Dysfunctional plasmalogen dynamics in the plasma and platelets of patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Based upon the concept of a prodromal risk syndrome for first psychosis, intense efforts are being applied to define potential biomarkers of disease onset in schizophrenia. One such tentative biomarker may be plasmalogens, complex structural glycerophospholipids that serve multiple functions in all cells.

Methods: To further investigate this possibility, we undertook a lipidomics analysis of choline and ethanolamine plasmalogens in the plasma and platelets of 23 patients with schizophrenia and 27 age-matched controls.

Implanon versus medroxyprogesterone acetate: effects on pain scores in patients with symptomatic endometriosis--a pilot study.

Background: Implanon has been reported to be effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. We compared the therapeutic efficacies of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and Implanon with regard to pain relief in women with endometriosis.

Study Design: In a clinical research center at a university hospital, 41 patients with dysmenorrhea, nonmenstrual pelvic pain and dyspareunia associated with histologically proven endometriosis were included in an open, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Interleukin-1 alpha but not interleukin-1 beta gene polymorphism is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Interleukin-1 (IL1) is a multifunctional cytokine and IL1-mediated inflammatory processes have been proposed to influence the processes of ovulation, fertilization and implantation. All these parameters are also affected in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study investigated the association of common polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 genes (IL1A and IL1B) with the occurrence and clinical characteristics of PCOS.

Impaired glucose tolerance is associated with changes in clinical and biochemical parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background: To characterize the phenotype of women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without impaired glucose tolerance by determining various polycystic ovary syndrome-associated clinical and laboratory parameters.

Methods: In a prospective clinical study, we evaluated a series of 102 Caucasian women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Women completed a detailed questionnaire and underwent a standardized oral glucose tolerance test.

A combination treatment of prednisone, aspirin, folate, and progesterone in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage: a matched-pair study.

Objective: To compare a combination treatment of prednisone, aspirin, folate, and progesterone with no treatment in women with idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (IRM).

Design: Matched-pair study.

Setting: Academic research institution.