Gynecological Endocrinology最新文献

Objective: To analyze the correlation between arm muscle area and handgrip strength among postmenopausal community dwelling low-income women in order to provide an easy anthropometric indicator to assess muscle mass quantity and quality.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving postmenopausal women (n = 171) from three urban-marginal communities of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Corrected arm muscle area was calculated using the Frisancho formula. Dynapenia was defined as HGS < 16 kg. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated at a 5% significance level to test the correlation between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength.

Results: Median (interquartile range: IQR) age of the sample was 72.0 years (17.0). The median of corrected arm muscle area was 34.8 cm² (20.7). The overall prevalence of dynapenia was 57.9% (n = 99). There was a significant decreasing trend with age regarding all anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength, as well as a higher prevalence of dynapenia with age. For the whole sample, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength [r = 0.267; p < .001].

There was a significant yet weak positive correlation between corrected arm muscle area and handgrip strength in this postmenopausal sample. There is a need for additional research in this regard.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent metabolic and endocrine condition in females of reproductive age. This work was to discover the underlying role of Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) and its putative regulating mechanism in P COS.

Methods: Mice recieved dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) injection to establish the in vivo P COS model.Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was performed for histological analysis. RT-qP CR and Western blotting were used to detect gene and protein expression. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays were applied to detect cell viability and apoptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and immunoprecipitation (IP) were applied to assess association between DKK1 and SIRT2.

Results: In this work, DKK1 is downregulated in P COS rats. It was revealed that DKK1 knockdown induced apoptosis and suppressed proliferation in KGN cells, whereas DKK1 overexpression had exactly the opposite effects. In addition, DKK1 deactivates the T GF-β1/SMad3 signaling pathway, thereby controlling KGN cell proliferation and apoptosis. Besides, SIRT2 inhibition reversed the impact of DKK1 overexpression on KGN cell proliferation and apoptosis. Furthermore, SIRT2 downregulated DKK1 expression by deacetylating DKK1 in KGN cells.

Discussion: Altogether, we concluded that SIRT2-induced deacetylation of DKK1 triggers T GF-β1/Smad3 hyperactivation, thereby inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of KGN cells. The above results indicated that DKK1 might function as a latent target for P COS treatment.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or premature ovarian failure (POF) is a multifactorial disorder occurring in reproductive-age women, characterized by elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and irregular or absent menstrual cycles, often accompanied by perimenopausal symptoms and infertility. While assisted reproductive technology can address the reproductive aspirations of some POI-affected women, it is hindered by issues such as exorbitant expenses, substantial risks, and poor rates of conception. Encouragingly, extensive research is exploring novel approaches to enhance fertility, particularly in the realm of stem cell therapy, showcasing both feasibility and significant potential. Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) from discarded placental tissues are crucial in regenerative medicine for their pluripotency, low immunogenicity, non-tumorigenicity, accessibility, and minimal ethical concerns. Preclinical studies highlight the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic effects of hAECs in POI treatment, and current research is focusing on innovative interventions to augment hAECs' efficacy. However, despite these strides, overcoming application challenges is essential for successful clinical translation. This paper conducted a comprehensive analysis of the aforementioned issues, examining the prospects and challenges of hAECs in POI, with the aim of providing some insights for future research and clinical practice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of growth hormone (GH) therapy on the onset and progression of puberty in girls with idiopathic short stature.

Methods: This study included 541 girls aged between 4.5 and 10.6 years who were receiving GH treatment, monitored over a 22-year follow-up period. Of these, 126 girls have been followed up to the onset of menarche. The participants were divided into two groups: a ISS control group (n = 66) and a group receiving daily GH treatment at a dose of 0.15 iu/kg (n = 60). We assessed the pubertal development and GH usage of these girls every three months.

Results: (1) There was no significant difference in the onset of puberty between the growth hormone (GH) treatment group and the control group; however, the average duration of puberty was longer in the treatment group compared to the control group. (2) During puberty, there were no significant differences in height growth between the treated and untreated groups. (3) The duration of GH treatment showed a significant negative correlation with the age at onset of gonadal development and the age at menarche in females within the treatment group.

Conclusion: GH treatment does not seem to accelerate the onset of puberty but may extend its duration, without significantly impacting height growth during puberty. Additionally, longer GH treatment duration is linked to earlier gonadal development and menarche in females.

