Dynamic Thiol-Disulphide Status in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Its Association with the Pathogenesis of the Disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aims to examine the differences in plasma thiol-disulphide levels that are related to oxidative stress among obese and nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their age/body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls. METHODS: The participants were divided into 4 groups based on BMI (nonobese and obese). Serum thiol and disulphide levels were compared among groups. RESULTS: Serum thiols were found higher in the obese PCOS group than those in the obese control group in the study (thiol: 407.33 ± 46.25 vs. 365.67 ± 67.03 µmol/l, p = 0.014). Disulphide levels were observed to be decreased in the obese PCOS group relative to its control (21.39 ± 1.33 vs. 23.53 ± 8.47 µmol/l, p = 0.021). Serum thiol levels were found to be higher in the nonobese PCOS group compared to nonobese controls (thiol: 434.7 ± 46.92 vs. 422.94 ± 46.61 µmol/l, p = 0.031). Significant differences of disulphide levels between the nonobese PCOS group and the nonobese control group were observed (18.07 ± 1.93 vs. 20.68 ± 3.79 µmol/l, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: High antioxidant levels in women with PCOS may be related to either mechanisms involving anovulation, multiple follicular development, and apoptosis or to their compensatory system against oxidative load arising from obesity and overweightness.

Multiple sclerosis; a disease of reproductive-aged women and the dilemma involving contraceptive methods.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation in the central nerves system. Because the disease predominantly affects women of reproductive ages, having knowledge about contraception options for MS patients can make clinicians provide better counseling. Although most contraceptive methods are generally accepted as safe and effective in MS patients, recent studies have raised questions about their potential adverse effects on the disease. The use of contraceptive methods to avoid unintended pregnancies is crucial in MS patients, particularly during the relapse phase of the disease or the time when the disease is not completely under control. This review investigates the contraception options and their effects on female MS patients. Providing appropriate contraception options to multiple sclerosis patients will be one of the most challenging issues for clinicians to deal with. Recent studies have raised questions that the use of hormonal contraceptives may at least partly contribute to the rise in incidence of MS in women. This review investigates the contraception options and their effects on female MS patients.