Corneal topographic changes in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To asses the effect of menopause on the corneal curvature changes using corneal computerized videokeratography (CVK) in premenopausal and postmenopausal healthy women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-six postmenopausal women with mean ages of 49.2 (range 39 to 57) were enrolled in this randomized, prospective study, comparing with 26 healthy controls with mean ages of 38.5 +/- 4.9 (range 32 to 49). Subjects were determined to be postmenopausal, by the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, based on blood Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Estradiol, Progesterone levels and clinical complaints. Complete ophthalmic examination and CVK using Haag-Streit System was performed in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean horizontal curvature and vertical curvature of central corneal power in premenopausal women were 43.5 +/- 1.25 Diopter (D), and 44.1 +/- 1.53 D. Mean horizontal curvature and vertical curvature of central corneal power in postmenopausal women were 43.9 +/- 1.4 D, and 44.6 +/- 1.3 D. The mean keratometric astigmatisms of premenopausal and postmenopausal women were 0.81 +/- 0.57 D (4–179 degrees), 0.74 degrees +/- 0.5 D (1–180 degrees) respectively. No significant corneal curvature changes were detected between premenopausal and postmenopausal groups (P > 0.05). On the other hand, we only found negative but significant correlation between horizontal corneal curvature and estrogen level of postmenopausal women (r = -0.346, p = 0.038).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Menopause is physiologic process and may also affect corneal topographic changes. In postmenopausal women, corneal steeping was observed minimally compared to premenopausal women. The results suggest that changes in estrogen level of women with menopause are associated with slightly alteration of horizontal curvature of cornea.</p

The outcomes of midline versus medio-lateral episiotomy

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Understanding and predicting ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration in Escherichia coli with machine learning

It is important that antibiotics prescriptions are based on antimicrobial susceptibility data to ensure effective treatment outcomes. The increasing availability of next-generation sequencing, bacterial whole genome sequencing (WGS) can facilitate a more reliable and faster alternative to traditional phenotyping for the detection and surveillance of AMR. This work proposes a machine learning approach that can predict the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for a given antibiotic, here ciprofloxacin, on the basis of both genome-wide mutation profiles and profiles of acquired antimicrobial resistance genes. We analysed 704 Escherichia coli genomes combined with their respective MIC measurements for ciprofloxacin originating from different countries. The four most important predictors found by the model, mutations in gyrA residues Ser83 and Asp87, a mutation in parC residue Ser80 and presence of the qnrS1 gene, have been experimentally validated before. Using only these four predictors in a linear regression model, 65% and 93% of the test samples' MIC were correctly predicted within a two- and a four-fold dilution range, respectively. The presented work does not treat machine learning as a black box model concept, but also identifies the genomic features that determine susceptibility. The recent progress in WGS technology in combination with machine learning analysis approaches indicates that in the near future WGS of bacteria might become cheaper and faster than a MIC measurement

Dynamic metabolic patterns tracking neurodegeneration and gliosis following 26S proteasome dysfunction in mouse forebrain neurons

Metabolite profling is an important tool that may better capture the multiple features of neurodegeneration. With the considerable parallels between mouse and human metabolism, the use of metabolomics in mouse models with neurodegenerative pathology provides mechanistic insight and ready translation into aspects of human disease. Using 400MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy we have carried out a temporal region-specifc investigation of the metabolome of neuron-specifc 26S proteasome knockout mice characterised by progressive neurodegeneration and Lewy-like inclusion formation in the forebrain. An early signifcant decrease in N-acetyl aspartate revealed evidence of neuronal dysfunction before cell death that may be associated with changes in brain neuroenergetics, underpinning the use of this metabolite to track neuronal health. Importantly, we show early and extensive activation of astrocytes and microglia in response to targeted neuronal dysfunction in this context, but only late changes in myo-inositol; the best established glial cell marker in magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies, supporting recent evidence that additional early neuroinfammatory markers are needed. Our results extend the limited understanding of metabolite changes associated with gliosis and provide evidence that changes in glutamate homeostasis and lactate may correlate with astrocyte activation and have biomarker potential for tracking neuroinfammation

First-trimester thyroid hormone reference data in a Turkish pregnant women population living in middle Blacksea Region [Orta karadeni·iz bölgesi·inde yaşayan türk gebe kadin popülasyonunda bi·iri·inci·i tri·imester ti·iroi·id hormon referans degerleri·i]

