High first-trimester neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios are indicators for early diagnosis of preeclampsia

Objectives: The aim of our study is to determine whether first-trimester neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and plate­let-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) would be useful as new predictors of subsequent preeclampsia. Material and methods: Medical records of women with preeclampsia and healthy controls from a tertiary referral center were retrospectively evaluated. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical characteristics and first-trimester levels of hemoglobin, leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, platelet, NLR and PLR. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was performed to identify the optimal NLR and PLR levels predicting preeclampsia. Results: Neutrophil (p < 0.001), platelet (p < 0.001), NLR (p < 0.001) and PLR (p < 0.001) levels were significantly elevated, whereas hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.003) was significantly lower in the group with preeclampsia as compared to the control group. On multivariate regression analysis, NLR (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.21–1.76; p = 0.005) and PLR (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.15–1.63; p = 0.008) were the most powerful predictive variables. The area under the ROC was 0.716 and 0.705 for NLR and PLR, respectively. The cut-off values of NLR ≥ 3.08 and PLR ≥ 126.8 predicted preeclampsia with the sensitivity of 74.6% and 71.8% and specificity of 70.1% and 72.4%, respectively. Conclusions: High NLR and PLR during the first trimester are independent predictors of subsequent preeclampsia

eftalgezer/ANIAnimator: v0.2.2

Bug fix Python 3.1

Prognostic Value of Fetal Thymus Size in Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Objectives-Our aim was to evaluate the size of the fetal thymus by sonography in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and to search for a possible relationship between a small fetal thymus and adverse perinatal outcomes

The value of red cell distribution width for predicting subsequent preeclampsia

Purpose: The purpose of our study was too assess the diagnostic value of red cell distribution width and other inflammatory markers such as white blood cell count and mean platelet volume during the first trimester of gestation for predicting the subsequent development of preeclampsia. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 137 patients with preeclampsia and 150 normotensive pregnant women. Study group was assessed for presence of preeclampsia and the values of first trimester red cell distribution width, white blood cell count and mean platelet volume. The receiver operator curve was used to evaluate cut-off, sensitivity and specificity values. Results: The optimal cut-off points to predict preeclampsia were a white blood cell count 10200 cells/mm3 or higher with a sensitivity of 75.1% and specificity of 44.1%, a mean platelet volume 8.6fL or lower with a sensitivity of 62.5% and specificity of 64.4% and a red cell distribution width 15.3% or lower with a sensitivity of 31.2% and specificity of 79.7%. Conclusion: Regarding the association between first trimester red cell distribution width, white blood cell count and mean platelet volume, statistical analysis revealed that these markers were weak predictors of preeclampsia [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(2.000): 224-228

The role of maternal free testosteron and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in preeclampsia

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate whether maternal serum levels of androgens, especially testosterone, are higher in patients with preeclampsia than in matched normotensive control subjects. Material and Methods: A prospective study was performed on 67 preeclamptic patients and 51 normotensive pregnant women. Study group was assessed for presence of preeclampsia and the values of serum free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The receiver operator curve was used to evaluate cut-off, sensitivity and specificity values. Results: Free testosterone levels were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia (2.36+/-1.2 pg/ml) than the control group (1.62+/-0.96 pg/ml) but there was no significant difference in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. The optimal cut-off point to predict preeclampsia was a 2.025 pg/ml or higher levels for free testosteron with a sensitivity of 56%, specificity of 78.4%, positive predictive value of 71.8%, negative predictive value of 64.5% and with a likelihood ratio of 2.6. Discussion: Levels of the potent androgen free testosterone were significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in normotensive women with similar maternal ages. Although the statistical analysis revealed that these markers were weak predictors of preeclampsia to be used in clinical practice the difference may indicate a role for testosterone in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(1.000): 41-46

The role of maternal free testosteron and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in preeclampsia

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate whether maternal serum levels of androgens, especially testosterone, are higher in patients with preeclampsia than in matched normotensive control subjects. Material and Methods: A prospective study was performed on 67 preeclamptic patients and 51 normotensive pregnant women. Study group was assessed for presence of preeclampsia and the values of serum free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The receiver operator curve was used to evaluate cut-off, sensitivity and specificity values. Results: Free testosterone levels were significantly higher in patients with preeclampsia (2.36+/-1.2 pg/ml) than the control group (1.62+/-0.96 pg/ml) but there was no significant difference in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. The optimal cut-off point to predict preeclampsia was a 2.025 pg/ml or higher levels for free testosteron with a sensitivity of 56%, specificity of 78.4%, positive predictive value of 71.8%, negative predictive value of 64.5% and with a likelihood ratio of 2.6. Discussion: Levels of the potent androgen free testosterone were significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in normotensive women with similar maternal ages. Although the statistical analysis revealed that these markers were weak predictors of preeclampsia to be used in clinical practice the difference may indicate a role for testosterone in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. [Cukurova Med J 2016; 41(1.000): 41-46

Community Report from the Biosignatures Standards of Evidence Workshop

The search for life beyond the Earth is the overarching goal of the NASA Astrobiology Program, and it underpins the science of missions that explore the environments of Solar System planets and exoplanets. However, the detection of extraterrestrial life, in our Solar System and beyond, is sufficiently challenging that it is likely that multiple measurements and approaches, spanning disciplines and missions, will be needed to make a convincing claim. Life detection will therefore not be an instantaneous process, and it is unlikely to be unambiguous-yet it is a high-stakes scientific achievement that will garner an enormous amount of public interest. Current and upcoming research efforts and missions aimed at detecting past and extant life could be supported by a consensus framework to plan for, assess and discuss life detection claims (c.f. Green et al., 2021). Such a framework could help increase the robustness of biosignature detection and interpretation, and improve communication with the scientific community and the public. In response to this need, and the call to the community to develop a confidence scale for standards of evidence for biosignature detection (Green et al., 2021), a community-organized workshop was held on July 19-22, 2021. The meeting was designed in a fully virtual (flipped) format. Preparatory materials including readings, instructional videos and activities were made available prior to the workshop, allowing the workshop schedule to be fully dedicated to active community discussion and prompted writing sessions. To maximize global interaction, the discussion components of the workshop were held during business hours in three different time zones, Asia/Pacific, European and US, with daily information hand-off between group organizers