What is the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Adolescents with Normal BMI who have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MBS) in adolescent girls with normal BMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study group consisted of 63 pubertal girls with a BMI less than 25 kg/m(2) who were referred to our center with signs of hirsutism or oligomenorrhea. The diagnosis of PCOS was based on the recent ESHRE/ASRM proposal and required that all 3 of the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS in adolescents be met. The control group consisted of 159 pubertal girls matched for age and BMI. Glucose, insulin, testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin, free testosterone and all lipid parameters measured. For to diagnose the cases with MBS, modified Cook criteria were used and cases who had at least 3 of 5 criteria's were diagnosed as MBS. RESULTS: Girls with PCOS had higher blood pressure parameters (systolic/diastolic) (P < .01), fasting insulin (P = .007), low-density lipoprotein (P = .017), triglyceride (P = .045), total (P < .001) and free testosterone (P = .001) levels compared to control group. There were more cases who had at least 1 Cook criterion in girls with PCOS compared to the control group but the difference was not significant. However, there were more cases who had MBS in girls with PCOS compared to the control group (P = .02). CONCLUSION: MBS prevalence is higher in normal BMI adolescent girls with PCOS compared to age and BMI matched control group. So as clinicians, we must search for the MBS criteria's in girls with PCOS even if they have a normal BMI.

Effectiveness of foot and hand massage in postcesarean pain control in a group of Turkish pregnant women.

The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of foot and hand massage on reducing postoperative pain in patients who had cesarean operation. This pretest-posttest design study was planned as a randomized controlled experimental study. In the light of the results, it was reported that the reduction in pain intensity was significantly meaningful in both intervention groups when compared to the control group. It was also noted that vital findings were measured comparatively higher before the massage in the test groups, and they were found to be relatively lower in the measurements conducted right before and after the massage, which was considered to be statistically meaningful. Foot and hand massage proved useful as an effective nursing intervention in controlling postoperative pain.

Prevalence and predictors of dysmenorrhea among students at a university in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students and to evaluate the effects of sociodemographic characteristics on the condition. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of 857 students conducted by questionnaire in April 2007 at a university in Turkey. A visual analogue scale was used to assess the severity of dysmenorrhea. Data were analyzed using the chi(2) test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 55.5% (444 out of 800 women). Risk of dysmenorrhea was approximately 1.5-times higher in women with a satisfactory spending allowance (OR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05-2.13); 3.5-times higher in women with a family history of dysmenorrhea (OR 3.48; 95% CI, 2.54-4.78); 1.5-times higher in women who were underweight compared with overweight/obese women (OR 1.52; 95% CI 0.99-2.33); 1.6-times higher in women who reported a history of smoking (OR 1.57; 95% CI, 1.10-2.25); and 1.8-times higher in women with an excessive sugar intake (OR 1.77; 95% CI, 1.15-2.72). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Turkish university students is a significant health problem that requires attention.