Are Heavy Metal Exposure and Trace Element Levels Related to Metabolic and Endocrine Problems in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolic and endocrinological pathologies in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the levels of arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, antimony, zinc, and copper to evaluate the relationship of these toxic metals with inflammatory/oxidative parameters. This study included a total of 154 patients (84 with PCOS, 70 healthy volunteers). Metabolic and endocrine parameters and arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, mercury, antimony, zinc, and copper serum levels of the patients were compared between the groups. Considering the action mechanism of toxic metals, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP) levels were determined. Serum TAS (p = 0.002), OSI (p = 0.006), SOD (p = 0.006), zinc (p = 0.010), and copper (p = 0.030) values were statistically lower whereas TOS (p = 0.008), MDA (p < 0.001), HsCRP (p < 0.001), TNFα (p < 0.001), antimony (p < 0.001), cadmium (p < 0.001), lead (p < 0.001), and mercury (p < 0.001) levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group than those determined in the control group. Antimony was positively correlated with fasting glucose (FG) and HOMA-IR while cadmium, in addition to FG and HOMA-IR, positively correlated with insulin and lead had a positive correlation only with FG (p < 0.05). Also, these three heavy metals correlated positively with some oxidative system and inflammatory parameters and negatively with the antioxidant system parameters (p < 0.05). In conclusion, heavy metal exposures in PCOS may be related to insulin resistance and hirsutism through oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms. This approach can be used to identify the risky patient group and to develop new treatment modalities. © 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Sexual function and depression in polycystic ovary syndrome: Is it associated with inflammation and neuromodulators?

Numerous studies have been carried out on depression and sexual dysfunction concomitant with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Increasing evidence has revealed the importance of inflammation in the etiology of PCOS. In addition, it has been known that some neuromodulators affect depression and sexual function. However, their effects on PCOS are not known. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of depression and sexual function with cytokines and neuromodulators in PCOS patients. The present study included 20 fertile and 30 infertile patients diagnosed with PCOS and 30 healthy volunteers. Metabolic and endocrine parameters, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, TNFα, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), Glutamate, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) serum levels, Beck Depression Index (BDI) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores of the patients were compared between the groups. TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, glutamate, GABA, and BDI scores were found to be significantly higher (p 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted with potential factors that may affect sexual dysfunction. The results indicated that high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (> 0.80) with an odds ratio of 1.81 in PCOS patients, and body mass index (BMI) with an odds ratio of 2.3 and high WHR (> 0.80) with an odds ratio of 1.97 in all patients were found to be independent risk factors affecting sexual dysfunction. The results of the present study suggested that chronic low-dose inflammation seen in PCOS may interact with some neuromodulators, leading to the development of depression. However, no relationship was found between these parameters and sexual function. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

Serum copeptin level can be a helpful biomarker in evaluation of myocardial perfusion scintigraphy results

Background: Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) is a well-established diagnostic tool. The sensitivity and specificity of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) MPS to detect significant coronary lesion were 86% and 74%, respectively. The aim of this study was to examine the role of serum copeptin in evaluation of MPS. Methods: Sixty-two consecutive patients underwent both SPECT MPS using 99mTc-sestamibi and transthoracic echocardiography were enrolled prospectively. Age, gender, height, weight, presence of cardiovascular risk factors were recorded. Exercise treadmill test (ETT) with modified Bruce protocol was used to induce coronary ischemia during MPS. While performing MPS, blood samples for serum copeptin level were drawn three times at pre-exercise, at the peak of ETT, and 6 h after ETT, respectively. The patients were enrolled into three groups according to MPS results (normal, equivocal and ischemia). Results: The study included 62 patients (23 with normal, 20 with equivocal, 19 with ischemia on MPS). Pre-, peak-, and post-exercise B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin I values were similar across the groups (p &gt; 0.05 for all comparisons). Serum copeptin values for pre- and peak-exercise were similar among all groups (p = 0.883 and p = 0.089). Post-exercise copeptin values of the normal and equivocal groups were similar (p = 0.661, z = –0.438) while that of the ischemia group was significantly higher than both the normal (p &lt; 0.001) and equivocal group (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Serum copeptin was found to be increasing significantly in case of ischemia on MPS. It may be used in differentiation of equivocal results from false positive results.

Comparison of glucose degradation product and receptor levels in diabetic and normal pregnancy

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic values of new biochemical markers that may be an alternative to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and determine the differences in these markers among three groups of women with varying degrees of glucose homeostasis dysregulation. Material and Methods: This was a prospective study. All women were screened with 50 gram (g) oral glucose and a 100 g OGTT for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The patients were divided into three groups depending on the result of the tests: No evidence of glucose metabolism abnormality (controls); impaired glucose tolerance (IGT); and GDM. All three groups were evaluated for serum human advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) concentrations, carboxymethyl lysine (CML) concentration and receptor for advanced glycation end-product concentrations (RAGE/AGER), body mass index (BMI), age, fasting glucose levels, obstetrical parameters and gestational age. Results: The study included 180 women divided into 59 (32.8%) GDM, 50 (27.8%) IGT and 71 (39.4%) controls. Age was similar among the three groups. Whereas fasting glucose levels and BMI in the three groups was significantly different, AGEs, CML, RAGE/AGER levels were found as significantly different between the groups (p[removed

Serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein and vitamin D receptor in migraine patients from central Anatolia region

Objectives: Inflammation is proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of both vitamin D deficiency and migraine. However, the data examining the relation of vitamin D with migraine are limited. We aimed to investigate the serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) in combination, in migraine patients from central Anatolia region. Methods: Fifty-two newly diagnosed migraine patients and age-and sex-matched 49 control subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional prospective study. Migraine diagnosis was settled according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II diagnostic criteria. Serum samples were analysed for the measurement of vitamin D, VDBP and VDR levels by using commercial enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay kits. Results: Serum vitamin D and VDR levels were found to be significantly lower in migraine patients than in controls (p = 0.012 and p = 0.038, respectively); whereas serum VDBP levels were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). There was no correlation between serum vitamin D, VDBP and VDR levels and headache characteristics including aura, attack severity, frequency and duration, and disease duration (p > 0.05). In terms of headache characteristics, no significant difference between migraineurs with vitamin D values = 25 ng/ml was observed (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The present findings may suggest that decreased serum vitamin D levels were associated with migraine