Efficiency of p16 and Ki-67 immunostaining for detecting premalignant cervical lesions in high risk population

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of immunostaining with p16 and Ki-67 in cervical cytology specimens for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in a high risk population.Methods: This was a prospective review of 287 women who underwent pap smear, human papilloma virus (HPV) testing and colposcopy examination, respectively. There were cervical smear abnormalities in 108 women (37.6%) and 141 patients (49.1%) tested positive for HPV. Cervical biopsy revealed normal cervix in 28 patients (9.75%), cervicitis in 48 patients (16.72%), CIN1 in 178 patients (62.02%), CIN2 in 26 patients (9.05%) and CIN3 in 7 patients (2.43%).Results: Positive staining for p16 had a sensitivity of 78.2% and a specificity of 97.4% while positive staining for Ki67 had a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 57.9% for distinguishing CIN lesions in cervical cytology specimens (p=0.001 for both). Concurrent positive staining for p16 and Ki67 in cervical cytology specimens had a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 97.4% for CIN lesions (p=0.001). Positive staining for p16 had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 90.6% whereas positive staining for Ki67 had a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 33% for differentiating CIN lesions in colposcopic biopsy specimens (p=0.001 for both). Concurrent positive staining for p16 and Ki67 in colposcopic biopsy specimens had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 94% for CIN lesions (p=0.001).Conclusions: p16/Ki-67 immunostaining applied on cervical cytology specimens can screen CIN lesions with high sensitivity and specificity in a low risk population

Assessment of preoperative serum prolidase activity in epithelial ovarian cancer

Objective: Prolidase is a cytosolic exopeptidase that cleaves iminodipeptides with C-terminal proline and hydroxyproline and plays a major role in collagen turnover. The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative serum prolidase activity, total oxidant status (TOS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients with newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Study design: Serum prolidase activity, TOS, and TAC were measured spectrophotometrically in both EOC cases (n = 28) and controls (n = 28). Results: Preoperative serum prolidase activity and TOS were significantly higher in patients with EOC compared to controls (p = 0.009 and 0.008, respectively), whereas TAC was significantly lower in cases (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the stage, grade, and CA-125 level of EOC and serum prolidase activity (rho = 0.466, p = 0.012; rho = 0.501, p = 0.007; and rho = 0.447, p = 0.017, respectively) and TOS (rho = 0.588, p = 0.001; rho = 0.412, p = 0.029; and rho = 0.568, p = 0.002, respectively). In contrast, there was a negative correlation between TAC and the stage, grade, and CA-125 level of EOC (rho = -0.555, p = 0.002; rho = -0.566, p = 0.002; and rho = -0.581, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Findings of the present study demonstrate that serum prolidase activity is significantly associated with the stage, tumor grade, and preoperative CA-125 level of EOC. Crown Copyright © 2009

Serum prolidase activity and oxidative status in patients with stage I endometrial cancer

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the serum prolidase activity, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total free sulfhydryl (-SH) groups in patients with stage I endometrial cancer. Methods: Serum prolidase activity, TOS, TAC, and -SH levels were measured in patients with endometrial cancer (n = 23) and controls (n = 25). Results: Serum prolidase activity and TOS were significantly higher in patients with endometrial cancer than in controls (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02, respectively), whereas TAC and -SH group levels were significantly lower (P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively). There were no differences between surgical stages IA and IB or between stages IB and IC (P = 0.189 and P = 0.161, respectively) with respect to prolidase levels, whereas there was a significant difference between stages IA and IC (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased serum prolidase activity and oxidative stress may be associated with endometrial cancer, and increased serum prolidase activity may be related to local invasion of endometrial cancer. Copyright © 2009 by IGCS and ESGO

Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer

Objective: The HDL-associated paraoxonase and arylesterase activities play a role in decreasing oxidative stress, which is known to contribute to cancer development. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels in patients with newly-diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer. Materials: Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, total free sulfhydryl (- SH) levels and LOOH levels were measured in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (n = 24) and controls (n = 29). Results: Serum paraoxonase activity and arylesterase activity, as well as - SH levels were significantly lower (p = 0.003, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer compared to controls, while LOOH levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001). A significant inverse correlation was found between the stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer and paraoxonase activity (rho = - 0.630, p = 0.001 and rho = - 0.601, p = 0.002 and rho = - 0.436, p = 0.033, respectively), arylesterase activity (rho = - 0.601, p = 0.002 and rho = - 0.713, p < 0.001 and rho = -0.580, p = 0.003, respectively), and - SH levels (rho = - 0.642, p = 0.001 and rho = - 0.637, p = 0.001 and rho = - 0.530, p = 0.008, respectively). In contrast, there was a positive correlation between LOOH and the stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer (rho = 0.565, p = 0.004 and rho = 0.479, p = 0.018 and rho = 0.642, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that diminished paraoxonase and arylesterase activity, - SH levels and increased LOOH levels are associated with particular stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer. Crown Copyright © 2008

