Particularidades de la resistencia a la insulina en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico / Particularities of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome

Introducción: La resistencia a la insulina e hiperinsulinemia son frecuentes en las mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico. Una condición que resulta relevante como factor patogénico principal de las alteraciones metabólicas que acompañan al síndrome y porque condiciona fenotipos con mayor riesgo metabólico y reproductivo. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre la resistencia a la insulina en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica tipo estado del arte. Se consultaron 229 artículos obtenidos de las bases PubMed, Medline, SciELO y Google Académico. Conclusiones: La resistencia a la insulina tiene importancia capital en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico, no sólo por su frecuencia, sino también por el amplio espectro de alteraciones metabólicas y reproductivas que se le asocian. Como en otros trastornos que caracterizan al síndrome, los mecanismos fisiopatogénicos específicos no están del todo claros, pero existe la posibilidad de diagnosticarla y tratarla oportunamente, con lo que pueden prevenirse complicaciones, algunas de importancia vital. Por esto, la educación para la salud desde edades tempranas, que propicie estilos de vida saludable, prevención del sobrepeso corporal y control de otros factores que agravan la resistencia a la insulina, así como la evaluación temprana de la resistencia a la insulina, deben entenderse como cruciales en el manejo de las mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico, con independencia de su peso corporal(AU)

Introduction: Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are frequent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. This condition is relevant as the main pathogenic factor of the metabolic alterations that accompany the syndrome and because it conditions phenotypes with higher metabolic and reproductive risk. Objective: To perform a literature review on insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: A state-of-the-art literature review was performed. The particularities of insulin resistance associated with the syndrome and its clinical expression are described. Conclusions: Insulin resistance is of paramount importance in polycystic ovary syndrome, not only because of its frequency, but also because of the wide spectrum of metabolic and reproductive alterations associated with it. As in other disorders that characterize the syndrome, the specific pathophysiological mechanisms are not entirely clear. However, it is possible to diagnose and treat it in a timely manner, thus preventing complications, some of which are of vital importance. Therefore, and regardless of their body weight, health education from an early age to promote healthy lifestyles, prevention of body overweight and control of other factors that aggravate insulin resistance, including early evaluation of insulin resistance, should be understood as crucial in the management of women with polycystic ovary syndrome(AU)

Prefrontal abnormalities, executive dysfunction and symptoms severity are modulated by COMT Val158Met polymorphism in first episode psychosis.

INTRODUCTION: Core dysfunctions proposed for psychotic disorders include prefrontal cortex (PFC) dopaminergic hypoactivity, executive function (EF) deficits and reduced gray matter in the PFC. The Val variant of COMT Val158Met polymorphism is associated with reduced dopaminergic signaling in the PFC. However, it is unclear how COMT Val158Met modulates PFC gray matter reduction, EF deficits and symptom severity at the time of the first psychotic episode. METHODS: The effect of COMT on both EF performance and prefrontal volume (PFC-VOL) was tested in 158 first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and 141 healthy controls (HC) matched for age (range 9-35 years), sex, ethnicity, handedness and COMT Val158Met distribution. EF and PFC-VOL were compared between FEP and HC groups within each polymorphism status (Met/Met versus Val carriers) to assess whether COMT influenced diagnostic differences. Next, correlations between PFC-VOL and EF performance were computed, as well as between both variables and other clinical characteristics of interest (PANSS scores, PAS infancy and premorbid IQ) in the FEP sample. RESULTS: COMT influenced the diagnostic differences mainly in PFC-VOL, but also in EF performance. FEP-Val carriers showed lower EF scores and reduced PFC-VOL compared to the HC group but also poorer EF performance than FEP Met/Met. Poorer EF performance was associated with smaller PFC-VOL, and both were related to increased severity of negative symptoms, poorer premorbid adjustment, and lower estimated premorbid IQ in FEP patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that COMT Val158Met polymorphism might contribute to PFC-VOL reductions, executive dysfunctions and symptom severity in FEP patients.

Cortical thinning over two years after first-episode psychosis depends on age of onset.

First-episode psychosis (FEP) patients show structural brain abnormalities at the first episode. Whether the cortical changes that follow a FEP are progressive and whether age at onset modulates these changes remains unclear. This is a multicenter MRI study in a deeply phenotyped sample of 74 FEP patients with a wide age range at onset (15-35 years) and 64 neurotypical healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent two MRI scans with a 2-year follow-up interval. We computed the longitudinal percentage of change (PC) for cortical thickness (CT), surface area (CSA) and volume (CV) for frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. We used general linear models to assess group differences in PC as a function of age at FEP. We conducted post-hoc analyses for metrics where PC differed as a function of age at onset. We found a significant age-by-diagnosis interaction effect for PC of temporal lobe CT (d = 0.54; p = 002). In a post-hoc-analysis, adolescent-onset (≤19 y) FEP showed more severe longitudinal cortical thinning in the temporal lobe than adolescent HC. We did not find this difference in adult-onset FEP compared to adult HC. Our study suggests that, in individuals with psychosis, CT changes that follow the FEP are dependent on the age at first episode, with those with an earlier onset showing more pronounced cortical thinning in the temporal lobe.

