Examination of the Ovarian Reserve after Generation of Unilateral Rudimentary Uterine Horns in Rats

Objective. The purpose of this experimental rat model study is to evaluate the changes in the ovarian environment after excision of the rudimentary horn. Methods. Ten female Wistar albino rats were used in this study. One cm of right uterine horn length was excised in the first operation. Two months after the first operation, all animals were sacrificed to obtain ovaries for histological examination. Mann-Whitney U test and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis purposes. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.005. Results. The number of primordial follicles (P=0.415), primary follicles (P=0.959), preantral follicles (P=0.645), antral follicles (P=0.328), and Graafian follicles (P=0.721) was decreased and the number of atretic follicles (P=0.374) increased in the right ovarian side. Howeve,r this difference was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion. The results of this experimental rat model study suggest that the excision of rudimentary horn could have negative effects on ipsilateral ovarian functions

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

Maternal Serum Zinc Level Is An Independent Factor For Infant Birth Weight, But Not For Preterm Delivery

OBJECTIVE: To compare the maternal zinc levels in patients suffering from preterm delivery and women with term pregnancies and to assess the effect of maternal serum zinc levels on birth weight. STUDY DESIGN: 50 preterm laboring pregnant women (mean age 23.92 ± 5.17 years) and 20 term pregnants (mean age 26.40 ± 4.98 years) were enrolled. Serum zinc levels were measured with “flamed atomic absorption technique”. Gestational age, birth weight, Apgar scores of the first and fifth minutes, socioeconomic status and smoking habits were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean value of serum zinc levels was 1.10 ± 0.23 μg/ml in the control group and 0.35 ± 0.10 μg/ml in the preterm group. Birth weight, Apgar scores of the first and fifth minutes, gestational ages and serum zinc levels were found to be significantly lower in preterm group (p<0,001). Maternal serum zinc level was found to be correlated with gestational age and birth weight; however, the correlation of zinc with gestational age disappeared when regression analysis was applied and zinc was found to be an independent factor affecting birth weight. Zinc levels less than 1 μg/ml had a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 70%, positive predictive value of 89.9% and negative predictive value of 100% for preterm labor in this study. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum zinc level is linearly correlated with birth weight and tends to be lower in preterm deliveries, although not an independent factor

Laparoscopic Sacral Uteropexy with Cravat Technique--Experience and Results

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a “Cravat’’ technique for the management of uterine prolapse in patients who want to preserve uterus, involving suspension of the uterus from the sacral promontory by using polypropylene mesh. Materials and Methods A prospective observational study between January 2011 and September 2013 was conducted. Prior to surgery, prolapse assessment was undertaken with Baden-Walker halfway system to grade the degree of prolapse at all sites. Patients with severe uterine prolapse (stage II-IV) who want to preserve uterus, were operated with Cravat technique. All patients were evaluated at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after surgery and followed for 6 months. Outcomes were evaluated objectively by vaginal examination using Baden-Walker halfway classification, and subjectively classifying patients as ‘very satisfied’, ‘satisfied’ and ‘not satisfied’ at the 6th month postoperatively. Results Sacral uteropexy was successfully performed by laparoscopy in 32/33 patients (one needed to be converted to laparotomy). Nine patients also had a concurrent procedure as colporaphy anterior, colporaphy posterior or transobturator tape. Postoperative recovery has been uneventful with subjective and objective cure rates were 96.9% and 93.9%, respectively at six month. One recurrence of total prolapse needed to be reoperated and two patients with sacrouteropexy still remained at stage 2 prolapse. There have been no cases of graft exposure, rejection or infection with a median follow-up of 23.9 months. Conclusions Laparoscopic sacral uteropexy with “Cravat technique” was found to be safe and simple procedure

Can A Simple Complete Blood Count Predict Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?

Aim: To assess the role of simple complete blood count (CBC) in prediction of gestational diabetes (GDM). Materials and Methods: Pregnant women screened for GDM in 24-28 gestational weeks with a 75g-OGTT between January 2018-January 2020 were retrospectively investigated. Patients with a known systemic disease, using aspirin, low-molecular-weight heparin and steroids excluded. The assessed parameters in CBC were hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, white blood cells (including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils), platelets, platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), nucleated red blood cell (NRBC), NRBC percentage, plateletcrit (PCT), platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), immature granulocytes (IG) and IG percentage. Platelet mass index (PMI), neutrophil-to-platelet ratios (NPR) and lymphocyte-to-platelet ratios (LPR) were calculated. These parameters were compared between GDM patients and controls. Regression analysis was performed with the parameters that were significantly correlated with GDM. ROC curve analysis was done in order to find cut-off values. Results: RBC, WBC (all subtypes including immature granulocytes), platelet indices including PMI, NPR and LPR were all similar. Only RDW and NRBC were found to be significantly increased in GDM patients and came out to be independent predictors of GDM with maternal age and screening week. Conclusion: These findings suggest women with GDM may be accompanied with increased RDW and NRBC levels which seem to be independent predictors of this disease and these parameters may be used to monitor and evaluate the development of GDM