Premenstrual Period Research Articles

Endometriosis of the uterine cervix: about a case

This study reports the case of a 46-year old multiparous patient with no particular past medical history, who had given birth vaginally twice, presenting with abnormal isolated inter-menstrual bleeding with well-defined bluish cyst at the level of the anterior labia of the cervix, measuring 4mm in diameter on speculum examination. Pelvic ultrasound showed adenomyosis. A biopsy of the lesion was performed, which showed dark brown chocolate colour liquid. Histological study objectified endometrium embedded under the epithelium, suggesting endometriosis of the uterine cervix. Endometriosis of the uterine cervix can involve the endocervix and the ectocervix. Primary endometriosis of the uterine cervix can develop in the cervix while secondary endometriosis can result from neighboring endometriosis. Trauma is the main cause of these lesions. The de-epithelialization caused by trauma would allow for endometrial transplantation during menstruation. Endometriosis of the uterine cervix is usually asymptomatic. It is usually discovered during a careful systematic examination of the uterine cervix. Rarely, it manifests as minimal, spontaneous metrorrhagias in the premenstrual period. Sometimes, metrorrhagias occur during menstruations and are persistent or are caused by sexual intercourses. Isolated endometriosis of the uterine cervix never causes pain. The treatment of this benign condition is based on the destruction or removal of the endometriosis foci. Diathermocoagulation is the most used procedure.

Premenstrual syndrome as a risk factor for relapse in GHB dependent patients: a case series

ABSTRACT Background: We present three women with gamm a- Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) dependence who lose control over their GHB consumption during the premenstrual period. During the late luteal phase, they relapsed into GHB use, but returned to abstinence at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. Methods: During inpatient detox they did not relapsed to GHB but they had high craving during each cycle We have measured these in two cycles. The severity of premenstrual complaints appears to be associated with GHB craving. Results: These cases illustrate that substance use may be related to the symptoms of premenstrual disorders. Conclusion: Therefore, addiction medicine specialists, family physicians and gynecologists should be aware of this possible relationship. Unfortunately, at present there are no guidelines for the treatment of this co-occurring disorder, however we provide some suggestions regarding how to reduce the risk of relapse in the late luteal phase.

Optimization of treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis

The purposeof the study was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment of recurrent drug Orungamin depending on the time of occurrence of relapse.Material and methods.62 women with recurrent candida vulvovaginit is were examined and treated. The mean age of the patients was 35.6 ± 0.7 years. The main group consisted of 32 patients who in the premenstrual period 5 days before the expected date of menstruation were prescribed Orungamin 1 capsule (100 mg) twice a day (200 mg) for 3 days during three consecutive menstrual cycles. The comparison group included women receiving Orungamin three consecutive cycle 3 day 1 capsule (100 mg) 2 times a day, without regard to days of the menstrual cycle.Results.Therapy with Orungamin 100 mg twice a day during the premenstrual period not only helped to increase the effectiveness of the treatment of relapses, but also the quality of life of patients.

Hormonal influence on periodontal tissues during premenstrual and preovulatory periods

The fluctuations in female sex hormones have been shown to affect periodontal health. Sex steroid hormonal levels may lead to increase blood volume, flow rate and vascular permeability in young females. During the menstrual cycle, clinically healthy females demonstrate different periodontal condition. Thus the aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of hormonal variation on periodontal tissues during premenstrual and preovulatory periods. Materials and Methods: The sample was composed of 100 women in the reproductive period of 18-35 years. Periodontal parameters i.e bleeding on probing (BOP) and probing depth (PD) were evaluated using calibrated UNC 15 periodontal probe at two different time points, i.e. premenstrual (PM) and preovulatory (PO) periods. Results: The obtained data was analysed by using t-test. The premenstrual period obtained greater BOP {(0.51+0.11) versus (0.37+0.08)} and PD {(1.82+0.04) versus (1.79+0.04)} when compared with preovulatory period, showing a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: Hormonal changes which occur in the women’s reproductive period influence periodontal tissues, and in the premenstrual period, there is more susceptibility to gingival inflammation and periodontal disease. Keywords: Gingival status, Female sex hormones, Pre-menstrual and Pre-ovulatory periods.

