No abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrinopathy of women of reproductive age, is associated with the early appearance of multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. However, premature atherosclerosis of the carotid artery has not yet been demonstrated in young women with PCOS. Measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered an easy and reliable index of subclinical atherosclerosis, which is predictive of subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke. To evaluate the cardiovascular risk of PCOS and the participation of the hyperandrogenemic and metabolic pattern, we measured carotid IMT by B-mode ultrasound as well as hormonal and several cardiovascular disease-associated parameters in 75 young women with PCOS and 55 healthy, age- and body mass index-matched women. The PCOS women had significantly increased carotid IMT (0.58 vs. 0.47 mm, P < 0.001) and abdominal adiposity; higher levels of androgens, insulin, homeostasis model assessment score of insulin sensitivity, and total and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; and significantly lower levels of SHBG and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In the studied population (n = 130), PCOS status, age, body mass index, and parental history of coronary heart disease were strong positive predictors of carotid IMT, whereas dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was a strong negative predictor. In PCOS patients lower delta4-androstenedione and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were additionally strong positive predictors of carotid IMT, whereas in control women only total cholesterol was the additional positive predictor of carotid IMT. In conclusion, young women with PCOS have an early increase of cardiovascular risk factors and greater carotid IMT, both of which may be responsible for subclinical atherosclerosis. The hyperandrogenemic phenotype of the syndrome may attenuate the consequences of the dysmetabolic phenotype on the vascular wall.

Sclerostin is expressed by osteocytes and inhibits bone formation by osteoblasts. In this study, serum sclerostin was positively correlated with either lumbar spinal bone mineral density or T-score. Furthermore, serum sclerostin was increased after 6 months treatment with risedronate, whereas remained unchanged after 6 months teriparatide treatment. Introduction The primary aim of this study was the evaluation of serum sclerostin levels in postmenopausal women and their association with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers. The secondary aim was the evaluation of treatment with either teriparatide (TPTD) or risedronate (RIS) on serum sclerostin levels in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods Women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, assigned to receive either TPTD (TPTD group, n = 13) or RIS (RIS group, n = 36) for 6 months, and non-osteoporotic early postmenopausal women (NOEP group, n = 13) were recruited. Main outcome measure was serum sclerostin levels.Results Serum sclerostin was higher in the NOEP group at baseline compared with either TPTD group (p = 0.007) or RIS group (p = 0.049). Sclerostin was positively correlated with both lumbar spinal (LS) BMD (r = 0.353; p = 0.005) and T-score (r = 0.501; p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with intact parathyroid hormone (r = −0.343; p = 0.024) at baseline. Multiple regression analysis showed that either LS BMD (Beta = 0.653; p = 0.018) or T-score (Beta = 0.711; p = 0.005) were independent predictors of serum sclerostin levels. No significant correlation was observed between serum sclerostin and bone turnover markers or estradiol at baseline. Sclerostin was significantly increased 6 months post-treatment in RIS group (p = 0.002), whereas remained statistically unaffected in the TPTD group. Conclusions Serum sclerostin is decreased in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis compared with non-osteoporotic early postmenopausal women and is positively correlated to either LS BMD or LS T-score. Furthermore, serum sclerostin was increased after 6 months treatment with RIS, whereas remained essentially unchanged after 6 months TPTD treatment.

Ultrasonography (US) has been shown to be an effective imaging modality in the evaluation of both rotator cuff and non-rotator cuff disorders, usually serving in a complementary role to magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder. US technique for shoulder examination depends on patient positioning, scanning protocol for every tendon and anatomic part, and dynamic imaging. The primary US signs for rotator cuff supraspinatus tendon tears are tendon nonvisualization for complete tears, focal tendon defect for full-thickness tears, a hypoechoic defect of the articular side of the tendon for an articular-side partial-thickness tear, and flattening of the bursal surface of the tendon for a bursal-side partial-thickness tear. Secondary US signs such as cortical irregularity of the greater tuberosity and joint and subacromial-subdeltoid bursal fluid are helpful when correlated with the primary signs. Tendon degeneration, tendinosis, and intrasubstance tear are demonstrated as internal heterogeneity. Long-head biceps tendon abnormalities include instability, acute or chronic tear, and tendinosis. The acromioclavicular joint is assessed for dislocation, fluid collection, cysts, and bone erosions. Other non-rotator cuff disorders include synovial disorders such as adhesive capsulitis and synovial osteochondromatosis; degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, amyloid arthropathy, hemarthrosis, and chondrocalcinosis; infectious disorders such as septic arthritis and bursitis; and space-occupying lesions.