To determine the (tttta)n repeat polymorphisms at the promoter region of CYP11alpha gene, and study its linkage to hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Chinese women, a case-control study was conducted in the Reproductive Medical Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, China). 96 PCOS patients and 78 healthy control women were included. CYP11alpha (tttta)n repeat-polymorphism genotyping analysis was performed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serum pituitary hormone and total testosterone levels were measured by ELISA. 4 different CYP11alpha (tttta)n allelles were identified, corresponding to 4-, 6-, 8-, and 9-repeat-unit alleles. The frequency and distribution of these alleles are 0.16, 0.33, 0.38, and 0.13 respectively in PCOS patients, as compared with 0.20, 0.34, 0.35, and 0.11 respectively in healthy controls. There were no significant differences between these two groups. Moreover, no correlation between the polymorphism of CYP11alpha gene and serum testosterone level of patients with PCOS and controls was observed. It is concluded that microsatellite polymorphism (tttta)n of gene CYP11alpha exists in Chinese women and the polymorphism of CYP11alpha gene does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chinese patients with PCOS, especially in patients with hyperandrogenism.
Cholesterol Side-Chain Cleavage Enzyme/*genetics ; Hyperandrogenism/complications ; Hyperandrogenism/*genetics ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/complications ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of modified Longdan Xiegan Decoction (LXD) on hyperandrogenism in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (POS) of stagnant fire in Gan channel type.

METHODSForty-eight patients were divided into two groups: the LXD group (25 cases) treated with LXI) for 3 months, and the Diane-35 group (23 cases) with Diane-35. Condition of menstruation, acne, hairiness were observed, basal body temperature (BBT) was measured, and the serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), free testosterone (FT), and androstenedione (A) were detected before and after 3 months' treatment. Meanwhile, adverse reaction was observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the condition of menstrual disorder, acne and single-phase BBT were improved significantly, and serum levels of LH, LH/FSH, FT and A decreased in both groups (P < 0.05), showed insignificant difference between them (P > 0.05). The PRL level dropped in the LXD group (P < 0.05), which significantly lower than that in the Diane-35 group (P < 0.05). There were 3 cases with adverse reaction of irregular colporrhagia and 5 cases with nausea and vomiting in the Diane-35 group, while no adverse reaction in the LXD group occurred.

CONCLUSIONModified LXD could significantly improve the condition in hyperandrogenism patients with POS of stagnant fire in Gan channel type.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common metabolic and endocrine disorder in women. However, there is no agreement concerning how to diagnose and treat PCOS worldwide. Three practice guidelines or consensuses, including consensus from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)/the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Rotterdam, diagnosis criteria and consensus in China, and clinical practice guideline from the Endocrine Society (ES) in the United States are widely recognized. The present paper may provide some guidance for clinical practice based on a comparative analysis of the above three practice guidelines or consensuses.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Consensus ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; etiology ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; Insulin Resistance ; Menstrual Cycle ; Obesity ; etiology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; psychology ; therapy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Adolescent ; Amenorrhea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Androgen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Androgens ; blood ; Contraceptive Agents ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; complications ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Insulin Resistance ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Menstruation Disturbances ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Obesity ; complications ; Ovary ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between the microsatellite polymorphism in the promoter region of CYP11 alpha gene and hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSEighty-six cases of PCOS and 50 normal women as controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel were employed to detect the polymorphism of CYP11 alpha gene and its frequency distribution. At the same time, the relationships of CYP11 alpha alleles to serum testosterone levels in PCOS were compared.

RESULTSFour different CYP11 alpha (tttta)n alleles were identified, corresponding to 4, 6, 8 and 9 repeat-units alleles. The frequency distribution profiles were 0.17, 0.31, 0.39, 0.13 and 0.22, 0.35, 0.33, 0.10 in PCOS group and control group respectively, showing no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There were no correlations between the polymorphism of CYP11 alpha gene and the serum testosterone levels of PCOS patients.

CONCLUSIONMicro-satellite polymorphism (tttta)n of gene CYP11 alpha exists in Chinese women and the polymorphism does not relate to the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hyperandrogenism ; etiology ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; ethnology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Young Adult