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Comparative Study 2010; 31(3): 384-389 PubMed PMID: 20588249 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Apgar Score, Cesarean Section:statistics & numerical data, Female, Fertilization, Fertilization in Vitro, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Male, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications:epidemiology, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Pregnancy Trimester, Third, Pregn.   

BACKGROUND: Most authors agree that the twin pregnancies have a higher risk of complications compared to singleton pregnancies. However, there is no unanimity as to whether the risk of complications in twin pregnancies resulting from in vitro fertilization is higher than in twin pregnancies resulting from spontaneous conception.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency rates of complications in the second and third trimester of dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies resulting from IVF (group I) compared to dichorionic-diamniotic and monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies resulting from spontaneous conception (group II and III).

RESULTS: The rate of cesarean section and cervical cerclage was significantly higher in the group I. Polyhydramnios occurred less frequently in group I than in group III. The discordant growth of fetuses occurred significantly more frequently in the group I. The frequency of other complications did not differ in the studied groups. The Apgar score was similar in the group I and II but significantly lower in the group III compared to the group I.

CONCLUSIONS: 1) The frequency of complications in twin pregnancies after IVF is similar to those in the twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously. 2) In the twin pregnancies after IVF it is necessary to expect only a higher frequency of caesarean sections, cervical incompetence and a discordant growth of the twins when comparing with twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously. 3) In the twin pregnancies after IVF the intrauterine fetal demise and polyhydramnios occurred less frequently than in monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancies after spontaneous conception....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 370-374 PubMed PMID: 20588246 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aromatase:genetics, Asian Continental Ancestry Group:genetics, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Humans, Microsatellite Repeats, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome:genetics, Polymorphism, Genetic,.   

OBJECTIVE: Evidence indicates that the CYP19 gene is a positional and functional candidate for genetic study in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The present study aims to evaluate the association between tetranucleotide TTTA repeat polymorphism in the CYP19 gene and PCOS among Han Chinese women.

METHODS: Clinical materials employed in this study consist of 123 patients with PCOS and 113 healthy controls. The CYP19 tetranucleotide TTTA repeat polymorphism was genotyped with a protocol of PCR and fluorescent capillary electrophoresis.

RESULTS: Common allele of the CYP19 tetranucleotide TTTA repeat polymorphism in this population of Han Chinese women was 11R. The frequency of 11R in PCOS was lower than in the control subjects (34.55% vs 42.92%, p=0.046). The carriers with allele 11R in PCOS had decreased CHO (5.00+/-0.63 vs 6.14+/-0.85 mmol/L, p=0.012). The carriers with allele 7R-TCT in PCOS had increased CHO (5.96+/-0.83 vs 5.08+/-0.65 mmol/L, p=0.027) and LDL (5.11+/-0.77 vs 4.31+/-0.66 mmol/L, p=0.014) compared to the patients carrying other alleles.

CONCLUSIONS: The most common allele of the tetranucleotide TTTA repeat polymorphism in the forth intron of CYP19 gene in Han Chinese women is 11R, which was different with the previous study in European Caucasians. Allele 11R may be associated with PCOS in the population of Han Chinese women, and it may refrain from the hypercholesteremia of PCOS. Allele 7R-TCT may be related to the lipid metabolism of PCOS. This CYP19 tetranucleotide TTTA repeat polymorphism is an ethnic and racial variant and moderately contributes to the pathogenesis of PCOS in the population of Han Chinese women....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 343-347 PubMed PMID: 20588245 Citation  Keywords:  Alkenes:metabolism, Animals, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Ferrous Compounds:pharmacology, Hydrogen Peroxide:pharmacology, In Vitro Techniques, Lipid Peroxidation:drug effects, Malondialdehyde:metabolism, Ovary:drug effects, Swine,.   

OBJECTIVE: Substrates of Fenton reaction (Fe(2+)+H(2)O(2)-->Fe(3+)+*OH+OH-) may be used to experimentally induce oxidative damage to macromolecules. The study aimed at evaluating effects of Fe(2+) and/or H(2)O(2) on lipid peroxidation in porcine ovary homogenates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ovary homogenates were incubated in the presence of either H2O2 (100, 50, 25, 10, 5.0, 2.5, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25, 0.01, 0.001 mM) or FeSO(4) (Fe2+) (300, 150, 75, 30, 15, 7.5, 3.0, 1.5, 0.75 microM), or of those two factors used together: Fe(2+) (30 microM) plus H(2)O(2) (concentrations as above), or H(2)O(2) (0.5 mM) plus Fe(2+) (concentrations as above). The concentration of malondialdehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals constituted the lipid peroxidation index.

RESULTS: H(2)O(2) alone did not affect lipid peroxidation in porcine ovary homogenates at all, whereas Fe(2+) (300, 150, 75, 30, and 15 microM) alone increased lipid peroxidation in a concentration dependent manner. When Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) were applied together, lipid peroxidation increased significantly without any concentration related effect of H(2)O(2), but with a clear concentration dependent effect of Fe(2+); the damaging effect of Fe(2+), used together with H(2)O(2), was the same as the one, obtained after Fe(2+) was applied alone.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, external H(2)O(2) is not indispensable for experimental induction of lipid peroxidation by Fenton reaction in porcine ovary homogenates....

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Case Reports 2010; 31(3): 306-309 PubMed PMID: 20588244 Citation  Keywords:  Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Germinoma:complications, Humans, Hypopituitarism:complications, Pituitary Neoplasms:complications, Sella Turcica:pathology, Young Adult,.   

