Alteration of maternal serum irisin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus

Objectives: The aim of our study was to compare serum irisin concentrations in pregnant women with and without ges­tational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Material and methods: This study was performed at the Tertiary Care Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol­ogy, between January 2014 and April 2014. A total of 45 pregnant women with GDM (diabetes group) and 41 BMI- and age-matched healthy pregnant women (control group) were recruited. Maternal serum irisin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit at 24–28 weeks of gestation. An association between maternal serum irisin lev­els and metabolic parameters was analyzed. Body mass index, serum levels of glucose, insulin and irisin were tested and analyzed in the study group and controls. Results: Pregnant women with GDM had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.001), first-hour OGTT glucose (p = 0.001), second-hour OGTT glucose (p = 0.001), and fasting insulin (p = 0.045) levels as compared to controls. Serum irisin levels were 1.04 ± 0.3 and 1.3 ± 0.2 in pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant controls, respectively (p = 0.001). Correlation analysis between irisin levels and anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with gestational diabetes revealed that none of the investigated parameters correlated with serum irisin level. Conclusions: Our results suggest that serum irisin levels might be introduced as a novel marker for GDM, with decreased levels of irisin being indicative of GDM

Opinions of Teachers' Competences in Teaching Turkish As A Foreign Language

WOS: 000331662700026Nowadays, the importance of foreign language education has gain even more importance and countries joined into a race of teaching their own languages to the rest of the world. Within the context of this work, opinions on what are the competences of the teachers that teach Turkish as a foreign language effectively and properly were reconsidered. To gather more information, there have been several interviews with the teachers mentioned above. Some of the findings were used to make new indicators of the competences and performance. The data that had been collected were gathered under the topics of A: Professional Knowledge B: Professional Skills and C: Professional Attitudes and Values by the references of MEB Teacher Competencies. The survey was conducted to the academicians and teachers who teach Turkish as a foreign language. It was the opinions of teacher's and academician's opinions what was asked in the survey. Then, according to the data obtained from the surveys and interviews, the draft competencies and performance indicators converted into 5-point Likert-type questionnaire. The survey was applied to those who teaches Turkish as a foreign language or has worked on the subject. According to the findings, %65,3 of them find Teaching Turkish As a Foreign Language Teachers' Competences are very important, %32 of them important, %2,7 of them moderately important.. There was no one that finds the competences not important. The work was ended with results and discussion parts

Evaluating serum elastin levels in striae gravidarum

GURLEK, BERIL/0000-0002-4050-3193; ARPA, Medeni/0000-0001-8321-4829WOS: 000525736100010Objective: Striae gravidarum (SG) is the most common dermatological defect in pregnancy leading to cosmetic anxiety with unknown etiopathogenesis. the aim of the study was to analyze the relation between serum elastin levels and striae and identify possible independent associated risk factors. Materials and methods: This was a prospective observational study. in total, 138 primipara pregnant women were examined before delivery. Participants were separated into two groups according to the presence of SG. Striae assessment was performed according to Davey score. Before the active phase of labor patients were physically examined and blood samples were collected. Personal characteristics, features of birth, skin findings and serum elastin levels were compared between groups. Results: Term pregnant women with SG had significantly higher serum elastin levels than those without SG (99.46 +/- 32.92 vs. 88.36 +/- 19.12, respectively; p = 0.018). Conclusions: Serum elastin levels were increased in women with SG. However, the newly synthesized elastin may not be functional as it is thin and disorganized. Therefore, increased elastin production may not prevent the formation of striae. This finding may provide an impetus to explore the pathomechanisms of striae. Further controlled trials are warranted to determine the clinical significance of serum elastin levels in the formation of SG

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios in patients with endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer

WOS: 000351218500016PubMed: 25363740AimNeutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and platelet distribution width (PDW) may indicate the systemic inflammatory response associated with various cancers. We aimed to investigate the relationship between NLR, PLR, PDW and endometrial pathologies including hyperplasia and cancer. MethodsIn this study, 472 cases who underwent endometrial biopsy were included. Three groups were constituted with respect to biopsy results: group 1, endometrial cancer patients (n=54); group 2, endometrial hyperplasia patients (n=152); and group 3, patients with normal biopsy results (n=281). White blood cell and platelet counts as well as NLR, PLR and PDW recorded from complete blood counts obtained on the same day of biopsy were compared in the three groups. ResultsEndometrial cancer patients were significantly older than the cases in the other two groups (P<0.001). the NLR in group 1 was significantly higher than group 3 (P=0.02). However, there was no difference between the three groups with respect to PLR (P=0.167). PDW was increased in group 1 compared to group 3 (P<0.001). ConclusionResults of our study have shown that NLR, PLR and PDW are simple, readily available and robust inflammatory markers that may be used in the management of endometrial pathologies. However, the actual predictive potential of these biomarkers still warrants further trials

Comparison of hematologic variables and NGAL levels of premenopausal overweight women with and without PCOS

WOS: 000372180000507[No abstract available

Could platelet distribution width be a predictive marker for unexplained recurrent miscarriage?

WOS: 000339727400009PubMed: 24619190The aim of our study was to evaluate the platelet function in unexplained recurrent miscarriage and to investigate whether any hematologic changes detectable by simple complete blood count have a diagnostic value for the prediction of unexplained recurrent miscarriage. A prospective study based on the comparison of 74 patients with unexplained recurrent first-trimester pregnancy loss with 208 control subjects matched for age. the two groups were compared in terms of platelet indices. There was a significant difference in platelet distribution width in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage compared to healthy control subjects. Platelet distribution width values in the patient group were statistically higher (P < 0.001) than the control group. Our study provides an evidence that platelet distribution width gradually increases in women with recurrent miscarriage compared to control group. Patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage have significantly increased platelet aggregation. This data may provide an empirical rationale for the use of anticoagulants in the management of this clinical condition

Response to: Platelet indices in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriage; related factors should be considered

WOS: 000340518300006PubMed: 24925348[No abstract available

Chronic Abdominal Pain in a Patient with Escobar Syndrome

Erdivanli, Basar/0000-0002-3955-8242WOS: 000348046600011PubMed: 25196531Escobar syndrome is characterized with multiple pterygia or webs of the skin and multiple congenital anomalies. We present a 15-year-old patient with Escobar syndrome who complained of persistent blunt abdominal pain for 1 year. Preoperative evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of imperforate hymen, and the patient underwent hymenectomy under intravenous sedation. the patient's postoperative course was uneventful and her complaints resolved completely. After a 3-month follow-up, she reported having normal menstrual bleeding intervals each month without any complications. Patients with Escobar syndrome may suffer from abdominal pain due to imperforate hymen. Careful evaluation of these patients must include a complete gynaecological assessment and, if indicated, surgical treatment must be performed without delay. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Base

Alterations of thyroid volume and nodular size during and after pregnancy in a severe iodine-deficient area

WOS: 000344176900017PubMed: 24811142ObjectiveThe effects of pregnancy on thyroid nodules were investigated in a few number of studies. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid nodules, the changes in size, volume and number of nodules during pregnancy and after delivery in pregnant women. Design and methodsThis prospective study was performed in a severe iodine-deficient area and included 83 pregnant women (mean age 30455years). We evaluated thyroid hormone levels, ultrasound examination of thyroid and urine iodine concentration (UIE) at each trimester and at 3-month post-partum period (PP). All patients with thyroid nodules >1cm underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) after the last visit at the PP. ResultsTwenty-six women had thyroid nodules on thyroid ultrasonography at the first trimester. the volume of single/dominant nodule showed enlargement during pregnancy and remained at the PP; however, it was not significant (first trimester: 083 +/- 08ml; second trimester: 092 +/- 1ml; third trimester: 099 +/- 12ml; PP: 092 +/- 12ml). the maximum diameter of single/dominant nodule in the third trimester of pregnancy (126 +/- 54mm) was greater than the first trimester (119 +/- 48mm) (P=0002). the number of nodules did not change during pregnancy. the mean TV increased during pregnancy and remained 3months after delivery (P<0001), and the maximum value of TV was reached in the third trimester (142 +/- 79ml). FNAB results revealed a 66% prevalence of malignancy among the nodules. ConclusionsThyroid nodules were present in 301% of pregnant women. While size of the single/dominant thyroid nodule increased significantly during pregnancy, the number of nodules did not change