Prokineticin 1 - Is it a reliable biomarker in polycystic ovarian syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disorder that leads to follicular dysfunction and even infertility. Prokineticin 1 (PROK1) has been shown to be released from the theca interna and stroma of ovaries. PROK1 is also known to be a major prokineticin involved in reproduction and to play a crucial role in ovarian physiology. The present study investigated whether PROK1 might be a reliable biomarker for PCOS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted in Koru Ankara Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Of the 88 women included in the study, 44 were diagnosed with PCOS. The remaining comprised the control group. Ten ml of venous blood sample was taken from every woman and stored at -80°C until analysis. All tests were two-tailed, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age. The mean serum levels of LH/FSH and E2 were significantly higher in PCOS patients compared to controls. No statistically significant difference was found in PROK1 levels between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS is a very common endocrine disease affecting the life quality of a woman from adolescence to reproductive age. Some in vitro animal studies and a few human studies have revealed higher PROK1 levels in women with PCOS compared to healthy controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo study on humans; investigating the relationship between PROK1 and PCOS. However, larger-scale studies may be designed to reveal the role of this peptide.

Comparison of the histopathological results of the endometrial thickness detected by transvaginal ultrasound of symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUSG) in endometrial pathologies by comparing the ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings in symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study the data of 129 postmenopausal women that underwent dilatation and curettage was reviewed by dividing them two groups as symptomatic and asymptomatic. Symptomatic group was divided into subgroups according to the value of endometrial thickness obtained by TVUSG. RESULTS: Among all subjects the cancer rate was found statistically 3.043 times higher in patients with the endometrial thickness of 15 mm and greater and atrophic endometrium rate was 75% in patients with the endometrial thickness of less than five mm. Endometrial thickness was found significantly higher in cancer patients than the others (p < 0.05). Among the patients with endometrial thickness of 15 mm and greater, the cancer rate was found higher in symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group. The cancer rate was found statistically higher in patients with bleeding compared to asymptomatic ones with the endometrial thickness between 5-14.99 mm (p < 0.05). Cancer was not detected in any of the symptomatic patients with the endometrial thickness of less than five mm. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal patients with the symptom of bleeding should undergo detailed gynecological and ultrasonographic examination. The authors believe that this study may be a strong support to the success of TVUSG as a screening method in both symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Furthermore if the patient is symptomatic with a thick endometrium, to exclude the malignancy, endometrial biopsy must be performed.