Inhibin secretion in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome before and after treatment with progesterone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>It has been suggested that inhibin secretion is altered in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the contribution of a preceding luteal phase has not been taken into account. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether progesterone in the context of a simulated luteal phase affects basal and FSH-induced inhibin secretion in women with PCOS and elevated LH.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten women with PCOS and 8 normally cycling women participated in an experimental procedure (Exp) involving the administration of a single injection of recombinant FSH (450 IU sc). In the women with PCOS, the procedure was performed before (Exp 1) and after a 20-day treatment with progesterone (Exp 2), while in the normal women on day 2 of the cycle (Exp 3). Inhibin A and B levels were measured in blood samples taken before and 24 hours after the FSH injection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Basal LH levels were significantly higher and inhibin A levels were significantly lower in the PCOS group compared to the control group, while inhibin B levels were comparable in the two groups. In the PCOS group, after treatment with progesterone inhibin A and LH but not inhibin B levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05). After the FSH injection, inhibin A and B levels increased significantly in the women with PCOS (Exp 1 and Exp 2) but not in the control women (Exp 3).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In women with PCOS, as compared to control women, the dissimilar pattern of inhibin A and inhibin B secretion in response to FSH appears to be independent of a preceding simulated luteal phase. It is possible that compared to normal ovaries, the PCOS ovaries are less sensitive to endogenous LH regarding inhibin A secretion and more sensitive to exogenous FSH stimulation in terms of inhibin A and inhibin B secretion.</p

Ovarian control of pituitary sensitivity of luteinizing hormone secretion to gonadotropin-releasing hormone in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome

This study investigated the ovarian control of LH responsiveness to GnRH in anovulatory women with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is suggested that the enhanced pituitary sensitivity of LH secretion to GnRH in anovulatory women with PCOS is not due to a reduced production but rather to a defect in the interaction of ovarian factors on the hypothalamic-pituitary system. (Fertil Steril (R) 2009;92:1378-80. (C)2009 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Impact of coherence length on the field of view in dark-field holographic microscopy for semiconductor metrology:Theoretical and experimental comparisons

Semiconductor manufacturers continue to increase the component densities on computer chips by reducing the device dimensions to less than 10 nm. This trend requires faster, more precise, and more robust optical metrology tools that contain complex and high-precision optics with challenging imaging requirements. Here, we present dark-field digital holographic microscopy as a promising optical metrology technique that uses optics with acceptable complexity. A theoretical analysis and an experimental demonstration of this technique are presented, showing the impact of the coherence length of the light source on the field of view. Finally, we also present the first holographically obtained images of metrology targets

Differentiating Degenerative from Vascular Dementia with the Help of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Biomarkers

Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia account for the majority of cases of cognitive decline in elderly people. These two main forms of dementia, under which various subtypes fall, are often overlapping and, in some cases, definitive diagnosis may only be possible post-mortem. This has implications for the quality of care and the design of individualized interventions for these patients. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality used to visualize the retinal layers and vessels which shows encouraging results in the study of various neurological conditions, including dementia. This review aims to succinctly sum up the present state of knowledge and provide critical insight into emerging patterns of OCTA biomarker values in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. According to the current literature, vessel density seems to be a common biomarker for both forms; inner retinal layer thickness might represent a biomarker preferentially affected in degenerative dementia including Alzheimer’s, while, in contrast, the outer-layer thickness as a whole justifies attention as a potential vascular dementia biomarker. Radial peripapillary capillary density should also be further studied as a biomarker specifically linked to vascular dementia

Computerized cognitive rehabilitation for treatment of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis: an explorative study.

In this explorative study, forty-seven patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis were randomized to a custom 6-week cognitive rehabilitation intervention (n = 23) using the BrainHQTM web-based platform and to a control group condition (n = 24). Cognitive rehabilitation intervention consisted of two 40-minute sessions per week. All patients were tested with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis battery, the Stroop Color-Word Test, and the trail making test, while the Beck Depression Inventory - Fast Screen questionnaire was used as a measure of mood and the cognitive reserve index as a measure of cognitive reserve. We used the reliable change index, to calculate clinically meaningful changes of performance, and to discriminate between responders and non-responders of this intervention. Statistically significant improvement of the group receiving treatment was observed mainly on measures of verbal and non-verbal episodic memory and, to a lesser extent, on reading speed, selective attention/response inhibition, and visual attention. Verbal memory and visual attention improvements remained significant after considering the corrected for multiple comparisons level of significance. According to reliable change index scores, 12/23 (52.2%) of patients in the intervention group presented meaningful improvement in at least one measure (Greek Verbal Learning Test: 26%, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised: 17.4%, Stroop-Words test: 13%). This explorative study provides evidence that, at least in the short term, cognitive rehabilitation may improve the cognitive performance of multiple sclerosis patients

Estimating Everyday Neuropsychological Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis: Reliability and Validity of the Greek Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire

The Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Questionnaire is a brief screening questionnaire for the assessment of everyday neuropsychological competence of patients with Multiple Sclerosis. The aim of the present study was to examine psychometric properties of the Greek version of the instrument. One hundred and three MS patients and 60 informants participated in the present study and completed the questionnaire. From the initial patient sample, 51 participants completed broadly used neuropsychological tests and measures estimating cognitive failures and depression. Moreover, after a six-month interval the MSNQ was administered to 58 patients from the initial sample in order to explore test-retest reliability. Cronbach's α was 0.92 and 0.93 for patient and informant forms, respectively. The patient form was correlated significantly with measures of cognitive failures and depression. Low correlations were found between the informant form and performance on cognitive tests. In regard to the patient form, significant correlation was observed between repeated administrations and, psychometrically, the three-factor structure was preferable than the one-factor structure. The present study confirms the already established pattern of correlations among the two MSNQ forms, neuropsychological test performance and depression measurements. Additional research is needed in order to define a cut-off score for the MSNQ-I providing further information about the diagnostic interpretability of the instrument

Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 as serum biomarkers for ectopic pregnancy and missed abortion A case-control study

Background: A case-control study to evaluate whether a single serum measurement of angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) at 6-8 weeks gestation can differentiate failed pregnancies, whether ectopic pregnancies (EP) or missed abortions (MA), from healthy intrauterine pregnancies (IUP). Intervention(s): Serum and tissue mRNA determination of ANG-1 and ANG-2 levels by ELISA and RTPCR, from 60 (30 EP and 30 MA) patients with failed early pregnancy and 33 IUPs. Results: ANG-1 and ANG-2 concentrations and their ratio are lower in EP (median, 689 and 302 pg/ml, respectively) and MA cases (median, 810 and 402 pg/ml, respectively) compared to IUP (median, 963 and 1477 pg/ml, respectively) (p&lt;0.05, for all). Unlike ANG-2, serum ANG-1 discriminates an EP from a MA (p = 0.011). Trophoblastic ANG-1 mRNA expression levels are lower in EP compared to MA and IUP (p&lt;0.05), while ANG-2 mRNA is higher in EP and MA than in IUP (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: A single measurement of serum ANG-1 and ANG-2 at 6-8 weeks of gestation designate the outcome of a pregnancy, as their levels are significantly decreased in failed than normal pregnancies. Serum ANG-1 showed potential to discriminate MA from EP. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved