No abstract

Background/Aim: To investigate the expression and value for diagnosis of the genes, p53 and pTEN, the protein, Ki-67, and the receptors, estrogen and progesterone, in differentiating smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. Material and Method: Seventeen samples of leiomyosarcoma, 2 smooth muscle tumors with uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), 9 atypical myomas and 15 leiomyomas were stained immunohistochemically. The χ² test was used for the statistical analysis of the data. Results: The malignant side of the spectrum was strongly stained for Ki-67 and p53 while uniformly decreasing toward the benign tumors. The results were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The staining for progesterone receptor was also statistically significant, but the tumors that were considered benign, such as leiomyoma and atypical myoma, were the ones strongly stained (p = 0.005). The expression of estrogen receptor was significant in these tumors, but the p value was very close to the cut-off value (p = 0.07). As the degree of differentiation of the tumor increased, the trend showed stronger staining for estrogen receptor. However, no difference was detected in the staining properties of the tumors for pTEN (p = 0.2457). Conclusion: The expression of Ki-67, p53 and progesterone receptors is promising in immunodifferentiation of smooth muscle tumors of the uterus with malignant potential.

Women with diminished ovarian reserve (OR) have a high rate of pregnancy loss. The relationship between hormonal OR tests and pregnancy loss has been studied previously, but, to our knowledge, that between the antral follicle count (AFC) and pregnancy loss has not. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether OR tests, including the AFC, can predict pregnancy loss in women achieving pregnancy by means of in vitro fertilization (IVF), and also to compare their predictive value. All women underwent a fresh cycle of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with a long protocol with mid-luteal start of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog, and antral follicles were counted on cycle day 3 following down-regulation. Pregnancy losses up to 12 gestational weeks (n=28) were compared with apparently healthy deliveries (n=34) in this retrospective analysis. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of consecutive pregnancies (n=71) was performed to analyze the optimum cut-off value for the significantly different OR tests. Women with a pregnancy loss had a lower AFC than those with healthy deliveries. Age and hormonal OR tests were comparable between groups. The optimum cut-off value for the AFC to predict pregnancy loss was 7.5. AFC may be a useful tool for predicting pregnancy loss in IVF pregnancies.

Data were collected from 1275 pregnant Turkish women screened prospectively for chromosomal anomalies to determine whether first-trimester levels of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and the thickness of nuchal translucency are affected by smoking and other covariables. Only normal singleton pregnancies were included. After weight correction, comparisons were made between smokers and nonsmokers. Mean values of PAPP-A and beta-hCG were reduced in women who smoked 5 or more cigarettes a day compared with nonsmokers. The median beta-hCG level decreased significantly as gravidity and parity increased; no effect was noted on PAPP-A. Median PAPP-A and beta-hCG levels tended to increase, but not significantly in women who had had 2 or more miscarriages. Smoking alters maternal levels of serum analytes, with the magnitude of the impact related to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. This effect can be detected in the first trimester of pregnancy.

No abstract

Cervical volume and vascularization parameters are not helpful in predicting preterm labor and gestational diabetes, but might be associated with pre-eclampsia.

We conclude that lack of correlation between leptin levels in mother, cord and amniotic fluid suggest that these compartments may be non-communicating separate units or have different mechanisms regulating leptin synthesis or degradation, and that leptin in maternal blood and amniotic fluid may not have a direct effect on fetal growth but rather a different role in pregnancy.

Placental volumetry, uterine artery Doppler studies, blood flow calculations and biochemical parameters, such as f-β-hCG, PAPP-A, and IGF-1 could be important in the early and rapid diagnosis of high-risk pregnancies. Thus, they may be useful in first trimester prediction of fetal growth restriction presenting with alterations in PV and vascularity.