Polycystic ovary syndrome and leukocyte telomere length: cross-sectional and longitudinal changes

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Normo- and hyperandrogenic women with polycystic ovary syndrome exhibit an adverse metabolic profile through life

Objective: To compare the metabolic profiles of normo- and hyperandrogenic women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with those of control women at different ages during reproductive life. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Not applicable. Patient(s): In all, 1,550 women with normoandrogenic (n = 686) or hyperandrogenic (n = 842) PCOS and 447 control women were divided into three age groups: 39 years). Interventions(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, cholesterol, lipoproteins, triglycerides and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Result(s): Both normo- and hyperandrogenic women with PCOS were more obese, especially abdominally. They had increased serum levels of insulin (fasting and in oral glucose tolerance tests), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol, higher blood pressure, and lower high-density lipoprotein levels independently from BMI compared with the control population as early as from young adulthood until menopause. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was two-to fivefold higher in women with PCOS compared with control women, depending on age and phenotype, and the highest prevalence was observed in hyperandrogenic women with PCOS at late reproductive age. Conclusion(s): When evaluating metabolic risks in women with PCOS, androgenic status, especially abdominal obesity and age, should be taken into account, which would allow tailored management of the syndrome from early adulthood on. (C) 2016 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Peer reviewe

Polycystic ovary syndrome and leukocyte telomere length : cross-sectional and longitudinal changes

Objective Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that protect chromosome ends from DNA damage and are surrogate biomarkers of cellular ageing. Current evidence, almost entirely from cross-sectional observations, supports negative associations between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and adverse lifestyle factors and cardio-metabolic risk factors. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common gynecological endocrine disorder, is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, both factors associated with accelerated telomere attrition. We therefore hypothesized that LTL would be shorter and decrease more rapidly in women with PCOS in comparison to a control population. Design Population-based cohort study: women of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, with clinical examinations at ages 31 and 46. The sample included self-reported PCOS (PCOS) (age 31:N=190; age 46:N=207) and referent women (age 31:N=1054; age 46:N=1324) with data on LTL. Methods The association between LTL and PCOS at ages 31 and 46 was analyzed by linear regression models adjusted for BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption and socioeconomic status at the corresponding age. Results Women with PCOS had similar mean LTL at ages 31 and 46 (P>0.4 for both). The mean LTL change between ages 31 and 46 did not differ between groups (P=0.19). However, we observed a significant LTL attrition between ages 31 and 46 in the reference population (P<0.001), but not in women with PCOS (P=0.96). Conclusions This finding may suggest a difference in LTL attrition rate in women with PCOS, an unexpected finding that might affect their risk of age-related disease. Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms

Adenovirus endocytosis and adenoviral gene transfer in cardiovascular and dermatologic disease models

Abstract Adenoviral gene transfer is a valuable tool in molecular biology research. In order to be an efficient and safe vector, adenovirus structure and infection mechanism as well as molecular biology of the used transgene need to be well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of adenovirus as a gene transfer vector from several perspectives. Adenovirus uses receptor-mediated endocytosis in order to enter the target cell. The effect of Rab5 GTPase on adenovirus entry and gene transfer efficiency was examined first. Next, adenovirus was used as an investigatory tool in the cardiovascular research, focused on clarifying the role of adrenomedullin (AM) in heart and vascular remodeling. Finally, a model of adenoviral gene transfer into skin fibroblasts was used. The role of Rab5 GTPase in the adenovirus endocytosis was examined in HeLa cells using Cy3-labeled adenovirus, and gene transfer efficiency using β-galactosidase encoding adenovirus. Rab5 increased both adenovirus uptake and gene transfer, whereas dominant negative Rab5S34N decreased both endocytosis and gene transfer. The data indicate that Rab5 is needed in mediating the adenovirus uptake into the target cell. In the rat heart, adenovirus-mediated AM gene transfer transiently improved systolic function both in vivo and in vitro. AM caused activation of translocation of protein kinases C ε and δ, whereas phosphorylation of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase was decreased in the left ventricle. AM significantly attenuated the development of angiotensin II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In rats with myocardial infarction, AM enhanced dilatation of left ventricle and thinning of anterior wall. The role of AM in neointima formation was evaluated in rat artery after endothelial injury. Intravascular AM gene transfer decreased neointimal growth and increased neointimal myofibroblasts apoptosis. These results show that AM regulates left ventricular systolic function and remodeling in the heart, and plays a role in pathological vascular remodeling. Adenovirus-mediated lysyl hydroxylase (LH) gene transfer into skin fibroblasts of type VI Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient and rat skin increased functional LH production, elevated LH activity, and human LH mRNA production both in vitro and in vivo. LH gene replacement therapy may thus lead to possibilities to improve skin wound healing in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients

An overview of the security landscape of virtual mobile networks

Abstract 5G enables the use of different types of services over the same physical infrastructure through the concepts and technologies of virtualization, softwarization, network slicing and cloud computing. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), using these concepts, provide an opportunity to share the same physical infrastructure among multiple operators. Each MVNO can have own distinct operating and support systems. However, the technologies used to enable such an environment have their own explicit security challenges and solutions. The integrated environment built upon these novel concepts and technologies, thus, will have complex security implications and requirements to be satisfied. In this vain, this article provides an overview of the security challenges and potential solutions for MVNOs

Polycystic ovary syndrome and leukocyte telomere length: cross-sectional and longitudinal changes

Peer reviewe