Body mass index is a good predictor of metabolic abnormalities in polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: To assess which parameters among hyperandrogenism (total testosterone-tT-or free androgen index-FAI), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or body mass index (BMI) could better predict a worse metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Five hundred and eighty-six women with PCOS and clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism were included. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves with tT, FAI, SHBG and BMI were performed for metabolic parameters and a cut-off with sensitivity and specificity was obtained for each parameter. The women were then divided into three groups and compared according to their BMI. RESULTS: Based on the ROC curves, tT proved not to be a good predictor of metabolic alterations. FAI and SHBG resulted to be good predictors of some markers of metabolic damage. The area under the curves (AUC) of SHBG were greater than those of FAI. SHBG levels affects the values of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting insulin, high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and total cholesterol also when corrected for BMI. However, the highest AUCs of the ROC curves were observed when BMI was used, which was significantly related to all the metabolic parameters analyzed. Dividing women according to their BMI, BMI between 25.00 and 30.00 kg/m2 had a worse metabolic profile but still in a normal range, while BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 women had a significant metabolic derangement. DISCUSSION: BMI is a good predictor factor of metabolic changes in PCOS women at any age, and obesity is associated to the appearance of metabolic complications. Overweight and obese PCOS women should be addressed to perform a complete metabolic assessment.

Comparison of PCOS phenotypes in adolescent and young adult Mediterranean women with possible PCOS.

PURPOSE: During adolescence, PCOS features are supposed to be in evolution. Because of this, the diagnosis of PCOS in adolescence is often unclear and few studies have compared adolescent and adult PCOS phenotype distribution and features. The aim is to compare phenotypes in adolescents and young adults with PCOS. METHODS: 109 girls aged from 13 to 19 years were retrospectively studied. All patients had a gynecological age > 2 years. 63 patients were adolescents (3-5 years beyond menarche) while 46 patients were young adults (6-9 years beyond menarche). Diagnosis of different PCOS phenotypes (A, B, C, D) was made according to the Rotterdam criteria. Clinical data (menstrual cycles, BMI, presence of hirsutism), androgen circulating levels (total testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) and ovarian morphology by ultrasound were assessed. RESULTS: 109 patients presented PCOS according to the Rotterdam criteria. Phenotype A was by far the most common phenotype (73.4%) followed by phenotype B (21.1%). Only few patients had phenotype C (4.6%) or phenotype D (0.9%). When patients were divided in two groups (adolescent and young adult patients), no significant difference in prevalence and features of the different phenotypes was observed. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of adolescent and young adult women with PCOS, the progression of age does not change the prevalence and the features of main PCOS phenotypes. It suggests that the Rotterdam criteria might be used also in adolescents, at least in those with 2 or more years of gynecological age, for the diagnosis of PCOS.

Systemic inflammation, genetic susceptibility and lung function.

Local inflammation in airway diseases is well recognised, but less is known about the association between low-grade systemic inflammatory processes and lung function. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between inflammatory markers and lung function, taking into account polymorphisms in genes coding for inflammatory markers. In 134 post-myocardial infarction patients, six repeated measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and fibrinogen in peripheral blood were assayed using high-sensitivity tests. Spirometry was conducted at baseline. Genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed in genes coding for the inflammatory markers. CRP and IL-6 levels were negatively associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), forced vital capacity (FVC) and mean forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC (FEF(25-75%)). In the CRP gene, both the polymorphism rs1205 and the haplotype 2 showed a protective association with FEV(1) and FEF(25-75%), and, to a lesser extent, with FVC. rs1205 and haplotype 2 were both negatively associated with CRP levels in peripheral blood. Analysis with instrumental variables also showed a protective effect between these CRP gene polymorphisms and lung function. Results are very suggestive that heritability of lung function is at least partly controlled by the CRP gene. Applying a Mendelian randomisation approach, the study supports a causal association between low-grade general inflammation and airway diseases.

Impact of epilepsy after severe brain injury on safe resumption of driving: two-year follow-up.

Safe resumption of driving after a severe acquired brain injury (sABI) is a strongly felt need because driving is related to recovery of independence and social-occupational re-integration. The aim of this prospective observational cohort study was to determine whether epilepsy secondary to sABI is a significant factor for being declared fit to drive by the relevant government authorities in Italy. In the period 2006-2015 we recruited 187 patients with sABI, 30 of whom (16.4%) developed secondary epilepsy. The interval between the acute event and the first seizure varied widely (6-96 months), confirming the need for prolonged follow-up. With regard to the aetiology, traumatic brain injury (TBI) was associated with the highest risk of epilepsy: 66.7% of the 30 patients with epilepsy had TBI, as opposed to cerebrovascular disease or anoxic brain damage (33.3%). The percentage of patients who resumed driving was about the same in the epilepsy (80%) and non-epilepsy (81%) groups.

Hypomelanosis of Ito associated with chromosomal translocation involving Xp11.

We report on a 3-year-old girl with hypomelanosis of Ito (HI). She has typical skin lesions and mild CNS involvement characterized by impaired walking and borderline mental retardation. Cytogenetic investigation showed a 18/X translocation with breakpoint on Xp11. This is the sixth case of HI in which this breakpoint has been reported, underlining that this event cannot be considered coincidental. Further studies are needed to understand the etiologic and pathogenetic meaning of this finding.

[Use of a digital radiology system with phosphors in the assessment of thoracic diseases in bedside radiography]. / Impiego di un sistema di radiologia digitale con fosfori nella valutazione delle malattie del torace degli esami eseguiti a letto del paziente.

We report our experience with a storage phosphor radiography system; to assess both the image resolution and the dynamic range of the system, a phantom simulating chest average density was used. Finally, we investigated the system impact on portable chest radiographs. The radiographs were taken on 35 x 43 cm phosphor plates, with 80 kV, 3 mAs and focus-film distance of 130 cm. The phosphor plates were scanned with a 75 microns laser beam, postprocessed with the system software and, finally, printed on a 20 x 25 cm film. As reported by other Authors, the storage phosphor system showed similar spatial resolution to conventional radiography (2.5 lp/mm for 35 x 43 cm films and 4.5 lp/mm for 20 x 25 cm films), a wide dynamic range always allowing correcting exposure, but increased noise; these features allow film density optimization even in such "critical" situations and bedside radiographs. Pneumonia, pneumothorax, emphysema, pleural effusions and catheters or tubes positioning were always easily depicted. In our experience, the phosphor plate storage system exhibits many advantages over conventional radiography, namely image postprocessing, the opportunity to choose between several sizes of laser films and finally, the possibility of linking the system to a network and possibly to a digital archive. The main drawbacks of the system are its increased noise and, at present, with the available hardware, slow plate reading.