130,433 research outputs found
Biomediators in polycystic ovary syndrome and cardiovascular risk
No full textPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is extremely heterogeneous in terms of clinical manifestations. The variability of the syndrome’s phenotype is derived from the genetic and molecular heterogeneity, with a great deal of environmental factors that may have long-term health consequences, such as metabolic and cardiovascular (CV) diseases. There is no doubt that women with PCOS suffer from metabolic complications more than their age-matched counterparts in the general population and at an earlier age. Obesity, low steroid hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and compensatory hyperinsulinemia are biomediators and early predictors of metabolic complications in PCOS. Doubts remain about the real risk of CV diseases in PCOS and the molecular mechanisms at the basis of CV complications. Based on that assumption, this review will present the available evidence on the potential implications of some biomediators, in particular, hyperandrogenism, estrogen-progesterone imbalance, insulin resistance, and low SHBG, in the processes leading to CV disease in PCOS, with the final aim to propose a more accurate CV risk assessment
Metabolic Perspectives for Non-classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia With Relation to the Classical Form of the Disease
No full textNon-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) represents mild form of CAH with the prevalence of 0. 6 to 9% in women with androgen excess. Clinical and hormonal findings in females with NC-CAH are overlapping with other hyperandrogenic entities such as polycystic ovary syndrome hence causing difficulties in diagnostic approach. Metabolic consequences in subjects with NC-CAH are relatively unknown. We are lacking longitudinal follow of these patients regarding natural course of the disease or the therapeutic effects of the different drug regiments. Patients with NC-CAH similarly to those with classical form are characterized with deteriorated cardiovascular risk factors that are probably translated into cardiometabolic diseases and events. An increased preponderance of obesity and insulin resistance in patients with NC-CAH begin at young age could result in increased rates of metabolic sequelae and cardiovascular disease later during adulthood in both sexes. On the other hand, growth disorder was not proven in patients with NC-CAH in comparison to CAH patients of both gender characterized with reduced final adult height. Similarly, decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis are not constant findings in patients with NC-CAH and could depend on the sex, and type or dose of corticosteroids applied. It could be concluded that NC-CAH represent a particular form of CAH that is characterized with specificities in clinical presentation, diagnosis, therapeutic approach and metabolic outcomes. © Copyright © 2019 Macut, Zdravković, Bjekić-Macut, Mastorakos and Pignatelli
Can dysglycemia in OGTT be predicted by baseline parameters in patients with PCOS?
No full textBackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, which is the most appropriate way to evaluate dysglycemia in women with PCOS and who are at increased risk are as yet unclear. Aim of the studyTo determine the prevalence of T2DM, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in PCOS women and potential factors to identify those at risk. Subjects and methodsThe oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), biochemical/hormonal profile, and ovarian ultrasound data from 1614 Caucasian women with PCOS and 362 controls were analyzed in this cross-sectional multicenter study. The data were categorized according to age and BMI. ResultsDysglycemia (T2DM, IGT, and IFG according to World Health Organization criteria) was more frequent in the PCOS group compared to controls: 2.2% vs 0.8%, P = 0.04; 9.5% vs 7.4%, P = 0.038; 14.2% vs 9.1%, P = 0.002, respectively. OGTT was essential for T2DM diagnosis, since in 88% of them basal glucose values were inconclusive for diagnosis. The presence of either T2DM or IFG was irrespective of age (P = 0.54) and BMI (P = 0.32), although the latter was associated with IGT (P = 0.021). There was no impact of age and BMI status on the prevalence of T2DM or IFG. Regression analysis revealed a role for age, BMI, fat deposition, androgens, and insulin resistance for dysglycemia. However, none of the factors prevailed as a useful marker employed in clinical practice. ConclusionsOne-third of our cohort of PCOS women with either T2DM or IGT displayed normal fasting glucose values but without confirming any specific predictor for dysglycemic condition. Hence, the evaluation of glycemic status using OGTT in all women with PCOS is strongly supported
Ekumenski dijalog Katoličke Crkve s Menonitskom svjetskom konferencijom
No full textIn the paper, the author discusses ecumenical dialogue between the Catholic Church, i.e. the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and the Mennonites, i.e. the Mennonite World Conference. In the introduction, the author briefly presents the historical context of the formation of the Mennonites, mentioning particularly Menno
