[ study of cell proliferation, TNF-alpha cytokine production and expression of CD8 marker in peripheral blood lymphocytes of women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] by co-culture with ovarian tumor cell lines [SKOV3, A2780]]

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] is a proinflammatory state that underpins the development of metabolic aberration and ovarian dysfunction in the disorder. Chronic inflammation and increased levels of androgens in these patients and their impact on the immune system, may be able to disrupt antitumor activity and thus increase the risk of developing malignancies including ovarian cancer

Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 50 patients with PCOS and healthy controls were purified by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. We then measured cell proliferation and concentrations of cytokines TNF- alpha at different time intervals [48 and 72 hours] after co-culture of ovarian [SKOV3, A2780] and breast [MCF-7, MDA-468] tumor cell lines with PBMC in indirect contact of trans well system

Results: Proliferative response of executive cells during stimulation with tumor cell lines after 48 hours was not statistically significant between patients and healthy controls. Between the 2 groups, proliferation rates at the end of 72h were significantly higher than after 48h [P<0.01]. The production of TNF- alpha in co-culture of A2780 cell lines significantly increased in the patient group in time compared to the controls [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Our findings confirmed that, compared to healthy individuals low levels of chronic inflammation in patients with PCOS exhibit increased proliferative response of immune cells and TNF- alpha levels. An increased risk of cancers in patients with PCOS however requires investigation of other aspects of anti-tumor responses in vitro, with larger sample sizes

[Increase risk of ovarian and breast cancers in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a review]

Polycystic ovarian syndrome [PCOS] is the most common endocrinopathy among women of reproductive age. In addition of fertility problems, there are numerous potential mechanisms which could promote neoplastic disease, including breast and gynecological cancers [endometrial and ovarian cancers], in women with PCOS. PCOS patients have a higher prevalence of obesity and consequently higher risk of metabolic syndrome. Also, hyper and rogenism, as one of the main symptoms of PCOS, is the result of endocrine alterations like increased presence of androgens and estrogens secreted abnormally. Obesity and fertility disorders caused by PCOS are two important risk factors for various cancers such as ovarian cancer. There is some evidence, which suggests that PCOS may be assumed as a factor in the increased risk of ovarian cancer. Also, androgen levels, weight gain and obesity are the main risk factors for the onset and progression of breast cancer. Related articles in English were searched in PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, Wiley Online Library. Accordingly, PCOS could be known as a cause of estrogen-dependent tumors that have receptors for steroid hormones, such as breast and ovarian cancer. Despite the on going extensive research aiming to determine the relationship between PCOS and increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers, limited information has been obtained to confirm this relationship

[The study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells activity of women with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] by co-culture with breast cancer cell lines compared with the healthy controls]

Introduction: polycystic ovary Syndrome [PCOS] is one of the most prevalent endocrinology disorders in women, in whom the state of systemic inflammatory cytokines, especially TNF-alpha is the main reason for immunological disturbances. Some PCOS manifestations such as infertility, hyperandrogenism, obesity and chronic inflammation are considered as risk factors for breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer in women with PCOS is being investigated in some epidemiological studies. In this research, the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs] of women with PCOS to develop antitumor response was studied and evaluated using an experimental co-culture approach between PBMCs and breast tumor cell lines

Materials and Methods: PBMCs were isolated from 50 heparinized venous blood samples [patient and healthy groups] by density gradient centrifugation byficoll. Breast cancer cell lines [MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7] were incubated as two target cells and were cultured adjacent to PBMCs in a transwell co-culture system. At different time intervals [48 and 72 hours] after co-culture, the proliferation rate of the effectors cells was evaluated by the BrdU cell proliferation assay. Determination of T CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes was determined by flow cytometry

Results: the proliferation of PBMCs after 48 hours of co-culture with MDA-468 [P=0.002] and MCF-7 [P=0.021] was significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to healthy controls. No pronounced differences were observed in T CD3+CD8+ cell numbers between the PCOS group and healthy controls [P>0.05] although T CD3+CD8+ percentage increased after 72 hours of co-culture in most samples. There was no statistically significant difference between MDA-468 and MCF-7 co-cultures in any of the tests

Conclusion: the stimulation threshold for mononuclear cells was reduced in women with PCOS. Differences between proliferation responses of PCOS and control groups may be caused by a chronic inflammatory condition in these patients

[ effect of the assertiveness training program on nursing students' assertiveness skills]

Assertiveness is an important skill for nurses in order to successfully communicate with patients, families and colleagues. Assertiveness increases people's self-esteem and self-confidence, improves interpersonal communication, and leads to the development of personality and internal locus of control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the assertiveness training program on nursing students' assertiveness skills. Using a quasi-experimental design, two out of three nursing classrooms held for students entering fall 2011 [n=55], and one out of two for those entering spring 2012 [n=34] were randomly selected. The former as the control group was pre-tested and post-tested after two weeks. The latter as the experimental group was undertaken the assertiveness training program and was tested similarly to the control group. The Gambrill and Richey assertiveness questionnaire along with some demographic questions were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean of assertiveness scores in the pre-tests in both groups did not show a significant difference [P=0.6]. While no statistically significant change in the control group [P=0.09] was reported, a significant increase in the scores of the experimental group was shown after the training program [P=0.005]. The assertiveness training program increased the students' level of assertiveness. It is recommended to investigate the effect of improving self-esteem, problem-solving and social communication skills on nursing students' level of assertiveness