Metastin levels in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia and their relation with disease severity.

Aims: To evaluate the role of metastin levels in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia and to determine whether there is a relationship between the severity of the disease and Doppler velocimetry measurements.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 89 pregnant women (50 healthy normotensive pregnant women, 15 patients with mild pre-eclampsia, and 24 patients with severe pre-eclampsia) at the third trimester of pregnancy. The maternal levels of plasma metastin were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Evaluation of the relationship between adenosine deaminase, myeloperoxidase, cholinesterase, preeclampsia severity, and neonatal outcomes.

We aimed to evaluate whole blood adenosine deaminase (ADA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and to investigate whether there was a correlation between these enzymes and severity of preeclampsia and neonatal outcomes. Sixty-one pregnant women with mild (n = 31) or severe (n = 30) preeclampsia and 50 healthy controls were included in this study. Whole blood adenosine deaminase, myeloperoxidase, butyrylcholinesterase, and acetylcholinesterase activities were measured.

Expression of laminin receptor 1 in human placentas from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies and its relationship with the severity of preeclampsia.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of laminin receptor 1 (LR1), a non-integrin-type laminin receptor, in preeclamptic and normal third-trimester placentas, as well as to investigate whether its expression differs with disease severity.

Study Design: Third trimester placental samples obtained from deliveries of preeclamptic (n=34) and normotensive healthy pregnant women (n=35) were immunohistochemically studied for the expression of LR1. The placentas from both mild (n=14) and severe (n=20) preeclamptic pregnancies were further assessed for strength of LR1 expression according to disease severity.

Does residual amniotic fluid after preterm premature rupture of membranes have an effect on perinatal outcomes? 12 years experience of a tertiary care center.

Objective: To review our experience with preterm premature rupture of membranes at a tertiary-care hospital in Turkey to determine whether the amount of residual amniotic fluid after rupture has prognostic value for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 191 pregnant women with gestational ages between 24 and 34 weeks at the time of rupture of the amniotic membrane and of their babies delivered in our hospital between January 1996 and September 2008. On the basis of amniotic fluid index (AFI) values recorded at the time of admission, patients were categorized into two groups: those with an AFI < 50 mm (n = 119) and those with an AFI > 50 mm (n = 72).

Increased visfatin and leptin in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate the role of the adipokines, visfatin and leptin in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and abnormal Doppler velocimetry.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 72 pregnant women (30 patients with mild pre-eclampsia, 20 patients with severe pre-eclampsia and 22 healthy normotensive pregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The maternal levels of plasma visfatin and serum leptin were determined in all cases by enzyme immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

Brucellosis in pregnancy: a 6-year clinical analysis.

Aim: To review our experience with brucellosis in pregnancy and to characterize the risk factors, clinical presentations, the rates of possible perinatal complications, and the effect of hospitalization on pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 21 pregnant women at a tertiary care hospital and 12 at a maternity hospital, who presented with acute, subacute, chronic, or relapsing brucellosis. Their risk factors and clinical presentations were defined.

Short-term results of posterior intravaginal slingplasty in grade 4 uterine prolapse.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and complication rates of posterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS) procedures.

Methods: Thirty-four patients who had advanced (grade 4) uterine prolapse were recruited. All patients underwent vaginal hysterectomy and the cuff was suspended with a posterior IVS operation.

The effect of oxytocin infusion and misoprostol on neonatal bilirubin levels.

Purpose: To investigate the association of neonatal bilirubin levels with oxytocin and misoprostol use for labour induction.

Methods: A total of 100 neonates were included in the study. The first group consisted of 50 healthy babies of women who had received oxytocin infusion and the second group consisted of 50 healthy babies of women who had received 25 μg misoprostol every 4 h placed in the posterior fornix for labour induction.

The effect of oxytocin infusion and misoprostol on neonatal bilirubin levels.

Purpose: To investigate the association of neonatal bilirubin levels with oxytocin and misoprostol use for labour induction.

Methods: A total of 100 neonates were included in the study. The first group consisted of 50 healthy babies of women who had received oxytocin infusion, and the second group consisted of 50 healthy babies of women who had received 25 microg misoprostol every 4 h placed in the posterior fornix for labour induction.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-VD) concentrations and metabolic parameters in obese and non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: One hundred women with PCOS were divided into two groups, obese and non-obese, according to their body mass index (BMI). Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman-Gallwey score, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, 25-OH-VD, LH/FSH, total testosterone, and DHEAS were measured.