Simons, their founder. The first chapter presents the structure of the Catholic-Mennonite ecumenical dialogue under the title Called Together to be Peacemakers, and the document itself contains a total of 215 items. The second chapter deals with the main theological emphasis of the document, namely: the joint study of history, common understanding of theology (agreement and disagreement in Church teaching, the teaching about sacraments and ordinances, and commitment to peace), and the way towards the healing of memories. In the end, the author brings the main highlights of this bilateral dialogue and emphasizes its importance for the future unity between Catholics and Mennonites.U ovom radu autor progovara o ekumenskom dijalogu između Katoličke Crkve, tj. Papinskoga vijeća za promicanje jedinstva kršćana, i menonita, tj. Menonitske svjetske konferencije. U uvodu rada autor je ukratko predstavio povijesni kontekst nastanka menonita spominjući na poseban način Menna Simonsa, osnivača menonita. U prvom poglavlju
predstavljena je struktura katoličko-menonitskoga ekumenskoga dijaloga pod naslovom Zajedno pozvani biti mirotvorci, a dokument sadrži ukupno 215 brojeva. U drugom poglavlju govori se o glavnim teološkim naglascima dokumenta, i to o zajedničkom ispitivanju povijesti, zajedničkom razumijevanju teologije (slaganje i neslaganje u učenju u Crkvi, učenje o sakramentima ili propisima te opredjeljenje za mir), putu prema ozdravljenju memorije. Na koncu rada autor u nekoliko rečenica donosi glavne naglaske toga bilateralnoga dijaloga i
naglašava njegovu važnost za buduće jedinstvo između katolika i menonita
MeSH term explosion and author rank improve expert recommendations
No full textInformation overload is an often-cited phenomenon that reduces the productivity, efficiency and efficacy of scientists. One challenge for scientists is to find appropriate collaborators in their research. The literature describes various solutions to the problem of expertise location, but most current approaches do not appear to be very suitable for expert recommendations in biomedical research. In this study, we present the development and initial evaluation of a vector space model-based algorithm to calculate researcher similarity using four inputs: 1) MeSH terms of publications; 2) MeSH terms and author rank; 3) exploded MeSH terms; and 4) exploded MeSH terms and author rank. We developed and evaluated the algorithm using a data set of 17,525 authors and their 22,542 papers. On average, our algorithms correctly predicted 2.5 of the top 5/10 coauthors of individual scientists. Exploded MeSH and author rank outperformed all other algorithms in accuracy, followed closely by MeSH and author rank. Our results show that the accuracy of MeSH term-based matching can be enhanced with other metadata such as author rank
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Overweight and Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Association with Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Dyslipidemia
No full textObjective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with altered lipid profile and increased small, dense LDL particles (sdLDL). Considering that paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an anti-oxidative enzyme located on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, the aim of this study was to investigate the connection between oxidative stress (OS) and PON1 activity with lipoprotein subclasses in PCOS depending on obesity. Methods: In 115 PCOS patients lipoprotein subclasses distributions were determined by gradient gel electrophoresis. OS status was assessed by total oxidative status (TOS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), prooxidant-Antioxidant balance (PAB), total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and PON1 activity. Results: Overweight/obese PCOS patients (n=55) had increased OS compared to normal weight patients (n=60). In addition, overweight/obese group had lower HDL size and higher proportion of HDL 3a subclasses (P<0.05). PAB was in negative correlation with HDL 2a (P<0.001), whereas MDA and SOD correlated positively with HDL 3 subclasses (P<0.05). Serum PON1 activity was positively associated with proportions of PON1 activity on HDL 2b (P<0.05) and 2a (P<0.01), but negatively with the proportion on HDL 3 particles (P<0.01). LDL B phenotype patients had increased TAS, SOD and PON1 activity on HDL 2b, but decreased PON1 activity on HDL 3 subclasses. Conclusion: OS is associated with altered lipoprotein subclasses distribution in PCOS patients. Obesity in PCOS affects the profile of HDL subclasses, reflected through the reduced proportion of PON1 activity on HDL 3 subclasses in the presence of sdLDL particles.This is peer-reviewed version of the following article: Perovic Blagojevic, I. M.; Vekic, J. Z.; MacUt, D. P.; Ignjatovic, S. D.; Miljkovic-Trailovic, M. M.; Zeljkovic, A. R.; Spasojevic-Kalimanovska, V. V.; Bozic-Antic, I. B.; Bjekic-Macut, J. D.; Kastratovic-Kotlica, B. A.; Andric, Z. G.; Ilic, D. S.; Kotur-Stevuljevic, J. M. Overweight and Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Association with Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Dyslipidemia. Br. J. Nutr. 2021. [https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114521003585
"Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"
No full textBoth spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
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