Neocortical Age and Fluid Ability: Greater Accelerated Brain Aging for Thickness, but Smaller for Surface Area, in High Cognitive Ability Individuals.

Biological (BA) and chronological (CA) age may or may not fit. The available evidence reveals remarkable individual differences in the overlap/mismatch between BA and CA. Increased mismatch can be interpreted as delayed (BA/CA < 1) or accelerated biological aging (BA/CA > 1). Body and brain health are correlated and both predict aging outcomes associated with physical and mental fitness. Moreover, research has shown that older brain age at midlife correlates negatively with cognitive ability measured in early childhood, which suggests early life predisposition to accelerated aging in adulthood. Under this framework, here we test if increased cognitive ability is associated with delayed brain aging, analyzing structural MRI data of 188 individuals, sixty of whom were recruited from MENSA, an association comprising individuals who obtained cognitive ability scores in the top 2 percent of the population. These high ability individuals (HCA) showed an average advantage of 33 IQ points, on a fluid reasoning test they completed for this research, over those other recruited because of their average cognitive ability (ACA). Next, brain age was computed at the individual level for two distinguishable neocortical features (thickness and surface area) according to models trained in an independent large-scale sample of 2377 individuals. Results revealed a stronger pattern of accelerated brain aging in HCA compared to ACA individuals for thickness, while the opposite pattern was suggested for surface area. The findings align well with the greater relevance of individual differences in cortical surface area for enhancing our understanding of cognitive differences at the brain level.

Hormona antimülleriana como marcador de respuesta ovárica en pacientes tratadas por fertilización in vitro / Anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian response in patients treated with in vitro fertilization

Introducción: La infertilidad afecta al 15 por ciento de las parejas en edad fértil, de las que aproximadamente 4-8 por ciento requerirán técnicas de reproducción asistida de alta tecnología. Con la incorporación de la mujer a la vida laboral y la consiguiente postergación de la maternidad es posible el aumento de la infertilidad. La hormona antimülleriana en la mujer se produce por las células de la granulosa. Esta regula el reclutamiento de folículos, su crecimiento y previene el agotamiento folicular, por lo que constituye una importante herramienta en los protocolos de inducción de la ovulación. Objetivo: Evaluar los niveles de la hormona antimülleriana como marcador de respuesta ovárica en pacientes tratadas por fertilización in vitro. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional y de corte transversal en la consulta protocolizada de Reproducción Asistida del Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Hermanos Ameijeiras, en el periodo comprendido de abril 2017 hasta abril 2019. La muestra quedó conformada por 137 mujeres que participaron en esta consulta. Se empleó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: La edad promedio de las pacientes fue de 33,1 ± 7,4 años. Predominó la concentración sérica normal de la hormona antimülleriana en mujeres entre 31-35 años (26,3 por ciento), nivel normal de FSH en (39,4 por ciento), recuento de folículos antrales normal (24,1 por ciento), buena calidad ovocitaria (39,4 por ciento), y buena calidad embrionaria (36,5 por ciento). Conclusiones: El nivel sérico de la hormona antimülleriana se asoció significativamente a la edad, la hormona folículo estimulante, el recuento de los folículos antrales, y la calidad ovocitaria y embrionaria(AU)

Introduction: Infertility affects to 15 percent of the couples in childbearing age, and approximately 4-8 percent of them will need high-tech assisted reproduction techniques. With the participation of women in work life and the subsequent delay of maternity, it is possible the increase of infertility. Anti-Müllerian in women is produced by granular cells. These cells control the recruitment of follicles, their growth and prevent follicles exhaustion; therefore, it represents an important tool in the protocols of ovulation induction. Objective: Assess the levels of anti-Müllerian hormone as a marker in the ovarian response in patients treated with in vitro fertilization. Methods: It was conducted a descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study in the consultation of Assisted Reproduction in "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Surgical Clinical Hospital, in the period April, 2017 - April, 2019. The sample was formed by 137 women who attended to this consultation. It was used descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Average age of the patients was 33,1 ± 7,4 years old. There was predominance of normal serum concentration of anti-Müllerian hormone in women among 31-35 years old (26,3 percent), FSH normal level in (39,4 percent), normal recount of antral follicles (24,1 percent), good oocyte quality (39,4 percent), and good embryonic quality (36,5 percent). Conclusions: The serum level of the anti-Müllerian hormone was significantly associated to age, the follicle-stimulating hormone, the recount of antral follicles, and the oocyte and embryonic quality(AU)

Pleuropatía secundaria a inductores de la ovulación / Pleuropathy secondary to ovulation inducers

