Association Between Vitamin D and Adrenal Parameters with Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Vitamin D deficiency has been related with metabolic alterations in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As well, hyperactivation of adrenal axis can be programmed early in life and could be related later with PCOS development. Our aim was to establish the relationship between vitamin D and adrenal parameters with metabolic alterations and inflammation markers in PCOS. In 73 patients and 33 controls, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D), total and bioavailable testosterone (TT and bioT), androstenedione (A4), SHBG, cortisol, insulin, and C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were determined; HOMA and lipid accumulation product (LAP) index were calculated. All parameters were higher in patients than in controls, except for SHBG and 25-OH-D which were lower. Binary regression analysis showed that differences in TT, bioT, A4, insulin and HOMA were independent of body mass index and waist circumference but SHBG, hs-CRP, LAP and 25-OH-D were related to body weight and fat distribution. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that cortisol and 25-OH-D could be associated to PCOS development. Correlations found between LAP and insulin, HOMA and hs-CRP confirm it is a good indicator of metabolic complications. Vitamin D and cortisol association to PCOS development justifies future research to understand the role of vitamin D in PCOS and analyze patient's perinatal history and its possible relationship with hyperactivation of adrenal axis in adult life.

Biodegradable polymeric stents for vascular application in a porcine carotid artery model: English version.

Over the past years the development of biodegradable polymeric stents has made great progress; nevertheless, essential problems must still be solved. Modifications in design and chemical composition should optimize the quality of biodegradable stents and remove the weaknesses. New biodegradable poly-L-lactide/poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (PLLA/P4HB) stents and permanent 316L stents were implantedendovascularly into both common carotid arteries of 10 domestic pigs. At 4 weeks following implantation, computed tomography (CT) angiography was carried out to identify the distal degree of stenosis. The PLLA/P4HB group showed a considerably lower distal degree of stenosis by additional oral application of atorvastatin (mean 39.81 ± 8.57 %) compared to the untreated PLLA/P4HB group without atorvastatin (mean 52.05 ± 5.80 %). The 316L stents showed no differences in the degree of distal stenosis between the group treated with atorvastatin (mean 44.21 ± 2.34 %) and the untreated group (mean 35.65 ± 3.72 %). Biodegradable PLLA/P4HB stents generally represent a promising approach to resolving the existing problems in the use of permanent stents. Restitutio ad integrum is only achievable if a stent is completely degraded.

Biodegradable polymeric coatings on cochlear implant surfaces and their influence on spiral ganglion cell survival.

To improve the electrode-nerve interface of cochlear implants (CI), the role of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)) as potential coating matrices for CI was assessed both in vitro and in vivo in terms of degradation behavior and effects on spiral ganglion neurons, the main target of the electrical stimulation with a CI. Growth rates of fibroblasts on the polymers were investigated and a direct-contact test with freshly isolated spiral ganglion cells (SGC) was performed. In addition, the effects of the polymer degradation inside the inner ear were evaluated in vivo. The polymer degradation was assessed by use of scanning electron microscopy in combination with an energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. In vitro, no influence of the polymers was detected on fibroblasts' viability and on SGC survival rate. In vivo, SGC density was decreased only 6 months after implantation in the basal and middle turns of the cochlea in comparison to normal-hearing animals but not between implanted groups (coated or uncoated). The analysis of the electrode models showed that in vivo P(4HB) is characterized by a gradual degradation completed after 6 months; whereas, the PLLA coatings burst along their longitudinal axis but showed only little degradation within the same time frame. In conclusion, both polymers seem to justify further evaluation as possible coating for CI electrodes. Of the two options, due to its excellent coating adhesion/stability and optimal degradation behavior, P(4HB) may prove to be the more promising biodegradable polymer for designing a drug delivery system from the surface of CI electrodes.

Construct validity of the short inventory of problems among Spanish speaking Hispanics.

OBJECTIVE: Research on ethnic health disparities requires the use of psychometrically sound instruments that are appropriate when applied to ethnically diverse populations. The Short Inventory of Problems (SIP) assesses alcohol-related consequences and is often used as a measure to evaluate intervention effectiveness in alcohol research; however, whether the psychometric properties of this instrument are comparable across language and ethnicity remains unclear. METHOD: Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was used to test for the invariance of the measurement structure of the SIP across White Non-Hispanic English speaking (N=642), Hispanic English speaking (N=275), and Hispanic Spanish speaking (N=220) groups. RESULTS: The MGCFA model in which factor loadings, measurement intercepts, and item residuals were constrained to be equal between English speakers and Spanish speakers exhibited a reasonable fit to the data, χ(2)(221)=1089.612 p<.001, TLI=.926; CFI=.922, RMSEA=.059 (90% CI=.055-.062). The ΔCFI supported strict factorial invariance, ΔCFI=.01, across groups; no significant group differences were found between factor loadings, measurement intercepts, or item residuals between English speakers and Spanish speakers. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the existing confirmatory factor analysis results of the SIP by providing additional data to inform the utility of the SIP among Hispanics. Strict factorial invariance between Spanish and English speakers is necessary to: conclude that the underlying constructs have the same meaning across groups; test for group differences in the latent variables across groups; and presume that group differences are attributable only to true differences between groups. Thus, the SIP is strongly supported for evaluating the effectiveness of alcohol treatment among Hispanics.