Evaluation of Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Aim The main purpose of this study is the determination of scrum epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and comparison with non-PCOS healthy controls. Methods All consecutive women, who applied between January 2017 and June 2017 to the gynecology outpatient clinics at the Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Training and Research Hospital and met the study criteria, were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) concentrations were measured in each woman and the mean values were compared between the PCOS and non-PCOS groups. Results A total of 90 women (45 with PCOS and 45 without PCOS) were included in the final analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of age and body mass index (p >0.05). Basal scrum HE4 levels were 172.8 +/- 139.8 and 131.8 +/- 123.1 pmol/L in the PCOS and non-PCOS groups, respectively (p = 0.415). Conclusion The serum HE4 levels were found to be similar in women with and without PCOS. No significant correlation was observed between PCOS parameters and scrum HE4 levels

Relationship maternal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness and development of gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective: We investigated whether the ultrasonographic measurement of maternal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thickness in the second trimester played a role in predicting gestational diabetes. Materials and methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study in which 223 women were classified as healthy (n = 177) or as gestational diabetes (n = 46) on the basis of a negative or positive two-step oral Glucose Challenge Test (GCT), respectively. The depth of the abdominal SAT was evaluated by two-dimensional ultrasonography. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist/hip ratio were determined. Results: There was a positive strong significant correlation between a 50-g GCT level and BMI, WC, and SAT thickness (p < 0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed SAT thickness above 16.75 mm predicted gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with a sensitivity of 71.7%, a specificity of 57.1%, a positive predictive value of 32.3%, and a negative predictive value of 87.6%. There was a good correlation between SAT, BMI, and WC. Conclusion: Increased SAT, BMI, and WC measurements may be helpful in predicting the risk of the development of GDM in pregnant women

Evaluation of Maternal and Fetal Stress Hormones During the Process of Birth

Objective: This study aims to determine whether mode of delivery is associated with the endocrine stress response in mother and newborn. Study Design: This prospective observational study was conducted with 86 women with a normal singleton pregnancy who delivered healthy infants between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation in a tertiary center. Study groups included; (1) women undergoing normal vaginal delivery with epidural anesthesia, (2) women undergoing vaginal delivery with immersion in water for pain relief during labor, (3) women delivered through elective caesarean section without labor. After delivery, thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, insulin, prolactin and Beta-endorphin levels were measured in maternal and umbilical cord serum and their relationships between modes of delivery were investigated. Results: It was found that the concentrations of cortisol and beta-endorphin after vaginal delivery with immersion in water group in both mothers and infants were higher than other two modes of delivery and these differences were statistically significant. Umbilical cord concentration of cortisol was the lowest in the caesarean section group. Conclusions: Maternal and fetal stress response was found to be associated with the mode of delivery and labor

Serum calprotectin levels as markers of inflammation, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common, complex endocrine, and metabolic disorder. Inflammation has been thought to play an important role in PCOS pathogenesis in recent years, and various inflammatory markers have been investigated; however, no definite conclusion has been reached. As a multifunctional regulatory protein in different inflammatory processes, calprotectin may play a role in the etiology of PCOS. Therefore, based on this hypothesis, we aimed to determine serum calprotectin concentrations in women with PCOS and to compare them with healthy controls. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral center during the study period. Forty-three women (n = 43) with PCOS and 47 women (n = 47) in the control group were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Serum calprotectin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and compared with markers of glucose and lipid metabolism. Clinical characteristics and hormonal parameters were evaluated in both groups. Levels of serum calprotectin were measured as 347 +/- 28.8 and 188 +/- 15.3 ng/mL in the PCOS and healthy control groups, respectively (P = .009). The mean homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance([1]) index and total testosterone levels were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in the control group (both P < .001). Spearman's correlation test demonstrated linear correlations between calprotectin and C-reactive protein, waist circumference, insulin resistance index, and total testosterone levels in the PCOS group (all P < .05). Serum calprotectin levels were higher in women with PCOS. This biomarker may be an indirect sign of insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, or chronic inflammation in women with PCOS

Effect of Prolonged Fasting Duration on 50 Gram Oral Glucose Challenge Test in the Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between fasting duration before screening with 50g glucose challenge test (GCT) and the test outcome. For this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 508 low-risk pregnant women who underwent 50g GCT between the 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. We excluded women with pregestational diabetes, multiple gestations or a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and macrosomia. We evaluated fasting durations, GCT results, and demographic features. A significant positive correlation was found between fasting duration and 50g GCT values (r=0.122; p=0.006), and the best cut-off value was found to be 6.5h, with 85.85% sensitivity and 38.61% specificity (relative risk, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.893-3.936; p6.5h; n=362) groups. Notably, the mean glucose levels, number of patients with GCT>140mg/dl, and rates of unnecessary 100g loadings were significantly higher in the study group. We found no significant differences between the groups in terms of the fasting plasma glucose levels and GDM prevalence. According to our findings, fasting duration of>6.5h resulted in 2.7 times more unnecessary 100g glucose tolerance tests (GTT). We recommend that patients having fasted for>6.5h receive a one-step 75g GTT after completing 8-h fasting