ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and metabolic safety of long-term treatment with ethinyl oestradiol/cyproteroneand desogestrel/ethinyl oestradiol tablets in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Women with PCOSfrom West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University enrolled between September, 2011 and August, 2013 were randomlyallocated to receive either ethinyl oestradiol/cyproterone tablets (Group A, =355) or desogestrel/ethinyl oestradiol tablets(Group B, =357) for a prospective observation period of 6 months. Women with insulin resistance also received metformin. Atbaseline, 3 months, and 6 months, the patients were evaluated for menstruation, acne score, body mass index (BMI), waist-tohip ratio (WHR), plasma levels of sex hormones, fasting blood glucose (FPG), HOMA-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), serum lipid, ovarian volume, and the number of ovarian follicles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the patients had a regular menstrual cycle aftertreatments. Testosterone level, acne score, LH/FSH, ovarian volume, and the number of follicles decreased significantly afterthe treatments without significant differences between the two groups. Significant increases were noted in TG, TCh, LDL, HDL, and AIP, and HDL level in group A as compared with group B ( < 0.001). FPG decreased in both groups, and wassignificantly lower in group B at 6 months ( < 0.05). BMI and WHR decreased in all the patients with insulin resistance aftercombination treatment with metformin ( < 0.05), but increased significantly in patients without insulin resistance ( < 0.05). Ingroup A, HOMA- IR significantly increased in patientswithout insulin resistance at 3 months ( < 0.05), whereas asignificant increase was not observed until 6 months ingroup B ( < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both ethinyl oestradiol/cyproterone tablets and desogestrel/ethinyl oestradioltablets can relieve the symptoms of PCOS, but it isadvisable to assess the risk of cardiovascular diseasebefore the treatments.</p>
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Emerging evidence shows that rs6756667 SNP EPAS1-A alele is beneficial for, however, the GG genotype is detrimental for adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in Tibetan populations. OBJECTIVE:To compare the EPAS1 gene rs6756667 polymorphism between Tibetan elite endurance athletes and Tibetan non-physical education major students and analyze its relationship to aerobic exercise capacity. METHODS:Forty Tibetan athletes in Ganzi Tibetan middle and long distance athletes sports teams (athlete group) and forty Tibetan non-physical education major students in Ganzi (student group) were included in this study. The EPAS1 gene rs6756667 polymorphic loci were determined using PCR high-resolution melting analysis. The genetic polymorphism data from this study were compared withthe data from previous studies. Increase values of bone mineral density in the pelvis, upper and lower limbs were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were significant differences in the genotype frequencies of EPAS1 rs6756667 AA, AG and GG between student group(50%, 47.5%, 2.5%)and athlete group(72.5%, 27.5%, 0;P< 0.05). The genotype frequency of GG was significantly increased in student group compared with athlete group (P< 0.05). There were differences in the frequencies of A alele and G alele between both groups (95%CI:0.459-0.908,P=0.011).Bone mineral density inthe pelvis, upper and lower limbs and whole body was significantly higher in student group than athlete group (P< 0.05). These findings suggest that EPAS1 gene rs6756667 polymorphism is related to aerobic capacity of Tibetan elite endurance athletes. rs6756667 SNP EPAS1-A alele is beneficial for, however, the GG genotype is detrimental for adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in Tibetan athletes.