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Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the concentrations of follistatin and activin A in the serum of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess their relationship with selected biochemical parameters, specifically stratifying the analysis based on tobacco smoke, insulin resistance, and abnormal weight. Methods: The research was carried out within a cohort of 88 women (60 women with and 28 without PCOS). Results: We observed significant differences (p < 0.05) in follistatin concentrations between women with PCOS stratified by homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values. These differences were consistent across both smoking and non-smoking subgroups with PCOS. Similar results were observed when comparing normal-weight women with PCOS to those with overweight or obesity. Additionally, activin A concentrations were significantly increased by higher body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-IR values in non-smoking women with PCOS. Moreover, we identified a negative correlation (r = −0.30; p < 0.023) between cotinine levels and Anti-Müllerian hormone. Among smoking women with PCOS, we noted decreased concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin and high-density lipoproteins, alongside increased fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and free androgen index values. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that activin A and follistatin concentrations are more strongly influenced by disruptions in glucose metabolism and BMI than by tobacco smoke exposure. The observed changes were more pronounced in follistatin than in activin A level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the effects of tobacco smoke exposure and abnormal body weight on selected peptide hormones and their association with metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study group included 88 women with PCOS and 28 women without the disease. In women with PCOS, chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin concentrations were influenced by overweight and obesity status, with the highest concentrations observed in those with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30.0. Exposure to tobacco smoke significantly increased only lipocalin-2 concentration. The disease itself did not affect the concentrations of chemerin, lipocalin, and apelin. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between chemerin concentration and fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and triglycerides levels, while a negative correlation was observed with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) concentration. In the smoking subgroup, chemerin concentration was positively correlated with free testosterone concentration and the free androgen index and negatively associated with sex hormone-binding globulin concentration. Our findings indicate that abnormal body weight has a stronger impact than tobacco smoke exposure on metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with PCOS, highlighting the important role of weight control in such individuals. However, smoking appears to be an additional factor that intensifies hormonal disorders associated with adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eating disorders are an important factor in menstrual cycle disorders in girls. Moreover, low self-esteem among adolescent girls may be a risk factor for eating disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the menstrual cycle, eating habits and self-esteem of Polish adolescents.Methods: The study was conducted from January 2014 to March 2015 and included 623 girls, aged 15-19, from randomly selected junior high schools in Silesia, Poland, in which their menstrual cycle, risk of eating disorders and self-esteem were evaluated. A five-part questionnaire was used to assess basic demographic data, lifestyle and physical activity, gynecological history, as well as Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES) and Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26).Results: Irregular menstrual cycles were observed in 236 (37.88%) girls; 5.20% presented secondary amenorrhea. Based on the EAT-26 test, 101 (16.21%) girls were indicated being at risk for an eating disorder. Low self-esteem was observed in 340 (54.57%) study girls on the base of SES.Discussion: Girls with irregular menses had higher scores on the EAT-26 test in subscales: EAT-overall score, EAT-diet and EAT-bulimia, while lower scores on the SES. In our study, we did not observe a significant relationship between exercise intensity, body mass, BMI and menstrual cycle regularity. Low self-esteem among adolescent girls may be a risk factor for eating disorders which could interrupt the menstrual cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Changes in the proportion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory adipokines may reflect the accumulation of lipids in the liver and the development of insulin resistance. Both liver steatosis and insulin resistance result in decreased sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) synthesis. This study aimed to analyze associations between circulating SHBG and adipokines levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study involved 87 women with phenotype A of PCOS (39 normal weight and 48 obese). Body mass, height, and waist circumference were measured, and BMI was calculated. In addition, body composition was assessed using the bioimpedance method. Serum SHBG levels and plasma apelin-36 and apelin-12, adiponectin, leptin, omentin-1, and RBP-4 were determined by using the ELISA method. The participants were divided into subgroups with SHBG concentrations above and below this lower limit [ N = 35 (40.2%) and N = 52 (59.8%), respectively]., Results: The median adiponectin, apelin-12, and apelin-36 levels were significantly lower, and leptin levels were significantly higher in the subgroup with low SHBG levels than that in the subgroup above the lower limit of the reference range, while there were no differences in median omentin-1 and RBP-4 between the study subgroups. There were positive correlations between SHBG and omentin-1, adiponectin, apelin-36, and apelin-12 levels, as well as negative correlation with leptin levels. However, after adjustment by BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage, only the association between SHBG and omentin-1 remained significant., Conclusion: Our results show associations between circulating SHBG and adipokine levels in women with PCOS and support the role of hormonal dysfunction of the adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of PCOS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Ciura, Owczarek, Franik, Kocełak, Markuszewski, Madej, Chudek and Olszanecka-Glinianowicz.)

