Free androgen index (FAI)'s relations with oxidative stress and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome.

This study aimed to determine the levels of the free androgen index (FAI) and its association with oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This cross-sectional study was performed on 160 women aged 18-45 years, visiting gynecology clinics of Urmia in northwestern Iran during 2020-2021 who were diagnosed with PCOS and exhibited one of the four phenotypes of PCOS. All the participants underwent clinical examinations, paraclinical tests, and ultrasounds. FAI cut-off point was considered to be 5%. The significance level was set at < 0.05. Among the 160 participants, the prevalence of the four phenotypes was as follows: phenotype A: 51.9%, phenotype B: 23.1%, phenotype C: 13.1%, and phenotype D: 11.9%. High FAI was detected in 30 participants (18.75%). Additionally, It was found that phenotype C had the highest FAI levels among the PCOS phenotypes, with a significant difference between phenotypes A and C (p value = 0.03). IR was observed in 119 (74.4%) of the participants, and the median (interquartile range: IQR) of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels among the participants was 0.64 (0.86) µM/L. In linear regression, the PCOS phenotype (standard beta = 0.198, p-value = 0.008), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (standard beta = 0.213, p-value = 0.004), and MDA levels (standard beta = 0.266, p-value < 0.001) were significantly related to the FAI level, but the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was not statistically associated with FAI. Thus, in this study, PCOS phenotypes and MDA levels (an indicator of stress oxidative) were significantly related to FAI, but HOMA-IR (the indicator of IR) was not associated with it.

Individual counseling in mothers bereaved by pregnancy loss: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The loss of a pregnancy can result in grief, guilt, self-doubt, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Considering the side effects mentioned for mental health and the fact that the symptoms will linger if left untreated and even adversely affect the subsequent pregnancies. The current study was designed to assess the impact of individual counseling on stress, anxiety, and depression in mothers with pregnancy loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study commenced 100 women who experienced pregnancy loss (in Urmia/2018-2019); they were enrolled using convenience sampling and block randomization. The intervention group received four individual counseling sessions (weekly sessions with a duration of 1 h) based on Warden's principles. The control group received routine care. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42) was filled out at baseline, the pre- and post-intervention. Analyses were performed using the Chi-square, paired, or individual t-tests, when necessary. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding socio-demographic characteristics and clinical features between groups at baseline. Intra-group analysis showed that all outcome measures in the intervention group were significantly improved. According to inter-groups analysis, a significant association was found between pre-test and post-test in the intervention group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of this study can clarify the psychological effects of pregnancy loss in these mothers and help the officials and responsible parties to plan the treatment and rehabilitation of these women and include them in the healthcare system.

Examination of influence of social media education through mobile phones on the change in physical activity and sedentary behavior in pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays because of some necessities and demands for virtual and remote education, a new model of health approach through mobile-phones is widely used to deal with improving physical activity and its beneficial effect on pregnancy. There are a small number of studies for showing this importance and the efficacy of such methods, so this study was aimed to determine the influence of social networking through mobile phones on changing the physical activity behavior in pregnant women. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted with parallel groups on 90 pregnant women referring to Urmia health centers in 2018-2019. The participants from various social and economic backgrounds were included. The participants were randomly assigned to a control and a treatment group. Demographic and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) questionnaires were filled. In addition to routine cares, the treatment group received educational intervention through social network within 16 training sessions related to physical activity and nutrition in 8 weeks. RESULTS: The mean weight in both control and treatment groups changed significantly during the study, but in different trends (P < 0.001, Mean Difference (MD) = 4.43). At the beginning of the study, control and treatment groups were not different in terms of daily physical activity level (P = 0.17, MD = 0.62), meanwhile, there was a statistically significant difference at the end of intervention in the level of daily physical activity (P < 0.001, MD = 0.69). Comparison of both groups, based on different categories of activity level at the end of the treatment, showed a non-significant difference in sedentary activities (P = 0.89, MD = 0.46), but the intervention led to a significant difference based on the other level of activities; light (P < 0.001, MD = 51.94), moderate (P < 0.001, MD = 46.87), and sever (P = 0.05, MD = 1.07). CONCLUSION: Educational intervention based on social networks through mobile phones had an effective role in behavior change in physical activity during pregnancy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT20151004024340N15, Registration date05/06/2020.

Augmented plasma adiponectin after prolonged fasting during ramadan in men.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent fasting during Ramadan entails major changes in metabolism and energy expenditure. This study sought to determine effect of the Ramadan fasting on serum levels of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) as two inter-related peptides involved in cells sensitivity to insulin and glucose metabolism. METHODS: Total of seventy healthy men, with age range equal or greater than 30, with at least three type2 diabetes mellitus (DM) risk factors were selected. Serum lipid profile, anthropometric indices and plasma glucose levels were determined using conventional methods. Also, serum adiponectin and TNF- α concentra-tions were assessed using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. Data were analyzed by paired t-test. RESULTS: Ramadan fasting resulted in a significant increase of serum adiponectin (P< 0.000), fasting glucose (P< 0.000) and triglycride (P< 0.001). Body mass index was lowered during the fasting (P< 0.000). Finally, no remarkable decrease was found in serum TNF-α levels (P= 0.100). CONCLUSION: Ramadan fasting resulted in augmented adipo-nectin levels which may help in improving metabolic stress induced by insulin resistance in men with predisposing factors of type2 DM.