Introducción: Se denomina derrame pleural al acúmulo de líquido en el espacio pleural por encima de 5 y 15 mL en un hemitórax. Diferentes etiologías son las responsables de su aparición, pero un grupo estas están dadas por la etiología medicamentosa. El síndrome de hiperestimulación ovárica constituye una complicación secundaria al uso de la terapia con inductores de la ovulación. Es poco conocida en la literatura médica la asociación del tratamiento con inductores de la ovulación en la génesis del derrame pleural. Objetivo: Revisar los aspectos clínico-fisiopatológicos más importantes reportados sobre la pleuresía en el síndrome de hiperestimulación ovárica. Desarrollo: Se realizó una revisión a propósito de un caso clínico de una paciente de 34 años de edad con antecedentes de salud, seguida en consulta de fertilidad, a la cual se le aplicó tratamiento con citrato de clomifeno y desarrolló un síndrome de hiperestimulación ovárica moderado e inmediato, cuya expresión clínica fue un derrame pleural derecho de moderada cuantía. La pleuresía es poco frecuente, depende de la predisposición genética individual de la paciente y la susceptibilidad a los medicamentos; la incidencia varía entre 0,6 y 10 por ciento. Se han descrito diferentes factores de riesgo de presentarlo, aunque cualquier mujer sometida a estos tratamientos lo puede desarrollar. El tratamiento es sintomático restituyendo el volumen intravascular con la administración de cristaloides y/o albúmina. Conclusiones: La asociación del síndrome de hiperestimulación ovárica y la pleuropatía secundaria al tratamiento con citrato de clomifeno no es frecuente(AU)

Introduction: Pleural effusion is called the accumulation of fluid in the pleural space above 5 and 15 mL in a hemithorax. Different etiologies are responsible for its appearance but a group of them are given by drug etiology. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a secondary complication to the use of ovulation inducer therapy. The association of treatment with ovulation inducers in the genesis of pleural effusion is little known in the medical literature. Objective: To review the most important clinical-pathophysiological aspects reported on pleurisy in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Methods: A review was carried out on the purpose of a clinical case of a 34-year-old patient with a medical history, followed in a fertility consultation. She was treated with clomiphene citrate and she developed an immediate moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The clinical expression was a moderate right pleural effusion. Pleurisy is rare. It depends on the individual genetic predisposition of the patient and the susceptibility to drugs; the incidence varies between 0.6 and 10 percent. Different risk factors have been described, although any woman subjected to these treatments can develop it. Treatment is symptomatic, restoring the intravascular volume with the administration of crystalloids and / or albumin. Conclusions: The association of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and pleuropathy secondary to treatment with clomiphene citrate is not frequent(AU)

Wireless versus routine physiologic monitoring after cesarean delivery to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality in a resource-limited setting: protocol of type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study.

BACKGROUND: Women in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest rates of morbidity and mortality during childbirth globally. Despite increases in facility-based childbirth, gaps in quality of care at facilities have limited reductions in maternal deaths. Infrequent physiologic monitoring of women around childbirth is a major gap in care that leads to delays in life-saving interventions for women experiencing complications. METHODS: We will conduct a type-2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study over 12 months to evaluate using a wireless physiologic monitoring system to detect and alert clinicians of abnormal vital signs in women for 24 h after undergoing emergency cesarean delivery at a tertiary care facility in Uganda. We will provide physiologic data (heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood pressure) to clinicians via a smartphone-based application with alert notifications if monitored women develop predefined abnormalities in monitored physiologic signs. We will alternate two-week intervention and control time periods where women and clinicians use the wireless monitoring system during intervention periods and current standard of care (i.e., manual vital sign measurement when clinically indicated) during control periods. Our primary outcome for effectiveness is a composite of severe maternal outcomes per World Health Organization criteria (e.g. death, cardiac arrest, jaundice, shock, prolonged unconsciousness, paralysis, hysterectomy). Secondary outcomes include maternal mortality rate, and case fatality rates for postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and sepsis. We will use the RE-AIM implementation framework to measure implementation metrics of the wireless physiologic system including Reach (proportion of eligible women monitored, length of time women monitored), Efficacy (proportion of women with monitoring according to Uganda Ministry of Health guidelines, number of appropriate alerts sent), Adoption (proportion of clinicians utilizing physiologic data per shift, clinical actions in response to alerts), Implementation (fidelity to monitoring protocol), Maintenance (sustainability of implementation over time). We will also perform in-depth qualitative interviews with up to 30 women and 30 clinicians participating in the study. DISCUSSION: This is the first hybrid-effectiveness study of wireless physiologic monitoring in an obstetric population. This study offers insights into use of wireless monitoring systems in low resource-settings, as well as normal and abnormal physiologic parameters among women delivering by cesarean. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04060667 . Registered on 08/01/2019.

Brain resilience across the general cognitive ability distribution: Evidence from structural connectivity.

Resting state functional connectivity research has shown that general cognitive ability (GCA) is associated with brain resilience to targeted and random attacks (TAs and RAs). However, it remains to be seen if the finding generalizes to structural connectivity. Furthermore, individuals showing performance levels at the very high area of the GCA distribution have not yet been analyzed in this regard. Here we study the relation between TAs and RAs to structural brain networks and GCA. Structural and diffusion-weighted MRI brain images were collected from 189 participants: 60 high cognitive ability (HCA) and 129 average cognitive ability (ACA) individuals. All participants completed a standardized fluid reasoning ability test and the results revealed an average HCA-ACA difference equivalent to 33 IQ points. Automated parcellation of cortical and subcortical nodes was combined with tractography to achieve an 82 × 82 connectivity matrix for each subject. Graph metrics were derived from the structural connectivity matrices. A simulation approach was used to evaluate the effects of recursively removing nodes according to their network centrality (TAs) versus eliminating nodes at random (RAs). HCA individuals showed greater network integrity at baseline and prior to network collapse than ACA individuals. These effects were more evident for TAs than RAs. The networks of HCA individuals were less degraded by the removal of nodes corresponding to more complex information processing stages of the PFIT network, and from removing nodes with larger empirically observed centrality values. Analyzed network features suggest quantitative instead of qualitative differences at different levels of the cognitive ability distribution.

