OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and total procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (TP1NP) in perimenopausal women.

METHODSTotal 274 women aged 33~60 y with perimenopausal period were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of FSH and TP1NP were detected by electrochemiluminescence.

RESULTSIn 274 perimenopausal women, the average level of TP1NP was (48.99±20.31) ng/mL, which was positively correlated with FSH level (r=0.159, P=0.009). In 40-50 age group, TP1NP level in women with FSH<40 mIU/mL was lower than that in those with FSH≥40mIU/mL [(35.05±18.11) ng/mL vs (51.33±24.67) ng/mL; t=-2.954, P=0.004]. However, in <40 and 50-60 age groups, there were no significant differences in TP1NP levels between patients with FSH<40 mIU/mL and those with FSH≥40 mIU/mL (t=-0.063, P=0.950; t=1.177, P=0.242). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that standardized coefficients of age variable was 0.047 (P=0.448) and standardized coefficients of FSH variable was 0.146 (P=0.019).

CONCLUSIONTP1NP levels showed a certain correlation with FSH in perimenopausal women, especially for women aged 40-50, indicating that high FSH levels may be important factors for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Adult ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Perimenopause ; blood ; Procollagen ; blood

Animals ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between pathological alterations of spermatogenic impairment in seminiferous tubules and serum inhibin B concentration in patients with azoospermia and to verify the significance of INH B in evaluating spermatogenesis.

METHODSEighty-three cases of azoospermia underwent testicular biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis. In accordance with the pathological alterations of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules, the samples were divided into four groups: Sertoli cell-only syndrome (n = 21); hypospermatogenesis (n = 20); maturation arrest (n = 24) and almost normal spermatogenesis (n = 18). Serum INHB and FSH, LH, T concentrations were tested before testicular biopsy for each patient respectively.

RESULTSThe INHB levels were (20. 85 +/- 18.78) pg/ml, (67.25 +/- 40.98) pg/ml, (73.63 +/- 25.54) pg/ml and (149.48 +/- 27.92) pg/ml in the above four groups, respectively. There was no significant statistical difference in the level of serum INH B between maturation arrest and hypospermatogenesis groups (P > 0.05), and there was a very significant difference in almost normal spermatogenesis group and the other three groups, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the concentration of serum FSH when maturation arrest group compared with spermatogenesis group (P > 0.05), whereas between the other two groups and between each of them and maturation arrest or almost normal spermatogenesis there was a very significant difference in the level of serum FSH (P < 0.05); The concentrations of LH and T were not significantly different among the four groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum INHB concentration was decreased when spermatogenesis got impaired. It dropped the most markedly in Sertoli cell-only syndrome group. INH B reflects directly the spermatogenic function in seminiferous tubules of the testis. Therefore, it could be considered valuable for spermatogenesis and potential fertility in patients with azoospermia.

Adult ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Inhibins ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Oligospermia ; blood ; pathology ; Testis ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect and safety of acupuncture at the five-zangshu for treatment of perimenopausal syndrome (PMS).

METHODSForty cases of PMS were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, 20 cases in each group. The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at the five-zangshu and the control group with oral administration of Premarin tablets. The therapeutic effects and changes of Kupperman scores, and serum estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) levels before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 90. 0% in the treatment group which was better than 65.0% in the control group (P<0. 05). After treatment, serum E2 level significantly increased (P<0.01), with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05), and with a significant difference between the two groups in Kupperman symptom score index (MI) after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTherapeutic effect of acupuncture at the five-zangshu is better than that of Premarin for treatment of perimenopausal syndrome.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Perimenopause ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at Shu- and Mu-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney on premature ovarian failure.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-two cases of premature ovarian failure were randomly divided into a catgut implantation group and a medication group, 66 cases in each group. The catgut implantation group were treated by catgut implantation at She- and Mu-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney, and the medication group were treated with oral administration of Estradiol Valerate 2 mg, qd, for 20 days, and 10 days later, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 4 mg was added, b. i. d, for 10 days, averaging 6 months of medication. The therapeutic effects and changes of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, serum FSH and E2 significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.01), with the serum E2 in the catgut implantation group increased more significantly than that in the medication group (P<0.01). The cured rate and the total effective rate were 84.9% and 97.0% in the catgut implantation group and 31.8% and 84.8% in the medication group, the cured rate in the catgut implantation group being better than that in the medication group (P<0.05). Ten month later, the therapeutic effect in the catgut implantation group was kept.

CONCLUSIONCatgut implantation at Shu- and Me-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney has a good therapeutic effect on premature ovarian failure with no side effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Catgut ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline serum luteinizing hormone (LH) level for central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls.

