Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation attenuates ovarian ageing in a galactose-induced primary ovarian insufficiency rat model.

PURPOSE: Almost every female classic galactosemia patient develops primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The unique pathophysiology of classic galactosemia, with a severely reduced follicle pool at an early age, requires a new therapeutic approach. This study evaluated the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on ovarian tissue in a galactose-induced POI rat model. METHODS: Pregnant rats were fed with either a normal or a 35% galactose-containing diet from day 3 of conception continuing through weaning of the litters. Galactose-exposed female offspring were further divided into 5 groups on PND21. The first group received no application. Treatment groups were fed orally by gavage once daily with sesame oil (group 2), or DHEA at doses of 0.1 mg/kg (group 3), 1 mg/kg (group 4) or 10 mg/kg (group 5) until PND70. Fertility rates of mothers with galactosemia, body weights (BWs), and ovarian weights of the litters from PND21 to PND70 were recorded. Ovarian follicle count, immunohistochemistry for proliferation and apoptosis marker expressions and TUNEL for cell death assessment were performed in offspring ovaries. RESULTS: Decreased fertility, ovarian/body weights were observed under galactosemic conditions, together with decreased follicle number and increased atresia. Improved postnatal development, primordial follicle recruitment and follicular growth were observed after DHEA treatment. After DHEA treatment, the expression of Ki67 protein was found to be increased; elevated expression of cleaved-caspase-3 under galactosemia was found to be reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that DHEA treatment may be a potentially useful clinical therapy to improve ovarian ageing in women with POI-induced by galactosemia.

Voice and speech changes in various phases of menstrual cycle.

BACKGROUND: The reproductive system in females undergoes a regular cyclic change known as the menstrual cycle. Laryngeal changes are evident and fluctuate systematically during the reproductive years with the menstrual cycle. The impact of estrogens in concert with progesterone produces the characteristics of the female voice, with a fundamental frequency (F(0)) higher than that of male. OBJECTIVE: To characterize changes in voice and speech in adolescent females in different phases of the menstrual cycle--during menstruation, after menstruation, mid-menstrual cycle, and premenstruation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen adult females who were nonusers of oral contraceptives participated in a cross-sectional study of menstrual cycle influences on voicing and speaking tasks. Acoustic analysis (F(0), intensity, perturbation measurements [jitter and shimmer], and harmonic-to-noise ratio), maximum phonation time (MPT), s/z ratio, and perceptual assessments (grade [G], roughness [R], breathiness [B], asthenia [A], and strain [S] [GRBAS] and Voice Handicap Index-10 [VHI-10]) scales were performed during all phases. RESULTS: None of the acoustic analysis parameters and MPT and s/z ratio measurements revealed statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Perceptual voice assessment scales either clinician based or patients self-evaluated showed significant differences among phases (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The objective voice analysis methods, such as acoustic analysis, MPT, and s/z ratio, determined no difference; however, the subjective voice analysis methods, such as clinician-based perceptual assessment (GRBAS) and patients self-evaluation (VHI-10) scales, demonstrated significant changes during different phases of menstrual cycle.

The prevalence of different HPV types in Turkish women with a normal Pap smear.

The age-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) seroprevalence and HPV type distribution in women with normal cervical cytology were studied. Cervical smear samples obtained using liquid-based smears from 582 clinically healthy women aged between 15 and 68 years from five centers from four different regions of Turkey, were studied between February 2010 and January 2011. Overall, 530 of the women with normal cytology were included and the samples were analyzed for the presence of HPV by AmpliTaq. Positive samples were typed further for 37 different HPV genotypes by a line blot assay. HPV was positive in 17.9% of the women. HPV prevalence was highest in the age group of 25-29 years (31.8%), and decreased with increasing age. HPV 16 was the most common type (3.6%) followed by type 6 (2.6%) and type 45 (2.2%). Types 11 and 18 were rare (0.6% and 0.4%, respectively). Among the risk factors, number of sexual partners and parity were positively correlated with HPV positivity. In the present study, a large number of sex partners and high parity increased the risk for HPV infection. The age-specific distribution of HPV in women with normal Pap smears did not show a U-shaped curve in contrast to European countries and the USA.

Bone turnover and maternal 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels during pregnancy and the postpartum period: should routine vitamin D supplementation be increased in pregnant women?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels and maternal bone turnover during pregnancy and lactation. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty pregnant women and 30 healthy non-pregnant controls were included the study. The pregnant women were examined in the 12th, 25th and 32nd gestational weeks and 6 weeks after delivery. The controls were examined once. Serum concentrations of 25(OH) vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), calcium, and phosphate were measured. RESULTS: In the 32nd week and the postpartum period, 25(OH) vitamin D3 deficiency rates were 13.3% and 33.3%, respectively. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D3 levels were below the detection limit in 10% and 33%, respectively, of the same subjects. In the control group, rates of 25(OH) vitamin D3 deficiency and "below detection limit" were 30% and 23%, respectively. While 25(OH) vitamin D3 and CTX levels were not correlated to each other in the first trimester, a negative correlation was found in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters and the postpartum period between 25(OH) vitamin D3 and CTX levels (r=-0.472, p=0.048; r=-0.893, p<0.0001, r=-0.881, p<0.001, respectively). No correlation between 25(OH) vitamin D3 and CTX levels was found in controls. CONCLUSION: We consider that 25(OH) vitamin D3 supplementation of women could both decrease maternal bone resorption and lead to enhanced bone mass in offspring during later life. Since women are prone to 25(OH) vitamin D3 insufficiency, we suggest higher doses of 25(OH) vitamin D3 should be given to pregnant subjects.

Women's knowledge of Pap smear test and human papillomavirus: acceptance of HPV vaccination to themselves and their daughters in an Islamic society.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer of cervix uteri is the second most common cancer among women, and it has been shown to be caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in more than 99% of cases. We surveyed Muslim Turkish women, who mostly accept talking about sex as a taboo, to examine their knowledge about Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test, HPV, HPV vaccine, and their attitude toward vaccination to themselves and their daughters. METHODS: We surveyed 525 women aged between 19 and 53 years to examine their knowledge about cervical cancer screening Pap smear test, HPV, HPV vaccine, and their attitude toward vaccination to themselves and their daughters with a questionnaire that is consisted of 5 parts with a total of 31 items. RESULTS: The knowledge of cervical screening was high (70%), and 51% of the subjects were at least once had a Pap smear test, but most respondents (56%) had never heard of HPV. For most women, recommendations from health workers (67%) were the major influences in deciding to get vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of successful introduction on the vaccine by the drug providers and health care professionals in Turkey was shown in this present study with a high rate of awareness of cervical cancer vaccine. "Early-age vaccination knowledge" before any sexual contact is probably due to the correct education of mothers by health care professionals. The professionals should be educated and trained about HPV, vaccination, and its relation with cervical cancer to increase the knowledge about it.