Background: Non-standard hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex is a rare endocrinopathy causing the incidence of hyperandrogenism among women of procreative age. The primary objective of this paper is the specification of the clinical picture and modifications of the concentration of pituitary, ovarian and adrenal hormones in the blood of female patients with the syndrome of non-standard hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex (NPKN)., Material and Methods: In the Gynaecological Endocrinology Clinic of the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland, 2,353 female patients were hospitalised between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2009 with symptoms of hyperandrogenism. Of these, 55 were selected for the study. Eventually, 25 female patients with diagnosed NPKN, and 30 randomly selected patients with the polycystic ovarian disease polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were enrolled in the study., Results: Of the 2,353 female patients hospitalised in the Gynaecological Endocrinology Clinic with symptoms of hyperandrogenism between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2009, NPKN was found in 1.2% of them. Patients with NPKN displayed a strong hirsutism, which was significantly more intense than in the comparative group. Insulin resistance was found more frequently in the group of female patients with PCOS (67%) compared to the group with NPKN (40%). Polycystic ovarian disease was more frequently observed in the group of patients with PCOS (93%), compared to the group with NPKN (72%). The average concentration of androstendione in the blood serum in the group of patients with NPKN amounted to 7.60 ng/ml (SD = 3.57) and was significantly higher than in the group of patients with PCOS where it was 3.46 ng/ml (SD = 1.53). The average concentration of free testosterone in the blood serum in the group of patients with NPKN amounted to 7.30 pg/ml (SD = 4.13) and was significantly higher than in the group of patients with PCOS, where it was 2.90 pg/ml (SD =1.43 ). The average concentration of DHEAS in the blood serum in the group of patients with NPKN accounted for 403.23 μg/dl (SD = 192.59), and in the group with PCOS it was 257.39 μg/dl (SD = 63.67). This concentration was statistically significantly higher in the group with NPKN than in the group with PCOS. The average concentration of estradiole in the blood serum in the group with NPKN amounted to 111.98 pg/ml (SD = 113.68), while in the group with PCOS it was 62.39 pg/ml (SD = 31.18). The difference of concentrations between the groups NPKN and PCOS was statistically significant. We found a positive correlation between the 17-OHP concentration after 60 minutes of the ACTH test and the severity of hirsutism in the group of patients with NPKN (r = 0.77896). In addition, we found a correlation between the free testosterone and the 17-OHP concentration after 60 minutes of the ACTH test in the group of patients with NPKN (r = 0.48149). A positive correlation was also reported between the symptom of hypertrophy of the clitoris and the 17-OHP concentration after 60 minutes of the ACTH stimulation test in the group of patients with NPKN (r = 0.77221). In the comparative group of patients with PCOS, there was no correlation between the free testosterone and 17-OHP concentration after 60 minutes of the ACTH test (r = 0.3059). There was also no correlation between the severity of hirsutism and the concentration of 17-OHP concentration analysed after 60 minutes of the ACTH test. In all female patients from the PCOS group, there was a correct size of clitoris., Conclusions: Analysing the clinical picture of the examined population of patients with NPKN enabled us to specify symptoms of disease which were significant for diagnosis, and which helped differentiate NPKN from other endocrinopathies involving hyperandrogenism, including in particular PCOS. Taking everything into consideration, non-standard hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex is a rare cause of hyperandrogenism in women of procreative age. Intense hirsutism and features of virilisation presenting as hypertrophy of the clitoris predominate in the clinical picture of non-standard hypertrophy of the adrenal cortex. The laboratory confirmation of diagnosis of NPKN constitutes the analysis of the 17-OHP level in blood in the ACTH stimulation test. The analyses of free testosterone and its unbound fraction, androstendione and estradiole, help differentiate NPKN from polycystic ovarian disease.