METHODSA total of 279 girls with precocious puberty were subjected to assessment of growth and development, bone age determination, baseline LH test, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) test, gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test, and other related examinations. Of the 279 patients, 175 were diagnosed with CPP and 104 with premature thelarche (PT). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of baseline LH and FSH levels and their peak levels for CPP, and the correlation between the baseline LH level and the peak LH level was analyzed.

RESULTSThe CPP group had significantly higher bone age, baseline LH and FSH levels, peak LH and FSH levels, and ratio of peak LH level to peak FSH level than the PT group (P<0.01). The ROC curve proved that baseline LH level and peak LH level had good diagnostic values for CPP. Among the three bone age subgroups in the CPP group (7.0-9.0 years, 9.0-11.0 years, and >11.0 years), baseline LH level showed the best diagnostic value in the >11.0 years subgroup, with the largest area under the ROC curve. At a baseline LH level of 0.45 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 66.7% and 80% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. At a peak LH level of 9.935 IU/L, the Youden index reached the peak value, and the sensitivity and specificity were 74.8% and 100% respectively, for the diagnosis of CPP. The baseline LH level was positively correlated with the peak LH level (r=0.440, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBaseline LH level can be used as an primary screening index for the diagnosis of CPP. It has a certain diagnostic value for CPP at different bone ages, and may be used as a monitoring index during the treatment and follow-uP.

Adolescent ; Age Determination by Skeleton ; Child ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVETo study the value of basal serum gonadotropin levels in the diagnosis of precocious puberty (PP) in girls.

METHODSA total of 77 girls with PP were divided into central PP (CPP) (n=45) and isolated premature thelarche (IPT) groups (n=32) based on the results of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test, which was considered the gold standard for diagnosis of PP. The two groups were compared with respect to basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and LH/FSH ratio. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the accuracy of basal LH and FSH levels and LH/FSH ratio in the diagnosis of PP.

RESULTSThe basal serum LH and FSH levels and LH/FSH ratio in the CPP group were significantly higher than in the IPT group (P<0.01). The basal serum LH level was positively correlated with peak LH level in the GnRH stimulation test in both groups. For diagnosis of CPP, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for basal serum LH level was larger than for basal serum FSH level and LH/FSH ratio (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the AUC value between basal serum FSH level and LH/FSH ratio. When the basal serum LH level was 0.62 IU/L, there was a maximum Youden index (0.684), with 77.8% sensitivity and 90.6% specificity. When the basal serum LH level reached 1.5 IU/L, the sensitivity decreased to 31.1%, but with the highest specificity (100%).

CONCLUSIONSBasal serum LH level is superior to LH/FSH ratio and basal serum FSH level in the diagnosis of CPP, and can be used for preliminary diagnosis of PP in girls in the out-patient department, but there is some misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. When basal serum LH level is higher than 1.5 IU/L the diagnosis of CPP can be confirmed in combination with clinical manifestation, without the need for an additional GnRH stimulation test.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Puberty, Precocious ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a functional marker of fetal Sertoli cells. The germ cell number in adults depends on the number of Sertoli cells produced during perinatal development. Recently, AMH has received increasing attention in research of disorders related to male fertility. This paper reviews and summarizes the articles on the regulation of AMH in males and the serum levels of AMH in male fertility-related disorders. We have determined that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) promotes AMH transcription in the absence of androgen signaling. Testosterone inhibits the transcriptional activation of AMH. The undetectable levels of serum AMH and testosterone levels indicate a lack of functional testicular tissue, for example, that in patients with anorchia or severe Klinefelter syndrome suffering from impaired spermatogenesis. The normal serum testosterone level and undetectable AMH are highly suggestive of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS), combined with clinical manifestations. The levels of both AMH and testosterone are always subnormal in patients with mixed disorders of sex development (DSD). Mixed DSD is an early-onset complete type of disorder with fetal hypogonadism resulting from the dysfunction of both Leydig and Sertoli cells. Serum AMH levels are varying in patients with male fertility-related disorders, including pubertal delay, severe congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, nonobstructive azoospermia, Klinefelter syndrome, varicocele, McCune-Albright syndrome, and male senescence.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone/metabolism* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/blood* ; Male ; Testosterone/blood*

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily and mainly expressed by the granulosa cells of ovarian follicles. In women AMH is only expressed in ovarian follicles and therefore can be used for the evaluation of the ovarian reserve function and the prediction of ovary ageing and ovarian response during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This article summarizes the clinical application of AMH, especially in evaluating ovarian reserve functions.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Ovarian Follicle ; physiology ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Ovary ; physiology ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood

Animals ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Iliac Vein ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; pathology ; transplantation