Uterine effects of metformin administration in anovulatory women with polycystic ovary sindrome
Background Metformin has been shown to improve fertility in anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), inducing not only a high ovulation and pregnancy rate but also reducing the incidence of miscarriages. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the uterine effects of metformin in patients with PCOS who ovulated under metformin. Methods Thirty-seven non-obese primary infertile anovulatory patients with PCOS and another 30 age- and body mass index-matched healthy women (control group) were studied. PCOS patients were treated with metformin (850 mg twice daily) for 6 months, whereas the control group did not receive any treatment. In these PCOS patients who ovulated whil…
Prospective Parallel Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy Controlled Clinical Trial Comparing Clomiphene Citrate and Metformin as the First-Line Treatment for Ovulation Induction in Nonobese Anovulatory Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Abstract Context: Although metformin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), clomiphene citrate (CC) is still considered to be the first-line drug to induce ovulation in these patients. Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of metformin and CC administration as a first-line treatment in anovulatory women with PCOS. Design: We describe a prospective parallel randomized, double-blind, double-dummy controlled clinical trial. Setting: The study was conducted at the University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. Patients: One hundred nonobese primary infertile anovulatory women with PC…
Is intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate useful in preventing recurrent bacterial cystitis? A multicenter case control analysis.
Abstract Objective Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in the female population and, over a lifetime, about half of women have at least one episode of UTI requiring antibiotic therapy. The aim of the current study was to compare two different strategies for preventing recurrent bacterial cystitis: intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid (HA) plus chondroitin sulfate (CS), and antibiotic prophylaxis with sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim. Materials and methods This was a retrospective review of two different cohorts of women affected by recurrent bacterial cystitis. Cases (experimental group) were women who received intravesical instillations of a sterile solution of high concen…
Introduction to the proceedings of Ravello 2005 PCOS meeting
We introduce the second Special Scientific Meeting of the Androgen Excess Society. This includes the 2005 Ravello Proceedings.
Metabolic and cardiopulmonary effects of detraining after a structured exercise training programme in young PCOS women
Summary Objective The aim of the present study was to determine if the favourable cardiopulmonary and metabolic benefits induced by exercise training (ET) programme are maintained after its cessation. Patients Thirty-two young overweight polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women matched for age and body mass index (BMI) with other 32 PCOS patients was enrolled. The first group [PCOS-T (trained)] underwent 24-week ET programme, whereas the second [PCOS-DT (detrained)] underwent 12-week ET programme followed by 12-week detraining period. Methods At baseline, after 12- and 24-week follow-up, all PCOS women were studied for their hormonal (ovarian and adrenal androgens), metabolic (glucose and …
Uterine effects of clomiphene citrate in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective controlled study
Background Previous data on the efficacy of clomiphene citrate, the most commonly used drug for treating anovulatory infertility in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), have shown a discrepancy between ovulation and pregnancy rates. In the present subanalysis (of a larger previously published randomized controlled trial), the effect of clomiphene citrate on several ultrasonographic markers of uterine receptivity in PCOS patients who ovulated under treatment was studied. Methods Thirty-three PCOS women who ovulated under 150 mg daily clomiphene citrate and 33 healthy controls were studied. Uterine, subendometrial and endometrial blood flows, endometrial thickness and pattern were …
Ovarian size and blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their correlations with some endocrine parameters
Objective: To determine how common polycystic ovarian morphology may be in women given the clinical diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) based on chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism and whether certain hormonal factors correlate with ovarian morphology and blood flow. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Two academic endocrinology centers in Italy. Patient(s): Three hundred twenty-six women with PCOS and 50 age-matched and weight-matched ovulatory women. Intervention(s): Ultrasound assessment of ovarian morphology in patients and controls and ovarian blood flow and fasting hormone levels in a subset of 50 patients and matched controls. Main Outcome Measure(s): Ovarian morpholog…
Evidence for altered adipocyte function in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Background: Adipocytokines are produced by adipose tissue and have been thought to be related to insulin resistance and other health consequences. We measured leptin, adiponectin, and resistin simultaneously in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age- and weight-matched controls. Our hypothesis was that these simultaneous measurements would help determine whether adipocytokine secretion is abnormal in PCOS independent of body mass and whether these levels are related to insulin resistance as well as other hormonal changes. Methods: Fifty-two women with PCOS and 45 normal ovulatory women who were age- and weight-matched were studied. Blood was obtained for adipocytokines (leptin,…
Characteristics and patterns of care of endometrial cancer before and during COVID-19 pandemic
Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has correlated with the disruption of screening activities and diagnostic assessments. Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies and it is often detected at an early stage, because it frequently produces symptoms. Here, we aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients. Methods This is a retrospective study involving 54 centers in Italy. We evaluated patterns of presentation and treatment of EC patients before (period 1: March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020) and during (period 2: April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak. Results M…
Endothelial dysfunction in PCOS. role of obesity and adipose hormones
PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an extremely prevalent disorder in which elevated blood markers of cardiovascular risk and altered endothelial function have been found. This study was designed to determine if abnormal carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in young women with PCOS may be explained by insulin resistance and elevated adipocytokines. METHODS: A prospective study in 50 young women with PCOS (age: 25.2 +/- 1 years; body mass index [BMI]: 28.7 +/- 0.8) and 50 matched ovulatory controls (age: 25.1 +/- 0.7 years; BMI: 28.5 +/- 0.5) was performed. Carotid IMT, brachial FMD, and blood for fasting glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponect…