Variables affecting mortality rates in patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Patients operated under emergency conditions have a higher risk of death and complications than those per-formed under elective conditions. Especially the patient group with high comorbidity needs to be evaluated more specifically. Accord-ing to the surgical risk and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scoring, the perioperative risk should be determined quickly, and the relatives of the patients should be informed.

Evaluation of immunomodulatory nutrients in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

Objective: Glutamine and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease infection rates, antibiotic use, and hospital length of stay. However, whether giving immunonutrients to critically ill patients is beneficial remains controversial. In our study, we aimed to look at the effectiveness of parenteral unsaturated (omega-3) fatty acids and amino acid glutamine in patients with serious conditions in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Determination of colistin-related nephrotoxicity and risk factors in intensive care unit.

Objective: Colistin is a cationic polypeptide antibiotic with a cyclic structure that belongs to the polymyxin group. It was banned from clinical use because of its significant renal side effects, such as nephrotoxicity. However, the administration of colistin has recently been initiated again in the treatment of multi-drug resistant pathogens, such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Analgesic effects of ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane block using different volumes and concentrations of local analgesics after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective To evaluate the effects of an ultrasound-guided transverse abdominis plane (US-TAP) block used for postoperative pain relief by comparing the efficacy of two different volumes/concentrations of the local anaesthetic bupivacaine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Methods This randomized study enrolled patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. They were randomized to two groups: group A received a 20 ml US-TAP block (50 mg bupivacaine +10 ml saline solution) and group B received a 30 ml US-TAP block (50 mg bupivacaine + 20 ml saline solution).

Comparison of p57, c-erbB-2, CD117, and Bcl-2 expression in the differential diagnosis of hydatidiform mole and hydropic abortion.

Purpose: To explore the utility of p57, c-erbB-2, CD 117, and Bel-2 immunostaining in the differential diagnosis of complete hydatidiform mole (CHM), partial hydatidiform mole (PHM), and hydropic abortion (HA).

Materials And Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of the p57, c-erbB-2, CD117, and Bel-2 proteins were investigated semi-quantitatively using paraffin-embedded tissue sections from histologically unequivocal cases of CHM (n = 20), PHM (n = 23), and HA (n = 17).

Results: All cases of CHM exhibited a striking absence of p57 expression.

Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in euthyroid adolescent girls with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: relationship to antioxidant status.

Objective: Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), which is the most common thyroid disorder in adolescents. HT requires lifelong thyroid surveillance, particularly in women of childbearing age to avoid adverse effects on reproductive function. The aims of this study were to investigate serum concentrations of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a marker of ovarian reserve, in euthyroid adolescent girls with newly diagnosed HT and explore the relationships between AMH levels and biomarkers of antioxidant status.

Increased serum ghrelin in preeclampsia: is ghrelin a friend or a foe?

Objectives: To investigate maternal serum ghrelin levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and to explore the relationship between ghrelin level and disease severity.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study included 40 healthy pregnant women, 42 women with mild preeclampsia, and 40 women with severe preeclampsia. The groups were matched in terms of maternal and gestational age and body mass index.

Erythropoietin diminishes isoflurane-induced apoptosis in rat frontal cortex.

Background: During the brain growth spurt, anesthetic drugs can cause cellular and behavioral changes in the developing brain. The aim of this study was to determine the neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin after isoflurane anesthesia in rat pups.

Methods: A total of 42, 7-day-old Wistar rats were divided into three groups.

Irisin as an early marker for predicting gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective study.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate maternal serum irisin levels in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in women diagnosed with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: We performed a prospective, nested case-control study in 258 pregnant women who were enrolled at the time of the first prenatal visit (6-11th weeks of gestation) and followed until delivery. Among the entire population, we selected 20 women who subsequently developed GDM and 30 women with uneventful pregnancies.

Serum level and placental expression of resistin in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia: relationship with disease severity.

The authors aimed to compare the maternal serum level and placental expression of resistin in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and clarify their relationship with disease severity. This cross-sectional study included 50 healthy pregnant women, 50 women with mild preeclampsia, and 48 women with severe preeclampsia. Serum resistin levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay and placental resistin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Immunohistochemical Analysis of E-Cadherin, p53 and Inhibin-α Expression in Hydatidiform Mole and Hydropic Abortion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of E-cadherin, p53, and inhibin-α immunostaining in the differential diagnosis of hydropic abortion (HA), partial hydatidiform mole (PHM), and complete hydatidiform mole (CHM). E-cadherin, p53, and inhibin-α protein expression patterns were investigated immunohistochemically using paraffin -embedded tissue sections from histologically diagnosed cases of HA (n = 23), PHM (n = 24), and CHM (n = 23). Expression patterns of these markers were scored semi-quantitatively according to the staining intensity, percentage of positive cells, and immunoreactivity score.

