Public Health System's Preparedness to Address Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Rapid Assessment Survey of Health-care Providers in India.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders largely affecting women of reproductive age group.

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the Indian public health-care systems' preparedness in addressing PCOS.

Materials And Methods: A multicentric rapid assessment cross-sectional study was undertaken among 173 health-care providers serving across various public health-care facilities in India.

Prevalence, Regional Variations, and Predictors of Overweight, Obesity, and Hypertension Among Healthy Reproductive-Age Indian Women: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Task Force Study.

Background: A clear understanding of the anthropometric and sociodemographic risk factors related to BMI and hypertension categories is essential for more effective disease prevention, particularly in India. There is a paucity of nationally representative data on the dynamics of these risk factors, which have not been assessed among healthy reproductive-age Indian women.

Objective: This cross-sectional polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) task force study aimed to assess the anthropometric and sociodemographic characteristics of healthy reproductive-age Indian women and explore the association of these characteristics with various noncommunicable diseases.

Normative range of various serum hormonal parameters among Indian women of reproductive age: ICMR-PCOS task force study outcome.

Background: The hormonal profile varies considerably with age, gender, ethnicity, diet or physiological state of an individual. Limited population-specific studies have studied the variations in hormonal parameters among apparently healthy women. We aimed to analyse the biological reference interval for various hormonal parameters in the reproductive-aged healthy Indian women.

Variation in normative values of major clinical biochemistry analytes in healthy reproductive-age women in India: A subset of data from a National Indian Council of Medical Research-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome task force study.

Objectives: Clinical biochemistry reference intervals (RIs) play a crucial role in interpreting patient test results and making informed clinical decisions. Using data from an ongoing Indian Council of Medical Research-National task force study on healthy women, normative ranges for commonly analyzed biochemical analytes were established.

Materials And Methods: A.

Evaluation of the Prevalence, Regional Phenotypic Variation, Comorbidities, Risk Factors, and Variations in Response to Different Therapeutic Modalities Among Indian Women: Proposal for the Indian Council of Medical Research-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (ICMR-PCOS) Study.

Background: There is scanty data in India on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) from several small, undersized, convenience-based studies employing differing diagnostic criteria and reporting varied regional prevalence. It is difficult to draw clear-cut conclusions from these studies; therefore, the present multicentric, well-designed, large-scale representative countrywide epidemiological study on PCOS across India was conceived with the aim to generate the actual prevalence rates of PCOS in India with a total sample size of approximately 9000 individuals.

Objective: The primary objectives of the study are to estimate the national prevalence of PCOS in India and the burden of comorbidities and to compare the variation in efficacy of standard therapeutic modalities for metabolic dysfunction in women with PCOS.

Lifestyle intervention programme for Indian women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention (diet and physical activity) among women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), delivered by trained facilitators.

Methods: Fifty-six normoglycaemic or prediabetic women with prior GDM were recruited at mean of 17 months postpartum. Socio-demographic, medical and anthropometric data were collected.

Investigation of Toll-Like Receptor-2 (2258G/A) and Interferon Gamma (+874T/A) Gene Polymorphisms among Infertile Women with Female Genital Tuberculosis.

Background: Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) coordinate with a diverse array of cellular programs through the transcriptional regulation of immunologically relevant genes and play an important role in immune system, reproductive physiology and basic pathology. Alterations in the functions of TLR2 2258G (guanine)/ A, IFN-γ (+874T/A) and signalling molecules that result from polymorphisms are often associated with susceptibility or resistance, which may, in turn, establish the innate host response to various infectious diseases. Presently, we proposed to investigate the risk of common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of TLR2 and IFN-γ genes, for their effect on infertility in women with female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) and healthy women as controls.

Use of endo-ovarian tissue biopsy and pelvic aspirated fluid for the diagnosis of female genital tuberculosis by conventional versus molecular methods.

Background: Til date, none of the diagnostic techniques available for the detection of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) are 100% accurate. We therefore, proposed to use the endometrial tissue biopsies (ETBs), ovarian tissue biopsies (OTBs) and pelvic aspirated fluids (PAFs) for the diagnosis of FGTB among infertile women by conventional versus molecular methods.

