Search

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and idiopathic hirsutism (IH) are androgen excess disorders requiring the determination of classic androgen levels for diagnosis. 11-oxygenated androgens have high androgenic potential, yet their clinical value in those disorders is not clear. Additionally, the role of endocrine disruptors (EDs), particularly in IH, remains understudied. We analyzed 25 steroids and 18 EDs in plasma samples from women with IH, PCOS, and controls using LC-MS/MS. Cytokine levels and metabolic parameters were assessed. Comparisons included non-obese women with PCOS (n = 10), women with IH (n = 12) and controls (n = 20), and non-obese versus obese women with PCOS (n = 9). Higher levels of 11-oxygenated androgens were observed in women with PCOS compared to those with IH, but not controls. Conversely, 11-oxygenated androgen levels were lower in women with IH compared to controls. Cytokine levels did not differ between women with IH and controls. Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were higher in obese women with PCOS compared to non-obese women with PCOS. Bisphenol S occurrence was higher in women with PCOS (90%) compared to controls (65%) and IH (50%). Significant correlations were found between androgens (11-ketotestosterone, androstenedione, testosterone) and insulin and HOMA-IR, as well as between immunomodulatory 7-oxygenated metabolites of DHEA and nine interleukins. Our data confirms that PCOS is a multiendocrine gland disorder. Higher BPA levels in obese women might exacerbate metabolic abnormalities. IH was not confirmed as an inflammatory state, and no differences in BPA levels suggest BPA does not play a role in IH pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) are ubiquitous substances both in the environment and everyday products that interfere with the hormonal system. Growing evidence demonstrates their adverse effects on the organism, including the reproductive system and the prostate, owing to their (anti)estrogenic or antiandrogenic effects. Since EDs can interact with steroid hormone actions on-site, understanding the levels of intraprostatic EDs in conjunction with steroids may hold particular significance. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for determining estrogens, various groups of EDs (bisphenols, parabens, oxybenzone and nonylphenol) and phytoestrogens in their unconjugated and conjugated forms in prostate tissue by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and subsequently analyze 20 human prostate tissue samples. The method enabled 20 compounds to be analyzed: estrogens (estrone, estradiol, estriol), bisphenols (bisphenol A- BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF, BPAP, BPZ, BPP), parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, benzyl- paraben), oxybenzone, nonylphenol and phytoestrogens (daidzein, genistein, equol) with LLOQs between 0.017-2.86 pg/mg of tissue. The most frequently detected EDs in prostate tissues were propylparaben (conjugated and unconjugated forms in 100 % of tissues), methylparaben (unconjugated in 45 % and conjugated in 100 %), ethylparaben (unconjugated in 25 % and conjugated in 100 %), BPA (unconjugated in 35 % and conjugated in 60 %) and oxybenzone (both forms in 45 %). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study detecting EDs, phytoestrogens and estriol conjugate (E3C) in the prostate. E3C was the most abundant estrogen in prostatic tissue. This highlights the need for further explorations into estrogen metabolism within the prostate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA)-based monomers are commonly contained in dental resin-based materials. As BPA is an endocrine disruptor, its long-term release from restorative composites and resin-modified glass ionomers (RM-GICs) under two polymerization conditions was measured in this study. Specimens of two conventional composites containing BPA-based monomers, two "BPA-free" composites, and two RM-GICs were polymerized from one side for 20 s at 1300 mW/cm2 or for 5 s at 3000 mW/cm2. The amounts of BPA released in artificial saliva and methanol after 1, 4, 9, 16, 35, 65, 130, and 260 days were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The highest amounts of BPA were released from conventional composites, followed by RM-GICs, while the least was released from "BPA-free" composites. Amounts of released BPA were significantly higher in methanol and decreased gradually after the first day. Fast polymerization (5 s at 3000 mW/cm2) resulted in a significantly higher release of BPA after 1 day, but the effect of polymerization conditions was not significant overall. In conclusion, fast polymerization increased the initial release of BPA, but the released amounts were significantly lower than the current tolerable daily intake (4 μg/kg body weight/day) even in methanol, representing the worst-case scenario of BPA release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]