Inositol treatment for psychological symptoms in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome women.

OBJECTIVE: PCOS women experience different discomfort as a consequence of the illness. During the years, several risk factors and treatments emerged. This review aims at underlining evidence on psychological symptoms in PCOS women and on the effectiveness of therapies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed literature searching through different databases. We used different keywords, including: PCOS, PCOS and depression, PCOS and anxiety, PCOS and psychological, PCOS depression and risk factors, PCOS depression therapies, depression and inositol. RESULTS: Based on the collected evidence, PCOS women are more likely to develop psychological symptoms, like depression or anxiety disorders. Furthermore, several risk factors are associated with higher depression or worse psychological conditions. Particularly, the literature highlights BMI, hirsutism, insulin resistance, excess of androgens and lack of serum Vitamin D. Even though several pharmaceuticals find application in psychological symptoms, some of them can impair hormonal condition in PCOS women. Few molecules are able to improve psychological symptoms without impairing hormonal profiles. Among these, myo-inositol appears to be the most interesting, as it is also considered first-line therapy in PCOS women. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological symptoms affect PCOS women more than healthy subjects. Among the different treatments, inositol emerges as a safe approach, being the first-line therapy in PCOS for hormonal improvement and having putative effects also in psychiatrists.

Digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen, and prostatic ultrasound: how effective is this diagnostic triad?

Ninety-nine of 105 consecutive men who underwent transrectal prostatic ultrasound (TRUS) at Highland Park Hospital had the results correlated with digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), and biopsy results. Ninety-six cases had evaluable ultrasound studies. Thirty-two of the 99 who underwent biopsy had primary carcinoma of the prostate. Prostate volume, predicted PSA, a ratio of observed/predicted PSA, and Gleason score were examined. There was no correlation between age and prostate volume, volume and the presence of carcinoma, or PSA and Gleason score. Thirty-one point six percent of the abnormal DREs, 36.6% of the abnormal TRUSs, and 40.6% of the elevated PSAs occurred in men with prostatic carcinoma (PCa). If PSA was normal (less than or equal to 4.0 ng/ml) and either DRE or TRUS was abnormal, then the risk of carcinoma was 2.9%. If PSA was elevated, regardless of the other two tests, the risk of finding PCa was at least 38%. If all three tests were abnormal, the risk of carcinoma was 38% in our series and 68% in a meta-analysis. Many men with PSA values between 4 and 10 ng/ml have benign biopsies. However, close future follow-up with consideration of repeat biopsy should be strongly considered.

Monoclonal antibodies. Their promise for tumor diagnosis, staging, and therapy.

Monoclonal antibodies will have utility as tools for diagnosis, staging, and therapy of malignant disease. Investigators have produced monoclonal antibodies that are directed against tumor-associated antigens and have varying degrees of cross-reactivity against normal tissues. These reagents have homogeneous molecular structure, recognize specific antigenic sites, can be produced in mass quantities, and are easily purified. Clinical trials with monoclonal antibodies are in progress and suggest modest toxicity and potential therapeutic efficacy.