Quantum dots coordinated with conjugated organic ligands: new nanomaterials with novel photophysics

CdSe quantum dots functionalized with oligo-(phenylene vinylene) (OPV) ligands (CdSe-OPV nanostructures) represent a new class of composite nanomaterials with significantly modified photophysics relative to bulk blends or isolated components. Single-molecule spectroscopy on these species have revealed novel photophysics such as enhanced energy transfer, spectral stability, and strongly modified excited state lifetimes and blinking statistics. Here, we review the role of ligands in quantum dot applications and summarize some of our recent efforts probing energy and charge transfer in hybrid CdSe-OPV composite nanostructures

The Prevalence And Phenotypic Features Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis

Scopu

Structural imaging of the brain reveals decreased total brain and total gray matter volumes in obese but not in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared to body mass index-matched counterparts

Purpose: To detect differences in global brain volumes and identify relations between brain volume and appetite-related hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to body mass index-matched controls. Methods: Forty subjects participated in this study. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging and measurements of fasting ghrelin, leptin and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), as well as GLP-1 levels during mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT), were performed. Results: Total brain volume and total gray matter volume (GMV) were decreased in obese PCOS compared to obese controls (p < 0.05 for both) whereas lean PCOS and controls did not show a significant difference. Secondary analyses of regional brain volumes showed decreases in GMV of the caudate nucleus, ventral diencephalon and hippocampus in obese PCOS compared to obese controls (p < 0.05 for all), whereas lean patients with PCOS had lower GMV in the amygdala than lean controls (p < 0.05). No significant relations were detected between structural differences and measured hormone levels at baseline or during MTT. Conclusion: This study, investigating structural brain alterations in PCOS, suggests volumetric reductions in global brain areas in obese women with PCOS. Functional studies with larger sample size are needed to determine physiopathological roles of these changes and potential effects of long-term medical management on brain structure of PCOS. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Intensive Lipid Reduction and Proinflammatory Markers in the MODEST Study [Modest çaliflmas&203a;nda yog¨un lipid düflürücü tedavi ve proinflematuvar belirteçler]

Objective: Statin therapy is well known to reduce inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF- ?), interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). However, whether this relationship is maintained in the setting of targeting very low levels of LDL (<70 mg dl) in patients with type 2 diabetes has not been clearly established. Materials and Methods: We measured hsCRP, IL-6, and TNF- ? in 43 subject enrolled into the multicenter, open-label, crossover prospective study evaluating the effects of lipid-lowering treatment on steroid synthesis in patients with type 2 diabetes (MODEST study). Subjects with diabetes and coronary artery disease were treated with 80 mg of atorvastatin for 12 weeks. The effect of treatment on pro-inflammatory markers was assessed after 12 weeks. Results: High-dose atorvastatin treatment significantly reduced the plasma levels of IL-6 and hsCRP (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively), but not of TNF- ? (p=0.051). Conclusion: Atorvastatin treatment targeting very low LDL-cholesterol level reduced the levels of several important inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease

Supplementary Material for: Suppressed Adiponectin Levels and Increased Adiponectin Response to Oral Glucose Load in Lean Women with Severe Acne Normalizes after Isotretinoin Treatment

<p><b><i>Background/Aim:</i></b> Isotretinoin, the drug of choice for severe acne, might be associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity. Adiponectin is an adipose tissue-derived protein that increases insulin sensitivity. In this study, we aimed to investigate adiponectin levels in postadolescent severe acne and the effect of isotretinoin on adiponectin levels. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Participants included 18 female patients with severe acne and 18 healthy women matched for age and body mass index (BMI). Acne patients completed a 6-month isotretinoin treatment. Anthropometric measurements, serum adiponectin, lipids, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined, and a standard 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in healthy women once and in patients with acne before and after treatment. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At baseline, patients with acne had significantly lower serum adiponectin levels than controls. Isotretinoin treatment resulted in a significant increase in weight, BMI, and triglyceride and adiponectin levels. Glucose metabolism markers in patients with acne and controls were similar at baseline and did not change after treatment. Baseline OGTT in acne patients revealed an increased adiponectin response at 2 h, which was not present in healthy controls. Remarkably, this OGTT-induced adiponectin increment in acne patients was diminished after isotretinoin treatment. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Adiponectin levels are differently regulated in women with severe acne and healthy controls in that circulating basal levels in patients are suppressed and show an increase in response to oral glucose load. Suppression of baseline adiponectin ameliorates after 6 months of isotretinoin treatment, reaching levels similar to those of healthy controls.</p

PCOS Forum: Research in polycystic ovary syndrome today and tomorrow

Objective To summarize promising areas of investigation into polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to stimulate further research in this area. Design Summary of a conference held by international researchers in the field of polycystic ovary syndrome. Results Potential areas of further research activity include the analysis of predisposing conditions that increase the risk of PCOS, particularly genetic background and environmental factors, such as endocrine disruptors and lifestyle. The concept that androgen excess may contribute to insulin resistance needs to be re-examined from a developmental perspective, since animal studies have supported the hypothesis that early exposure to modest androgen excess is associated with insulin resistance. Defining alterations of steroidogenesis in PCOS should quantify ovarian, adrenal and extraglandular contribution, as well as clearly define blood reference levels by some universal standard. Intraovarian regulation of follicle development and mechanisms of follicle arrest should be further elucidated. Finally, PCOS status is expected to have long-term consequences in women, specifically the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hormone dependent cancers. Identifying susceptible individuals through genomic and proteomic approaches would help to individualize therapy and prevention. Conclusions There are several intriguing areas for future research in PCOS. A potential limitation of our review is that we focused selectively on areas we viewed as the most controversial. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Cardiovascular disease and inflammation

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not only a reproductive disorder, but also a complex, multifaceted, endocrine disease with several associated health complications. In fact, multiple lines suggest an increased cardiovascular risk and cardiovascular disease characterized by an impairment of cardiac structure and function, endothelial dysfunction, lipid abnormalities, and low-grade chronic inflammation. The increased prevalence of low-grade chronic inflammation in women with PCOS represents an emerging novel mechanism for cardiovascular disease in these women. All these features are likely linked to the insulin-resistance often present in women with PCOS. Cardiovascular disease and inflammation represent important long-term sequelae of PCOS that warrant further in-depth investigation