Objective: To assess menopausal symptoms and determine awareness of menopausal related information in mid-aged women.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 140 women aged 40 to 60 years from Guayaquil, Ecuador were surveyed with the short 10-item Cervantes Scale (CS-10) and a questionnaire containing personal data and questions assessing awareness of menopause related information.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 48.0 ± 5.6 years. More than half of surveyed women had low education and non-urban residency, none were on menopausal hormone therapy, 33.6% had hypertension, 35% were postmenopausal, 78.6% had an increased body mass index (overweight/obese) and 92.9% had abdominal obesity (waist > 88 cm). The average CS-10 score was 15.3 ± 9.0 with a median of 14.0. The three most frequent menopausal symptoms were muscle-joint pain (75.0%), changes in skin texture (74.3%) and vaginal dryness (71.4%). Regarding awareness of information related to the menopause, it was found that 98.6% of women had no idea about what the menopause is and the average age of its onset. Interestingly, although 61.4% knew that during the menopause there is weight gain, 57.9% were sedentary. Married, postmenopausal, older and less educated women presented higher mean total CS-10 scores. Contrarily, those with less awareness of menopause related information present lower scores.

Conclusion: In this low-income mid-aged female sample there was a high rate of non-awareness regarding information related to the menopause, including an unhealthy cardiometabolic profile. There is a need for educational programs aimed to increase awareness in this high-risk population in relation to the surveyed aspects in order to improve their health status and prevent chronic conditions.

Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition in women of childbearing age that causes symptoms such as menstrual changes and dysmenorrhea, and is also a major cause of infertility. Therefore, women with endometriosis usually need to use assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, to increase their chances of conceiving. Numerous clinical observations and studies have indicated that endometriosis can affect the success of ART, such that women with endometriosis who use ART have a lower live-birth rate than those without endometriosis who use ART. Therefore, this article reviews the impact of various controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols and surgery on the pregnancy outcomes of women with endometriosis using ART to explore the selection of individualized treatment.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a compound known for its cysteine and glutathione precursor properties, has been used in therapeutic applications for many years. Recently, there has been increasing interest in exploring the potential benefits of NAC in addressing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the exact mechanisms underlying NAC's therapeutic and clinical uses remain not fully understood. This review aims to specifically investigate how NAC offers protection against PCOS. This involved an extensive systematic review of the literature, and it made use of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. By analyzing key findings from over 100 research papers, the potential mechanisms through which NAC produces its effects were explored and summarized. Most studies suggest that NAC, whether used on its own or in combination with other medications, has the potential to counteract oxidative stress, utilize its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties, and offer benefits in managing PCOS. Moreover, NAC might have the potential to influence specific signaling pathways in insulin target cells and β cells. Diverse biological effects of NAC indicate its potential usefulness as a supplementary or therapeutic approach for managing PCOS. As a result, additional research is required to explore its potential in addressing PCOS.

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent cause of menstrual irregularities and infertility in women, impacting quality of life. Despite advancements, current understanding of PCOS pathogenesis and treatment remains limited. This study uses machine learning-based data mining to identify acetylation-related genetic markers associated with PCOS, aiming to enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic efficacy.

Methods: Advanced machine learning techniques were used to improve the precision of key gene identification and reveal their biological mechanisms. Validation on an independent dataset (GSE48301) confirmed their diagnostic value, assessed through ROC curves and nomograms for PCOS risk prediction. Molecular mechanisms of acetylation-related gene regulation in PCOS were further examined through clustering, immune-environmental, and gene network analyses.

Results: Our analysis identified 15 key acetylation-regulated genes differentially expressed in PCOS, including SGF29, NOL6, KLF15, and INO80D, which are relevant to PCOS pathogenesis. ROC curve analyses on training and validation datasets confirmed the model's high diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, these genes were associated with immune cell infiltration, offering insights into the inflammatory aspect of PCOS.

Conclusion: The identified acetylation gene markers offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying PCOS and hold promise for enhancing the development of precise diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Background: Progestin-only pills (POPs) have been used for contraception in breastfeeding women for years. The existing guidelines allow the use of these contraceptives.

Methods: Multicenter study with a single visit and retrospective data review. The study involved 100 women who used a drospirenone-only pill (DRSP) for contraception for at least 5 months during breastfeeding. The study aimed to analyze for those successful users the impact on new-born development, the bleeding profile and evaluate user satisfaction.

Results: Analysis of the newborns showed that their growth parameters length and weight, were within the expected range of standard development. The mean birth weight was 3368 g, with the lowest recorded weight being 2860 g and the highest 5040 g. The median length of the newborns was 55 cm, ranging from 35 to 65 cm. All new-borns demonstrated appropriate growth within the established percentiles. Acceptability with the bleeding profile was rated with a VAS score: the mean acceptability rating was 82.8. Women aged 35 years or older reported significantly higher acceptability compared to younger women (≥35 years: mean = 88.4, SD = 16.5; <35 years: mean = 80.3, SD = 20.2) (p = 0.02). Sixty-one patients (N = 61; 61.0%; 95% CI: 50.7 - 70.4%) expressed willingness to continue using DRSP after breastfeeding.

Conclusion: Among those patients who continued the use of the DRSP only-pill for 5 months, this study shows no negative impact for new-borns, with no clinical influence observed on their growth. Additionally, those users expressed high satisfaction with the bleeding profile of the pill.Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00028438 .