Is there an association between liver type fatty acid binding protein and severity of preeclampsia?

Objective The aim of this study was to estimate the level of liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) in women with preeclampsia. Method A case–control study was conducted in 90 pregnant women who were divided into the following three groups: normal pregnancy (n = 30), mild–moderate preeclampsia (n = 30), and severe preeclampsia (n = 30). Maternal blood samples were obtained during an antenatal clinic visit in normal pregnant women, and at the time of diagnosis in women with preeclampsia. Serum LFABP levels were measured by the quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Results Serum LFABP level was significantly higher in severe and mild–moderate preeclampsia groups than normal pregnancy group (1,709.90 ± 94.82, 1,614.93 ± 118.22, and 1,532.36 ± 140.98 pg/ml, respectively; p\0.001). In multivariate analysis, the severity of preeclampsia was correlated with LFABP level [unadjusted odds ratio (95 % confidence interval), 1.008 (1.003–1.012), p\0.001 and LDH 1.063 (1.029–1.099), p\0.001]. Conclusion Maternal serum LFABP level appears to be correlated with the severity of the preeclampsia and can be used to confirm the diagnosis

Age-Stratified Analysis of Tumor Markers and Tumor Characteristics in Adolescents and Young Women with Mature Cystic Teratoma

Background: Serum tumor markers are widely used for the preoperative evaluation of an adnexal mass. Elevations of cancer antigen (CA) 125 and CA 19-9 have been reported in patients with mature cystic teratoma (MCT). The aim of the study is to investigate the relation of serum tumor markers with tumor characteristics in young women with MCT. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 157 patients under the age of 35 who underwent laparoscopic surgery for ovarian MCT. Patients were divided into two age groups: Group I (n = 80): adolescents/young adults (aged 13-25 years) and Group II (n = 77): women aged 26-35 years. Data were analyzed for serum tumor markers, tumor size, and bilaterality. Results: The rates of elevated CA 125 and CA 19-9 were 10.7% and 31.5%, respectively, for Group I, and 13.9% and 26.5%, respectively, for Group II. The bilaterality rate was higher in Group II compared to Group I (19.5% vs. 8.8%, respectively, p = 0.04). Serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 elevations were not related to tumor size in Group I. In Group II, elevated levels of CA 125 were also unrelated to tumor size. However, significant elevation in CA 19-9 levels was observed when tumor size was larger than 4 cm in this age group (p = 0.004). Elevated CA 125 and CA 19-9 levels were not significantly associated with the presence of bilateral MCT in either group. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that elevations of CA 19-9 are associated with larger tumor size in women aged 26-35 years, but not in adolescents/young adults. However, elevated serum CA 125 levels are not related to tumor size in either age group. Copyright (C) 2017, the Chinese Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.Wo

Serum concentrations of heavy metals in women with endometrial polyps

Endometrial polyps are one of the common reasons of abnormal uterine bleeding in women. Industrialisation, urbanisation and increased air pollution cause increased heavy metal exposure. Heavy metals that have oestrogenic effects in human body are named as metalloestrogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum metalloestrogen levels such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), aluminium (Al), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) and Cu/Zn ratio and their possible relationship with the occurrence of endometrial polyps. Eighty women with abnormal uterine bleeding were divided into two groups: 40 women diagnosed with endometrial polyp (study group) and 40 women without endometrial polyp (control group). Ages, body mass indices, smoking behaviours, drinking water choices, chronic diseases and intrauterine device histories were noted for all patients. Blood levels of Cu, Zn, Al, Pb, Ni and Cu/Zn ratio were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method for both groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of serum median levels of Cu and Pb between the study and the control groups. The serum median levels of Zn, Ni and Al were found to be statistically lower in the study group when compared with the control group. The Cu/Zn ratio was statistically higher in the study group. High Cu/Zn ratio, as a biomarker of oxidative stress, suggests the role of oxidative stress in etiopathogenesis of endometrial polyps.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Studies demonstrate that oestrogen and progesterone play an important role in pathogenesis of endometrial polyps. Inorganic heavy metal ions that bind and activate oestrogen receptors are referred to as ‘metalloestrogens’. Apart from toxic effects, metalloestrogens have been linked to the aetiology of oestrogen-dependent diseases such as breast and endometrium cancer and endometriosis. However, serum levels of heavy metals were not investigated in a large group of endometrial polyp patients. What do the results of this study add? This is the first study investigating the serum levels of heavy metals in a large group of endometrial polyp patients. We did not observe any increased serum levels of heavy metals in endometrial polyp patients. Our results might suggest that oestrogenic heavy metal exposure has no role in the appearance of endometrial polyps. However, increased Cu/Zn ratio due to low serum levels zinc suggests oxidative stress might play a role in endometrial polyps. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Further research of heavy metals in endometrial polyps with simultaneous blood and tissue samples could show the precise effect of environmental exposure of metalloestrogens in aetiopathogenesis of endometrial polyps

