Complement protein C3 and coronary artery calcium in middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome and controls

Circulating complement protein C3 (C3) levels have been associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) in women with systemic lupus erythematosus, but have yet to be evaluated in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to determine whether C3 levels were elevated in women with PCOS compared to controls, and to quantify the association of C3 with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and CAC, and if PCOS modified this association. This cross-sectional analysis included 132 women with PCOS and 155 controls 35-62 years old from the third visit of a case-control study. CAC was measured during the study visit and circulating C3 was measured in stored sera. The presence of CAC and CAC categories (Agatston score 0, 1-9.9, and ≥10) were used for logistic and ordinal regression analysis, respectively. C3 levels were not significantly different between women with PCOS and controls. Among all women, C3 was associated with the presence of CAC and increasing CAC groups after adjusting for age, PCOS status, and insulin or BMI, all p<0.05. In addition, C3 was associated with the presence of CAC after adjusting for age, PCOS status, BMI, insulin and African American race, p=0.049. PCOS status did not modify these associations. In conclusion, circulating C3 levels may prove beneficial in identifying women at risk of CVD in women with PCOS and the general population

Carotid artery intima-media thickness in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and metabolic disturbances. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, is higher in women with PCOS compared with women without PCOS

Ectopic ACTH Syndrome Due to MEN-I Associated Metastatic Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Gastrinoma in a 22 Year Old Female without Hyperparathyroidism: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Introduction: Ectopic ACTH production due to malignant tumors is a rare cause of Cushing\u27s syndrome (CS). Diagnosis and treatment of such patients can be challenging. Case: 22 year old female with recent onset fatigue, weight gain, polyuria, polydipsia, presented with melena and hypotension. She had cushingoid facies, acne, central obesity, muscle weakness and purple striae. Labs showed: Cortisol 56 µg/dl (5-15), 24 hour UFC \u3e1000 µg/24hr (5-50), Cortisol after 1mg Dexamethasone suppression 54 µg/dl (Learning points: When evaluating patients with suspected ectopic ACTH production, independent review of radiologic imaging should be done to avoid being misled by prior reports. EUS is a superior method for identifying PNET (1). Biochemical confirmation with IPSS helps exclude Cushing\u27s Disease in the setting of a pituitary adenoma. Medical therapy to control hypercortisolism and anticoagulation are necessary to lower morbidity and mortality associated with severe CS (2). Finally, screening for MEN-1 in these patients is recommended, even in the absence of hyperparathyroidism (3)

Measuring Communal Coping in Type 2 Diabetes Using A Multi-Method Approach

A study of 125 couples in which one person was recently diagnosed (< 3 years) with type 2 diabetes. We used a multi-method assessment of communal coping to examine the links of patient and spouse communal coping to relationship and health outcomes