Women's experience of polycystic ovary syndrome management: A systematic review and meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common chronic condition in women of child-bearing age. There is currently no effective treatment, so early and long-term management is essential. However, there are many problems in the practice of disease management in women with PCOS that make it difficult to achieve good outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To explore women's experience of PCOS management and identify the relevant facilitators and barriers to management. SEARCH STRATEGY: A structured search was undertaken in five bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane) from the date of establishment of the database up to December 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: All qualitative and mixed-methods studies available in English describing the experience of PCOS management from the patients' perspective were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument was used to appraise study quality. The evidence was synthesized using a pragmatic meta-aggregative approach guided by the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behavior (COM-B). MAIN RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included with 85 equivocal findings and 12 credible findings. The findings were meta-aggregated into three themes: (1) capability of women with PCOS, including patients' attitudes toward disease and management, knowledge, and skills of the disease; (2) opportunities in PCOS management, including information about PCOS, diagnostic delay, disease characteristics, disease management plan, and logistical and environmental problems; and (3) motivation in PCOS management, including impact of symptoms, perceived needs, support and feedback, and unpleasant medical experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies facilitators and barriers to PCOS management from the patient perspective, which can guide the design and implementation of PCOS management programs for patients. This study also provides information for future research into how the COM-B theory can be incorporated into specific management plans to promote patient action.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Pterophyllum scalare (Cichliformes: Cichlidae).

Pterophyllum scalare belongs in the family Cichlidae of Cichliformes. This species and its congeners are characterized by a compressed and disc-shaped body with dorsal and anal spiny rays increasing in length from anterior to posterior part of the fin. In this study, we determine and describe the complete mitogenome sequence of Pterophyllum scalare for the first time, which is 16,494 bp in length, and contains 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 1 origin of replication on the light-strand (OL) and a putative control region. The overall base composition is 27.5% A, 26.8% T, 30.1% C and 15.6% G, with a slight AT bias (54.3%). All protein-coding genes share the start codon ATG, except for COI that begins with GTG. These results are expected to provide useful molecular data for phylogenetic studies of Cichlidae and Cichliformes. Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree and Bayesian analyses based on partitioned nucleotide sequences of 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes were constructed and both yielded trees with identical topologies.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Trichopodus leerii (Perciformes: Osphronemidae) and phylogenetic studies of Osphronemidae.

Trichopodus leerii has been given many popular names in the ornament market, such as pearl gourami, lace gourami and mosaic gourami, which causes confusion in species identification. This species belongs in the family Osphronemidae of Perciformes. This species and its congeners are characterized by a brownish-silver body, covered in a pearl-like pattern. In this study, we first determined and described the complete mitogenome sequence of T. leerii, which is 16,472 bp in length. The overall base composition is 29.2%, 27.3%, 28.0% and 15.5% for A, C, T and G, respectively, with a slight bias in the AT content (57.2%). All protein-coding genes share the start codon ATG and most of them have TAA or TAG as the stop codon, except ND4 and ND6 use an incomplete stop codon T. Maximum likelihood tree and Bayesian analyses based on partitioned nucleotide sequences of 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes were constructed, and both yielded identical topologies. These results are expected to provide useful molecular data for species identification and further phylogenetic studies of Osphronemidae and Perciformes.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Pseudoperonospora cubensis.

Pseudoperonospora cubensis is a species of water mould known for causing downy mildew on cucurbits. 454 GS FLX Titanium sequencing data was used to obtain its complete mitochondrial genome (38 553 bp). The mitogenome contains 60 genes, including two ribosomal RNA, 25 transfer RNA, 15 ribosomal proteins, five open reading frames (ORFs). The rps3 and rpl16 overlapped each other by 14 bp. The gene order and composition of P. cubensis was similar to that of most other oomycetes, and its GC content was 22.4%. It is the first report of the complete mitochondrial genome in the genus Pseudoperonospora. Phylogeny analysis indicates that P. cubensis has a close genetic relationship with genus Phytophthora.

Transcriptional profiling of the soil invertebrate Folsomia candida in pentachlorophenol-contaminated soil.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP), a widely used pesticide, is considered to be an endocrine disruptor. The molecular effects of chemicals with endocrine-disrupting potential on soil invertebrates are largely unknown. In the present study, the authors explored the transcriptional expression changes of collembola (Folsomia candida) in response to PCP contamination. A total of 92 genes were significantly differentially expressed at all exposure times, and the majority of them were found to be downregulated. In addition to the transcripts encoding cytochrome P450s and transferase enzymes, chitin-binding protein was also identified in the list of common differentially expressed genes. Analyses of gene ontology annotation and enrichment revealed that cell cycle-related transcripts were significantly induced by PCP, indicating that PCP can stimulate cell proliferation in springtail, as has been reported in human breast cancer cells. Enrichment of functional terms related to steroid receptors was observed, particularly in 20 significant differentially expressed genes involved in chitin metabolism in response to PCP exposure. Combined with confirmation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, the results indicate that the adverse effects on reproduction of springtails after exposure to PCP can be attributed to a chemical-induced delay in the molting cycle and that molting-associated genes may serve as possible biomarkers for assessing toxicological effects.

Potential polyphenol markers of phase change in apple (Malus domestica).

In order to identify potential biochemical markers that can be used as indicators for phase change, the dynamics of polyphenolic compounds across apple seedlings (Malus domestica, Jonathan x Golden Delicious) were analyzed in this study by high performance liquid chromatography. Precocious flowering was induced by foliar sprays of plant growth regulators. Qualitative changes in the concentration of polyphenols were observed at node nos. 50, 80 and 120. Spontaneous and induced flowering was found at node nos. 122 and 77. It was reasonable to conclude that node no. 77 represented the point of transition between the juvenile phase and the adult vegetative phase, which was marked by the presence of phloridzin in the buds. The disappearance of myricitrin in the bark and the absence of caffeic acid in the aboveground tissues were qualitative markers of the reproductive phase, which was reached at node no. 122.