Influence of Behçet's disease on first and second trimester serum screening markers.

Aim: Behçet's disease (BD) is a rare and multisystemic vasculitis disease. In this study, we investigated whether BD had any effect on the biochemical components of first and second trimester aneuploidy screening tests.

Methods: A case-control retrospective study was conducted with 32 pregnant women with BD and 60 healthy pregnant women as controls.

Dietary sodium and potassium intake were associated with hypertension, kidney damage and adverse perinatal outcome in pregnant women with preeclampsia.

Objectives: In this study, we hypothesized that dietary salt and potassium intake may be related with blood pressure, kidney damage and perinatal outcome in pregnants with preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: In total, 200 women (50 control women with healthy pregnancy, 150 women with PE) were recruited for the study. Daily salt and potassium intake was estimated based on calculation of 24-hour urinary sodium U[Na+] and potassium U[K+] excretion.

Effect of vitamin C on collagen structure of cardinal and uterosacral ligaments during pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate changes in collagen structure in the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments of rats that were administered vitamin C during pregnancy.

Study Design: Eighteen female rats were divided into three groups: six pregnant rats administered 1.25mg/ml/day of vitamin C during pregnancy (Group A); six non-pregnant rats that were not administered vitamin C (Group B); and six pregnant rats that were not administered vitamin C during pregnancy (Group C).

Decreased placental and maternal serum TRAIL-R2 levels are associated with placenta accreta.

Objectives: TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor-2 (TRAIL-R2) is produced both by decidual and trophoblast cells during pregnancy and known to participate in apoptosis. In this study, we aimed to determine and to compare maternal serum and placental TRAIL-R2 levels in patients with placenta accreta, non-adherent placenta previa and in healthy pregnancies. We also aimed to analyze the association of placenta accreta with the occurrence of previous C-sections.