Serum under-carboxylated osteocalcin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: weight-dependent relationships with endocrine and metabolic traits

Abstract Background Under-carboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), the precursor substrate of bone biomarker OC is a potent regulator of energy metabolism by promoting insulin production and adiponectin synthesis and decreasing fat stores. The aim of the present study was to point out the potential role of ucOC in the physiopathology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common disorder defined by the constellation of anovulation, insulinresistance, hyperinsulinemia, obesity and androgen excess. Methods In this prospective case–control investigation, 78 young premenopausal women, i.e. 52 PCOS patients and 26 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls, were successively enrolled. Recruitment of PCOS patients was performed according to Androgen Excess-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (AE-PCOS) Society 2006 criteria. All study participants were subjected to clinical examination, whole-body composition assessment and measurements of serum ucOC, OC (1-49), glucose and lipids, insulin, total testosterone (TT), estradiol, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and β-CrossLaps. Results BMI-stratified multivariate analysis revealed significantly higher ucOC levels in PCOS vs. controls in lean (p = 0.001) but not overweight and obese study participants (p = 0.456). Notably, a positive correlation between ucOC and TT (p = 0.018), calculated free testosterone (cFT, p = 0.028) and serum insulin (p = 0.036), respectively, was found to be confined to the lean analysis subgroup. Furthermore, in stepwise multiple regression models, β-CrossLaps and cFT were able to predict 46.71% of serum ucOC variability. (1-43/49)OC failed to be significantly associated to any PCOS trait. Conclusions Circulating ucOC concentration is related to key endocrine PCOS characteristics in a weight-dependent manner. Within the bone-pancreas loop, high ucOC may favor insulin release in lean hyperandrogenic women to compensate for impaired insulin sensitivity.</p

Actes du Symposium International - Le livre, la Roumanie, l’Europe / Proceedings of the International Symposium Books, Romania, Europe - 5ème édition 24-26 septembre 2012

Tome 2 des actes du Symposium International "Le livre, la Roumanie, L\u27Europe" qui s\u27est tenu les 24, 25 et 26 septembre 2012 à Mamaia, Roumanie, organisé par la Bibliothèque Métropolitaine de Bucarest. / Tome 2 of the Proceedings of the International Symposium "Books, Romania, Europe" held on 24, 25 and 26 September 2012 in Mamaia, Romania, organized by the Bucharest Metropolitan Library. Textes réunis et présentés par : Réjean Savard Chantal Stanescu Hermina G.B. Anghelescu Cristina Io

Hassreden und Pressefreiheit– ein Dilemma am Beispiel der Berichterstattung über Roma

Die Meinungsfreiheit ist in demokratischen Staaten als Grundrecht verankert. Damit diese Freiheit nicht missbraucht wird, gibt es im Zusammenhang mit Hassreden, Verhetzung und diskriminierenden oder beleidigenden Reden in aller Regel nationale gesetzliche Einschränkungen. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen der Meinungs- und Pressefreiheit auf der einen Seite und Hassreden auf der anderen Seite anhand einer Betrachtung der Berichterstattung über die Volksgruppe der Roma in ausgewählten Printmedien aus Österreich, Deutschland und Großbritannien. Die durchgeführte Untersuchung kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass die negative Darstellung von Roma und die Perpetuierung von Stereotypen gegen diese Volksgruppe in Printmedien sich vor allem darin zeigt, in welchem Zusammenhang – häufig einseitig – Angehörige der Volksgruppe ausdrücklich als solche bezeichnet werden und welche Bezeichnung für die Volksgruppe gebraucht wird. Ferner zeigt sich eine Tendenz in der Berichterstattung insofern, als Artikel, die Roma als Hauptthema zum Inhalt haben, vermehrt über gesellschaftlich negativ behaftete Themen berichten, auch wenn dabei keine ausdrücklich abwertende Bezeichnung der Volksgruppe der Roma oder eine ausdrückliche Nennung der Volksgruppe bereits im Titel erfolgt.Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right in democratic states. To prevent abuse of this right through hatespeech, incitement and discriminatory or offensive speech, restrictions are imposed by national legislation. The present paper explores the relationship between freedom of speech and hate speech by examining the reporting on the ethnic minority of Roma in selected print media from Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. The examination comes to the conclusion that the negative portrayal of Roma and the perpetuation of stereotypes against this ethnic minority in print media is being shown in particular in the context in which members of the minority are – often one-sidedly – expressly named as such and which designation is used for the minority. Furthermore, there is a tendency in articles that have Roma as a central theme. Typically, these cover topics that have a negative connotation in our society, even though these articles might not expressly use a derogatory designation for the ethnic minority of Roma or expressly name the minority in the title

IFNα-Induced Recurrence of Graves&apos; Disease Ten Years after Thyroidectomy in Chronic Viral Hepatitis C. Case Report

Abstract In contrast to chronic or subacute thyroiditis, Graves&apos; disease rarely complicates IFN-α therapy for chronic viral C hepatitis. We report the case of a 51-year-old man in whom IFN-α treatment was followed by recurrence of Graves&apos; disease 10 years after thyroidectomy was performed and the patient was declared cured. Despite severe thyrotoxicosis, combined IFN-α and ribavirin therapy was continued and radioiodine treatment was considered for Graves&apos; disease

Elevated serum receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin levels in late-onset male hypogonadism

Purpose: Studies that analyze the levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) or receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) in hypogonadal men, the majority of whom have prostate cancer or are undergoing androgen-deprivation therapy, are few and inconclusive. Methods: 81 men aged 69.3 ± 0.8 years (39 men with late-onset hypogonadism and 42 age-matched controls) were recruited. Serum levels of OPG, total soluble RANKL (sRANKL), total and free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E2), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and β-Cross Laps were assessed. Results: Compared with controls, both OPG (p = 0.023) and sRANKL (p = 0.010) serum levels were increased in men with late-onset hypogonadism; however, when expressed as a ratio, sRANKL/OPG, the two groups were not significantly different. Simple and age-adjusted analyses showed that OPG was inversely related to FT and positively related to SHBG, E2 and BAP. In the patient population, LH demonstrated statistically significant correlations with both OPG (r = 0.274, p = 0.013) and sRANKL (r = 0.276, p = 0.018). Multiple regression analysis retained age, SHBG, E2 and BAP as independent predictors of OPG, explaining 27.71% of serum OPG variability. Conclusions: Late-onset hypogonadism is associated with enhanced RANKL activity. Increased bone turnover-related OPG levels may act as a coupling factor between bone resorption and formation. The results suggest anti-RANKL-agents as therapeutic tools in osteoporotic men with late-onset hypogonadism