THE EFFECTS OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS ON FEMALE GONADAL AXIS: AN UPDATE.

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are considered to have an impact on the function of reproductive axis at different levels as well on reproductive organs in both sexes. Complexity of female reproductive system influenced with various stressors including EDs lead to morphological and functional alterations. This is resulting in modulation of neuroendocrine regulation with consequent developmental irregularities and derangements, causative infertility, endometriosis as well as premature ovarian insufficiency or polycystic ovary syndrome. A number of experimental clues was obtained on female animal models using various EDs such as synthetic estrogens and phytoestrogens, neurotransmitters, pesticides or various chemicals. These substances lead towards consequent derangement of the neuroendocrine control of reproduction from early phases of reproductive development towards different phases of adult reproductive period. This text will address some novel insights into the effects of EDs on neuroendocrine regulation of gonadal axis, effects on ovaries as well on endometrium during implantation period.

The effect of metformin and myoinositol on metabolic outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: role of body mass and adiponectin in a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of insulin sensitizers metformin (MET) and myo-inositol (MI) on adiponectin levels and metabolic characteristics in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with respect to their body mass index (BMI). METHODS: In this open label, parallel randomized clinical trial, 66 women with PCOS (33 normal-weight and 33 overweight/obese) were randomized to either MI (4 g/day) or MET (1500 mg/day) for a period of 6 months. Serum concentration of adiponectin, hormonal and metabolic laboratory outcomes and clinical assessment of BMI, body composition and Ferriman-Gallwey score (FG score) were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: After the 6-month intervention, comparison between MET and MI in time to treatment analysis showed no significant differences between the two treatments for all analyzed parameters. Only borderline significantly lower AUC glucose was found in the MET group in comparison to the MI group (p = 0.071). The main effect of treatment was shown for glucose concentration at 120 min OGTT (p = 0.032) and testosterone (p = 0.002). The main effect of time was shown for body mass (p = 0.004), waist circumference (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.003), body fat mass (p = 0.001), adiponectin (p = 0.020), fasting glucose (p = 0.001), testosterone (p = 0.015), SHBG (p = 0.013), 17OH progesterone (p = 0.008), LH (p = 0.004) and estradiol (p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Our study showed similar effects of MET and MI on BMI, body composition, hormonal profile, metabolism of glucose and insulin, and adiponectin level. The two insulin sensitizers, MET and MI, were useful in reducing BMI and improving body composition without significant differences between the two treatments in PCOS women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN13199265. Trial registration date: 14.04.2021. (ISRCTN Registry), retrospectively registered.

THE EFFECT OF MYOINOSITOL AND METFORMIN ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

CONTEXT: Cardiovascular risk is increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Do insulin sensitizing agents such as metformin (MET) and myoinositol (MI) ameliorate biomarkers of cardiovascular risk? OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of MET and MI on blood pressure, lipid profile and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in women with PCOS in respect to their body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Open label, parallel randomized, single center study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty six women with PCOS (33 normal-weight and 33 overweight/obese) were randomized to either MI (4 g/day) or MET (1500 mg/day) for a period of 6 months. Serum concentration of hormones, lipid profile, oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), hs-CRP, blood pressure measurement and clinical assessment of BMI, waist circumference (WC) and Ferriman Gallwey score (FG score) were performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: Thirty patients in each group completed the trial. Compared with MET, MI significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p=0.036) and significantly increased serum hs-CRP (p=0.043). No differences between groups in total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ox-LDL and triglycerides were reported after 6 months. Treatment with MI reduced BMI (p=0.037), WC (p=0.005), DBP (p=0.021) and TC (p=0.008). During MET treatment a significant decrease in BMI (p=0.005), WC (p=0.004), FG score (p=0.001), testosterone (p=0.013) and free androgen index (FAI) (p=0.006) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed an advantage of MI in reduction of DBP and TC thus predicting favorable metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in PCOS women. MET more effectively decrease indices of hyperandrogenism.

Relation of chemokines to BMI and insulin resistance at ages 18-21.

OBJECTIVE: In obesity, adipose tissue becomes a significant source of chemokines and inflammatory cytokines that are associated with chronic systemic low-grade inflammation and may lead to insulin resistance. Studies in children have mainly focused on inflammatory cytokines and there are limited data for chemokines in adolescents and young adults. We studied the relation of chemokines to cardiovascular (CV)-risk factors, insulin resistance and adipocytokines in 18-21-year-old individuals. SUBJECTS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional data collected in a cohort originally enrolled at mean age 13, with data for the present study obtained from 252 examined at age 18.7±0.1 years. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the associations among chemokines (monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß (MIP-1ß), visfatin and interleukin-8 (IL-8)) and between chemokines and body mass index (BMI), glucose, lipids, blood pressure (BP), insulin resistance (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp) and adipocytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and adiponectin). RESULTS: Chemokine levels were significantly intercorrelated. Significant associations (P<0.05) with adjustment for age, race and sex included: MIP-1ß with waist circumference and IL-6, IL-8 with systolic BP and visfatin with IL-6. No other significant relations were found between the chemokines and the other variables. Further adjustment for BMI did not alter these conclusions. CONCLUSION: Considered in the context of prior studies in children and adults, these results suggest that in large part, the association between chemokines and CV risk or inflammatory factors does not appear to develop until adult life.

Analgesic use during pregnancy and risk of infant leukaemia: a Children's Oncology Group study.

BACKGROUND: Infant leukaemia is likely initiated in utero. METHODS: We examined whether analgesic use during pregnancy was associated with risk by completing telephone interviews of the mothers of 441 infant leukaemia cases and 323 frequency-matched controls, using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: With the exception of a reduced risk for infant acute myeloid leukaemias with non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use early in pregnancy (odds ratios=0.60; confidence intervals: 0.37-0.97), no statistically significant associations were observed for aspirin, non-aspirin NSAIDs, or acetaminophen use in early pregnancy or after knowledge of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Overall, analgesic use during pregnancy was not significantly associated with the risk of infant leukaemia.