Objective: No reference values for thyroid hormones have been established for Turkish pregnant women yet in the first trimester of pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine first trimester reference values for thyroid hormones in pregnant women living in middle Black Sea region of Turkey and getting service from our institution's laboratory. Material and Method: 1144 pregnant women admitted to Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine hospital between January 2005 and January 2009 for first trimester visit were enrolled retrospectively. Maternal thyroid hormones measured as a part of laboratory examination were analyzed. Results: Anti-TPO and anti-TG antibodies were measured in 250 of the total 1144 women. 166 of these had antibody levels within the normal ranges. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of these 166 antibody negative women were as follows: for TSH (µIU/mL): 0.043-3.968, for fT4 (ng/dL): 0.840-1.638 and for fT3 (pg/mL): 2.059-4.386. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of the remaining 894 antibody status unknown women were as follows: for TSH (µIU/mL): 0.059-4.196, for fT4 (ng/dL): 0.634-1.527 and for fT3 (pg/mL): 2.340-4.143.Conclusion: For diagnosis of thyroid abnormalities; population, laboratory and even method based reference values should be established. This is a preliminary data from Turkish pregnant women

Role of first trimester total testosterone in prediction of subsequent gestational diabetes mellitus

PubMedID: 25256364Aim To assess the role of first trimester maternal testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in prediction of development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods Four hundred and fifty pregnant women were included in this prospective cohort study. All pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy who were not diabetic, had no family history of diabetes, had no history of previous GDM, were of white race and non-smokers were enrolled. Total testosterone and DHEA-S were measured at 11-14 weeks of gestation. The patients were called for routine pregnancy visits and followed accordingly. Forty-two patients did not come to their visits and were excluded. During gestational weeks 24-28, the remaining 408 patients were screened for GDM. The total testosterone and DHEA-S levels were compared between patients with and without GDM. Regression and receiver-operator curve analysis were performed. Results GDM developed in 22 women (5.7%). Compared with women without GDM, first trimester total testosterone levels were higher among women in whom GDM subsequently developed. The DHEA-S level did not differ. Age, total testosterone and body mass index were found to be independent predictors of GDM development. A total testosterone value of 0.45 ng/mL was found to predict development of GDM with a sensitivity of 63.6% and a specificity of 62.7%. Conclusion First trimester total testosterone has a low testing power for GDM screening with low sensitivity and specificity values and cannot be used as a marker alone. It may have a role in combination with other markers. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Relevance of lipogenesis and AMPK/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: New evidence is presented for differences in lipid metabolism between healthy and cancer cells, which has increased considerably in recent years. Alterations in lipid metabolism affect important processes such as cell growth. proliferation. and differentiation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the gene expression levels of the enzymes which have a function in lipid metabolisms such as fatty acid synthase (FASN), sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protein kinase B (Akt). and AMP-activating protein kinase (AMPK) in patients with endometrial cancer

Effects of natural progesterone on endometriosis in an experimental rat model: Is it effective?

PubMedID: 25134298Purpose: To assess the effects of the natural progesterone on the endometriosis in a rat model. Materials and Methods: Endometriosis was surgically induced in 20 rats by transplanting an autologous fragment of endometrial tissue onto the inner surface of the abdominal wall. Rats in control group had no medication but 2.5mg/kg/weekly natural progesterone was administered to rats in study group for four weeks. After that, all rats were sacrificed and dimensions of endometriosis were measured and they were evaluated morphologically and histologically. Scoring systems were used to evaluate preservation of epithelia. Results: Two rats in the study group and one rat in the control group died of complications related to surgery. At the end of the treatment, there was a reduction in the size of the endometriotic lesions in the study group (p < 0.01). According to histological evaluation, the study group had lower score than control goup which was statistically significant (p = 0.014). Conclusions: Natural progesterone is effective against endometriosis in rat model

Investigating the clinical significance of mesh peritonization in abdominal vault suspension surgery using a comparative rabbit model

PubMedID: 24468280Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of mesh peritonization in an experimental rabbit model. Study design: Twenty rabbits were randomly assigned to two groups. A sacrouteropexy operation was performed in both groups using a polypropylene mesh. In the first group, the pelvic peritoneum was not closed over the mesh, and in the second group, the mesh was buried throughout the pelvic retroperitoneal tunnel. One month after mesh implantation, the abdomen was opened and the previous surgical site was explored. The primary outcome was intraabdominal adhesion formation; the secondary outcome was the histologic degree of tissue remodeling. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of adhesion scores and collagen organization (P = 0.692, P = 0.097, respectively). There was a greater degree of inflammation in the second group as identified by significantly higher scores for eosinophils-neutrophils, macrophages-foreign body giant cells and mononuclear cells (P = 0.002, P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: Similar adhesion and collagen organization patterns were found in both groups, but indicators of the inflammatory process were significantly higher in the second group. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved