Evaluation of vascular peroxidase 1, humanin, MOTS-c and miR-200c expression levels in untreated preeclampsia patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of Vascular Peroxidase 1 (VPO1), humanin, and MOTS-c in relation to miR-200c expression in untreated preeclamptic pregnancies, and to compare these findings with endoglin levels.

Methods And Results: In this study, blood samples were collected from preeclamptic patients presenting to the clinic prior to the initiation of treatment. The levels of endoglin, VPO1, humanin, and MOTS-c were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while miR-200c expression was quantified using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Comparison of dienogest or combinations with ethinylestradiol/estradiol valerate on the pain score of women with endometriosis: A prospective cohort study.

Endometriosis is one of the most frequent gynecologic disorders. The pathognomonic symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. The recommended pain medications are oral hormonal contraceptives, progestin therapy, danazol, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aromatase inhibitors.

Serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels in Turkish girls aged 18 and younger for ovarian reserve determination.

Objective: Our aim was to show that anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) may be used as a quantitative marker of ovarian reserve in Turkish girls aged 18 years and younger and establish the reference values for AMH in Turkish girls.

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included girls between 8-18 years old, without premature ovarian failure or without genetic factors resulting in ovarian dysgenesis. Blood specimens were collected after overnight fasting early in the morning during the early follicular phase.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in threatened preterm labor.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was the evaluation of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in women with threatened preterm labor (TPL) and also to compare the levels of these oxidative stress biomarkers of TPL pregnancies that had preterm and term deliveries.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 46 patients diagnosed with TPL and 47 healthy pregnant women matched for gestational age. Patients with threatened preterm labor were divided into two groups: true preterm birth (TPB) group (n = 16) and false preterm birth (FPB) group (n = 30) groups.

2D and 3D cultured human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium has a dual effect in type 1 diabetes model in rats: immunomodulation and beta-cell regeneration.

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the irreversible destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in pancreatic islets. Helper and cytotoxic T-cells and cytokine production, which is impaired by this process, take a synergetic role in β-cell destruction, and hyperglycemia develops due to insulin deficiency in the body. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) appear like an excellent therapeutic tool for autoimmune diseases with pluripotent, regenerative, and immunosuppressive properties.

Therapeutic potential of conditioned medium obtained from deferoxamine preconditioned umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on diabetic nephropathy model.

Background: The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-derived conditioned media (CM) can be increased after preconditioning with various chemical agents. The aim of this study is comparative evaluation of effects of N-CM and DFS-CM which are collected from normal (N) and deferoxamine (DFS) preconditioned umbilical cord-derived MSCs on rat diabetic nephropathy (DN) model.

Methods: After incubation of the MSCs in serum-free medium with/without 150 µM DFS for 48 h, the contents of N-CM and DFS-CM were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Anti-Müllerian hormone, an ovarian reserve marker in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Objective: To determine the usefulness of Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) as an ovarian reserve marker in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) patients and to find a limit value for the gonadotropin levels in the diagnosis of HH patients.

Study Design: It is a retrospective cross-sectional single-center study. One hundred ninety-nine women with HH and 171 healthy controls with no cycle disorders were included into this study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and endothelial dysfunction: A potential role for soluble lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1.

The aims of this study were to investigate whether serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), paraoxonase-1(PON-1) and hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels are altered in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and also to determine if hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance (IR) and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) are associated with endothelial dysfunction in PCOS. A total of 46 women with PCOS and 46 non-PCOS healthy controls were recruited. Women with PCOS had significantly higher sLOX-1, oxLDL and LOOH concentrations than non-PCOS women [6.

The prevalence of endometrioma and associated malignant transformation in women over 40 years of age.

Objective: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic disease, which is regarded as a disease of reproductive-aged women. Endometriosis is most frequently diagnosed during reproductive period. We aimed to determine the frequency of endometrioma in women over 40 years of age who were operated for adnexial mass.

Comparison of different cryopreservation protocols for human umbilical cord tissue as source of mesenchymal stem cells.

The main purpose of this study is to establish an effective cryopreservation protocol for the umbilical cord tissue as a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this context, it was aimed to use a cryoprotectant that could be an alternative to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) which is commonly used despite the toxic side effects. Therefore, two different cryopreservation solutions were prepared using 10% DMSO and 10% 1,2 propanediol (PrOH).

Ultrastructural analysis of human umbilical cord derived MSCs at undifferentiated stage and during osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered as an important tool for regenerative medicine and experimental treatments. Unveiling the ultrastructural changes during the differentiation of MSCs might help us to understand the nature of the process and to develop novel therapeutic approaches. For this purpose, human umbilical cord (hUC) was chosen as MSC source.

Possible effects of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms on cardiovascular risk in patients with preeclampsia.

Purpose: Lipoprotein lipase-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a vascular inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Women with preeclampsia (PE) have elevated vascular inflammation and at higher CVD risk in the later life. We hypothesize that vascular inflammation related genetic variations increase the risk for developing future cardiovascular disease in women with PE.

A rare cause of abdominal pain: Ectopic ovary and intestinal malrotation.