Birth characteristics and the risk of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma based on histological subtype.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about risk factors for childhood rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and the histology-specific details are rare. METHODS: Case-control studies formed by linking cancer and birth registries of California, Minnesota, New York, Texas and Washington, which included 583 RMS cases (363 embryonal and 85 alveolar RMS) and 57 966 randomly selected control subjects, were analysed using logistic regression. The associations of RMS (overall, and based on embryonal or alveolar histology) with birth weight across five 500 g categories (from 2000 to 4500 g) were examined using normal birth weight (2500-3999 g) as a reference. Large (>90th percentile) and small (<10th percentile) size for gestational age were calculated based on birth weight distributions in controls and were similarly examined. RESULTS: High birth weight increased the risk of embryonal RMS and RMS overall. Each 500 g increase in birth weight increased the risk of embryonal RMS (odds ratio (OR)=1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.14-1.42) and RMS overall (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.09-1.29). Large size for gestational age also significantly increased the risk of embryonal RMS (OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.03-1.96). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a positive association between accelerated in utero growth and embryonal RMS, but not alveolar RMS. These results warrant cautious interpretation owing to the small number of alveolar RMS cases.

Tailoring metal oxide nanoparticle dispersions for inkjet printing.

There is a growing interest in science and industry for printed electronics. Printed electronics enable the production of large quantities of electronic components at low cost. Even though organic semiconductors are already widely used for printed components, inorganic materials may be advantageous due to their higher durability and superior device performance. Nevertheless, inorganic materials still remain difficult to print making the development of printable and functional inks a necessity. In this work we present the formulation, inkjet printing and processing of newly developed inks based on ethylene glycol as dispersion medium. Different metal oxide nanoparticles (ZnO, TiO2, CuO, SnO2 and In2O3) with high crystallinity and narrow size distribution were produced by chemical vapor synthesis. The particles were stabilized and the colloidal stability was evaluated by a combination of DLVO simulations and dynamic light scattering measurements. Measurements of rheological and interfacial properties, like viscosity and surface tension, are used to determine the printability on the basis of the inverse Ohnesorge number. Inks, developed in this work, have adjustable rheological properties as well as long-term stabilities without particle sedimentation over a period of several months. They are suitable for printing on different substrate materials like silicon and flexible polymeric substrates.

Genomic organization of the gene coding for human pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor and expression in human fetal membranes.

Pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF) was first isolated from an activated peripheral blood lymphocyte cDNA library and was found to be involved in the maturation of B-cell precursors. It was subsequently identified as one of the genes upregulated by distending the human fetal membranes in vitro. Here we report on the genomic organization of this gene, which is composed of 11 exons and 10 introns, spanning 34.7 kb of genomic DNA. Neither the gene nor the protein has any homology with other cytokines in any currently available database. The use of two promoters (proximal and distal) may result in differential, tissue specific expression of the PBEF transcripts. The 5'-flanking region lacks the classical sequence motif that would place it with the hematopoietic cytokines; however, it has several putative regulatory elements, suggesting that this gene may be chemically and mechanically responsive to inducers of transcription. The three PBEF mRNA transcripts were observed in both normal and infected human fetal membranes but were significantly upregulated (P<0.05) in severe infection. The PBEF protein was immunolocalized, in both normal and infected tissues, to both the normal fetal cells of the amnion and chorion and the maternal decidua of the membranes, and to the invading neutrophils. These stained strongly and were likely to contribute to the increased expression in infection. The amniotic epithelial cell line (WISH cells) has been used as a model to study PBEF gene modulation. Lipopolysaccharide, interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha and IL-6 all significantly increased the expression of PBEF in 4 h of treatment. The addition of dexamethasone to IL-1beta and TNFalpha significantly reduced the response of PBEF to these cytokines. IL-8 treatment failed to alter PBEF gene expression. Thus PBEF is a cytokine expressed in the normal fetal membranes and upregulated when they are infected. It is likely to have a central role in the mechanism of infection-induced preterm birth.

Pure red-cell aplasia as the presenting feature of the carcionoid tumor of the thymus: case report.

Acquired pure red-cell aplasia (PRCA) is an uncommon disorder of erythrocytopoiesis that can develop in association with thymic tumors. We present the very rare case of a severely anemic 62-year-old man with PRCA and a concurrent neuroendocrine carcinoid tumor of the thymus. The anterior mediastinal thymus tumor was completely excised, and following histological and immunohistochemical analyses (showing positive staining for cytokeratin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and neuron-specific enolase) the diagnosis of a (grade I; T(1)N(0)M(0)) typical carcinoid tumor of the thymus was made. Postoperatively the anemia persisted despite no signs of residual tumor on CT chest. A hematological work up found: normocellularity with <0.5% erythroblasts and preserved megakaryocytopoiesis and granulocytopoiesis in a trephine biopsy; reduced numbers of Colony Forming Unit Erythroid (CFU-E) and normal numbers of Burst-Forming Unit Erythroid (BFU-E) in bone marrow colony-forming assays; a markedly increased level of serum erythropoietin; normal T and B-cell numbers with a normal CD4/CD8 ratio; and no clonal T-cell receptor -gamma and -delta gene rearrangement) The patient responded favorably to a therapeutic trial of glucocorticoid immunosuppressive treatment (prednisone 1 mg/kg/day) with a normalization of the reticulocyte count and hematocrit, suggesting an immunologic mechanism for the PRCA. Though the exact mechanisms underlying the association between the PRCA and the carcinoid tumor of the thymus remain unknown.