S. Brakta

Criteria, prevalence, and phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a highly prevalent disorder effecting reproductive-aged women worldwide. This article addresses the evolution of the criteria used to diagnosis PCOS; reviews recent advances in the phenotypic approach, specifically in the context of the extended Rotterdam criteria; discusses limitations of the current criteria used to diagnosis, particularly when studying adolescents and women in the peri- and postmenopause; and describes significant strides made in understanding the epidemiology of PCOS. This review recognizes that although there is a high prevalence of PCOS, there is increased variability when using Rotterdam 2003 criteria, owing to limitations in population sampling and approaches used to define PCOS phenotypes. Last, we discuss the distribution of PCOS phenotypes, their morbidity, and the role that referral bias plays in the epidemiology of this syndrome.

Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Partially Reverse Infertility in Chemotherapy-Induced Ovarian Failure:

Introduction: Chemotherapy is the most commonly used modality to treat human cancers; however, in many cases it causes irreversible ovarian failure. In this work, we plan to evaluate the restorative function of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure mouse model. Methods: Acclimatized 4 to 6 week-old female mice (C57BL/6) were assigned randomly to a vehicle-treated control group (group 1), chemotherapy-treated group followed by vehicle alone (group 2), or chemotherapy-treated group followed by stem cell intraovarian injection (group 3). Outcomes were evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC), serum hormonal assays, and estrous cycle monitoring and breeding potential. Results: Post BMSCs administration, group 3 promptly showed detectable vaginal smears with estrogenic changes. Increase in total body weight, ovarian weight, and weight of estrogen-responsive organs (uterus and liver) was observed at 2 weeks and continued to end of the experiment. Hematoxylin and Eosin histological evaluation of the ovaries demonstrated a higher mean follicle count in group 3 than in group 2. Group 3 had lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (P = .03) and higher anti-Müllerian hormone serum (AMH) levels (P = .0005) than group 2. The IHC analysis demonstrated higher expression of AMH, FSH receptor, inhibin A, and inhibin B in growing follicles of group 3 versus group 2. Tracking studies demonstrated that human BMSCs evenly repopulated the growing follicles in treated ovaries. Importantly, breeding data showed significant increases in the pregnancies numbers, 2 pregnancies in group 1 and 12 in group 3 (P = .02). Conclusions: Intraovarian administered BMSCs are able to restore ovarian hormone production and reactivate folliculogenesis in chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure mouse model.

Perspectives on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Research underfunded?

Context Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine-metabolic abnormality with a worldwide prevalence of 4% to 21%, depending on diagnostic criteria. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest single funding agency in the world; it invests nearly

Vitamin D and Female Reproduction

30.0 billion annually in biomedical research. Evidence Acquisition Using the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting tool, we searched for all grants awarded by the NIH for PCOS and three other disorders with similar degrees of morbidity and similar or lower mortality and prevalence [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tuberculosis (TB), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)]. Evidence Synthesis We compared funding by the NIH for PCOS, RA, TB, and SLE research for the years 2006 to 2015, inclusive. Conclusion PCOS, compared with RA, TB, and SLE, was relatively less funded (total mean 10-year funding was

Role of vitamin D in uterine fibroid biology

215.12 million vs

Sexual function and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

454.39 million,

Umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells as an infertility treatment for chemotherapy induced premature ovarian failure

773.77 million, and

Is menses induction necessary before ovulation induction

609.52 million, respectively). Funding for PCOS was largely provided by one NIH Institute/Center (ICs) vs at least two ICs for SLE and RA; more individual Research Project Grants were awarded for RA, SLE, and TB than for PCOS, whereas PCOS funding was more likely to be through General Clinical Research Centers Program or Specialized Centers Program awards. Our data suggest that PCOS research may be underfunded considering its prevalence, economic burden, metabolic morbidity, and negative impact on quality of life. Greater education of NIH leaders, including those at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; other federal and state agency leads; elected leaders; and the general public by professional societies, the scientific community, and patient advocates regarding this disorder is needed.

Sexual function in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Vitamin D deficiency has an impact on the reproduction of more than 40% of repro‐ ductive age women globally. Fibroids are more common among African‐American females owing to their decreased milk consumption and reduced absorption of ultraviolet rays, supporting the relation between vitamin D deficiency and fibroid development. Vitamin D has an inhibitory effect on leiomyoma cells by suppression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), BCL‐2, BCL‐w, CDK1, and catechol‐O‐ methyltransferase (COMT) protein levels. A growing evidence support the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and endometriosis through overexpression of vitamin D recseptor (VDR) and α‐hydroxylase enzyme, however, it is still unclear if the endome‐ triosis patients could benefit from vitamin D supplementation. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on the metabolic outcomes of polycystic ovary (PCO) has been studied and reveled that it is negatively correlated with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, triglycerides, C‐reactive protein, free androgen index, and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and positively associated with quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), and sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG), whereas its impact on the ovarian function is still unclear. Vitamin D deficiency may worse the obstetrical outcomes, including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, low birth weight, increased cesarean section rate, neonatal asthma, seizures, and preterm labor. The relationship between serum levels of 25‐hydroxy‐vitamin D (25(OH) D) and pregnancy rates in ART is still debatable, with the need to conduct more clinical trials toward it. The in vitro antiproliferative and prodifferentiative effect of vitamin D might find a role in control of hyperplastic overactive bladder. Several studies support that vitamin D deficiency constitutes a risk factor for development of many types of cancer such as breast, ovarian, and colorectal.