Evaluation of circulating betatrophin levels in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Experimental data indicate that betatrophin plays a significant role in the regulation of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. In recent years, considerable attention has focused on the relationship between betatrophin and diabetes mellitus in humans. This case-control study included 45 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 45 pregnant healthy controls.

Do the first, second and third trimester maternal serum hepcidin concentrations clarify obstetric complications?

Objective: To evaluate whether first, second, and third-trimester maternal serum hepcidin levels are different in pregnancies with and without adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO).

Methods: A 165 nullipar pregnant women were included in this prospective cohort study. Serum hepcidin, ferritin, IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Hb values were measured at 11-14, 24-28, and 30-34 weeks of gestation.

The impact of copper-containing and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraceptives on cervicovaginal cytology and microbiological flora: a prospective study.

Objective: To compare vaginal microflora and cervical cytology before and after insertion of a copper-containing intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) or a levonorgestrel releasing-intrauterine system (LNG-IUS).

Methods: Between April 2009 and February 2011, all women requesting insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive for family planning or noncontraceptive indications were enrolled. One hundred and eight Cu-IUDs and 42 LNG-IUSs were placed.

Transcervical intrauterine levobupivacaine or lidocaine infusion for pain control during endometrial biopsy.

Background: Endometrial biopsy is a common procedure for the investigation of many gynecological disorders including abnormal uterine bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, abnormal cytology and infertility. Most women experience some degree of discomfort and pain during the procedure. Pain may occur during dilation of the cervix for insertion of the catheter and during endometrial biopsy, which further aggravates pain by inducing uterine contraction.

Hepcidin, iron status, and inflammation variables among healthy pregnant women in the Turkish population.

Purpose: To investigate hepcidin levels in each trimester and their association with other haematological variables and inflammation markers during normal pregnancy among low-risk pregnant women in rural Turkey.

Method: The series comprised 103 healthy Turkish primigravida women with a normal pregnancy. Blood samples were obtained at 11-14, 24-28 and 30-34 weeks of gestation.

Serum levels of visfatin and possible interaction with iron parameters in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background/aims: Visfatin is a novel adipokine with insulinomimetic properties that increases in diabetes. However, for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) there are conflicting reports. Recent studies have reported a positive association of serum ferritin concentrations with insulin resistance.

Serum hepcidin is associated with parameters of glucose metabolism in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Hepcidin is considered a major regulator of iron metabolism. Despite previous studies showing elevated ferritin and hepcidin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), no study has investigated hepcidin levels in pregnant women with gestational DM (GDM).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 30 cases of GDM, 47 pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 72 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (control) between April 2009 and July 2011.

Levels of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a procarboxypeptidase, which is synthesised in liver and activated by thrombin and the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. TAFI suppresses fibrinolysis by removing carboxy-terminal lysine residues from partially degraded fibrin. In this study we aimed to assess the circulating levels of TAFI antigen, 'a fibrinolytic parameter' in women with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Awareness and use of folic acid among reproductive age and pregnant women.

Objective: Folic acid supplementation during the pre-conception period and first trimester of pregnancy reduces the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs). In this study, our aim is to investigate knowledge and use of folic acid among women attending our clinic.

Material And Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2012, 817 participants, consisting of 345 pregnant and 472 non-pregnant women, were enrolled in this survey.

Postoperative visual impairment after spinal fusion surgery.

Objective: The aim of this prospective study was to detect risk factors for visual impairment or changes in vision following spinal fusion surgery.

Methods: A total of 68 patients aged 18-65 years, scheduled for posterior spinal fusion surgery, were included. Ophthalmic examinations were performed by an ophthalmologist on the day before surgery and repeated after the second postoperative day, within the first postoperative week.

The association between serum asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels and a history of gestational diabetes among healthy women.

In recent years, asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) has emerged as an early marker and/or mediator of endothelial dysfunction and it has been proved to be a novel, independent risk factor of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Our aim in this study was to compare the ADMA concentrations among patients with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with controls. Thirty women with a history of GDM and 40 age-matched and BMI-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study.

Impact of inherited thrombophilias on first and second trimester maternal serum markers for aneuploidy.

Objective: To evaluate first and second-trimester maternal serum markers in pregnancies complicated with inherited thrombophilias.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in 50 pregnancies complicated with hereditary thrombophilia and 100 control pregnancies.

Results: Each woman with inherited thrombophilia received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) throughout her pregnancy.