BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a vascular inflammatory marker, may predict the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and CVD. The aim of this study was to compare hsCRP levels between normal weight women with PCOS and controls with a normal menstrual cycle and to determine the factors associated with serum hsCRP levels. METHODS: Thirty-nine lean PCOS patients and 24 healthy, regular cycling women were enrolled in this study. We performed anthropometric measurements, fat computed tomography (CT), and blood sampling to determine blood chemistry and levels of hsCRP, gonadotropins, testosterone, and sex-hormone binding globulin. We also conducted 75-g oral glucose-tolerance test and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp to assess insulin sensitivity. RESULTS: Serum hsCRP concentrations were higher in women with PCOS than in women with regular mensturation. However, this difference was no longer significant after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). hsCRP levels were correlated with waist circumference (r=0.46, p<0.01), BMI (r=0.46, p<0.01), visceral fat area (r=0.45, p<0.01), and systolic (r=0.42, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.39, p<0.05). hsCRP also tended to be negatively associated with insulin-mediated glucose uptake (IMGU) (r=-0.31, p=0.07). A multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI (beta=0.29, p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.39, p<0.01), and IMGU (beta=-0.31, p<0.05) predicted serum hsCRP levels in women with PCOS. CONCLUSIONS: PCOS by itself does not seem to be associated with increased hsCRP levels, whereas known CVD risk factors affect serum hsCRP levels in PCOS.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein/*analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*blood/complications ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with auricular point tapping and pressing on the obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

METHODSThirty-nine cases of obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome were treated with electroacupuncture combined with auricular point tapping and pressing, body points as Tianshu (ST 25), Fenglong (ST 40), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Siman (KI 14) etc. were selected, and ear points as Kou (mouth), Wei (stomach) and Pi (spleen) etc. were selected. After 3 courses, the therapeutic effect, the body mass index (BMI), the waist circumference (WC) and the changes of the serum insulin (Ins) and testosterone (T) were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTSOf the 39 cases, 10 cases were cured, 25 cases were effective, 4 cases were ineffective, with a total effective rate of 89.7%; there were significant differences in BMI, WC, Ins and T of the patients compared with that before treatment (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture combined with auricular point tapping and pressing has a good clinical effect on obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the treatment mechanism may realized by regulating the serum insulin and the testosterone of the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Ear Auricle ; pathology ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; therapy ; Testosterone ; blood ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Approximately 50% to 70% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have some degree of insulin resistance, and obesity is known to worsen insulin resistance. Many metabolic consequences of PCOS are similar to those of obesity; therefore, defining the cause of insulin resistance in women can be difficult. Our objective was to clarify the factors contributing to insulin resistance in PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We consecutively recruited 144 women with PCOS [age: 26+/-5 yr, body mass index, body mass index (BMI): 24.4+/-4.0 kg/m2] and 145 controls (age: 25+/-5 yr, BMI: 23.0+/-3.6 kg/m2), and divided them into overweight/obese (ow/ob, BMI > or =23 kg/m2) and lean (BMI <23 kg/m2) groups. Anthropometric measures and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test were performed, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) was calculated as an index of insulin sensitivity. Factors predictive of ISI were determined using regression analysis. RESULTS: ISI was significantly lower in both lean and ow/ob women with PCOS compared to BMI-matched controls (p<0.05). Increasing BMI by 1 kg/m2 decreased ISI by 0.169 in PCOS patients (p<0.05) and by 0.238 in controls (p<0.05); there was no significant difference between these groups. In lean PCOS patients and lean controls, BMI had no effect on ISI. Multiple regression analysis revealed that PCOS status (beta=-0.423, p<0.001) and BMI (beta=-0.375, p<0.001) were significantly associated with ISI. CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance is an intrinsic defect of PCOS, and a high BMI could exacerbate insulin resistance in all women, irrespective of whether they have PCOS.
Adiposity ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/*complications ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVESTo measure serum and follicular resistin, steroids hormone levels in women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) (BMI (body mass index)<25 kg/m(2)), to assess possible correlations of resistin to hormonal and metabolic parameters and to analyze the clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in women with PCOS and tubal infertility.

