Major determinants of circulating myostatin in polycystic ovary syndrome.

The present study was designed to investigate the possible impact of hormonal and demographic parameters of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on the circulating levels of myostatin. The study cohort comprised 46 patients with PCOS and 42 healthy female controls, and all subjects were of normal weight. Multiple regression analysis was applied to investigate the possible associations between serum myostatin levels and other laboratory parameters. Evaluation of the levels of myostatin revealed no significant differences between the PCOS and control groups (P>0.05). In the control group, no significant correlations were identified between the myostatin levels and any other laboratory parameters. Only low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the PCOS group were revealed to be significantly, although negatively, associated with myostatin levels (P=0.018). In the regression model of the PCOS group, an increase in LDL-C and prolactin (PRL) were associated with a decrease in myostatin (P=0.001 and P=0.013, respectively). Furthermore, a decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and monocytes were associated with an increase in myostatin (P=0.028, P<0.001 and P=0.026, respectively). An increase in triglycerides was also associated with an increase in myostatin (P=0.001). In the regression model of the control group, a decrease in LDL-C was associated with an increase in myostatin (P=0.003) and a decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone was associated with a decrease in myostatin (P=0.028). These results indicated that the normal range of myostatin levels in patients with PCOS is regulated by changes in the circulating levels of PRL, LDL-C, SHBG, triglycerides, monocytes and FBG.

Circulating neuregulin-1 levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) has been shown to be associated with the regulation of inflammation and ovulation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum NRG1 levels and various clinical and metabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This case-controlled study included 38 women with PCOS and 46 age and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls without PCOS. The serum NRG1 levels of the women with PCOS were found to be significantly lower compared to the control group. The high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels of the PCOS subjects were significantly higher than in the control group. The circulating NRG1 levels were negatively correlated with a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the hs-CRP in the PCOS group. There is no significant correlation between the circulating NRG1 levels and the serum insulin in the PCOS group. There was a trend toward high NRG1 levels in the PCOS subjects with high BMI, but the difference failed to reach a statistical significance. Decreased NRG1 levels in PCOS subjects may be associated with insulin resistance and a low-grade chronic inflammation. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Although there have been many studies related to NRG1, we could not find any study explaining the relationship between NRG1 and PCOS. This study provides first and novel insights into the relationship between serum NRG1 levels and the insulin resistance in women with PCOS. What do the results of this study add? A decline in the NRG1 levels in PCOS may be associated with insulin resistance and a low-grade chronic inflammation. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Decreased NRG1 levels may play an important role in the reproductive and endocrine properties of PCOS. We think that NRG1 research may be contribute to the clarification of PCOS pathophysiology. Future research investigating NRG1 levels in obese and non-obese cases, as well as in ovulatory and anovulatory PCOS patients, will make a significant contribution to the resolution of the mystery under PCOS aetiology.

Amniotic fluid NF-kB concentration in pregnant women with a high risk of prenatal screening test results.

OBJECTIVES: Nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-kB) can potentially be related to certain fetal chromosomal abnormalities. This study aimed to determine whether the concentration of NF-kB changes in the amniotic fluid (AF) of pregnant women who have a high risk of fetal down syndrome (DS) results in prenatal screening and diagnosis testing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 108 patients with an abnormal first trimester combined screening test (FTCST) were subjected to amniocentesis and fetal karyotype analysis between 16 and 20 weeks of gestation. Amniocentesis material obtained from 86 patients conformed with our research criteria and only this was included in the study. Among the 86 amniocentesis results, there were 12 patients with confirmed DS. The karyotypes of the remaining patients were normal. Therefore the total study group was divided into two groups: patients with DS fetal karyotype (Group 1, n = 12) and patients with normal fetal karyotype (Group 2, n = 74). We used the ELISA method to assess the concentration of NF-kB and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in each sample of AF. RESULTS: We observed significantly lower NF-kB concentrations in the AF of the women in Group 1 compared with the women in Group 2. Patients in Group 1 also had a higher concentration of hsCRP in their AF when compared with patients in Group 2. The FTCST results for patients in Group 1 showed a significantly higher risk than for those of Group 2. There were no statistically significant correlations detected when comparing the amniotic fluid nuclear factor-kappa beta (AF-NF-kB) levels with other clinical and laboratory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: AF-NF-kB may play a role in the pathogenesis of fetal down syndrome.

Ocular perfusion pressure and intraocular pressure in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether severe preeclampsia (SPE) affects intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective and comparative study included 64 pregnant females, allocated into 2 groups as Group 1 (31 pregnant women with SPE) and Group 2 (33 normotensive pregnant women). IOP, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, OPP of all the subjects were measured after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to labor and medical therapy. RESULTS: The mean IOP values in Group 1 were not significantly different from those of Group 2 (p = 0.528). The mean OPP values in Group 1 were significantly higher than those of Group 2 (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between IOP and OPP levels. No significant differences were determined between the groups in respect of age, gestational age body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.269, p < 0.219 and p < 0.556 respectively). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were statistically significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although high IOP was expected in SPE patients, it was found to be constant. This could have been due to an increase in aqueous humor outflow because of changes occurring in angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in SPE.

Navigation problems of ICSI or naive blastocyst can be solved with artificial blastocyst.

Embryos have evolved a remarkable capacity to find implantation site. The impressive navigation ability of natural blastocysts may rely on highly sensitive signals arising from embryos and specialized signal processing strategies in the endometrium. Navigation capabilities may be compromised in ICSI embryos because of altered biochemical signaling. The design and delivery of artificial blastocyst (AB) carrying strong chemical signals may allow ICSI embryos to more easily locate to and be retained in the implantation zone. ICSI embryos will attach easily to the implantation zone after it is found by the AB. Co-transfer of the AB together with the ICSI embryo may overcome potential difficulties in implantation due to impaired embryo-maternal communication in cases with implantation failure.