OBJECTIVE: Primary central nervous system germ cell tumors are rare neoplasms usually located in the pineal and/or suprasellar region. Pure germinomas do not usually secrete beta-human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (beta-HCG) or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and diagnosis is made a few weeks or months after beginning of symptoms.

CASE: Here we report a case of a pure germinoma in a 20 year-old woman presenting as a sellar mass with suprasellar extension, abnormal serum beta-HCG and a long history of polyuria and polydipsia (4 years), that was initially diagnosed as a pituitary macroadenoma.

CONCLUSION: This presentation highlights the importance of thinking in alternative diagnosis to pituitary adenoma when diabetes insipidus is the initial symptom....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 418-422 PubMed PMID: 20588242 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenal Gland Neoplasms:complications, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate:blood, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Incidental Findings, Metanephrine:urine, Middle Aged, Normetanephrine:urine, Obesity:compli.   

OBJECTIVE: The influence of obesity on cancer development has been proven for numerous tumours. In contrast, the association between obesity and non-secreting adrenal incidentaloma has never been proven. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate this relationship in a large sample of patients.

METHODS: 143 patients with benign non-secreting adrenal incidentalomas treated in the Department of Endocrinology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences between the years 2000-2007 were examined. To rule out subclinical hyperfunctioning lesions, serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, cortisol (8 am, 6 pm, and after 1 mg dexamethasone suppression), sodium and potassium, along with concentrations of sodium, potassium, vanillylmandelic acid, metanephrine and normetanephrine in 24-hour urine collection were determined. Radiological evaluation included computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Only non-secreting lesions and those of benign radiologic appearance were considered. The patients body mass index was compared to that of the general population of Poland and the Western Poland Region of Wielkopolska.

RESULTS: The average body mass index of our patients was 28.77 kg/m2 (SD=4.71), with a 40% prevalence of obesity in the study group. One-proportion z-test showed a statistically significantly higher prevalence of obesity as compared to the general population of Poland and Wielkopolska (40% vs 12.5%, p<0.005); the results were similar for the whole cohort, and for each gender separately.

CONCLUSIONS: This clinical research study demonstrates a strong association between obesity and incidentally discovered non-functioning adrenal tumours....

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Case Reports 2010; 31(3): 304-305 PubMed PMID: 20588241 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Diagnosis, Differential, Female, Humans, Ovarian Cysts:diagnosis, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications:diagnosis,.   

: A case of a pregnant woman with bilateral cystic ovaries diagnosed in the 12th week of gestation is presented. The successful outcome of pregnancy with hyperreactio luteinalis, which spontaneously resolved in the 3rd trimester and the importance of a differential diagnosis of an abdominal mass during pregnancy to avoid unnecessary surgery is demonstrated....

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Journal Article 2010; 31(3): 310-312 PubMed PMID: 20588240 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antibodies, Protozoan:blood, Female, Fetal Blood:immunology, Humans, Immunoglobulin A:blood, Immunoglobulin M:blood, Infant, Newborn, Parturition:blood, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious:blood, Serologic Tests:methods, Toxocara canis.   

OBJECTIVE: Parasitic diseases, particularly the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, can negatively affect the mortality and morbidity of newborns and infants.

METHODS: The authors examined 152 samples of umbilical blood in 152 women who had experienced premature delivery with or without PROM. The samples were examined for the titre of antibodies - the CFR, levels of immunoglobulins IgA and IGM (toxoplasmosis) and for titres of antibodies against toxocariasis.

RESULTS: No presence of IGM was demonstrated in association with the congenital form of toxoplasmosis. The values of titres of antibodies against toxocariasis were negative. There was only one case of a titre in a newborn higher than that in the mother. There was no clinical manifestation of the disease.

CONCLUSION: In spite of the negative result, the authors point out the possibility of a timely diagnosis of these parasitic diseases....

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Comparative Study 2010; 31(3): 353-358 PubMed PMID: 20588239 Citation  Keywords:  Adiponectin:blood, Adult, Binge-Eating Disorder:blood, Body Mass Index, Female, Humans, Leptin:blood, Obesity:blood,.   

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue-derived hormones are involved in the pathophysiology of eating disorders and other mental disorders. Studies have suggested that the serum leptin/adiponectin ratio is highly correlated with BMI. Furthermore, it is associated with a number of metabolic processes and inflammatory markers that are involved in obesity and mental disorders, such as the physiopathology of binge eating disorder (BED). We investigated whether variations in leptin and adiponectin serum concentrations differed between adult women with and without BED before and after a meal.

METHODS: The study group was composed of 8 normal weight women (20-25 kg/m2) without BED, 8 obese women (>/=30 kg/m2) with BED, and 7 obese women without BED (non-BED). Blood samples were collected before and after the consumption of a meal composed of 55% carbohydrates, 15% protein, and 30% lipids.

RESULTS: Body mass index (p<0.0001), leptin (p<0.0001) and the leptin/adiponectin ratio (p<0.0001) were higher in obese non-BED women than in obese BED and normal weight groups. Adiponectin (p=0.01) concentrations were lower in the obese BED group than in the other groups before and after the meal.

CONCLUSIONS: The hypoadiponectinemia followed by the altered levels of leptin in obese BED woman may predispose these subjects to an inadequate energy balance, which could promote weight gain and an increased food intake in woman that may contribute to obesity and binge eating in these subjects....

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