Hiperparatiroidismo primario por adenoma con gammagrafía negativa / Primary hyperparathyroidism due to negative scintigraphy adenoma

Introducción: El hiperparatiroidismo es una de las causas más frecuente de hipercalcemia. El 85 por ciento de los pacientes son mayores de treinta años, su frecuencia más alta se encuentra por encima de 60 años, a largo plazo puede producir una serie de complicaciones. Objetivo: Describir el caso clínico de hiperparatiroidismo primario que resultó negativa al estudio de gammagrafía con localización ectópica del adenoma. Caso Clínico: Paciente femenina de 20 años con antecedentes de litiasis renal y uretral de 7 años de evolución, la cual se sometió a 13 sesiones de litotricia y dos cirugías renales con recidivas, hace 6 meses se detectó cifras elevadas de calcio. Se realiza protocolo de estudio de hipercalcemia determinándose hiperparatiroidismo primario, ultrasonido y tomografía de cuello reportan lesión que podría corresponder a un adenoma paratiroideo paratraqueal; sin embargo, la gammagrafía con metoxi-isobutilisonitrilo y tecnecio 99 fue negativa. Se realizó cirugía de cuello convencional ya que la cirugía radioguiada no fue útil para la localización del adenoma paratiroideo intraoperatorio. Estudio histopatológico reportó adenoma paratiroideo. Conclusiones: En adenomas paratiroideo con gammagrafía negativa se puede hacer el diagnostico con estudios de imagen convencional. La localización ectópica del adenoma paratiroideo constituye una causa de gammagrafía negativa. La cirugía radioguiada no es útil en los adenomas paratiroides ectópicos con gammagrafía negativa(AU)

Introduction: Hyperparathyroidism is one of the most frequent causes of hypercalcemia. 85 percent of patients are older than thirty years, its highest frequency is over 60 years, in the long term it can produce a series of complications. Objective: To describe a clinical case of primary hyperparathyroidism that was negative in the scintigraphy study with ectopic location of the adenoma. Clinical case report: A 20-year-old female patient with a 7-year history of renal and urethral lithiasis, who had undergone 13 lithotripsy sessions and two recurrent kidney surgeries. Six months ago, elevated calcium levels were detected. A study protocol for hypercalcemia was carried out, determining primary hyperparathyroidism. Ultrasound and neck tomography report a lesion that could correspond to a paratracheal parathyroid adenoma; however, methoxy-isobutylisonitrile and technetium-99 scintigraphy was negative. Conventional neck surgery was performed since radioguided surgery was not useful for locating the intraoperative parathyroid adenoma. Histopathological study reported parathyroid adenoma. Conclusions: In parathyroid adenomas with negative scintigraphy, the diagnosis can be reached with conventional imaging studies. The ectopic location of the parathyroid adenoma is a cause of negative scintigraphy. Radioguided surgery is not helpful in scan-negative ectopic parathyroid adenomas(AU)

Altered white matter microstructure in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a multisite diffusion tensor imaging study.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS)-a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a hemizygous deletion on chromosome 22-is associated with an elevated risk of psychosis and other developmental brain disorders. Prior single-site diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) studies have reported altered white matter (WM) microstructure in 22q11DS, but small samples and variable methods have led to contradictory results. Here we present the largest study ever conducted of dMRI-derived measures of WM microstructure in 22q11DS (334 22q11.2 deletion carriers and 260 healthy age- and sex-matched controls; age range 6-52 years). Using harmonization protocols developed by the ENIGMA-DTI working group, we identified widespread reductions in mean, axial and radial diffusivities in 22q11DS, most pronounced in regions with major cortico-cortical and cortico-thalamic fibers: the corona radiata, corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, posterior thalamic radiations, and sagittal stratum (Cohen's d's ranging from -0.9 to -1.3). Only the posterior limb of the internal capsule (IC), comprised primarily of corticofugal fibers, showed higher axial diffusivity in 22q11DS. 22q11DS patients showed higher mean fractional anisotropy (FA) in callosal and projection fibers (IC and corona radiata) relative to controls, but lower FA than controls in regions with predominantly association fibers. Psychotic illness in 22q11DS was associated with more substantial diffusivity reductions in multiple regions. Overall, these findings indicate large effects of the 22q11.2 deletion on WM microstructure, especially in major cortico-cortical connections. Taken together with findings from animal models, this pattern of abnormalities may reflect disrupted neurogenesis of projection neurons in outer cortical layers.

