Adrenal hyperandrogenism does not deteriorate insulin resistance and lipid profile in women with PCOS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of adrenal hyperandrogenism on insulin resistance and lipid profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 372 women with PCOS according to the NIH criteria. 232 age- and BMI-matched women served as controls in order to define adrenal hyperandrogenism (DHEA-S >95th percentile). Then, patients with PCOS were classified into two groups: with adrenal hyperandrogenism (PCOS-AH, n = 108) and without adrenal hyperandrogenism (PCOS-NAH, n = 264). Anthropometric measurements were recorded. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, lipid profile, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and androgen (TT, Δ4A, DHEA-S) concentrations were assessed. Free androgen index (FAI) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were calculated. RESULTS: Women with PCOS-AH were younger than PCOS-NAH (P < 0.001), but did not differ in the degree and type of obesity. No differences were found in HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triglyceride concentrations (in all comparisons, P > 0.05). These metabolic parameters did not differ between the two groups even after correction for age. Women with PCOS-AH had lower SHBG (29.2 ± 13.8 vs 32.4 ± 11.8 nmol/L, P = 0.025) and higher TT (1.0 ± 0.2 vs 0.8 ± 0.4 ng/mL, P = 0.05) and Δ4A (3.9 ± 1.2 vs 3.4 ± 1.0 ng/mL, P = 0.007) concentrations, as well as FAI (14.1 ± 8.0 vs 10.2 ± 5.0, P < 0.001). These results were confirmed by a multiple regression analysis model in which adrenal hyperandrogenism was negatively associated with age (P < 0.001) and SHBG concentrations (P = 0.02), but not with any metabolic parameter. CONCLUSIONS: Women with PCOS and adrenal hyperandrogenism do not exhibit any deterioration in insulin resistance and lipid profile despite the higher degree of total androgens.

Sense of Coherence (SOC) in Christian Orthodox Monks and Nuns in Greece.

This paper aims to investigate the stress management skills of Christian Orthodox monks and nuns, as measured by Antonovsky's scale sense of coherence (SOC). A case-control study was designed to test the hypotheses whether monks and nuns have higher SOC than secular people. The study population consisted of 193 individuals, 96 monks and nuns (study group) and 97 secular men and women (control group). SOC score was higher in monks and nuns as compared to the secular population (p = 0.002), men as compared to women (p = 0.012) and persons of older age (p = 0.004) as compared to younger individuals.

Salutogenesis and the Monks of Athos, Greece: A Spiritual Health Promotion?

Context • A cohort of studies on secular populations has indicated the role that religiosity plays in psychological well-being. An increase in the participation in religious activity has been shown to have a positive correlation with beneficial mental health outcomes. Internationally, few studies exist regarding the sense of coherence (SOC) of monks. SOC is a health asset related to stress management skills. Objective • The study aimed to assess the SOC of monks who lived at Mount Athos, Greece, and to determine its correlation with demographic characteristics. Design • The type of design was a descriptive cross-sectional study using convenience sampling. Setting • The study took place at Mount Athos in 2 monasteries and 1 skete, which is an organized community that consists of several monastic huts that belong to a communal monastery. Participants • Of the 215 monks living in the 2 monasteries and the skete, 166 monks participated. Outcome Measures • Data were collected from May-August 2012, using a structured questionnaire that was divided into 2 parts: (1) a demographic section (8 items) and (2) the Sense of Coherence (SOC-13) survey. Results • The mean age of participants was 45.5 y ± 13.0. Of the 166 monks participating, 139 (83.7 %) lived in communal monasteries, and the mean time of participation in monasticism was 18.4 ± 12.1 y. The mean value on the SOC-13 scale was 65.7 ± 6.5. According to the multiple regression analyses, the number of years in monasticism presented a positive correlation with the SOC score (ß = 0.12, SE = 0.04, P = .003), whereas the number of daily hours of sleep presented a negative correlation with the SOC score (ß = -1.34, SE = 0.50, P = .008). Conclusions • The monks seemed to have a strong SOC and, therefore, adequate stress management skills. Religious spirituality may help individuals in coping with daily life. More evidence-based studies need to be implemented to highlight the correlation between Orthodox Christian monasticism and SOC.

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Alterations through Music in Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery in Greece.

INTRODUCTION: Music has been proposed as a safe, inexpensive, nonpharmacological antistress intervention. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients undergoing cataract surgery while listening to meditation music experience lower levels of blood pressure and heart rate. METHODS: Two hundred individuals undergoing cataract surgery participated in the study. Hundred individuals listened to meditation music, through headphones, before and during the operation (intervention group) and 100 individuals received standard care (control group). Patients stress coping skills were measured by the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC Scale). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were defined as outcome measures. RESULTS: According to the SOC Scale, both groups had similar stress coping skills (mean score: 127.6 for the intervention group and 127.3 for the control group). Before entering the operating room (OR) as well as during surgery the rise in systolic and diastolic pressures was significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Among patients receiving antihypertensive therapy, those in the intervention group presented a lower increase only in systolic pressure (P < 0.001) at both time recordings. For those patients in the intervention group who did not receive antihypertensive treatment, lower systolic blood pressure at both time recordings was recorded (P < 0.001) while lower diastolic pressure was observed only during entry to the OR (P = 0.021). Heart rate was not altered between the two groups in any of the recordings. CONCLUSIONS: Meditation music influenced patients' preoperative stress with regard to systolic blood pressure. This kind of music can be used as an alternative or complementary method for blood pressure stabilizing in patients undergoing cataract surgery.