The Role of Granulocyte-macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor in Recurrent Pregnancy Losses

Objective:A specific factor cannot be detected in approximately half of recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of a cytokine, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), in the etiology of recurrent pregnancy losses.Method:A total of 50 patients who had been admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics clinics of İstanbul University Medical School between January 1995 and September 2001 were included into the study and allocated to five groups including control and study groups. The study groups included 30 patients and the control groups included 20 patients. There were 3 study groups including non-pregnant women who had abortion (2 groups) and a spontaneous abortion group, which were selected among the recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) subjects with unknown etiology. The spontaneous abortion, non-pregnant RPL group and pregnant RPL group were accepted as study group). These groups were compared with the control groups, which included pregnant and non-pregnant healthy women.Results:Moderate and severe GM-CSF activity was detected in the decidua of all cases in fertile and elective termination groups. However no significant difference was detected in the surface epithelium, gland epithelium and stromal GCSF activities. Endometrial GM-CSF activity was determined to decrease in spontaneous abortion and RPL cases.Conclusion:Reduced GM-CSF activity in the decidua may have a role in the etiology of RPL. Besides, the level and distribution of GM-CSF in different compartments of the decidua may be a determinant factor in the prognosis of pregnancy

Covid-19 Sürecinde Yazlıkçıların Bulundukları Turistik Destinasyona İlişkin Algıları: Susanoğlu Örneği

Dünyada yaşanan Covid-19 süreci küresel çapta büyük değişimlere yol açmıştır. Başta sağlık sektörü etkilenmekle birlikte; ekonomi, ticaret, eğitim, turizm gibi birçok sektör de bu süreçten payını almıştır. Yazlıkçıların Covid-19 sürecinde bulundukları turistik destinasyona ilişkin algılarının belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılan bu çalışma Mersin’in Silifke ilçesine bağlı turistik bir beldesi olan Susanoğlu’nda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu çalışmada Susanoğlu’nda dönem dönem bulunan yazlıkçıların bulundukları destinasyonla ilgili olarak Covid-19 döneminde oraya algıları ortaya çıkarılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu doğrultuda çalışmada yöntem olarak nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden biri olan içerik analizi kullanılmıştır. Kolay ulaşılabilir durum örneklemesi ile Susanoğlu/ Mersin’de Ağustos-Eylül 2021 tarihleri arasında yazlıkçılarla yüz yüze görüşme yapılmıştır. Verilerin kodlanmasında bilgisayar tabanlı nitel analiz programı olan QSR Nvivo 12 kullanılmıştır. Tatilcilere Susanoğlu’nda geçirdikleri süre boyunca Covid- 19’un tatilleri üzerindeki etkilerini içeren ve destinasyonun bu süreçte aldığı önlemlerle ilgili sorular sorulmuştur. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre genel olarak yazlıkçıların, Covid-19 sürecinde normal sürece göre yazlıklarında asıl ikamet adreslerinden daha çok kaldıkları ve merkezi yerleşim yerlerine göre sakin olduğu için burada kendilerini daha güvende hissettikleri tespit edilmiştir. Yazlıkçıların vermiş oldukları cevaplara göre genel olarak maske kullanımı, hijyen ve sosyal mesafe konusunda kurallara uymada yetersiz oldukları sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Özellikle sosyal mesafe kurallarına banka, market, cafe, restoran ve pazar yerlerinde yeterince dikkat edilmediği, plajda ise kısmen dikkat edildiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Genel olarak yazlıkçıların tedirginlik durumu incelendiğinde denize girerken ve plajda tedirgin hissetmedikleri; dışarıda gezerken, pazarda, markette, restoranda, resmi dairelerde, sahil kıyısında tedirgin oldukları tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışma 24-26 Mart 2022 tarihleri arasında Conference on Managing Tourism across Continents (MTCON’22) kongresinde özet bildiri olarak sunulmuştur

BhCG as a Rupture Marker in Ectopic Pregnancy: A Retrospective Study

Objective:To find effective criteria in determining the risk of ectopic pregnancy rupture in patients with ectopic pregnancy.Method:The data of 101 patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy in the tertiary center between January 2018 and January 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients, the month of admission, the patients’ beta-human corionic gonadotropin (BhCG) values at the time of admission, blood type, endometrial thickness measured with transvaginal ultrasound, presence of adnexal mass suggestive of ectopic pregnancy and treatments applied to the patients were recorded. These data were compared between patients who had surgery for ectopic pregnancy rupture and those whose treatment was completed without it.Results:In the statistical analysis of the data, ectopic pregnancy rupture was found significantly more frequent for a threshold value of BhCG >4000 IU/L. Other data were not statistically significant.Conclusion:In cases of ectopic pregnancy, if the BhCG value at the time of admission exceeds the threshold value, the possibility of surgical approach increases. Medical treatment may be more successful at lower BhCG levels

Single-center Experiences of Ovarian Sex Cord Stromal Tumors

Objective:The aim of this study is to examine the sex cord stromal tumors of the ovary operated in our clinic in the last 4 years and to contribute to the literature on this rare tumor.Method:The clinical and laboratory findings of 34 patients with pathological diagnosis of ovarian sex cord stromal tumor, who were operated in our obstetrics and gynecology clinic between 2016 and 2020, were evaluated retrospectively. Pathological diagnoses were classified and other accompanying pathologies and complaints were evaluated for each type.Results:Ovarian sex cord stromal tumors usually attract attention with the peripheral effects of the hormones produced by the tumor tissue. They rarely come to very large sizes. They are mostly benign. When the hormone estrogen is produced, accompanying endometrial pathologies should not be overlooked. Hormonal complaints in patients improve dramatically after surgery both clinically and laboratory. Oncological follow-up is required following diagnosis in some malignant types.Conclusion:If ovarian sex cord stromal tumor is suspected, preoperative blood androgen levels, inhibin A, and alpha feto protein (AFP) should be evaluated. In addition, ultrasonographic and, if necessary, endometrial histopathological evaluations are important for patient follow-up as well as diagnosis. The patient's fertility desire and age should be considered during treatment

Antimicrobial Activity Evaluation of Newly Synthesized N,N-Disubstituted Taurinamidobenzenesulfonamide Derivatives

Herein we synthesized 6 new N,N-disubstituted taurinamidobenzenesulfonamide derivatives and characterized their structures by means of 1H and 13C NMR, HR-MS analysis. In addition, their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested against two gram-positive, two gram-negative bacteria, and two fungal strains by using broth microdilution method. Compounds 1 (methoxy substitution) and 2 (methyl substitution) displayed the best antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. E. faecalis was affected by compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6, becoming the most susceptible pathogen compared to other tested bacterial and fungal strains. Interestingly, changing fluoro atom in compound 6 with the chloro atom, as in compound 5, deteriorated the antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains. As a result, these results provide us to investigate the relationship between structural changes and antibacterial/antifungal activity, which can be further used to develop more effective taurine derivatives