and which genes are affected by glucocorticoids.Medline abstracts contain many studies about insulin resistance and the molecular effects of glucocorticoids and thus are a good resource to study these effects.

RESULTS

We developed CoPubGene a method to automatically identify gene-disease associations in Medline abstracts. We used this method to create a literature network of genes related to insulin resistance and to evaluate the importance of the genes in this network for glucocorticoid induced metabolic side effects and anti-inflammatory processes.With this approach we found several genes that already are considered markers of GC induced IR, such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase, catalytic subunit (G6PC). In addition, we found genes involved in steroid synthesis that have not yet been recognized as mediators of GC induced IR.

CONCLUSIONS

With this approach we are able to construct a robust informative literature network of insulin resistance related genes that gave new insights to better understand the mechanisms behind GC induced IR. The method has been set up in a generic way so it can be applied to a wide variety of disease networks.

Insulin resistance and acne: a new risk factor for men?

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between acne and insulin resistance as well as other metabolic impairment in young males. Acne is a skin disease that can be influenced by endocrine abnormalities. In females, it is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, with peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, whereas few data are available in males. For investigating this, 22 young males with acne have been compared to 22 controls of comparable age and gender. Acne was scored using the global acne grading system score. Clinical as well as biochemical parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism, circulating levels of androgens, and IGF-1 were evaluated. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated. The results thus obtained are as follows, patients had higher BMI (p = 0.003), WC (p = 0.002), WHR (p = 0.02), SBP (p = 0.0001), DBP (p = 0.001), basal (p = 0.01) and 120 min. oGTT serum insulin concentrations (p = 0.002), basal glucose concentrations (p = 0.03), HOMA-IR (p = 0.016), and lower HDL-cholesterol than controls (p = 0.001). Among the subgroup of subjects with BMI <24.9, HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.05) and 120 min. oGTT serum insulin concentrations (p = 0.009) resulted to be independent predictors of acne at multivariate analysis. In conclusion, these findings highlight a metabolic imbalance in young males affected with acne. Insulin resistance seems to play the main role for the development of acne in these subjects. Insulin resistance could represent an effective target for therapy in male acne.