ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrinopathy warranting lifelong individualized management by lifestyle and pharmacological agents mainly oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). This study was aimed to report the impact of six-month OCP use on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and factor VIII (FVIII) in women with PCOS. Methods: PCOS women diagnosed on the basis of Rotterdam 2003 criteria, either treated with OCPs (ethinyl estradiol-0.03 mg, levonorgestrel-0.15 mg) for a period of six months (n=40) or drug-naïve (n=42), were enrolled in this study. Blood was drawn to estimate glucose, insulin levels and lipid profile. Chemiluminescence immunoassays were used to measure hormones (LH, FSH, PRL, T4). Plasma levels of PAI-I and FVIII were measured by commercially available kits. Results: Menstrual regularity, Ferriman-Gallwey score and serum total testosterone significantly improved in the OCP group compared to drug-naïve group (P<0.01). No significant difference was observed in PAI-1 levels of the two groups; however, significant decrease in FVIII levels was observed in OCP group as compared to drug-naïve group. PAI-1 levels of OCP group correlated positively with blood glucose two hours, triglycerides and insulin two hours, while FVIII levels of OCP group correlated negatively with fasting insulin and homoeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance. Interpretation & conclusions: OCPs use has differential effect on pro-coagulant markers among women with PCOS. Well-designed, long-term, prospective, large-scale studies are prerequisite to elucidate the efficacy and safety of OCP in the treatment of PCOS.
ABSTRACT
Puducherry had reported regular dengue outbreaks since 2003 with many-fold increase in number of cases every year. This study was done to assess the intensity of dengue vector breeding and diversity of breeding habitats. Aedes surveys were conducted in 8 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) representing both rural and urban areas of Puducherry district throughout the year 2012. Containers inside and outside randomly (simple) selected houses and vacant sites around houses were examined for presence of Aedes mosquitoes. The containers containing water with immature larvae were designated as positive containers (PC), while the containers holding only water were designated as wet containers and all the larvae/pupae from the positive containers were collected and entomological indices were determined using standard WHO methods. The vectors, Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus were encountered in the survey, with Ae. aegypti present in high numbers in urban as well as rural areas. The plastic containers were found as the most productive indoor breeding habitat as the 27.2% of the total pupae collected was contributed by plastic containers followed by flower vase (22.8%) and grinding stone (17.6%). Larval indices were found to vary throughout the year and highest indices were recorded during the months of October and November indicating the potential risk of dengue fever during this period.