Altınay-Kırlı E, Özcan R, Öncül M, Özmen E, Eliçevik M, Büyükünal C, Emir H, Topuzlu-Tekant G. A rare cause of abdominal pain: Ectopic ovary and intestinal malrotation. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 699-703.

Usefulness of Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Predicting Tubo-Ovarian Abscess in Patients with Acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

We aimed to investigate the clinical importance of serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels in the diagnosis of tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA). Patients diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID; n = 36) and patients diagnosed with TOA (n = 42) were included in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, laboratory and clinical parameters were compared between the 2 groups.

Homocysteine in embryo culture media as a predictor of pregnancy outcome in assisted reproductive technology.

The aim of this study was to determine whether homocysteine (hcy) concentrations in embryo culture media correlate with pregnancy outcome in assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles. Forty patients who underwent single embryo transfer at the infertility clinic of a tertiary care center were recruited for this case-control study. Spent embryo culture media from all patients were collected after single embryo transfer on day 3 (n = 40).

Evaluation of maternal serum progranulin levels in normotensive pregnancies, and pregnancies with early- and late-onset preeclampsia.

Aims: To investigate the possible pathophysiological associations between progranulin (PGRN) and preeclampsia (PE), early-onset PE (EOPE) and late-onset PE (LOPE).

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was designed to include consecutive patients with uncomplicated pregnancy (n = 28), EOPE (n = 30) and LOPE (n = 22). Maternal levels of serum PGRN were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Maternal serum copeptin concentrations in early- and late-onset pre-eclampsia.

Objective: Early-onset pre-eclampsia is primarily associated with placental dysfunction, whereas late-onset pre-eclampsia is defined as a maternal constitutional disorder. As a protein cosynthesized with vasopressin, copeptin is a potential marker of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, which shares similar risk factors with pre-eclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate the copeptin levels in patients with early-onset and late-onset pre-eclampsia.

Shear wave elastography of placenta: in vivo quantitation of placental elasticity in preeclampsia.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the utility of shear wave elastography (SWE) for assessing the placenta in preeclampsia disease.

Methods: A total of 50 pregnant women in the second or third trimester (23 preeclampsia patients and 27 healthy control subjects) were enrolled in the study. Obstetrical grayscale and Doppler ultrasonography, SWE findings of placenta, and prenatal/postnatal clinical data were analyzed and the best SWE cutoff value which represents the diagnosis of preeclampsia was determined.

Serum endocan concentration in women with pre-eclampsia.

Purpose: To investigate serum endocan levels in pregnant subjects with and without pre-eclampsia.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 49 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 32 healthy pregnant women matched for gestational age. Maternal levels of serum endocan were measured with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Evaluation of Lp-PLA2 mass, vitronectin and PAI-1 activity levels in patients with preeclampsia.

Purpose: The aim of the current study is to determine, correlate and compare the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), vitronectin (Vn), Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) levels in early-onset preeclampsia, late-onset preeclampsia and in control pregnant women.

Methods: A total of 79 individuals, 30 early-onsets, and 22 late-onset preeclamptic and 27 control pregnant women were included into the scope of this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedure was used to determine the serum Lp-PLA2 and plasma Vn, t-PA antigen and PAI-1 activity levels.

The association of lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor 1 (LOX-1) K167N and 3'UTR188CT polymorphisms with maternal plasma soluble LOX-1 levels and preeclampsia risk in Turkish population.

Purpose: To investigate the main effect of polymorphisms in genes involved in endothelial pathophysiological mechanisms, LOX-1 K167N and 3'UTR188CT single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in relation to preeclampsia (PE) risk and possible interactions between the gene polymorphisms and plasma oxLDL and soluble LOX-1 (sLOX-1) levels on PE in Turkish population.

Methods: LOX-1 K167N and 3'UTR188CT polymorphisms were studied in 113 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 96 healthy pregnant women by the PCR-RFLP techniques. sLOX-1 and oxLDL levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all study subjects.

Anti-müllerian hormone levels as a predictor of the pregnancy rate in women of advanced reproductive age.

Purpose: To investigate whether serum anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), or antral follicle count (AFC) are predictive for clinical pregnancy in women who underwent IVF cycles at the age of 35 and older

Methods: A total of 240 consecutive women who underwent IVF cycles at the age of 35 and older were enrolled in this crsoss- sectional study. Pregnant and nonpregnant women were compared.

Results: The median AMH level of pregnant women was higher than non-pregnant women [3.

Maternal serum apelin and YKL-40 levels in early and late-onset pre-eclampsia.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate whether alterations in the serum levels of apelin and YKL-40 differ between early and late onset pre-eclampsia and whether there is a correlation between apelin and YKL-40 in women who subsequently develop early and late pre-eclampsia.

Materials And Methods: A total number of 80 pregnant women, 40 with normal pregnancy and 40 with pre-eclampsia, were included in the present study. Both the normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic subjects were subdivided into two groups.

Diagnosis and outcome of pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed fetal dextrocardia.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence, associated cardiac and extracardiac malformations and clinical outcome of fetuses with dextrocardia.

Method: A retrospective review of 3556 fetal echocardiograms between 2000 and 2011 revealed 39 cases of dextrocardia. Dextrocardia was defined as right-sided positioning of the fetal heart.