Effect of hormonal changes on the neurological status in the menstrual cycle of patient with multiple sclerosis

ObjectivesPremenstrual worsening has been often complained by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is no quantitative study in the literature regarding premenstrual worsening and there are only a few studies for its reasons. In diseases such as MS, which there are limited evidence about the etiology and the triggers, detection of the variables in menstrual period, which is defined relatively easy, has a great potential to shed light to the disease. In the present study, we aimed to detect whether there was a deterioration in premenstrual period of patients with MS and to measure the observed deterioration and the relationships between demographics, physical and hormonal variables. Patients and methodsThis study included 44 patients with MS, who were diagnosed according to McDonald criteria, and 14 healthy controls. For two consecutive cycles, cases were evaluated on the basis of neurological functions in the premenstrual and ovulation phases. In each examination, blood samples were obtained for detection of the levels of sex hormones (FSH, LH, E2, Progesterone). In the first and the fourth examinations, we applied Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC). ResultsPatients with MS showed poor performance in all used measurements than the healthy controls. Premenstrual period was worse based on cognitive aspects than the ovulation period in both MS patients and healthy controls. This was more evident in patients with MS. Patients treated with immunomodulatory agents had better cognitive performance than those were not given these agents. ConclusionIn our study, the patients with MS were found to be worse in cognition, and physical performance when compared with the healthy group. In premenstrual period, cognitive functions, and physical performance deteriorated in patients with MS. Healthy people seemed to be deteriorated on cognition measured with Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test.

Pelvic floor dysfunctions in female cheerleaders: a cross-sectional study.

Cheerleaders perform high-impact maneuvers that can be associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. We hypothesized that female cheerleaders would report more symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and fewer symptoms of premenstrual syndrome than nonathletic women. This cross-sectional study included high-performance female cheerleaders and young nonathletic, nulliparous, and normal-weight females. Demographics, sports practices, and pelvic floor dysfunction data were collected through an electronic questionnaire. Urinary symptoms were collected through the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and King's Health Questionnaire. Intestinal symptoms were collected through the use of Criterion F of item C3, referring to functional constipation of Rome III and Fecal Incontinence Severity Index. Data on sexual function were collected through the Female Sexual Function Index. Data on pelvic organ prolapse were obtained through the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS). In addition, questions about premenstrual syndrome-dysmenorrhea, irritability, headache, tiredness, fluid retention, and constipation-were collected through the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire. The comparison between groups of the quantitative variables was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for comparison between groups on the occurrence of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction symptoms. A significance level of 5% was adopted. A total of 156 women (78 cheerleaders and 76 nonathletes) completed the electronic questionnaire. Anal incontinence was the most prevalent symptom of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Cheerleaders were 2.3 times more likely to report symptoms regarding anal incontinence than nonathletic women. For the other symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, no statistical differences between the groups were found. Cheerleaders reported fewer symptoms of tiredness and constipation during the premenstrual period than did nonathletic women. Pelvic floor dysfunction, particularly anal incontinence, appears to be more prevalent among cheerleaders than among nonathletic women. In addition, cheerleaders demonstrated fewer symptoms of tiredness and constipation during the premenstrual period.

Botulinum Toxin a Valuable Prophylactic Agent for Migraines and a Possible Future Option for the Prevention of Hormonal Variations-Triggered Migraines.

Background: In 1989, Botulinum toxin (BoNT) was accepted by the FDA for the management of some ophthalmic disorders. Although it was initially considered a lethal toxin, in recent times, Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A), which is the more used serotype, has expanded to cover different clinical conditions, primarily characterized by neuropathic pain, including migraines and headaches. Evidence suggests that migraines are influenced by hormonal factors, particularly by estrogen levels, but very few studies have investigated the prevalence and management strategies for migraines according to the hormonal status. The effects of several therapeutic regimens on migraines have been investigated, but the medications used varied widely in proven efficacies and mechanisms of action. BoNT-A is increasingly used in the management of migraine and several placebo-controlled trials of episodic and chronic migraine are currently underway. This paper is a review of the recently published data concerning the administration of BoNT-A in the prevention of chronic migraines. Considering the lack of population-based studies about the effectiveness of BoNT-A in the alleviation of premenstrual and perimenopausal migraines, this study proposes a new perspective of the therapeutic approach of migraine syndrome associated with menopausal transition and the premenstrual period. Methods: We selected the reviewed papers from CrossRef, PubMed, Medline, and GoogleScholar, and a total of 21 studies met our inclusion criteria. Results: To date, no specific preventive measures have been recommended for menopausal women with migraines. BoNT-A often reduces the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks per month; the treatment is well tolerated and does not exhibit a significantly higher rate of treatment-related side effects. No population-based studies were conducted in order to highlight the role of BoNT-A in menopause-related migraines, neither in menstrual migraines. Conclusion: There is a need for further research in order to quantify the real burden of menstrual and perimenopausal migraines and to clarify if BoNT-A could be used in the treatment of refractory postmenopausal and premenstrual migraines.

