Metformin effect on internal carotid artery blood flow assessed by area under the curve of carotid artery Doppler in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

BACKGROUND Insulin resistance(IR)was reported in most polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS)cases.Metformin,a biguanide drug,successfully reduced IR.Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR(HOMA-IR)and Doppler parameters assessed metformin's effectiveness.AIM To verify whether the area under the curve of the internal carotid artery(AUC-ICA)Doppler wave can be a useful marker for assessing IR among PCOS cases who presented with menstrual irregularity and were treated with metformin over 6 mo.METHODS An observational,cross-sectional study recruited 54 eligible PCOS women;the anthropometrics were as follows:age,body mass index(BMI),menstrual cycle days,biochemical serum cholesterol,low and high-density lipoprotein,sex hormone-binding globulin,fasting blood glucose,and HOMA-IR,hormonal testosterone,luteinizing hormone over follicle-stimulating hormone ratio,and ultrasonic pulsatility index(PI)and resistance index(RI),carotid artery intima-media thickness(CIMT)and(AUC-ICA)parameters were initially recorded and repeated 3 mo and 6 mo later with metformin tab 500 mg;three times/day for 6 mo.In addition,AUC-ICA was assessed by taking repeated systolic and diastolic wave height measurements.RESULTS Metformin caused a progressive reduction in BMI,menstrual cycle days,biochemical hormonal,and Doppler parameters(CIMT,PI,RI,and AUC-ICA).AUC-ICA correlated strongly to all PCOS parameters.AUC-ICA correlated inversely with treatment time(r=-0.98,P<0.001)and positively with HOMA-IR(r=0.98,P<0.0001).Via the best subset regression model,the AUC-ICA had the highest predictive value for HOMA-IR.CONCLUSION AUC-ICA preceded PI,RI,and CIMT with a strong,meaningful correlation to all PCOS parameters,making it a reliable marker for the assessment of IR,especially during metformin therapy.Further studies are recommended to promote the application in practice.

Omicron targets upper airways in pediatrics,elderly and unvaccinated population

Omicron,a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 variant,has spread around the globe,causing dramatic increases in infection rates.Viral mutant antigens were responsible for the strong infectivity,fast replication,and high reinfection rates reported from all ages.Omicron causes clinical symptoms mostly related to the upper respiratory tract with minimal symptoms from the lower respiratory tract besides an urgent presentation of cases that resembled a fatal illness,epiglottitis.Not to mention the long coronavirus disease 2019,which rises exponentially in the Omicrons era.Apparently,the disease has a less aggressive course than earlier variants with lower death rates;however,the infection is not trivial.Severe infection was raised among pediatrics,unvaccinated,and the elderly.Complete vaccine protection is urgently needed to protect the most vulnerable community members.Additionally,self-protective strategies such as wearing a mask and safe social distancing cannot be omitted.