The relationship between Thiol/disulfide homeostasis and endometrial hyperplasia in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding/

Introduction: The role of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in the development of endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is controversial. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate Thiol/disulfide Homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels in patients with EH without atypia. Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study, patients with EH without atypia (HP group) (n=28), patients with nonhyperplasia (proliferative/secretory/irregular proliferative/irregular secretory endometrium) (non-HP group) (n=28), and 28 healthy women (control group) were included. The patient's clinical characteristics, serum Thiol/disulfide parameters, and IMA levels were compared between groups. Results: A total of 84 patients were included in the study. Patients’ mean age, BMI, and mean native thiol (-SH-), total thiol (-SH-+-SS-), disulfide (-SS-), and IMA levels were similar among the three groups. The -SS- /-SH- ratio was higher in the HP group than the non-HP group. -SS- /-SH-+-SS- ratio was higher in the HP group vs. the other two groups. The -SS- /-SH-+-SS ratio was higher in the HP group vs. the non-HP group. -SH-/ -SH-+-SS- ratio was lower in the HP group than in the non-HP group. ET was greater in the HP group than in the non-HP and control groups. ET was also significantly greater in the non-HP group vs. in the control group. -SS-/-SH- ratio was found to be predictive with 64% sensitivity and 68% specificity for EH (area under curve = 0.672, p = 0.01). Conclusion and Suggestions: The dynamic thiol/disulfide balance shifted to the disulfide side in women with endometrial hyperplasia

Bladder Horn Appearance on Ultrasonographic Examination Prior to Cesarean Section: Does it Predict High Cranial Attachment of the Bladder?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of bladder horn appearance seen on ultrasonography performed prior to cesarean section in prediction of high cranial attachment of bladder. STUDY DESIGN: The study was carried out in delivery unit of a teaching hospital. Two hundred pregnant women, 66 with and 134 without ultrasonographic appearance of bladder horn with at least one previous CS delivery beyond 37 weeks of gestation were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: The rate of high cranial attachment of the bladder in patients with or without bladder horn appearance is 33.3% and 26.9%, respectively (p=0.51). There was no difference in the incidence of dense adhesions between uterus and bladder requiring sharp dissection to create a bladder flap between two groups (22.7% vs. 20.2%) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic appearance of horn shaped attachment of bladder base to the uterus does not predict the high attachment of bladder to the uterus

Value of Post-transfer Day-12 Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels for Pregnancy Outcome Prediction of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Cycles

Background: Several markers were studied previously in order to predict the pregnancy outcome of assisted reproductive techniques; however, serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin was found to be the most predictive marker. Aims: To evaluate the value of serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels in discriminating biochemical and clinical pregnancies 12 days after embryo transfer, while determining the factors predicting ongoing pregnancy was established as the secondary aim. Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 445 pregnant cycles were retrospectively analysed in 2359 embryo transfer cycles. Patients were divided into two groups according to the outcome of pregnancy: biochemical and clinical. Results: The cut-off value of beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels on day 12 in predicting clinical pregnancies was 86.8 IU/mL with 65.1% sensitivity and 74.7% specificity [CI: 0.76 (0.71-0.81). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed different cut-off values for embryo transfer days (57 mIU/mL for day 3 embryo transfer CI: 0.59-0.79 and 87 mIU/mL for day 5 embryo transfer, CI: 0.74-0.86). Subgroup analysis of clinical pregnancies revealed a significant difference between ongoing pregnancies and early fetal losses regarding duration of infertility (81.3±54.4 vs. 100.2±62.2 months), serum oestradiol on hCG day (2667.4±1276.4 vs. 2094.6±1260.5 pg/mL), number of transferred embryos (1.9±0.8 vs. 1.5±0.7) and the prevalence of diminished ovarian reserve as an indication (2.3% vs 12.2%). Conclusion: Beta human chorionic gonadotropin levels on day 12 following embryo transfer provide an important parameter for the prediction of clinical pregnancy; however, other stimulation parameters are indicated in the prediction of ongoing pregnancie

IVIg-induced headache: prospective study of a large cohort with neurological disorders

Background: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is frequently used in some neurological diseases and is also the first-line therapy in Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and multifocal motor neuropathy. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of headaches, which is one of the most common side effects of IVIg treatment. Methods: Patients who received IVIg treatment for neurological diseases were prospectively enrolled in 23 centers. Firstly, the characteristics of patients with and without IVIg-induced headaches were analyzed statistically. Then, patients with IVIg-induced headaches were classified into three subgroups determined by their history: no primary headache, tension-type headache (TTH), and migraine. Results: A total of 464 patients (214 women) and 1548 IVIg infusions were enrolled between January and August 2022. The frequency of IVIg-related headaches was 27.37% (127/464). A binary logistic regression analysis performed with significant clinical features disclosed that female sex and fatigue as a side effect were statistically more common in the IVIg-induced headache group. IVIg-related headache duration was long and affected daily living activities more in patients with migraine compared to no primary headache and TTH groups (p = 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Headache is more likely to occur in female patients receiving IVIg and those who develop fatigue as a side effect during the infusion. Clinicians’ awareness of IVIg-related headache characteristics, especially in patients with migraine, may increase treatment compliance