Poor sleep and emotion dysregulation mediate the association between depressive and premenstrual symptoms in young adult women.

A large portion of reproductive-aged women report experiencing distressing premenstrual symptoms. These symptoms can be exacerbated by concurrent mood problems and contribute to long-term depressive risk. However, difficulty sleeping and regulating emotional responses are also associated with the premenstrual phase and represent additional, well-established risk factors for depression. The aim of this study was to investigate whether habitual sleep problems and emotion regulation strategies serve to mediate the relationship between mood and premenstrual symptoms in non-treatment-seeking young women. Participants included 265 adult women between the ages of 18 and 25 who provided retrospective self-reports of depressive symptoms, habitual sleep quality, and premenstrual symptoms for the past month. Trait-based difficulties in regulating emotions were also assessed. Greater depressive symptoms significantly predicted greater premenstrual symptoms and both poor sleep and ineffective emotion regulation were shown to mediate this relationship. Poor sleep may enhance experience of premenstrual symptoms via its well-established impact on physical, cognitive, and/or affective functioning. Similarly, an inability to effectively regulate emotional responses in general may exacerbate experience or perception of somatic and mood symptoms during the premenstrual period, contributing to mood disturbances and risk. Findings require replication in future studies using prospective designs and more diverse samples of women.

Anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like effects of Montanoa tomentosa (Asteraceae): Dependence on the endocrine condition

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMontanoa tomentosa Cerv. (MT) is a native plant from Mexico used in traditional medicine as a remedy for reproductive impairments and relaxing effects. In previous studies, it has been shown that the endocrine state could modify the antianxiety-like actions of anxiolytic compounds. Although women are the primary user of MT, no studies have evaluated the potential impact of the endocrine milieu on its anti-anxiety actions.Aims of the study:Ascertain the antianxiety effects of M. tomentosa in rats with different hormonal conditions, and to analyze the participation of the GABAA receptor in ovariectomized rats treated with MT. Materials and methodsThe animal model of anxiety used was the elevated plus-maze (EPM). Rats’ endocrine conditions were: a) Low hormone levels (rats in diestrus I and II phases); b) High hormone levels (proestrus/estrus phases); c) No hormones (ovariectomized rats); and d) Rats under progesterone withdrawal (PW). To evaluate the participation of the GABAA receptor in the anxiolytic-like action of MT the antagonist picrotoxin was used. ResultsResults showed that MT induced dose-dependent anxiolytic-like actions in rats with low hormone level conditions. Also, MT reduced anxiety-like behavior in female rats under PW, in contrast to diazepam which was ineffective. MT's anxiolytic-like effect was blocked by picrotoxin, suggesting the participation of the GABAA receptor complex. However, increased anxiety-like behavior was observed in rats with a high hormone level condition and low doses of MT. ConclusionsBeneficial anxiolytic-like actions of MT are observed under low hormone conditions, particularly in the PW challenge (a condition that can be related to a premenstrual period). Furthermore, the participation of the GABAA receptor is evidenced. However, hormonal variations could induce the opposite effects, hence women should be cautious.

Short-term, low-dose fluoxetine prevents oestrous cycle-linked increase in anxiety-like behaviour in female rats.

