We demonstrated some adverse effects of Ramadan fasting on fetal development. In the Islamic religion, pregnant individuals have the privilege of not fasting; therefore, they should consider postponing fasting to the postpartum period, especially in the summer season. If they are willing to do so, an appropriate nutritional program should be recommended.

Background: Our aim was to determine the effect of single endometriomas ≤3 cm in diameter per se on ovarian reserve in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Methods: We enrolled 19 consecutive infertile patients (29 cycles) who had unilateral single endometriomas ≤3 cm in diameter and who underwent ICSI. Results: The mean age of the patients was 33.3 ± 4.9 years. The mean diameter of endometriomas was 21.8 ± 4.9 mm. Left- and right-sided endometriomas were 34.5 and 65.5%, respectively. The number of oocytes retrieved from ovaries with endometriomas and contralateral normal ovaries was comparable (5.9 ± 4.3 vs. 5.4 ± 3.8). Conclusion: Endometriomas ≤3 cm in diameter per se did not have a deleterious effect on ovarian reserve in ICSI cycles.

Significant difference in serum IL-6 levels between unexplained infertile and fertile women suggests that this cytokine may be involved in pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.

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Objective: We aimed to compare the levels of plasma zonulin, a non-invasive biomarker of increased intestinal permeability, between pregnant subjects, with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), at 24–28 gestational weeks. The eighty-five consecutive pregnant subjects that presented to our hospital’s obstetrics outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with GDM, for the first time by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), formed the GDM group; 90 consecutive subjects that were not diagnosed with GDM by OGTT, formed the control group. The diagnosis of GDM was made by an OGTT performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation, and in compliance with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Plasma zonulin levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The Plasma zonulin level was significantly higher in the GDM group than the control group (p < 0.001). A correlation analysis showed that plasma zonulin level was positively correlated to body mass index (BMI), creatinine, fasting plasma glucose, baseline, first hour, and two hours glucose levels and the OGTT, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Our findings suggest that zonulin may be a non-invasive biomarker involved in the pathogenesis of GDM. Further large-scale studies are needed on this subject.

The risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increases in the patient population with metabolic syndrome (MeS). The present study aimed to investigate the association between the epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EATT) and the oxidative stress parameters in MeS patients. The study included 181 patients as a patient group of 92 consecutive patients with MeS and a control group of 89 consecutive patients with similar age and gender. EATT was evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography. Serum levels of total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidative capacity (TAS), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and arylesterase activities were measured. EATT was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (6.0 ± 2.0 mm and 4.0 ± 1.0 mm, resp.; P < 0.001). The level of TOS was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Additionally, the TAS level was higher in the MeS group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the serum levels of PON-1 and arylesterase were lower in the MeS group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). EAT may cause an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases by leading to increased oxidative stress in patients with MeS.

Serum uric acid (SUA) level is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Consecutive patients (n = 64) with normal coronary angiography who demonstrated calcific aortic stenosis (AS) by transthoracic echocardiography were included in the study. The patients were categorized into 3 groups: 23 mild AS (12 males), 21 moderate AS (10 males), and 20 severe AS cases (10 males). Fasting SUA level was significantly higher in the severe AS group than in the moderate and mild AS groups (severe AS, 6.3 ± 1.6; moderate AS, 4.9 ± 1.3; mild AS; 4.6 ± 1.4 mg/dL; P < .001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between SUA level and maximum as well as mean aortic gradient (r = .521, P < .001 and r = .526, P < .001, respectively). There was a negative correlation between SUA level and aortic valve area (r = -.447, P < .001). Levels of SUA were increased in calcific AS cases. In addition, there was a positive correlation between severity of calcific AS and SUA levels.

Association of serum fetuin-A levels with heart valve calci cation and other biomarkers of in ammation among persons with acute coronary syndrome Abstract Purpose: Fetuin-A is a multifunctional hepatic secretory protein that inhibits dystrophic vascular and valvular calci cation. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship among fetuin-A levels, heart valve calci cation and other biomarkers of in ammation in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods: e associations among serum fetuin-A concentrations, mitral annular (MAC) and aortic valve calci cation and other biomarkers of in ammation (hs-CRP, ferritin, -brinogen, white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin levels) were evaluated in ACS patients and healthy controls. e study included 95 patients (mean age 61.8±12.10 years) and 81 healthy controls (mean age 48.33±9.19 years).Results: Fetuin-A levels were signi cantly lower in patients with ACS than in healthy controls (0.76 ± 0.23 and 1.10 ± 0.45 g/L, respectively; p<0.001). Fetuin-A was lower in patients with mitral annular calci cation (p=0.007) and aortic (p=0.001) valve calci cation. In patients with ACS, there was a negative correlation among serum urea (r=-0.377; p<0.001) and creatinine (r=-0.232; p=0.024) levels and fetuin-A, and a negative correlation among WBC (r=-0.156; p=0,132), ESR (r=-0.214; p=0.037), hs-CRP (r=-0.220; p=0.032) levels and fetuin-A. A positive correlation was seen between albumin and fetuin-A (r=0.362; p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that fetuin-A was the variable that had a signi cant e ect on ACS (p = 0.020 OR = .015; (95% CI )(0.000-0.520).Conclusion: Fetuin-A levels decrease in patients with acute coronary syndromes, independent of heart valve calci cation. Fetuin-A may therefore act as a negative acute phase protein a er myocardial infarction.