Sensory-to-Cognitive Systems Integration Is Associated With Clinical Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired multisensory integration in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may arise from functional dysconnectivity among brain systems. Our study examines the functional connectivity integration between primary modal sensory regions and heteromodal processing cortex in ASD, and whether abnormalities in network integration relate to clinical severity. METHOD: We studied a sample of 55 high-functioning ASD and 64 healthy control (HC) male children and adolescents (total n = 119, age range 7-18 years). Stepwise functional connectivity analysis (SFC) was applied to resting state functional magnetic resonance images (rsfMRI) to characterize the connectivity paths that link primary sensory cortices to higher-order brain cognitive functional circuits and to relate alterations in functional connectivity integration with three clinical scales: Social Communication Questionnaire, Social Responsiveness Scale, and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. RESULTS: HC displayed typical functional connectivity transitions from primary sensory systems to association areas, but the ASD group showed altered patterns of multimodal sensory integration to heteromodal systems. Specifically, compared to the HC group, the ASD group showed the following: (1) hyperconnectivity in the visual cortex at initial link step distances; (2) hyperconnectivity between sensory unimodal regions and regions of the default mode network; and (3) hypoconnectivity between sensory unimodal regions and areas of the fronto-parietal and attentional networks. These patterns of hyper- and hypoconnectivity were associated with increased clinical severity in ASD. CONCLUSION: Networkwise reorganization in high-functioning ASD individuals affects strategic regions of unimodal-to-heteromodal cortical integration predicting clinical severity. In addition, SFC analysis appears to be a promising approach for studying the neural pathophysiology of multisensory integration deficits in ASD.

Fragmentación del ADN espermático en parejas tratadas por fertilización in vitro / Sperm DNA fragmentation in couplestreated by in vitro fertilization

RESUMEN Introducción: Se estudian los factores que afectan el ADN espermático en la actualidad y en qué medida influyen en la aplicación de las técnicas de reproducción asistida de alta tecnología. La fertilización in vitro es un tema de interés que ha motivado a muchos investigadores. Objetivo: Determinar la relación que existe entre el índice de fragmentación del ADN de la cromatina espermática y los resultados de la técnica de fertilización in vitro en parejas infértiles. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 107 parejas infértiles remitidas del Programa Nacional de Atención a la pareja infértil, donde se precisó la asociación entre el potencial fertilizante y las variables de resultados: tasa de fertilización, calidad embrionaria y embarazo. Se estudiaron, además, algunos factores que pueden influir en el grado de fragmentación del ADN. Resultados: El potencial fertilizante no se relacionó con la tasa de fertilización, ni con el embarazo clínico, pero sí con la calidad embrionaria (P= 0.036). La edad paterna resultó ser estadísticamente significativa en relación con el potencial fertilizante (P= 0.032). La presencia de varicocele se asoció con el bajo potencial fertilizante (OR= 5,27; IC 95 por ciento [1.34 - 24.09]). Conclusiones: El índice de fragmentación del ADN de la cromatina espermática afecta negativamente la calidad de los embriones a transferir. La edad y el varicocele se relacionan positivamente con el grado de fragmentación del ADN espermático. El consumo de alcohol, el hábito de fumar y la exposición a agentes físicos y químicos no se relacionaron con el índice de fragmentación del ADN espermático en este estudio(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: The factors that affect the spermatic DNA are being studied at present and in what extent they affect the implementation of high technology assisted reproduction techniques. In vitro fertilization is a topic of interest that has motivated many researchers. Objective: To determine the relationship between the rate of DNA fragmentation of sperm chromatin and the results of in vitro fertilization technique in infertile couples. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 107 infertile couples referred to the National Program of Attention to the Infertile Couple, where it was specified the association between the potential fertilizer and outcome variables: rate of fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy. In addition, there were studied some factors that may influence the degree of DNA fragmentation. Results: The fertilizing potential was not related to the rate of fertilization, or with the clinical pregnancy, but it did with the embryo quality (p= 0.036). The paternal age proved to be statistically significant in relation to the fertilizing potential (p= 0.032). The presence of varicocele was associated with the low fertilizing potential (OR = 5.27; CI 95 percent [1.34 - 24.09]). Conclusions: The rate of DNA fragmentation of sperm chromatin negatively affects the quality of the embryos to be transferred. The age and varicocele are positively related with the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation. The consumption of alcohol, the smoking habit and the exposure to chemical and physical agents were not associated with the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation in this study(AU)

Resistencia a la insulina en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico / Insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

