Biomedical subjects

Ruijin Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Ruijin Wu.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

4: Polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterised by menstrual abnormalities and clinical or biochemical features of hyperandrogenism. Features of PCOS may manifest at any age, ranging from childhood (premature puberty), teenage years (hirsutism, menstrual abnormalities), early adulthood and middle life (infertility, glucose intolerance) to later life (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease). While pelvic ultrasound examination is useful, many women without PCOS have polycystic ovaries; ultrasound evidence is not necessary for the diagnosis. Testing for glucose intolerance and hyperlipidaemia is wise, especially in obese women, as diabetes mellitus is common in PCOS. Lifestyle changes as recommended in diabetes are fundamental for treatment; addition of insulin-sensitising agents (eg, metformin) may be valuable in circumstances such as anovulatory infertility. Infertility can be treated successfully in most women by diet and exercise, clomiphene citrate with or without metformin, ovarian drilling, or ovulation induction with gonadotrophins; in-vitro fertilisation should be avoided unless there are other indications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The potential danger of COX-2 inhibitors.

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors have a major effect on ovulation and may impair fertilization, decidualization, implantation, and parturition, as well as female fertility. Women attempting to become pregnant need to pay more attention to their use of COX-2 inhibitors.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Macrophage contributions to ovarian function.

Macrophages are multifunctional cells that play key roles in the immune response and are abundant throughout female reproductive tissues. Macrophages are identified in tissues by their expression of cell surface receptors and can execute diverse functional activities, including phagocytosis and degradation of foreign antigens, matrix dissolution and tissue remodelling, and production and secretion of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Their specific localization and variations in distribution in the ovary during different stages of the cycle, as well as their presence in peri-ovulatory human follicular fluid, suggest that macrophages play diverse roles in intra-ovarian events including folliculogenesis, tissue restructuring at ovulation and corpus luteum formation and regression. This review presents the existing evidence for the regulation of ovarian function by macrophages and macrophage-derived products, highlighting the implications of these cells in ovarian diseases, particularly polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis and premature ovarian failure.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improving reproductive performance in overweight/obese women with effective weight management.

Obesity and overweight are common conditions in the developed countries and they carry many health consequences, including some reproductive disorders. There is a very high prevalence of obese women in the infertile population and many studies have highlighted the link between obesity and infertility. A large proportion of infertile women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is also linked with increased risk of obesity and other metabolic anomalies. The association between obesity and/or PCOS and hyperinsulinaemia, hyper androgenism and abnormal secretion of other hormones, such as leptin, underlies many reproductive disorders observed in this population. It has been demonstrated that weight loss can improve the fertility of obese women through the recovery of spontaneous ovulation, whereas others will have improved response to ovarian stimulation in infertility treatment. Therefore, it is proposed that following the initial assessment of infertility and body mass index or other measurement of obesity, various weight management interventions, including diet, exercise or pharmacotherapeutic approaches, should be considered for overweight and obese infertile women.

Female↗