We sought a robust behavioural test that evoked increased anxiety-like behaviour during the late dioestrus phase of the oestrous cycle (similar to the premenstrual period in women) and tested whether this could be prevented by acute low-dose fluoxetine (FLX). Female Wistar rats in different stages of their cycle were exposed to four different tests of anxiety-like behaviour. No oestrous cycle differences were detected in fear potentiated startle or conditioned freezing to an aversive context. In a light switch-off test where rats move from one compartment of a shuttle-box to the other to turn off an aversive light, females displayed enhanced responding in late dioestrus. During isolation restraint stress females in late dioestrus emitted three times more 22 kHz ultrasound vocalisations (USV) than at other cycle stages. Using the USV test, short-term administration of low-dose FLX (1.75 mg kg-1, i.p.) designed to blunt the sharp fall in brain allopregnanolone concentration during late dioestrus but without affecting 5-HT systems, prevented the increase in isolation stress-evoked USVs. The light switch-off and isolation restraint-induced USV tests evoke unconditioned adverse emotional responses that are ethologically relevant and sensitive to oestrous cycle stage. The USV test fulfils many criteria required of a model for premenstrual syndrome in women. Using the USV test, short-term administration of FLX to increase brain allopregnanolone concentration without affecting 5-HT systems prevented the increased USV responding in late dioestrus. Short-term low-dose FLX treatment may have potential to alleviate development of adverse premenstrual symptoms in women.

A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain: Scar Endometriosis.

Introduction Scar endometriosis (SE) is a rare pathology that develops in the scar tissue formed on the anterior abdominal wall usually after a cesarean section. There have been instances of women presenting to emergency or general surgery clinics with abdominal pain due to SE. Materials and Methods This study retrospectively reviews 19 patients who were operated on in our clinic between January 2010 and January 2017 with a prediagnosis of SE and were reported to have SE based on their pathology results. Results The mean age of the patients was 30.8 years (range: 20-49 years). The body mass indexes of 12 (63.2%) patients were ≥ 25. All patients had a history of cesarean section and 9 (47.4%) patients had undergone cesarean section once. With the exception of one patient who had her SE localized in her inguinal region, all patients had a mass localized on their anterior abdominal wall neighboring the incision and complained about cyclic pain starting in their premenstrual periods. The complaints began 2 years after their cesarean section in 10 (52.6%) patients. Mostly abdominal ultrasonography was used for diagnostic purposes. The lesions were totally excised and the SE diagnosis was made through a histopathological examination in all patients. No postoperative complications or recurrences were seen in any of the patients. Conclusion Suspicion of SE is essential in women of reproductive age who have a history of cesarean section and complaints of an anterior abdominal wall mass and a pain at the scar site that is associated with their menstrual cycle. An accurate and early diagnosis can be established in such patients through a careful history and a good physical examination and possible morbidities can be prevented with an appropriate surgical intervention.

Varicocèles, varices pelviennes et syndrome de congestion pelvienne : place de la radiologie interventionnelle

Genital venous insufficiency in men is usually of constitutional origin due to valvular incontinence. Genital venous insufficiency in female is more often generated by major, lasting, and possibly repeated pregnancy-related hyperpressure phenomena. Genital venous insufficiency in men is usually expressed by visible and recognizable peritesticular varicocele. Of simple anatomic structure, it is easily accessible to endovascular treatment by embolization, which is the first-line therapy nowadays. Genital venous insufficiency in women results in a pelvic predominant varicosis, which should be evoked in case of chronic pelvic pain or atypical venous afferents to the lower limbs. Precise and guided interrogation and clinical examination allow the attending physician to be the first actor in the detection of symptomatic pelvis venous insufficiency in men and women. A chronic pelvic pain in female should evoke a pelvic congestion syndrome, symptomatic translation of pelvic varicosis, especially if it increases at the end of the day, at the effort, in pre-menstrual period. Treatment with endovascular embolization is the only therapeutic option for female pelvic venous insufficiency, of complex architecture and deep anatomical situation. The interventional radiologist offers a complete, minimally invasive and efficient treatment with limited hospital costs and perioperative constraints.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorders in women of Russian Federation and risk factors for their development. Epidemiological study of1,326 women

The epidemiology of premenstrual dysphoric disorders (PMDD) and the risk factors for PMDD in women of the Russian Federation are still not fully resolved. Objective: to assess the prevalence of PMDD among women in the Russian Federation and to identify risk factors for PMDD. Materials and methods. An anonymous questioning using the questionnaire was carried out by 1326 women of the reproductive period of different regions of the Russian Federation: Moscow (880), Ural (150), Rostov (146) and Novosibirsk (150) regions. Inclusion criteria were: age of 15-45 years, regular menstrual cycle of 25-35 days, lack of psychiatric diagnoses in history. The results. It was found that 15.6 % of Russian women meet the criteria for PMDD. The primary age of the first appearance of PMDD symptoms is 15-19 years. The statistically significant risks of developing PMDD are ages 15-24 years, education at a higher education institution, lack of regular sexual life, history of neurocirculatory dystonia, complication of heredity in neuropsychiatric diseases and premenstrual syndrome, painful periods and complications in childbirth or abortion. Conclusions: the high prevalence of PMDD (15.6 %) in young women of the reproductive period, the presence of psychosocial and biological risk factors for PMDD requires the development of a modified tool for the early diagnosis of PMDD for general practitioners, obstetrician gynecologists, and psychiatrists.