RESUMEN Introducción: La resistencia a la insulina es frecuente en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico, con diferencias entre fenotipos y discrepancias sobre cómo medirla. Objetivo: Identificar trastornos de la sensibilidad y resistencia a la insulina en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico, y determinar si es mayor en el fenotipo clásico. Métodos: Incluyó 152 mujeres: 45 sin síndrome de ovario poliquístico (Grupo I); 46 con síndrome de ovario poliquístico clínico (Grupo II); 61 con síndrome de ovario poliquístico clásico (Grupo III). Se realizó prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa oral, se calcularon índices de sensibilidad o resistencia a la insulina en ayunas (HOMA-IR, I0/G0, FIRI, ISI, Belfiore, Bennet, Quicki, Raynaud) y en la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa oral (Belfiore2, Ribel, Ins2glu2, ATI, IITotal, DATI/DATG, Matsuda, BetaHOMA). Se emplearon las pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney y Chi cuadrado. Resultados: Las mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico tenían más obesidad global y central (p / 0,05), más nivel de glucemia a los 30, 120 y 180 minutos de la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa oral (p / 0,05) y de insulinemia a los 30, 60 y 120 (p / 0,0001), lo que fue mayor en el grupo III. Se diagnosticó intolerancia en ayunas en una mujer de cada grupo y tolerancia alterada en una del II y III. No hubo diferencias significativas entre grupos para los índices de sensibilidad o resistencia a la insulina en ayunas; ni del HOMA entre mujeres normopeso vs. sobrepeso-obesidad (p / 0,05). La mediana de los índices de la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa oral fue menor para los de sensibilidad (Belfiore2, Ribel) y mayor para los de resistencia a la insulina (Ins2glu2, ATI, IITotal) en el Grupo III. El DATI/DATG, Matsuda y BetaHOMA no tuvieron diferencias significativas. Conclusiones: Las mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico tienen mayor respuesta glucémica, resistencia a la insulina e hiperinsulinismo postsobrecarga de glucosa que las mujeres con función ovárica normal, más manifiesta en el fenotipo clásico. Los índices de ayuno son menos sensibles, independientemente del peso corporal. Tienen mayor utilidad: insulinemia a los 60 minutos de la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa oral, Belfiore2, ATI e IITotal(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Insulin resistance is common in polycystic ovary syndrome, with differences between phenotypes and discrepancies on how to measure it. Objective: To identify disorders of insulin sensitivity and resistance in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and determine if the latter is greater in the classic phenotype. Methods: The study included 152 women. 45 of them had no polycystic ovary syndrome (Group I), 46 had clinical polycystic ovary syndrome (Group II) and 61 had classic polycystic ovary syndrome (Group III). Oral glucose tolerance test was performed, fasting insulin sensitivity or resistance indices (HOMA-IR, I0 / G0, FIRI, ISI, Belfiore, Bennet, Quicki, Raynaud) were calculated and the tolerance test to oral glucose (Belfiore2, Ribel, Ins2glu2, ATI, IITotal, DATI / DATG, Matsuda, BetaHOMA) was also assessed. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and Chi square tests were used. Results: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome had more global and central obesity (p /0.05), more blood glucose level at 30, 120 and 180 minutes of the oral glucose tolerance test (p /0.05 ) and insulinemia at 30, 60 and 120 (p /0.0001), which was higher in group III. Fasting intolerance was diagnosed in one woman in each group and altered tolerance in one of group II and group III, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups for fasting insulin sensitivity or resistance indices, nor for HOMA among normal weight women vs. overweight-obesity (p / 0.05). The median indexes of the oral glucose tolerance test were lower for those of sensitivity (Belfiore2, Ribel) and higher for those of insulin resistance (Ins2glu2, ATI, IITotal) in Group III. The DATI / DATG, Matsuda and BetaHOMA had no significant differences. Conclusions: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have higher glycemic response, insulin resistance and post-overload glucose hyperinsulinism than women with normal ovarian function, which is more evident in the classical phenotype. Fasting rates are less sensitive, regardless of body weight. Tests such as insulinemia 60 minutes after the oral glucose tolerance, Belfiore 2, ATI and IITotal are most useful(AU)

Cortical surface area variations within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are better predictors of future cognitive performance than fluid ability and working memory.

BACKGROUND: Are cognitive and biological variables useful for predicting future behavioral outcomes? METHOD: In two independent groups, we measured a set of cognitive (fluid and crystallized intelligence, working memory, and attention control) and biological (cortical thickness and cortical surface area) variables on two occasions separated by six months, to predict behavioral outcomes of interest (performance on an adaptive version of the n-back task) measured twelve and eighteen months later. We followed three stages: discovery, validation, and generalization. In the discovery stage, cognitive/biological variables and the behavioral outcome of interest were assessed in a group of individuals (in-sample). In the validation stage, the cognitive and biological variables were related with a parallel version of the behavioral outcome assessed several months later. In the generalization stage, the validation findings were tested in an independent group of individuals (out-of-sample). RESULTS: The key finding revealed that cortical surface area variations within the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex predict the behavioral outcome of interest in both groups, whereas the cognitive variables failed to show reliable predictive validity. CONCLUSIONS: Individual differences in biological variables might predict future behavioral outcomes better than cognitive variables concurrently correlated with these behavioral outcomes.

Neuroanatomical deficits shared by youth with autism spectrum disorders and psychotic disorders.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and early-onset psychosis (EOP) are neurodevelopmental disorders that share genetic, clinical and cognitive facets; it is unclear if these disorders also share spatially overlapping cortical thickness (CT) and surface area (SA) abnormalities. MRI scans of 30 ASD, 29 patients with early-onset first-episode psychosis (EO-FEP) and 26 typically developing controls (TD) (age range 10-18 years) were analyzed by the FreeSurfer suite to calculate vertex-wise estimates of CT, SA, and cortical volume. Two publicly available datasets of ASD and EOP (age range 7-18 years and 5-17 years, respectively) were used for replication analysis. ASD and EO-FEP had spatially overlapping areas of cortical thinning and reduced SA in the bilateral insula (all p's < .00002); 37% of all left insular vertices presenting with significant cortical thinning and 20% (left insula) and 61% (right insula) of insular vertices displaying decreased SA overlapped across both disorders. In both disorders, SA deficits contributed more to cortical volume decreases than reductions in CT did. This finding, as well as the novel finding of an absence of spatial overlap (for ASD) or marginal overlap (for EOP) of deficits in CT and SA, was replicated in the two nonoverlapping independent samples. The insula appears to be a region with transdiagnostic vulnerability for deficits in CT and SA. The finding of nonexistent or small spatial overlap between CT and SA deficits in young people with ASD and psychosis may point to the involvement of common aberrant early neurodevelopmental mechanisms in their pathophysiology.