Methodology/principal Findings: A total of 302 specimens were collected both from 202 infertile women highly suspected of having FGTB on laparoscopy examination and 100 control women of reproductive age.

Association of VEGF +405G>C polymorphism with endometriosis.

The present study was designed to explore the association between the SNP +405G>C of the VEGF gene with the risk of endometriosis, and endometriosis associated with adenomyosis and chocolate cysts. Following extraction of genomic DNA, genotyping of the +405 G>C polymorphisms of the VEGF gene was performed by PCR - RFLP analysis. The genotype (X2 =21.

DNA fragmentation and cell cycle arrest: a hallmark of apoptosis induced by crocin from kashmiri saffron in a human pancreatic cancer cell line.

Background: Apoptosis, a widely important mechanism that contributes to cell growth reduction, is reported to be induced by Crocus sativus in different cancer types. The present study was designed to elucidate apoptosis induction by crocin, a main component of Crocus sativus in a human pancreatic cancer cell line (BxPC-3).

Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, Hoechest33258 staining was used to detect the chromatin condensation characteristic of apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation was assessed by gel electrophoresis and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry.

Genetic contribution of the interferon gamma dinucleotide-repeat polymorphism in South Indian women with endometriosis.

Aim: To investigate whether the interferon-gamma (IFNG) gene dinucleotide (CA)-repeat polymorphism is responsible in part for genetic susceptibility to endometriosis in South Indian women.

Methods: Following extraction of genomic DNA, genotyping of interferon-gamma CA-repeat polymorphism was performed using genescan technology.

Results: The global IFNG allele frequencies in all patients with endometriosis were significantly different from those in the control women (chi(2) = 37.

Possible aggravating impact of gene polymorphism in women with endometriosis.

Background & Objective: Endometriosis is one of the most commonly encountered benign problems in gynaecology. It is frequently associated with chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia and dyspareunia, which lead to infertility. To determine the possible association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and GSTM1 null (*0/*0) mutation and their possible impact in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Mutational analysis of inhibin alpha gene revealed three novel variations in Indian women with premature ovarian failure.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of inhibin alpha gene variants in Indian women with premature ovarian failure.

Design: Mutational analysis of DNA from patients and control subjects.

Setting: Clinical genetics and molecular cytogenetic laboratory.

High plasma concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and phthalate esters in women with endometriosis: a prospective case control study.

The objective of this study was to detect the probable association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phthalate esters (PEs), and the occurrence of endometriosis in a prospective case control study. We found that PCBs and PEs may be instrumental in the etiology of endometriosis.

Molecular screening of unculturable bacteria present in men with reproductive failure.

To determine the presence of unculturable bacteria using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in infertile men with pyosperrmia. Perspective clinical study. The study took place at the Department of Reproductive Medicine, Owaisi Hospital and Research Center; In vitro Fertilization Unit, Mahavir Hospital and Research Center; Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology; and Bharat Biotech Foundation, Hyderabad, India.

Genotoxic evaluation of welders occupationally exposed to chromium and nickel using the Comet and micronucleus assays.

Chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) are widely used industrial chemicals. Welders in India are inclined to possible occupational Cr and Ni exposure. The carcinogenic potential of metals is a major issue in defining human health risk from exposure.

Semen quality of Indian welders occupationally exposed to nickel and chromium.

The semen quality of 57 workers from a welding plant in South India and 57 controls was monitored. Blood nickel and chromium concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. Analysis of semen samples was performed in accordance with World Health Organization criteria.

DNA damage in workers exposed to lead using comet assay.

Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous and toxic metal. Secondary Pb recovery unit workers are prone to possible occupational Pb exposure. Hence, this investigation was conducted to assess the genotoxic effect of Pb exposure in these workers.

Role of environmental estrogens in the deterioration of male factor fertility.

Objective: To evaluate the role of the environmental estrogens polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and phthalate esters (PEs) as potential environmental hazards in the deterioration of semen parameters in infertile men without an obvious etiology.

Design: Randomized controlled study.

Setting: Tertiary care referral infertility clinic and academic research center.