Comparison of perceived stress and cardiovascular reactivity during different phases of menstrual cycle

Background: Premenstrual syndrome is associated with many physical, psychological, and behavioral changes. Premenstrual symptoms have been associated with perceived stress and perceived stress is the strongest predictor of premenstrual syndrome. Aim and Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the premenstrual stress and cardiovascular reactivity during different phases of menstrual cycle in the age group of 18–22 years. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 healthy female volunteers of the age group of 18–22 years selected. The resting blood pressure (BP) and perceived stress with the help of Cohen’s perceived stress scale were recorded. The cardiovascular reactivity during different phases of menstrual cycle was recorded with the help of cold pressor test and postural challenge test. Results: The study revealed that significant increase was observed in perceived stress, pulse rate, and resting BP, during premenstrual period as compared to postmenstrual period. BP also showed significant increase during cold pressor tests and postural challenge test during premenstrual period as compared to postmenstrual period. Conclusions: According to this study, perceived stress and cardiovascular reactivity are highest during premenstrual phase as compared to postmenstrual phase. It may be due to the increased level of progesterone and estrogen in premenstrual phase. It is not clear how stress may contribute to increased premenstrual symptom severity, although stress-induced changes in ovarian hormone levels and neurotransmitters may be involved. This correlates to the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome which has hormonal and neural basis.

Effectiveness of Raja Yoga Meditation on Depression, Anxiety and Stress in Females with Premenstrual Syndrome

The current study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of Raja Yoga Meditation on depression, anxiety and stress in females with premenstrual syndrome. In the present study, a total of 8 participants were recruited and the participants served as self-controls. After recording the baseline values in premenstrual period (7 days before menstruation) of menstrual cycle, participants were trained Raja yoga meditation for a week days and then they have practiced for once in a day for six days in a week for 8 weeks under the supervision of a trainer. Post-intervention values were recorded after 8 weeks during premenstrual period. The following criteria were used in the selection of the participants. Results were presented in table no 1 and 2. Table no 1 present's demographic data of the participants and table no 2 present's depression, anxiety and stress scores before and after the intervention. There was a significant decrease in the scores of depression, anxiety and stress followed by the meditation (P<0.05). The study provides further evidence for the beneficial effects of practicing Raja yoga meditation in the management of stress. We recommend detailed studies in this area with more parameters and also recommend practicing the meditation in the regular life style.

Gingival Inflammation in 2 Phases of Menstrual Cycle and its Relation to Oral Hygiene of Female Dentistry Students

Aims and Objectives: Hormonal changes in women that occur in the menstrual cycle is one of the systemic factors that causes gingivitis, namely the menstruation gingivitis. Women with this condition will experience the same signs and symptoms as gingivitis in general. This study observed the description of the occurrence of gingivitis as well as its correlation to the level of dental and oral hygiene at female dental students, in which they have knowledge about how to keep dental and oral hygiene properly. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile of the occurrence of gingivitis as well as its correlation to the level of oral hygiene in female students of dentistry program. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study with 318 samples, which were divided into three groups according to the menstrual cycle. Gingivitis examination was performed with the gingival index and oral hygiene examination with Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified. The statistical analysis was carried out for this study using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17 software. Results: In the premenstrual period group, 94.3% had good oral hygiene and 24.5% had gingivitis. In the menstrual period group, 88.7% had good oral hygiene and 4.7% experienced gingivitis. In the postmenstrual period group, 88.7% had good oral hygiene and 100% of the samples had normal gingiva without inflammation. Conclusion: Menstruation gingivitis occurs higher in the premenstrual period (proliferative phase) although with good oral hygiene conditions.

Do Food Intake and Food Cravings Change during the Menstrual Cycle of Young Women?

