Researchers all over N.C. State’s campus are working on socially important issues. James Selgrade, a professor in mathematics, is applying his background in mathematics to potentially improve the lives of many.
“My background is in differential equations and I enjoyed modeling biological functions, so after studying the environmental influxes of estrogen effecting men and women, Paul Schlosser and I got interested in modeling the normal menstrual cycle,” Selgrade said.
The difference between a normal and abnormal cycle is typically caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS symptoms include masculine hair growth and prolonged or no menstruation. These symptoms are all caused by the lack of a luteinizing hormone spike, creating chaos in the body.
“PCOS is the leading cause of infertility of women in which the ovary doesn’t select a dominant follicle,” Selgrade said.
According to Selgrade, PCOS has various causes; some women’s bodies have difficulty sensing insulin or overproduce testosterone.
“People think that these are small changes, but even something like this has the ability to affect the reproductive system,” Selgrade said.
“In the normal cycle, the follicle releases estrogen to tell the brain it is ready for ovulation, then the brain responds with LH, letting the ovaries know it is okay to ovulate,” Selgrade said. “Women with PCOS and an abnormal cycle generally don’t have a spike in LH.”
Selgrade used data from Claude Hughes, an adjunct professor of mathematics, to study and model the trends of the menstrual cycle.
“It’s really interesting that we found the normal rhythm and the abnormal. Since it’s impossible to test the human female brain, you can really only hope the model gives you something to work with,” Selgrade said.
Leigh Justice, a junior in sociology and a licensed practical nurse, was affected by PCOS when her partner was diagnosed with the syndrome.
“The most common effects of PCOS are hormonal imbalances, irregular menstrual cycles and an inconsistency with the ovulation process, which can make conception extremely difficult for some women,” Justice said.
“These fertility interventions cost thousands of dollars and offer no guarantees that a viable pregnancy would result from any of the procedures,” Justice said. ”An effective cure or treatment would not only fill the empty arms of women with PCOS that long for a child of their own, but it would aid in reducing other health factors that are associated with PCOS.”
Current treatments exist, but with the help of Selgrade’s findings, a new, potentially better treatment could be found.
“The treatments that exist for PCOS are clomiphene, which tricks the brain into thinking there is less estrogen; and metphorin, a medication that helps some women’s bodies become more sensitive to insulin,” Selgrade said. “Even things like contraceptive, which lower LH, and fertility treatment, which stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone, have an effect on PCOS.”
Selgrade said there is still much to be learned about the body through the use of mathematical equations, like the connection between glucose and menstruation.
“I’m most interested in bifurcation and varying the parameters of the differential equations. As you vary the parameters, such as the estrogen, progesterone or glucose levels, you can watch the abnormal cycle go away,” Selgrade said.
PCOS has an estimated prevalence of 4 to 7% worldwide, according to a research paper by Pasquali Renato. It has also been found that women who have sisters or mothers with PCOS have a higher chance of being diagnosed, providing an opportunity for study.
“We are constantly pulling data from studies to put into our model. We have added several parameters in the last few years, just from the use of studies,” Selgrade said.
Research like Selgrade’s has fascinated students like David Ivy, a senior in computer engineering.
“I think it’s really amazing how we can take the body and break it down into logical, mathematical functions. Everything can be explained with the right mathematics and a little tweaking,” Ivy said.
According to Selgrade, there is much that is not quite understood about the body, the cycle or the switch from inhibition to stimulation of the ovaries.
