Respiratory Mitochondrial Efficiency and DNA Oxidation in Human Sperm after In Vitro Myo-Inositol Treatment.

Semen samples are known to contain abnormal amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen free radicals; therefore, the identification of antioxidant molecules able to counteract the oxidative damage caused by ROS is foresight. Indeed, improving semen quality in terms of motility and reduction in DNA damage, can significantly improve the fertilization potential of sperm in vitro. To this regard, myo-inositol, based on its antioxidant properties, has been reported to be effective in improving sperm quality and motility in oligoasthenozoospermic patients undergoing assisted reproduction techniques when used as a dietary supplementation.

PCOS and pregnancy: a review of available therapies to improve the outcome of pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility affecting multiple aspects of a women's health.

Areas Covered: The aim of this review is to summarize the existing evidence on the treatment of PCOS patients and to examine the actual available therapies to overcome the problem of infertility and improve the outcome of pregnancy. We analyse different treatment strategies such as lifestyle modification, bariatric surgery, insulin sensitizing agents, inositol, clomiphene citrate (CC), aromatase inhibitors, gonadotrophins, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, and assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

Ovarian response to controlled ovarian stimulation in women with different polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.

Controlled ovarian stimulation (COH) in PCOS is a challenge for fertility expert both ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and oocytes immaturity are the two major complication. Ovarian response to COH vary widely among POCS patients and while some patients are more likely to show resistance to COH, other experienced an exaggerated response. The aim of our study is to investigate a possible correlation between PCOS phenotypes and the variety of ovarian response to COH and ART outcomes in patients with different PCOS phenotypes.

Different stimulation protocols for oocyte cryropreservation in oncological patients: a retrospective analysis of single university centre.

Objective: To analyze the results obtain in cancer patients who receive the same controlled ovarian stimulation protocol, started in two different moments of the menstrual cycle, follicular or luteal phase. The stimulation is performed before cancer treatment in order to preserve fertility through oocytes cryopreservation.

Study Design: The study is a retrospective analysis about 25 cancer patients at our centre, Department of Reproductive Medicine of University of Pisa, in order to preserve their fertility before cancer treatment.

Diurnal Variation of Plasma Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Women with Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is strongly related to hormonal networks and is modulated by hypothalamic activity.

Objective: To evaluate plasma BDNF concentration in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), with reference to the BDNF circadian rhythm and its relation with the cortisol (F) rhythm, and to assess whether the duration of amenorrhea might influence the BDNF:F ratio in FHA.

Design: This was an observational study evaluating 36 amenorrheic and 30 eumenorrheic women.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels in patients with Turner syndrome.

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in neural development and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is known to circulate in plasma and its levels are strictly linked to the sex hormones.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the plasma BDNF concentration in patients with Turner syndrome (TS).

Decreased plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Introduction: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is a non organic, secondary amenorrhea related to gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatile secretion impairment. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family of survival-promoting molecules, plays an important role in the growth, development, maintenance and function of several neuronal systems.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was the evaluation of plasma BDNF concentrations in patients with the diagnosis of FHA.

Compensatory feto-placental upregulation of the nitric oxide system during fetal growth restriction.

Background: Fetal Growth Restriction is often associated with a feto-placental vascular dysfunction conceivably involving endothelial cells. Our study aimed to verify this pathogenic role for feto-placental endothelial cells and, coincidentally, demonstrate any abnormality in the nitric oxide system.

Methods: Prenatal assessment of feto-placental vascular function was combined with measurement of nitric oxide (in the form of S-nitrosohemoglobin) and its nitrite byproduct, and of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine.

Estrogen-like effects of wine extracts on nitric oxide synthesis in human endothelial cells.

Endothelial dysfunction frequently ensues during the climacteric due to hormonal and metabolic changes. Non-pharmacological interventions such as lifestyle and dietary modifications are emerging as valuable strategies to counteract the cardiovascular consequences of ageing. A number of chemical components of wine, including alcohol and some polyphenols, are known to be active on the vessels.

Female infertility related to thyroid autoimmunity: the ovarian follicle hypothesis.

Problem: The aim of this study was to verify whether anti-thyroid antibodies are present in the follicular milieu of euthyroid infertile women with thyroid autoimmunity undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and whether IVF outcome is different in affected women with respect to negative controls. A secondary endpoint was to check whether there are changes in thyroid hormone levels during the IVF cycle.

Method Of Study: Anti-thyroglobulin and anti-thyroperoxidase levels were measured in both follicular fluid and serum on the day of oocyte retrieval in women with thyroid autoimmunity.

Circulating levels of allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid, and leptin during treatment with valproic acid in children with epilepsy.

Weight gain is a well-known unwanted effect of valproic acid (VPA) therapy. Studies on VPA-associated changes of homeostatic hormones remain limited and controversial. Allopregnanolone (AP) is a circulating neuroactive steroid involved in modulation of behavioral activities whose serum levels are increased in obese children.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma variation during the different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is characterized by a cluster of psychological and somatic symptoms that begin during the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and disappear after the onset of menses. Since PMS might be caused by an alteration in the cyclical hormonal modifications and ovarian steroids are directly involved in the regulation of mood, affective and cognitive functions and influence neurotrophins expression, in particular the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), we aimed to evaluate whether plasma BDNF levels in women with PMS differ from those of normally menstruating women without PMS. Sixty-two women were divided into two groups: one group of women (n=35) with PMS and one group (n=27) composed by normally menstruating women.

Metformin administration restores allopregnanolone response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation in overweight hyperinsulinemic patients with PCOS.

Objective: To investigate the adrenal response in terms of allopregnanolone secretion in a group of hyperinsulinemic patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Controlled clinical study.