Local functional connectivity suggests functional immaturity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Previous studies have associated Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with a maturational lag of brain functional networks. Functional connectivity of the human brain changes from primarily local to more distant connectivity patterns during typical development. Under the maturational lag hypothesis, we expect children with ADHD to exhibit increased local connectivity and decreased distant connectivity compared with neurotypically developing (ND) children. We applied a graph-theory method to compute local and distant connectivity levels and cross-sectionally compared them in a sample of 120 children with ADHD and 120 age-matched ND children (age range = 7-17 years). In addition, we measured if potential group differences in local and distant connectivity were stable across the age range considered. Finally, we assessed the clinical relevance of observed group differences by correlating the connectivity levels and ADHD symptoms severity separately for each group. Children with ADHD exhibited more local connectivity than age-matched ND children in multiple brain regions, mainly overlapping with default mode, fronto-parietal and ventral attentional functional networks (p < .05- threshold free-cluster enhancement-family-wise error). We detected an atypical developmental pattern of local connectivity in somatomotor regions, that is, decreases with age in ND children, and increases with age in children with ADHD. Furthermore, local connectivity within somatomotor areas correlated positively with clinical severity of ADHD symptoms, both in ADHD and ND children. Results suggest an immature functional state of multiple brain networks in children with ADHD. Whereas the ADHD diagnosis is associated with the integrity of the system comprising the fronto-parietal, default mode and ventral attentional networks, the severity of clinical symptoms is related to atypical functional connectivity within somatomotor areas. Additionally, our findings are in line with the view of ADHD as a disorder of deviated maturational trajectories, mainly affecting somatomotor areas, rather than delays that normalize with age.

The association between gene variants and longitudinal structural brain changes in psychosis: a systematic review of longitudinal neuroimaging genetics studies.

Evidence suggests that genetic variation might influence structural brain alterations in psychotic disorders. Longitudinal genetic neuroimaging (G-NI) studies are designed to assess the association between genetic variants, disease progression and brain changes. There is a paucity of reviews of longitudinal G-NI studies in psychotic disorders. A systematic search of PubMed from inception until November 2016 was conducted to identify longitudinal G-NI studies examining the link between Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)-based brain measurements and specific gene variants (SNPs, microsatellites, haplotypes) in patients with psychosis. Eleven studies examined seven genes: BDNF, COMT, NRG1, DISC1, CNR1, GAD1, and G72. Eight of these studies reported at least one association between a specific gene variant and longitudinal structural brain changes. Genetic variants associated with longitudinal brain volume or cortical thickness loss included a 4-marker haplotype in G72, a microsatellite and a SNP in NRG1, and individual SNPs in DISC1, CNR1, BDNF, COMT and GAD1. Associations between genotype and progressive brain changes were most frequently observed in frontal regions, with five studies reporting significant interactions. Effect sizes for significant associations were generally of small or intermediate magnitude (Cohen's d < 0.8). Only two genes (BDNF and NRG1) were assessed in more than one study, with great heterogeneity of the results. Replication studies and studies exploring additional genetic variants identified by large-scale genetic analysis are warranted to further ascertain the role of genetic variants in longitudinal brain changes in psychosis.

Atypical age-dependency of executive function and white matter microstructure in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.

Executive function (EF) performance is associated with measurements of white matter microstructure (WMS) in typical individuals. Impaired EF is a hallmark symptom of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but it is unclear how impaired EF relates to variability in WMS. Twenty-one male youth (8-18 years) with ASD and without intellectual disability and twenty-one typical male participants (TP) matched for age, intelligence quotient, handedness, race and parental socioeconomic status were recruited. Five EF domains were assessed and several DTI-based measurements of WMS [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD)] were estimated for eighteen white matter tracts. The ASD group had lower scores for attention (F = 8.37, p = 0.006) and response inhibition (F = 13.09, p = 0.001). Age-dependent changes of EF performance and WMS measurements were present in TP but attenuated in the ASD group. The strongest diagnosis-by-age effect was found for forceps minor, left anterior thalamic radiation and left cingulum angular bundle (all p's ≤ 0.002). In these tracts subjects with ASD tended to have equal or increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD at younger ages while controls had increased FA and/or reduced MD and/or RD thereafter. Only for TP individuals, increased FA in the left anterior thalamic radiation was associated with better response inhibition, while reduced RD in forceps minor and left cingulum angular bundle was related to better problem solving and working memory performance respectively. These findings provide novel insight into the age-dependency of EF performance and WMS in ASD, which can be instructive to cognitive training programs.

