1,720,958 research outputs found
POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME: DIVERSE CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS ACROSS ADOLESCENCE, REPRODUCTIVE AGE, AND MENOPAUSE
Full text linkPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted endocrine disorder affecting women across various life stages, presenting a wide array of symptoms that differ markedly during adolescence, reproductive age, and menopause. In adolescence, the overlap of PCOS symptoms with normal pubertal changes complicates diagnosis, with common presentations including menstrual irregularities, acne, and hirsutism. During the reproductive years, PCOS is often associated with infertility, menstrual dysfunction, and metabolic complications such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. In menopausal women, reproductive symptoms diminish, but the risk of cardiovascular disease, persistent hyperandrogenism, and metabolic syndrome becomes more pronounced. This review aims to define the distinct clinical presentations of PCOS across these life stages, highlighting the diagnostic and management challenges inherent to its heterogeneous nature. By understanding the age-specific manifestations and complications of PCOS, healthcare providers can develop more effective, individualized therapeutic strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life
FROM PATHOPHYSIOLOGY TO POTENTIAL INTERVENTIONS: INVESTIGATING THE INTRICATE DYNAMICS OF POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME, AGING, AND FERTILITY
Full text linkPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and age-related decline in fertility are complex issues affecting women’s reproductive health. This review aims to explore the intricate dynamics between PCOS, aging, and fertility, and examine potential interventions for improved clinical outcomes. It delves into the pathophysiology of PCOS, highlighting hormonal imbalances, metabolic disturbances, and the impact on ovarian function and follicular development. Concurrently, age-related changes in female fertility are discussed, including ovarian reserve decline, hormonal shifts, and alterations in egg quality and uterine environment. Emphasizing the overlapping mechanisms, shared pathways are elucidated such as hormonal dysregulation, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and inflammation. Additionally, the clinical implications of diagnosing and managing PCOS in aging women are addressed, as well as fertility preservation options and assisted reproductive techniques. Furthermore, potential interventions and therapeutic strategies are explored, encompassing lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions, and emerging technologies. By comprehensively reviewing the current evidence and research gaps, this article provides valuable insights into the interplay between PCOS, aging, and fertility, paving the way for optimized clinical approaches and future advancements
METFORMIN AS A PROMISING ANTI-AGING AGENT IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS
Full text linkOsteoarthritis (OA) is traditionally considered an age-related disease. Therefore, repurposing drugs with the potential to reduce cell senescence is a justified therapeutic strategy. Such is the case of metformin, the most widely used antidiabetic medicine with well-known pharmacokinetics, acceptable toxicity, and beneficial metabolic effects. Metformin could significantly impact processes associated with aging and OA such as cellular senescence, infammaging, mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired nutrient sensing. The aim of the present narrative review is to unveil the potential of metformin to modify disease course in light of aging osteoarthritic joints. The drug has pleiotropic effects on chondrocyte and extracellular matrix metabolism and may provide through AMPK-dependent and -independent pathways a meaningful improvement of OA. Mostly preclinical and retrospective cohort studies have shown that metformin exposure could lead to the regulation of cartilage homeostasis, symptomatic relief of pain and postpone surgery for those suffering from OA. Randomized control trials are warranted to justify the preliminary expectations
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe 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
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
AGING GRACEFULLY IN OSTEOARTHRITIS: IMPACT OF COMORBIDITIES
Full text linkBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, often complicated by comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and mental health issues. These comorbidities significantly impact the progression of OA and the effectiveness of its management, posing challenges for comprehensive patient care.
Objectives: This review examines the relationship between OA and its common comorbidities, focusing on cardiovascular diseases, metabolic conditions, and mood disorders. We also explore the impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in these patients, emphasizing the importance of integrated care strategies.
Methods: Data from multiple studies were analyzed to assess the association between OA and comorbid conditions. The studies examined mortality risk, cardiovascular incidents, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, and mood disorders, while considering the effects of various OA treatment modalities, particularly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Results: Cardiovascular comorbidities, including coronary heart disease, are significantly linked to OA, with functional limitations such as impaired mobility being major contributors to increased cardiovascular risks and mortality. NSAIDs, commonly prescribed for OA, present substantial cardiovascular and renal risks, complicating their use in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Metabolic comorbidities, particularly obesity and diabetes, are highly prevalent in OA patients and are associated with reduced quality of life and exacerbation of OA symptoms. Furthermore, mood disorders like depression and anxiety are common among OA patients, leading to a vicious cycle of pain and psychological distress that worsens functional outcomes.
Conclusions: OA is closely related to various comorbidities, necessitating a holistic, multimodal approach to treatment. Beyond pharmacologic interventions, lifestyle changes, psychosocial support, and careful management of comorbid conditions are essential for improving outcomes in OA patients
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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