Polycystic Ovary Syndrome — Androgen Metabolism and Reproductive Outcome
Citation(s)
Abbott DH, Barnett DK, Bruns CM, Dumesic DA Androgen excess fetal programming of female reproduction: a developmental aetiology for polycystic ovary syndrome? Hum Reprod Update. 2005 Jul-Aug;11(4):357-74. Review.
Anderson H, Fogel N, Grebe SK, Singh RJ, Taylor RL, Dunaif A Infants of women with polycystic ovary syndrome have lower cord blood androstenedione and estradiol levels. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 May;95(5):2180-6. doi: 10.1210/jc.2009-2651. Epub 2010 Mar 12.
Goodarzi MO, Guo X, Yildiz BO, Stanczyk FZ, Azziz R Correlation of adrenocorticotropin steroid levels between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and their sisters. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Apr;196(4):398.e1-5; discussion 398.e5-6.
van de Beek C, Thijssen JH, Cohen-Kettenis PT, van Goozen SH, Buitelaar JK Relationships between sex hormones assessed in amniotic fluid, and maternal and umbilical cord serum: what is the best source of information to investigate the effects of fetal hormonal exposure? Horm Behav. 2004 Dec;46(5):663-9.
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.
