Metabolic syndrome in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, characteristics and associations with body mass index. A prospective controlled study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, to evaluate the characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to investigate the correlation of MetS with body mass index (BMI). METHODS: In a prospective controlled study, 230 Greek female patients with PCOS and 155 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Diagnosis of PCOS was based on the revised criteria of Rotterdam. Both groups were examined for MetS. Diagnosis of MetS was based on the revised criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF). RESULTS: The prevalence of the MetS was 12.6 %, nearly sevenfold higher than the controls. Elevated fasting plasma glucose (7.0 vs. 1.9 %) and elevated triglycerides (10.4 vs. 3.2 %) were more frequent in the PCOS cohort (p < 0.05). Women with PCOS presented statistically higher BMI in comparison with the controls (p < 0.001). Subsequently, the prevalence of MetS was estimated in three groups: normal, overweight and obese subdivided according to BMI. The latter two groups showed significant differences compared with the healthy controls (24.5 vs. 8.8 %, p = 0.050). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study showed high prevalence of MetS and increased BMI in Greek PCOS women. In addition, it demonstrated the higher prevalence of MetS in obese PCOS women in comparison with the controls. These results are placing them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the future and underline the necessity of periodic screening, appropriate diet and exercise program.

Cytokine concentrations during the first days of life.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytokine concentration patterns during the first 5 days of life by measuring serum concentrations of type-1 cytokines, like interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and type-2 cytokines, like IL-4, as well as the receptors of IL-2 (sIL-2R) and IL-4 (sIL-4R) during the early neonatal period. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-two healthy term neonates were included in the study. Cytokine concentrations were measured in umbilical cord, in the 1st and 5th day after birth and compared with those in serum of 30 healthy adults. RESULTS: IL-2 concentrations presented a decrease trend from umbilical cord to 5th day, while sIL-2R showed a significant elevation from umbilical cord to 5th day after birth. IL-4 concentrations did not differ significantly among umbilical cord, the 1st and the 5th day, while the sIL-4R showed the highest values in the 1st day after birth. Both IL-4 and sIL-4R concentrations in neonatal samples were elevated compared to adults. IFN-gamma concentrations increased significantly from umbilical cord to 5th day of life. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate a dysregulation among IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma concentrations during the 1st day after birth, favoring a more precocious expression of IL-2 and IL-4 against IFN-gamma that seems to be ameliorated in the end of the 1st week of life.