MARSCHALEK Marie-Louise

Markers od Stress in Normal- and Overweight Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Controls: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common female ndocrinopathy affecting 5-10% of reproductive-aged women and is associated with an increased risk of psychological disorders including depression, anxiety, mental distress and impaired quality of life. The pathophysiological correlates remain unclear and there are conflicting results concerning the relationship between hormonal parameters and psychiatric distress. PCOS is often accompanied with obesity which is the case in up to 70%, which may play a role in the development of psychological disturbances, but then again anxiety has been observed to be more frequent in PCOS women with low weight.

Studies on stress have demonstrated an increased secretion of salivary stress biomarkers including cortisol, chromogranin A and free metanephrines as an objective measurement tool.

The primary study aim is to evaluate saliva stress markers (cortisol, chromogranin A, metanephrines) in PCOS women compared to healthy controls. The secondary study aim is to compare saliva stress markers (cortisol, chromogranin A,  metanephrines) between normal and overweight women with PCOS. Further we aim to compare PCOS-typical hormonal parameters*, results of glucose metabolism testing** and the overall quality of life measured by SF-36, as well as sychological disturbances measured by SCL-90 between overweight (body mass index, BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and normalweight women (BMI <25 kg/m2) with PCOS and controls.

*Total and free testosterone, the free androgene index [FAI] calculated as 100 x [total testosterone/sex hormone binding globuline], androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate [DHEAS], the LH:FSH-ratio as well as anti-Mullerian hormone [AMH]
**Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-index) and oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]

Methods and Skills:

Clinical studies; saliva stress markers

Publications:

Marschalek J, Farr A, Kiss H, Hagmann M, Göbl CS, Trofaier ML, Kueronya V, Petricevic L. Risk of Vaginal Infections at Early Gestation in Patients with Diabetic Conditions during Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study. PLoS One 11: e015518, 2016

Trofaier ML, Schneidinger C, Marschalek J, Hanzal E, Umek W. Pelvic floor symptoms in female cyclists and possible remedies: a narrative review. Int Urogynecol J 27: 513-519, 2016

Marschalek J, Trofaier ML, Yerlikaya G, Hanzal E, Koelbl H, Ott J, Umek W. Anatomic outcomes after pelvic-organ-prolapse surgery: comparing uterine preservation with hysterectomy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 183: 33-36, 2014

Wagner G, Penelo E, Nobis G, Mayrhofer A, Wanner C, Schau J, Spitzer M, Gwinner P, Trofaier ML, Imgart H, Fernandez-Aranda F, Karwautz A. Predictors for good therapeutic outcome and drop-out in technology assisted guided self-help in the treatment of bulimia nervosa and bulimia like phenotype. Eur Eat Disord Rev 23: 163-169, 2015

Wagner G, Penelo E, Wanner C, Gwinner P, Trofaier ML, Imgart H, Waldherr K, Wöber-Bingöl C, Karwautz AF. Internet-delivered cognitive-behavioural therapy v. conventional guided self-help for bulimia nervosa: long-term evaluation of a randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 202: 135-141, 2013