Comparison of serum adiponectin and osteopontin levels along with metabolic risk factors between obese and lean women with and without PCOS

Introduction: The objective of this study was to investigate the possible relation between serum adiponectin and osteopontin levels as metabolic risk markers among women with different polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) phenotypes. Material and methods: In a University Hospital setting PCOS patients diagnosed according to Rotterdam Consensus Conference criteria with body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 were recruited. Results: Overall, 57 PCOS patients and 57 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Luteinising hormone (LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone FSH ratio (LH/FSH), free androgen index (FAI), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS-S) was found to be significantly higher in women with PCOS. There was significant interaction between PCOS status and obesity for serum adiponectin levels. Although mean adiponectin and osteopontin levels were similar among cases and controls, a further two-way ANOVA comparison within lean and obese subgroups revealed adiponectin to be significantly lower in lean PCOS women than in lean controls. LH/FSH ratio and adiponectin levels were all found to differ between lean counterparts; however, they did not show any correlation with metabolic markers [cholesterol, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels] in overall lean women or in the lean PCOS subgroup. Conclusion: Serum adiponectin levels in lean PCOS women were significantly lower than those in lean controls. On the other hand, mean adiponectin and osteopontin levels were similar in PCOS cases and controls overall

The effect of overactive bladder syndrome on the sexual life in asymptomatic continent women

WOS: 000320444600008Objective Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) is a very common problem, particularly in women, and has an effect on their daily lifestyle and sexual activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of overactive bladder syndrome on sexual life in asymptomatic continent women who are considered to be sexually active. Design Descriptive and cross-sectional study. Setting Gynaecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic, Pamukkale University Medical Faculty, Turkey. Subject A total of 1,504 patients as research population were examined and 117 patients without gynaecological symptoms presenting to the Obstetric and Gynaecology Clinic were included in the study. Main outcome measures For data collection a questionnaire to gather socio-demographic and medical information, an assessment tool (OAB-at) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for evaluating sexual dysfunction were utilised. Results Patients were determined as 28 continent women with OAB, 89 women without OAB. In line with this information we found the mean score of OAB positive continent women was 13.00 +/- 5.06 and the mean score of OAB negative women was 3.57 +/- 2.15. Patients with OAB had negatively impacted sexual function in the areas of arousal, lubrication, orgasm and pain. Conclusion OAB syndrome adversely affects sexual life even in continent women

Effect of ovulation induction on liver histopathology and functions in an experimental model of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

In the rabbit model of the ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, animals given hMG-hCG demonstrated increases in mean plasma serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity and plasma progesterone, and transient increases in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities. No significant difference was observed in plasma estradiol (E2) concentrations. Light microscopic examination of liver biopsies showed a normal lobular pattern except for congestion. We conclude that liver function test alterations due to high steroid levels or enhanced vascular permeability may be a part of the abnormalities related to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

Octreotide prevents postoperative adhesion formation by suppressing peritoneal myeloperoxidase activity

Background/Aims: Despite a great deal of effort to prevent the adhesion formation, an ideal therapy or drug remains to be identified. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of octreotide on adhesion prevention and neutrophil infiltration.Methodology: Fourteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a standard intraabdominal adhesion model operation. Octreotide group (n=7) rats were administered 20 mu g/kg octreotide intramuscular while control group (n=7) rats were given no treatment. On the 10th day the rats were decapitated and the degrees of adhesions were recorded and the plasma, peritoneal fluid, peritoneal tissue myeloperoxidase levels were determined.Results: Intraabdominal adhesions and peritoneal tissue myeloperoxidase levels were significantly reduced in the octreotide group as compared to saline treated adhesion group.Conclusions: We concluded that octreotide reduces the intraabdominal adhesions. This adhesion-preventive effect may be due to the inhibition of neutrophil infiltration

Knowledge and Behavior of University Students toward Human Papillomavirus and Vaccination

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of university students toward HPV infection and vaccine prevention in Turkey. Methods: A total of 1563 female and male university students participated in the study. The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. The study included students enrolled in the departments of faculties and vocational schools. Results: In total, 16.8% of students stated that they had heard of HPV. There was a statistically significant relationship between the mean awareness of HPV and different variables, such as age, gender, marital status, family history of cancer, and conversation about sexual matters (P < 0.01). As the age of the students increased, the chance of hearing about HPV also increased. Of all the students, 1.5% took HPV vaccination. Furthermore, 87.7% of the female students stated that they had heard of cervical cancer. Conclusions: The depth of knowledge among Turkish university students toward cervical cancer, HPV infection, and vaccination was inadequate. It is important to provide educational and counseling services by nurses to make university students aware of HPV infection and vaccination

An internally validated prediction model for critical COVID-19 infection and intensive care unit admission in symptomatic pregnant women

Background: Pregnant women are at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity owing to COVID-19. Many studies have reported on the association of COVID-19 with pregnancy-specific adverse outcomes, but prediction models utilizing large cohorts of pregnant women are still lacking for estimating the risk of maternal morbidity and other adverse events. Objective The main aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to quantify the risk of progression to critical COVID-19 and intensive care unit admission in pregnant women with symptomatic infection. Study Design This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study including 8 hospitals from 4 countries (the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, and Turkey). The data extraction was from February 2020 until May 2021. Included were consecutive pregnant and early postpartum women (within 10 days of birth); reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome was progression to critical illness requiring intensive care. The secondary outcomes included maternal death, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. The association between the primary outcome and 12 candidate predictors having a known association with severe COVID-19 in pregnancy was analyzed with log-binomial mixed-effects regression and reported as adjusted risk ratios. All the potential predictors were evaluated in 1 model and only the baseline factors in another. The predictive accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Of the 793 pregnant women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were symptomatic, 44 (5.5%) were admitted to intensive care, of whom 10 died (1.3%). The ‘mini-COvid Maternal Intensive Therapy’ model included the following demographic and clinical variables available at disease onset: maternal age (adjusted risk ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.95; P=.015); body mass index (adjusted risk ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.66; P=.010); and diagnosis in the third trimester of pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio, 3.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–8.46; P=.001). The optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73. The ‘full-COvid Maternal Intensive Therapy’ model included body mass index (adjusted risk ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.95; P=.015), lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted risk ratio, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–21.4; P=.007), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (adjusted risk ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–1.89; P<.001); and serum C-reactive protein (adjusted risk ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.44; P<.001), with an optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85. Neither model showed signs of a poor fit. Categorization as high-risk by either model was associated with a shorter diagnosis to intensive care unit admission interval (log-rank test P<.001, both), higher maternal death (5.2% vs 0.2%; P<.001), and preeclampsia (5.7% vs 1.0%; P<.001). A spreadsheet calculator is available for risk estimation. Conclusion At presentation with symptomatic COVID-19, pregnant and recently postpartum women can be stratified into high- and low-risk for progression to critical disease, even where resources are limited. This can support the nature and place of care. These models also highlight the independent risk for severe disease associated with obesity and should further emphasize that even in the absence of other comorbidities, vaccination is particularly important for these women. Finally, the model also provides useful information for policy makers when prioritizing national vaccination programs to quickly protect those at the highest risk of critical and fatal COVID-19