Prenatal Diagnosis Of Catch22 Syndrome

Deletions involving the long arm of chromosome 22 (22q11) are involved in various congenital heart diseases and congenital anomalies. In most cases, patients also have the features of DiGeorge Syndrome (DGS), Velocardiofacial Syndrome (VCFS), Shprintzen Syndrome, Conotruncal Anomaly Face Syndrome (CTAF), Caylor Cardiofacial Syndrome or Autosomal Dominant Opitz G/BBB Syndrome. CATCH22 is the summarizing name of all the syndromes caused by 22q11 deletion. We present a prenatally diagnosed case at 19 th week of gestation with tetralogy of Fallot. Amniocyte tissue cultures resulted in normal karyotype at 550 band level. 22q11.2 deletion was detected by using DiGeorge/VCFS TUPLE1 (Cytocell) FISH probe. 22q11 testing is necessary in case of detection of conotruncal heart anomalies in pregnancies. Chromosome analysis is not enough in many cases and FISH testing combined with chromosome analysis is an effective way of diagnosing affected cases

Basal Testosterone and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Levels in the Prediction of Stimulation Parameters and Cycle Outcome in Cycling Patients Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization

OBJECTIVE: Basal serum testosterone (T) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels in regularly cycling patients who undergone in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and their relations with stimulation parameters and IVF outcomes. STUDY DESING: Two hundred patients seeking their first IVF treatment from June 2007 to January 2008 were evaluated prospectively. Patients aged 23-39 with regular menstrual cycles and with FSH levels less than 12 mIU/ml were included. Basal concentrations of FSH, LH, E2, PRL, TSH with T and SHBG were determined. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. IVF stimulation parameters, fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates were evaluated. RESULTS: History of smoking was significantly associated with an increase in T. T had significantly positive association with the number of oocytes retrieved and the number of embryos transferred. However, neither T nor SHBG predicted fertilization or clinical pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION: Basal serum T levels during IVF have a positive correlation with part of the stimulation parameters including number of oocytes retrieved and the number of oocytes transferred. However, neither T nor SHBG has any affect on fertilization or pregnancy rates

Microalbuminuria in Preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the value of microalbuminuria in the diagnosis of preeclampsia, to compare the urinary albumin secretion rate between the high risk hypertensive patients and normal pregnant subjects and to find the relationship between microalbuminuria and pregnancy outcome. STUDY DESIGN: The study consisted of 40 normotensive women (control group) and 50 women in whom pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia (study group). Liver and renal function parameters, bleeding profile, urinary microalbumin secretion rates and blood pressures were assessed. Student’s t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation analysis were used as statistical methods. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Mean urinary microalbumin secretion rate was significantly higher in the study group than in controls (481.54±36.36 mg/lt v s 69.13±15.92 mg/lt). Platelets, liver function parameters and serum creatinine levels did not show any significant difference between groups (p>0.05). We found no correlation among microalbuminuria, blood pressure and fetal outcome (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Microalbuminuria may be used in the diagnosis of preeclampsia. We found no correlation with pregnancy outcome