STUDY DESIGNWe analyzed the clinical outcomes of IVF-ET in women with PCOS (BMI<25 kg/m(2)) and tubal infertility during the years 2002 to 2004 and compared the serum and follicular fluid resistin levels, estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (P), testosterone (T) levels in 20 PCOS and 20 healthy, age-matched women without PCOS during IVF-stimulated cycles. The correlations between the resistin levels and the outcomes of IVF-ET were evaluated.

RESULTSNo significant differences in resistin levels of either serum or follicular fluid between PCOS and control group were found. However, resistin levels in serum were higher than that in follicular fluid in both groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that resistin levels in serum did not correlate with BMI, estradiol, LH (luteinizing hormone) and insulin level in fasting blood. No significant correlations were found between follicular fluid reisistin levels and fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate or early miscarriage rate in both PCOS and control groups.

CONCLUSIONOur results show that resistin does not have correlation with the hormonal and metabolic parameters as well as the outcomes of IVF. These data suggest that resistin is unlikely to be a local determinant factor in steroidogenesis and growth and maturation of oocytes during IVF-ET in lean women with PCOS.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicular Fluid ; metabolism ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; metabolism ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Ganshao Capsule (GSC) in treating clomiphene (CC)-resistant hyperandrogenemic polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and to explore the feasibility of using CC for improving ovulation induction after withdrawal of GSC.

METHODSTwenty-seven PCOS patients were given GSC for 8 weeks (2 cycles). Changes in serum reproductive hormone, body mass index (BMI), adverse reaction, as well as pelvic ultrasonographic feature were observed before treatment, at the end of 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment. After stopping GSC medication, CC was used to induce ovulation in patients whose serum testosterone (T) < (2.1+/-0.8) nmol/L but without ovulation. Condition of follicle growth and effect of GSC were monitored.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks of treatment, serum reproductive hormones were significantly changed. At the end of 8 weeks, bilateral ovarian volume, number of follicles, and diameter of follicles were significantly reduced, and endometrium obviously thinned. Within 2 months after stopping medication, 6 in the 27 patients got natural ovulation, and 2 natural pregnancy. In the other 19 patients who received ovulation induction during the 37th cycles, 17 had ovulation in the 25th cycles, 7 got pregnancy, the ovulation rate being 89.5%, ovulation cycle rate 67.6%, pregnant rate 36.8%, and pregnant cycle rate 28.0%.

CONCLUSIONEndometrium, ovarian morphology and BMI got significant improvement in PCOS patients with CC- resistance and hyperandrogenemia. The sensitivity to ovulation induction with CC were also improved.

Adult ; Capsules ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Resistance ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fertility Agents, Female ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy ; Prolactin ; blood

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 observe the efficacy of combination therapy of clomiphene and Chinese drugs for nourishing Shen and activating blood circulation (NSABC) in treating Stein-Leventhal syndrome caused sterility.

METHODSSixty-two patients with anovulation caused sterility were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 32) and the control group (n = 30). The treated grop was treated with the combination therapy and the control group treated by the same dosage of clomiphene alone.

RESULTSAfter treatment, when comparing with that before treatment, the endocrine hormones in the treated group improved significantly, showing a markedly decrease of androgen and luteotropic hormone, and increase of estrogen (P < 0.001). The periodic ovulation rate in the treated group reached 87%, the total pregnancy rate being 65.6%, with no occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS), while in the control group, the periodic ovulation rate was 66%, the total pregnancy rate 36.6%, with LUFS occurred in 4 patients. Comparison of the therapeutic effects between the two groups showed significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination therapy of clomiphene and NSABC has a better therapeutic effect in treating Stein-Leventhal syndrome caused sterility than that of using clomiphene alone.

Adult ; Androgens ; blood ; Anovulation ; blood ; etiology ; Clomiphene ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Ovulation Induction ; Phytotherapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Progestins ; blood