Setting: Patients with PCOS in a clinical research environment.

Paroxetine increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor in postmenopausal women.

Objective: Menopause is marked by a decline in ovarian function resulting in one or more climacteric symptoms. In the last few years, attention has been focused on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of vasomotor symptoms associated with the menopausal transition. Thanks to the recent findings on the interaction between the serotoninergic system and neurotrophins, it has been suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could contribute to the activity of SSRIs.

Selective effect of chlormadinone acetate on brain allopregnanolone and opioids content.

Background: Synthetic progestins may have different biological actions depending on the target tissue, the dose administered or the coadministration of an estrogen molecule. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroendocrine effect of chlormadinone acetate (CMA) administration, analyzing the brain content of allopregnanolone (ALLO), an endogenous neurosteroid gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist with anxiolytic properties, and the brain level of beta-endorphin (beta-END), an endogenous opioid implicated in pain mechanism, emotional state and autonomic control.

Study Design: Seven groups of Wistar ovariectomized (OVX) rats received one of the following treatments: oral CMA at a dose of 0.

Brain-region responsiveness to DT56a (Femarelle) administration on allopregnanolone and opioid content in ovariectomized rats.

Objective: The natural selective estrogen receptor modulator DT56a (Femarelle), derived from soybean, has been shown to relieve menopausal vasomotor symptoms with no effect on sex steroid hormone levels or endometrial thickness.The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the neuroendocrine effect of DT56a administration through the evaluation of brain content of allopregnanolone (AP), an endogenous neurosteroid gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist with anxiolytic properties, and through the assessment of beta-endorphin (beta-END), the endogenous opioid implicated in pain mechanism, emotional state, and autonomic control.

Methods: Five groups of Wistar ovariectomized (OVX) rats received one of the following treatments: oral DT56a administration at doses of 6, 12, 60, and 120 mg kg(-1) day(-1) or estradiol valerate (E2V) at a dose of 0.

Sex differences in brain and plasma beta-endorphin content following testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and estradiol administration to gonadectomized rats.

Aims: The present study aims at evaluating the effect of a 2-week treatment with testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate (E(2)V) on brain and plasma beta-endorphin (beta-END) concentrations in gonadectomized rats of both sexes.

Methods: Eight groups of female and 8 groups of male Wistar rats were included. For each sex, 1 group of gonad-intact and 1 group of gonadectomized rats were employed as controls (placebo).

Sexually dimorphic effects of testosterone administration on brain allopregnanolone in gonadectomized rats.

Introduction: Clinical and biological evidences have shown a wide range of neuroactive effects of testosterone administration.

Aim: Evaluation of the effects of 2-weeks treatment with testosterone (T), Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and estradiol valerate (E2V) on brain and serum allopregnanolone (AP) in gonadectomized rats of both sexes.

Main Outcome Measures: AP levels were measured in frontal and parietal lobe, hippocampus, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and in serum.

Follicular fluid VEGF levels directly correlate with perifollicular blood flow in normoresponder patients undergoing IVF.

Background: It has become increasingly clear that the follicular microenvironment of the maturing human oocyte is a determining factor for the implantation potential of an embryo deriving from that oocyte. Indeed the quality and maturity of an oocyte are influenced by the level of intrafollicular oxygen content which, in turn, is proportional to the degree of follicular vascularity. The aim of the study was to establish whether there is a relationship between follicular fluid VEGF concentrations, perifollicular vascularity and reproductive outcome in normal responders under the age of 35 undergoing IVF.

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor daily variations in men: correlation with cortisol circadian rhythm.

Expression and secretion of neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are regulated also by neuronal activity. Data available in the literature suggest that BDNF central levels are influenced by light and dark. Diurnal changes of BDNF mRNA and protein contents have been demonstrated in the rat central nervous system.

Effects of nomegestrol acetate administration on central and peripheral beta-endorphin and allopregnanolone in ovx rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nomegestrol acetate (NOMAc) on the central nervous system by analyzing the neurosteroid allopregnanolone and the opioid beta-endorphin (beta-endorphin). 104 Wistar female rats were used in this study; one group of fertile and one group of ovariectomized rats were used as control. The others were ovariectomized and they underwent a 2-week oral treatment of NOMAc (0.

One-year therapy with 10mg/day DHEA alone or in combination with HRT in postmenopausal women: effects on hormonal milieu.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects on hormonal milieu of 1-year therapy with 10 mg/day oral dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) or 50 microg transdermal estradiol plus 100 mg/day oral micronized progesterone in a group of 20 healthy postmenopausal women (age=50-58 and years since menopause (ysm)=1-6) and also the effects observed by combining these two therapies in a group of 12 postmenopausal women (age=54-61 and ysm=6-10) characterized by lower baseline DHEA and DHEAS levels (<2.40 and <0.55 microg/ml, respectively).

Dydrogesterone increases allopregnanolone in selected brain areas and in serum of female rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dydrogesterone (DYD), a synthetic progestin largely used in hormone therapy, on the central nervous system by studying two markers of the neuroendocrine function: the neurosteroid allopregnanolone and the opioid beta-endorphin.

Design: Experimental study on animal model.

Setting: Academic research environment.

Metformin administration is more effective when non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome show both hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disease that is frequently observed to be related to increased insulin resistance independent of body weight. The use of insulin-sensitizer compounds, such as metformin, permits great improvement of such metabolic abnormality, restoring ovarian function and gonadal steroid synthesis and reducing insulin resistance.

Aim: On this basis we aimed to evaluate a group of non-obese amenorrheic PCOS patients before and after 6 months of metformin administration (500 mg orally twice daily) to better understand upon which basis of clinical and endocrine parameters metformin administration might be chosen as a putative therapeutic tool.