Individual differences in the dominance of interhemispheric connections predict cognitive ability beyond sex and brain size.

Global structural brain connectivity has been reported to be sex-dependent with women having increased interhemispheric connectivity (InterHc) and men having greater intrahemispheric connectivity (IntraHc). However, (a) smaller brains show greater InterHc, (b) larger brains show greater IntraHc, and (c) women have, on average, smaller brains than men. Therefore, sex differences in brain size may modulate sex differences in global brain connectivity. At the behavioural level, sex-dependent differences in connectivity are thought to contribute to men-women differences in spatial and verbal abilities. But this has never been tested at the individual level. The current study assessed whether individual differences in global structural connectome measures (InterHc, IntraHc and the ratio of InterHc relative to IntraHc) predict spatial and verbal ability while accounting for the effect of sex and brain size. The sample included forty men and forty women, who did neither differ in age nor in verbal and spatial latent components defined by a broad battery of tests and tasks. High-resolution T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted images were obtained for computing brain size and reconstructing the structural connectome. Results showed that men had higher IntraHc than women, while women had an increased ratio InterHc/IntraHc. However, these sex differences were modulated by brain size. Increased InterHc relative to IntraHc predicted higher spatial and verbal ability irrespective of sex and brain size. The positive correlations between the ratio InterHc/IntraHc and the spatial and verbal abilities were confirmed in 1000 random samples generated by bootstrapping. Therefore, sex differences in global structural connectome connectivity were modulated by brain size and did not underlie sex differences in verbal and spatial abilities. Rather, the level of dominance of InterHc over IntraHc may be associated with individual differences in verbal and spatial abilities in both men and women.

Nivel de información sobre el síndrome de declinación de la función testicular en el envejecimiento masculino / Level of information on the declining testicular function syndrome in male aging

Introducción: el síndrome de declinación de la función testicular del hombre que envejece ha cobrado relevancia reciente, pero se asume que se conoce poco. Objetivo: identificar el nivel de información, en población y proveedores de salud, sobre este síndrome. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal, que involucró a 452 personas de población general, 109 médicos especialistas afines al tema y 406 de atención primaria. Se emplearon cuestionarios autoadministrados, estadísticas descriptivas y prueba chi2. Resultados: de la muestra poblacional 70,30 por ciento de las mujeres y 56,0 por ciento de los hombres reconocieron que el hombre experimenta un proceso equivalente al climaterio femenino; 64,04 por ciento no conocía los síntomas y 47,12 por ciento de los hombres mayores de 40 años señalaron edad de comienzo superior a la suya. De los especialistas afines, solo 10 habían oído hablar de todos los términos que se emplean para referirse al síndrome, 77,06 por ciento habían escuchado frecuentemente andropausia y 70,65 por ciento climaterio masculino; 27,52 por ciento dio definiciones incorrectas. De atención primaria, 28,57 por ciento no reconoció ningún término, 21,18 por ciento había escuchado frecuentemente andropausia y 19,95 por ciento climaterio masculino; 51,7 por ciento no definió correctamente el síndrome. El 74,14 por ciento no mencionó síntomas, 76,85 por ciento señaló contraindicaciones excesivas al tratamiento y 85,22 por ciento valoró su conocimiento como insuficiente. El nivel de información no se relacionó con edad, sexo o tiempo de graduado (p> 0,05). Conclusiones: la población, principalmente las mujeres, reconoce el síndrome, pero no domina sus manifestaciones. En médicos, con independencia de la edad, sexo o tiempo de graduado, la información se limita mayoritariamente a términos como andropausia y climaterio masculino; el dominio conceptual, del cuadro clínico y tratamiento, es insuficiente(AU)

Introduction: declining testicular function syndrome of the aging man has gained recent relevance but it is accepted that little is known about it. Objective: to find out the level of information of the population and of the health providers on this syndrome. Methods: cross-sectional and descriptive study involving 452 people from the general population, 109 medical specialists related to this topic and 406 primary care physicians. Self-administered questionnaires, summary statistics and chi-square test were all used. Results: in the population sample, 70.30 percent of women and 56 percent of men admitted that man experiences a process similar to the female climaterium; 64.04 percent did not know the symptoms and 47.12 percent of men older than 40 years stated that this process occurred at an age above that of theirs. As to the related specialists, just 10 had heard about all the terms used to mention this syndrome, 77.06 percent had often heard the term andropause and 70.65 percent the term male climaterium, and 27.52 percent gave incorrect definitions. In the primary health care physician group, 28.57 percent did not recognize any term, 21.18 percent had frequently heard about andropause and 19.95 percent about male climaterium, and 51.7 percent did not give a correct definition of the syndrome. In the sample 74.14 percent did not mention any symptom, 76.85 percent pointed out excessive treatment contraindications and 85.22 percent assessed their knowledge as poor. The level of information was not associated to age, sex or time of graduation (p> 0.05). Conclusions: the population, mainly women, recognizes the syndrome but did not know well the symptoms. Regardless of age, sex or time of graduation, the physicians' information about the syndrome is mostly limited to terms such as andropause and male climaterium but they did not master the concept, the clinical picture or the treatment(AU)