The comparison of the perinatal outcomes in monochorionic twin pregnancies with and without selective intrauterine growth restriction

Objective Both fetuses may be affected negatively as a result of the non-equal share of the placenta and vascular anastomoses in monochorionic pregnancies with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR). In our study, we aimed to investigate the perinatal outcomes of both larger and smaller fetuses in monochorionic pregnancies with and without sIUGR (non-sIUGR) separately. Methods A total of 196 monochorionic twin pregnancies were evaluated retrospectively between January 2013 and January 2019. The cases were grouped as sIUGR and non-sIUGR pregnancies. The pregnancies with sIUGR were also separated into sub-groups as the cases with normal umbilical flow pattern and the cases with abnormal umbilical flow pattern. The perinatal outcomes were investigated separately between the groups for larger and smaller fetuses. Results Of 153 monochorionic pregnancies included in the study, 17.6% (n=27) were sIUGR cases and 82.4% (n=126) were non-sIUGR cases. While the umbilical artery flow pattern was normal in 59.3% (n=16) of the pregnancies which developed sIUGR, 40.7% (n=11) of them had abnormal umbilical artery flow pattern. The preeclampsia rate was found significantly higher in sIUGR pregnancies than non-sIUGR pregnancies (25.9% vs. 11.1%, p=0.042). The need for intensive care for both larger and smaller newborns was significantly higher in sIUGR pregnancies compared to non-sIUGR pregnancies (p<0.001). Three (11.1%) of newborns in sIUGR pregnancies passed away during neonatal period. All of the newborns that passed away were the smaller newborns from sIUGR pregnancies with abnormal umbilical artery flow pattern. Conclusion The pregnancies with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) are more associated with high risks in terms of perinatal outcomes compared to the pregnancies with non-sIUGR. In pregnancies developing sIUGR, the risk increases for larger fetus as well as smaller fetus. More prospective studies are needed to investigate whether this increased risk in the pregnancies with sIUGR is associated with prematurity which is more common or is a result of sIUGR

Advantages and limitations of QF-PCR analysis in invasive prenatal genetic diagnosis: a tertiary center experience from Turkey

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the success and reliability of QF-PCR analysis in detecting chromosomal abnormalities and to determine its advantages and limitations. Methods: Patients who underwent karyotype and QF-PCR analysis as a prenatal invasive diagnostic test in a tertiary center were retrospectively analyzed. Invasive genetic test indications, ultrasonographic fetal screening reports, karyotype and QF-PCR analysis results of the patients were obtained from the electronic data system. Karyotypes were classified as normal, common aneuploidies (trisomies 21, 18, 13, and sex chromosome aneuploidies) and other aneuploidies. QF-PCR analysis and karyotype results were compared for inconsistency. Results: A total of 426 cases (41 [9.6%] chorionic villus sampling, 339 [79.6%] amniocentesis and 46 [10.8%] cordocentesis) were included in the study. The most common indication for prenatal invasive diagnostic testing was fetal structural anomalies (36.7%). Aneuploidy was detected in 61 (14.3%) of the fetuses. Fifty-nine (96.7%) of 61 fetuses with aneuploidy were common aneuploidies. The sensitivity and specificity of the QF-PCR analysis in detecting common aneuploidies was 100%. QF-PCR analysis was indicative if not diagnostic in all fetuses with mosaic trisomy or sex chromosome aneuploidies. Conclusion: QF-PCR analysis is a rapid, robust, and reliable test for the prenatal detection of common aneuploidies. Although QF-PCR analysis has high sensitivity and specificity in detecting common aneuploidies, it should be used for rapid preliminary information and the result of karyotype analysis should be awaited for important clinical decisions

Importance of isolated minor findings on fetal ultrasound examinations in the diagnosis of Down syndrome

Objective: To investigate the importance of prenatal ultrasound in the detection of Down syndrome by evaluating ultrasonographic and minor ultrasonographic findings in fetuses with this aneuploidy. Methods: Patients who were reported to have trisomy 21 as a result of karyotype analysis performed by cordocentesis, amniocentesis, or chorionic villus biopsy materials and who underwent ultrasound scan before diagnosis between 18 and 26 weeks of gestation by the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department between 2013 and 2020 were included in the study group. Results: The results of 132 of 4525 (2.9%) invasive procedures were reported to have trisomy 21 and ultrasound scans of each fetus were performed in our department. The mean gestational age at the ultrasound scans was 19.2±3.8 (SD) weeks. At least one major structural anomaly or minor ultrasonographic finding was detected in 99.2% of all fetuses. Major structural anomalies were present in 80 (60.6%) fetuses. In fetuses with major structural anomalies, cardiac defects (53.7%) were the most detected anomalies. No ultrasound findings could be detected in one (0.8%) of the remaining 52 patients, and only isolated minor findings were detected in 51 (38.6%) fetuses. More than half (60.7%) of these fetuses had a single minor finding. The most common isolated single minor finding was nuchal fold thickness in 13 (41.9%) fetuses followed by aberrant right subclavian artery in six (19.3%) fetuses. Conclusion: Down syndrome displays a large variety of different sonographic findings on fetal ultrasound. Although major structural anomalies and multiple minor findings are generally considered more important, the presence of any isolated minor marker may be the only detectable finding of Down syndrome

Molecular Modeling, Dimer Calculations, Vibrational Spectra, and Molecular Docking Studies of 5-Chlorouracil

The structure and vibrational calculations of 5-chlorouracil (5-ClU) and its most stable dimer have been analyzed using the DFT method with B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) and wb97xd/6-31++G(d,p), respectively. Vibrational calculations of the monomeric and dimeric forms were performed using both harmonic and anharmonic oscillator approximations with the same basis sets. A complete vibrational analysis of the molecule has been performed by combining experimental Raman, FT-IR spectral data and quantum chemical calculations. In addition, the DNA docking analysis of 5-ClU molecule was performed. A 5-ClU molecule binds to the active site of DNA by hydrogen bonding interactions. The results show that the docked ligand formed a stable complex with DNA with binding affi nity of -5.3 kcal/mol

Is Fibromyalgia Syndrome a Neuropathic Pain Syndrome?

Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) represents a neuropathic pain syndrome through the use of neuropathic pain scales

Anticancer Activity of Centaurea babylonica L.

Today, new agents are required to protect from cancer due to the side effects and some deficiencies in the medical drugs used to treat cancer. Because of this reason, active substances used in drugs which is herbal origin of the treatment of tumors as an alternative agent studies continues to increase. It has been determined that some species belonging to the genus Centaurea have cytotoxic effect. Centaurea babylonica plant has not been performed on cytotoxicity before. Plant was collected from Çamlıyayla district of Mersin province. Methanol extract was prepared from the plant and cytotoxicity tests of the extracts were performed. In vitro cytotoxic effects of extraneous material obtained from the supernatant were determined by MTT assay using C6 (Glioma), A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cell lines. Cytotoxic effect was found high in methanol extract. In the DNA synthesis inhibition test of extract, the extract was found to show a high inhibition from the cisplatin used as a control. The 3T3 test, in which the methanol extract showed no toxic effect on healthy fibroblast cells, was supported