Comparison of plasma oxytocin level in women with natural and surgical menopause.

Objective: We aimed to investigate plasma oxytocin level in women with natural and surgical menopause and its relation with other metabolic parameters.

Methods: This study included 89 postmenopausal women admitted to menopausal outpatient clinics and gave written consent to participate. Participants were allocated into natural (Group 1; n = 61) and surgical (Group 2; n = 28) menopause groups based on causative process for the onset of menopause.

How do thiol disulfide balance and copper-ceruloplasmin levels change in women using copper intrauterine devices?

We aimed to examine the change in plasma copper (Cu) level and copper transport proteins level before inserting Cu-IUD and after one menstrual cycle and to show the effect of this change on the thiol disulfide balance in women using copper-containing intrauterine device (Cu-IUD).Thirty-three reproductive women who admitted to the gynecology clinic and inserted Cu-IUD were examined in this study. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis, plasma Cu and ceruloplasmin levels and ceruloplasmin ferroxidase activity were measured using the blood samples collected just before inserting Cu-IUD and after one menstrual cycle.

Comparison of Amniotic Fluid Cytokine Levels in Postterm and Term Pregnancy: a Prospective Study.

Background: To evaluate amniotic fluid pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in women with postterm and term pregnancies in labor and not in labor.

Methods: The study involved three groups: postterm (Group 1, n = 29), term in labor (Group 2, n = 28), and control (Group 3, n = 30). All groups were compared with respect to age, gravidity, parity, obstetric history, gestation week, cervical dilatation and effacement, maternal serum C-reactive protein and white cell count, amniotic interleukin 4, 6, and 10 levels, birthweight, and cord blood pH.

Placental Elasticity and Histopathological Findings in Normal and Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction Pregnancies Assessed with Strain Elastography in Ex Vivo Placenta.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of placental elasticity between intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and normal pregnancies to show whether or not there is any association between histopathological changes and placental elasticity. Fifty-five human placentas were collected at delivery, including 25 with IUGR and 30 controls. Strain elastography (SE) was performed ex vivo and all placentas were examined histopathologically.

Comparison of copper intrauterine device with levonorgestrel-bearing intrauterine system for post-abortion contraception.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the safety, bleeding pattern, effects, side-effects, complications and 6-month continuity rates of levonorgestrel-bearing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) with conventional copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) inserted immediately after voluntary termination of pregnancy up to 10 weeks of gestation.

Methods: One hundred women who underwent voluntary pregnancy termination and preferred IUD insertion as a contraceptive method after counseling were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated to Cu-IUD or LNG-IUS and followed up at 10 days, and at 1, 3 and 6 months.

Clomiphene citrate 'stair-step' protocol vs. traditional protocol in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the stair-step protocol using clomiphene citrate (CC) and to assess the uterine and systemic side effects in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: A total of 60 PCOS patients who failed to respond to 50 mg/day for 5 days of CC treatment within the cycle were randomly allocated to the control (traditional protocol) and study (stair-step protocol) groups. In the stair-step protocol,patients were treated with CC 50 mg/day for 5 days and then in nonresponsive patients, the dosage was increased to 100 mg/day for 5 days in the same cycle.