Relationship between erythrocyte catalase and serum adenosine deaminase activities in eclampsia.

Objective: To examine the relationship between antioxidant status and T-cell activation in the pathogenesis of eclampsia by measuring the activities of erythrocyte catalase, an enzyme of antioxidant mechanism, and serum adenosine deaminase (ADA), regarded as a marker of T-cell activation.

Methods: A total of 60 patients [20 eclamptic (E) pregnant women, 20 healthy pregnant (HP) women and 20 non-pregnant (NP) women] were included in the study. Maternal venous blood samples were obtained from each patient during weeks 28-37 of gestation, and biochemical analyses of catalase activity in erythrocytes and ADA activity in serum were carried out.

Uterine rupture: a twelve-year clinical analysis.

Objective: To review the experience of uterine rupture at a tertiary obstetric unit in Eastern Turkey and to propose preventive measures.

Methods: All uterine rupture cases managed from November 1995 to March 2007 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical School of Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey, were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: There were 33 cases of uterine rupture with an incidence of 1/287 deliveries.

Side effects and acceptability of Implanon: a pilot study conducted in eastern Turkey.

Objective: To assess side effects during the first 6 months of use of Implanon.

Design And Methods: The study was conducted in eastern Turkey between June 2004 and May 2005. Forty-one healthy women, aged 18-40 years who chose to use Implanon participated in the study.

Impaired function of the levator ani muscle in the grand multipara and great grand multipara.

Repeated deliveries might disturb the levator function and increase defecation disorders. In this prospective study, we determined the electric activity of the levator ani muscle (LAM) in nullipara, multipara, grand multipara, and great grand multipara (20 subjects for each group). Multiparity, grand multiparity, and great grand multiparity were defined as women having 2 - 5, 6 - 9, and 10 and over deliveries, respectively.

Serum advanced oxidation protein products, myeloperoxidase and ascorbic acid in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Background: Activation products from neutrophils and the complement system might cause endothelial dysfunction, which is central to the aetiology of pre-eclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and its association with advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), in women with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.

Materials And Method: Twenty-one pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, 11 pregnant women with eclampsia and 19 healthy pregnant women were studied.

A prospective randomized study comparing misoprostol and oxytocin for premature rupture of membranes at term.

Objective: The aim of this randomized trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of vaginal misoprostol and oxytocin for cervical ripening and labor induction in patients with premature rupture of membrane (PROM) at term.

Methods: Ninety-seven women with PROM at term were assigned randomly to receive intravaginal misoprostol or oxytocin. The primary outcome measure was the induction-delivery interval.

Association of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein with severity of preeclampsia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of plasma fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) in preeclampsia and their association with the severity of the disease.

Study Design: CRP and plasma levels of fibrinogen were investigated in 26 cases of normal pregnant women, 26 cases with mild preeclampsia and 26 cases with severe preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was used as an indicator of the severity of the disease.

Peripartum hysterectomy in a teaching hospital in the eastern region of Turkey.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find the incidence and clinical implications of peripartum hysterectomy in our hospital at the Eastern region of Anatolia.

Study Design: We analyzed retrospectively all cases of peripartum hysterectomy performed at YYU Medical Faculty Hospital between January 1995 and April 2003. Emergency peripartum hysterectomy was performed for hemorrhage which cannot be controlled with other conventional treatments within 24h of a delivery.

Body hair scores and total hair diameters in healthy women in the Kirikkale Region of Turkey.

It was aimed to determine the normal hair scores of women of Kirikkale region according to the Ferriman- Gallwey scale and to investigate the relationship between the hair shaft diameter and hair scores. Hair scores were calculated in 204 healthy women, and hair shaft diameters were measured from the hair samples collected from 60 patients. Body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance and blood androgen levels were determined.

Anatomical landmarks regarding sacrospinous colpopexy operations performed for vaginal vault prolapse.

Aim: To investigate the anatomical relationships of the structures and the topographic anatomy of the sacrospinous ligament and validate current anatomic knowledge of this area.

Materials: Nine embalmed half female cadaver pelvises were dissected to reveal the anatomy of the sacrospinous ligament.

Results: The average length of the sacrospinous ligament was measured to be 43.