Serum prolidase activity and oxidative stress markers in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restricted infants

Aim: To compare the levels of serum prolidase activity and oxidative stress markers, including total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), and total free sulfhydryl (-SH) in healthy pregnant women and pregnant women with intrauterine growth restricted infants. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 18 healthy third trimester pregnancies and 14 pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). The criteria for FGR were clinical evidence of suboptimal growth, ultrasonographic demonstration of deviation from normal percentiles of growth, and birthweight under the 10th percentile. We spectrophotometrically measured serum prolidase activity, TAC, TOS, and -SH levels. Oxidative stress was determined from total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status measurement and calculation of the oxidative stress index. Results: Serum TAC and -SH levels were significantly lower in the FGR group than in the healthy control group (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively), whereas TOS level, OSI value, and prolidase activity were significantly higher (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Prolidase activity was positively correlated with TOS and OSI values (rho = 0.552, P = 0.041 and rho = 0.635, P = 0.015, respectively) and negatively correlated with TAC and -SH levels (rho = -0.578, P = 0.030 and rho = -0.622, P = 0.018, respectively). Conclusion: The present study shows that serum prolidase activity and oxidative stress are significantly associated with the presence of FGR and that the correlation between serum prolidase activity and markers of oxidative stress are represented as increased serum TOS level and decreased serum TAC and -SH levels, suggesting an association of collagen turnover and oxidative stress in vascular dysfunction. © 2009 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Plasma L-carnitine levels of obese and non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome patients

It is well-known that plasma L-carnitine concentrations are significantly decreased in obese individuals. A study showed that L-carnitine concentrations are significantly lower in lean PCOS patients than in lean healthy women. Thus, it has been suggested that lowered L-carnitine is associated with PCOS. This study also showed that the women with PCOS had significantly lower L-carnitine levels than those of the healthy controls. In addition, this study hypothesised that low L-carnitine levels in PCOS patients were associated with obesity and/or insulin resistance. Moreover, plasma L-carnitine concentrations were found to be statistically similar in PCOS patients and healthy controls, when controlled for obesity. This study implied that L-carnitine could be used as an adjunctive therapy in the management of insulin resistance or obesity in women who have PCOS. Further research might be planned to clarify the clinical effects of L-carnitine administration in PCOS patients with insulin resistance and/or obesity

Comparison of Four Different Pain Relief Methods during Hysterosalpingography: A Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is the most commonly used method for evaluating the anatomy and patency of the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes, and is an important tool in the evaluation of infertility. The most frequent side effect is the pain associated with the procedure

Retrospective Analysis of Molecular Markers in Endometrial Cancer: Single Center Experience

Background: To emphasize the effect of molecular markers on prognosis in endometrial cancer, in addition to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 classification. Methods: The records of 160 patients with endometrial cancer between 2008 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Staging was done according to FIGO 2009 criteria. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to molecular classification. If one had polymerase epsilon (POLE) mutation, the patient was included in POLE ultramutated (POLEmut) group. In case of intakt POLE, but abnormal staining of mismatch repair (MMR), the group was diagnosed as mismatch repair defciency (MMRd). If there was only p53 abnormal results detected, that group was p53-abnormal (p53mut). If no mutation at all, that group was categorized as non-specific molecular profile (NSMP). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate overall survival and progression-free survival. Survival rates were compared for molecular markers. Results: According to the molecular analysis, 4 patients (2.5%) were classifed as POLEmut group, 53 patients (33.1%) in the MMRd group, 18 patients (11.3%) had p53mut, and 85 patients (53.1%) into the NSMP group. 5-year overall survival was 79.4%, 5-year progression-free survival was 90%. 5-year overall survival was 75% in POLEmut group, 84.9% in MMRd group, 38.9% in p53mut group and 84.7% in NSMP group (p = 0.001). 5-year progression-free survival was 100% in POLEmut group, 96.2% in MMRd group, 77.8% in p53mut group and 88.2% in NSMP group (p = 0.082). Conclusion: Our study shows the prognostic value of the molecular endometrial cancer classification. Patients with p53mut have a poor progression-free survival, POLEmut endometrial cancer have a good prognosis. In this study, we wanted to demonstrate the importance of molecular markers in endometrium cancer and their contribution to prognosis