The aim of the present study was to assess the anthropometric measures, food intake and food cravings during the menstrual cycle of undergraduate students of the faculty of nutrition. A cross-sectional study was performed with 27 students from a public university in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, who had their food intake evaluated through a 24-hour food recall, their nutritional status evaluated based on anthropometric measures, and food cravings evaluated using the Food Desire Questionnaire. Data were collected during an evaluation in the follicular phase (between the 5th and the 9th day of the menstrual cycle) and another in the luteal phase (LP) (between the 20th and the 25th day of the menstrual cycle). For food intake variables, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used, followed by the Tukey test. The Mann-Whitney test was used for the analysis of food cravings, considering a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). The desire for foods rich in sugar, salt, and fat, such as chocolate, pastries, snacks and desserts were higher (p < 0.05) during the premenstrual period, although it did not reflect neither a higher energy intake nor an alteration in the distribution of macronutrients. A higher intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, and calcium was observed during the LP; however, without statistical difference between the groups. There were no differences either in the intake of any food group or in the anthropometric measurements (p > 0.05). Food cravings of nutrition students differed between the phases of the menstrual cycle; however, with no difference in food intake and in anthropometric measures.

Triggers, Protectors, and Predictors in Episodic Migraine.

A wide variety of triggers prompt attacks in episodic migraine. Although experimental triggers such as glyceryl trinitrate reliably produce migraine, natural triggers are much less predictable and vary in importance between individuals. This review describes the most common triggers in episodic migraine and provides strategies for managing them in clinical practice. Multiple migraine attack triggers have been established based on patient surveys, diary studies, and clinical trials. Stress, menstrual cycle changes, weather changes, sleep disturbances, alcohol, and other foods are among the most common factors mentioned. Clinical studies have verified that fasting, premenstrual periods in women, "letdown" after stress, and most likely low barometric pressures are migraine triggers. Premonitory symptoms such as neck pain, fatigue, and sensitivity to lights, sounds, or odors may mimic triggers. Multiple studies clearly demonstrate triggers in episodic migraine, often related to change in homeostasis or environment. Many common migraine triggers are not easily modifiable, and avoiding triggers may not be realistic. Healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, and eating regularly may prevent triggers and transformation to chronic migraine over time.

Drying kinetics of blackberry leaves

ABSTRACT Blackberry leaves have some pharmacological properties and one of the most widespread and studied uses is to relieve symptoms of the climacteric and other symptoms during the premenstrual period. Thus, drying becomes important for the conservation and storage of the product until its use or processing. The present study aimed to evaluate the drying kinetics of blackberry leaves, as well as to determine the effective diffusion coefficient and the activation energy during the drying process. Blackberry leaves were dried in an experimental fixed-bed dryer under four controlled temperature conditions (40, 50, 60 and 70 °C) and two drying air speeds (0.4 and 0.8 m s-1). With the experimental data of moisture ratio, eight mathematical models were fitted to represent the process of thin-layer drying of agricultural products. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the Midilli model represented best the phenomenon of drying of blackberry leaves. The increase in temperature and air speed reduced the drying time of blackberry leaves and increased the values of the effective diffusion coefficient. This relation can be described by the Arrhenius equation, which has an activation energy for the liquid diffusion during drying of 65.94 and 66.08 kJ mol-1, for drying air speeds of 0.4 and 0.8 m s-1, respectively.

The ovarian cycle may influence the exhaled volatile organic compound profile analyzed by an electronic nose

Introduction. We aimed to investigate whether the sex hormone profile during the ovarian cycle in healthy women could affect the volatile organic compound (VOC) profile analyzed by an electronic nose (e-nose). Methods. We enrolled 21 healthy, never-smoking, regularly menstruating women who were not taking any medications. A series of exhaled breath measurements were performed on all subjects at predefined intervals (days 1–6, 7–12, 13–19, 20–25 and 26–31; day 1 was the first day of menstruation) during their ovarian cycle and analyzed by an e-nose (Cyranose 320). Results. By principal component analysis, significant modifications of the exhaled VOC profile were observed over the cycle for principal component 1 (PC1; p = 0.001). In particular, the PC1 value was significantly higher during the premenstrual period and during menstruation compared with the first third of estrogen phase, mid-cycle and the first third of progestational phase (for all parameters p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Subsequent linear discriminant analysis confirmed the above findings. Conclusions. The ovarian cycle may alter the exhaled VOC pattern and this should be taken into account during serial measurements of these markers in the female population.