Obstetric outcomes of intramural leiomyomas in pregnancy

AIM

The authors aimed to study larger intramural leiomyoma with a size of ≥ three cm on pregnancy outcome of singleton pregnancies compared with control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hospital records of all pregnancies followed between years of 2009 and 2013 were searched for the diagnosis of intramural leiomyoma in the second trimester ultrasonographic screening, past medical history, demographics, pregnancy follow up, and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women. In the data analyses, 112 singleton pregnant women with intramural leiomyoma were included in the study group and 168 singleton pregnant women without leiomyoma were included in the control group.

RESULTS

The presence of pregnancy associated leiomyoma was found to be a risk factor for abortion (odds ratio (OR):12.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-63.6) hospitalization for pain (OR: 19.6, 95% CI 5.8-66.5), premature rupture of mem- branes (OR: 6.7, 95% CI 1.4-32.4), oligohydramniosis (OR: 5.3, 95% CI 1.4-20.0), preterm birth (OR: 4.7, 95% CI 1.9-11.6), and breech presentation and other abnormal presentations (OR: 9.7, 95% CI 2.8-34.2) and neonatal intensive care need (OR: 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.5). No correlation with the rate of intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death, placenta previa, abruption of placenta, and cesarean section was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy associated intramural leiomyoma is a risk factor for some perinatal complications and these results may be useful for prenatal counseling.

Primary vaginal endometrial stromal sarcoma associated with endometriosis: a case report with a review of the literature

Extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) are quite rare tumors, and vagina is an unusual site for these tumors. This paper presents a very rare pathological entity of primary vaginal ESS. A 46-year-old woman with a complaint of postcoital vaginal bleeding, low abdominal pain, and constipation was admitted to the clinic. She had a mass of seven cm in size, located in the posterior fornix detected on physical examination. The preoperative biopsy showed ESS, surgical material, and evaluation of an endometrium confirmed the diagnosis of primary vaginal ESS. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and partial vaginectomy. The diagnosis of ESS performed by pathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation was: caldesmon (-), actin (-), desmin (-). CDIO (+), ER (+), PR (+), and vimentin (+). There was no ESS lesion in the endometrium. The patient was free of tumor for 22 months after the surgery without any additional therapy. In this study, the authors report the sixth case of primary vaginal ESS in the literature and aim to discuss diagnostic criteria and management protocols in the light of the literature.

Tear function alterations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Complaints of dry eye are prevalent worldwide and are known to be associated with insulin resistance (IR) and hyperandrogenism. However, dry eye is often overlooked in the context of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not there is any relation between tear functions and PCOS, which is a multifaceted disorder associated with IR or hyperandrogenism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 35 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were enrolled in this study, along with 27 healthy controls. Body mass index (BMI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and free testosterone levels on the third day of menstruation were recorded, as well as hirsutism score (using the Ferriman Gallwey scoring system), insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment), neutrophil-to- lymphocyte ratios (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR), and mean platelet volumes (MPV). A complete ocular examination was followed by administration of the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire and Schirmer and tear break-up time (TBUT) tests.

RESULTS

Schirmer and OSDI results were similar between groups, but TBUT was significantly lower in the PCOS group (p = 0.002). There were negative correlations between FG score and TBUT test (r = -0.406, p = 0.001) and between NLR and Schirmer test (r = -0.294, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Although subjective dry eye symptoms do not present in all patients, these results confirm that tear reduction, which can cause further complications in patients with PCOS, can be detected by careful examination and sensitive tests.

The diversity of major histocompatibility complex class II DRB1 gene in sheep breeds from Xinjiang, China

Exon 2 of the ovine leukocyte antigen OLA-DRB1 locus was examined in sheep from the Xinjiang Karakul Ram and Bashibai populations, and three generations of hybrids were derived from a cross between Bashibai and Altai Argali wild sheep. This identified 12 novel alleles and 30 previously reported alleles. A neighbor-joining tree of the amino acid sequences of these 42 alleles revealed allelic clusters shared across the study populations. There were significant differences in allelic frequency between Karakul Ram and Bashibai sheep. DRB1*K18cC was the most frequent allele in Kararul Ram with a frequency of 21.2%, while DRB1*2F10c8 (13.2%) and DRB1*0803 (13.2%) were the most frequent alleles found in Bashibai sheep; the alleles DRB1*2F16c2, DRB1*1601, and DRB1*0803 occurred most frequently in F1, F2, and F3 populations, with frequencies of 17.6%, 14.3%, and 20%, respectively. Although many alleles were shared by Bashibai and hybrid sheep, some alleles differed between them, especially in the F1 generation of the Bashibai × Altai Argali cross. The hybrid-specific alleles indicated the introgression of Altai Argali alleles into hybrid flocks. A population tree based on the OLA-DRB1 allelic frequency in each population indicated that the Bashibai sheep and three hybrid populations were similar, with Karakul Ram being genetically distinct.

B-cell subsets in patients with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy, partial IgA deficiency, and selective IgM deficiency

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of some primary humoral immunodeficiencies, such as transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) and immunoglobulin (Ig) A deficiency, remains unknown and can render diagnosis problematic.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we used flow cytometry to analyze peripheral blood B-cell subsets in patients with THI and unclassified hypogammaglobulinemia (UCH), partial IgA deficiency, and selective IgM deficiency.

METHODS

The study population comprised 41 patients with hypogammaglobulinemia (THI, 18; UCH, 23), 16 patients with partial IgA deficiency, and 16 patients with selective IgM deficiency who were admitted to Ankara University Department of Pediatric Immunology-Allergy between January 2010 and April 2011, as well as 29 healthy controls. B-cell subsets were examined according to the EUROclass classification.

RESULTS

Age at diagnosis in the hypogammaglobulinemia group ranged between-14 months and 13 years (median, 26 months). Naive B-cell percentages were significantly higher and activated B-cell values lower in the THI patients than in the UCH patients and age-matched healthy controls. Nonswitched (IgM+CD27+IgD+) memory B-cell values were found to be significantly lower in patients with selective IgM deficiency than in healthy controls. No significant differences in B-cell subsets were found in patients with partial IgA deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous reports show that reduced class-switched memory B cell values are associated with CVID, THI, and selective IgA deficiency. Our findings did not support these reports. Furthermore, we observed that naive B cell values were higher in patients with THI. A maturation defect could play a role in the pathogenesis of THI.

Effect of mannan oligosaccharide addition to whole milk on growth and health of Holstein calves

Abstract. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) mixed in the whole milk on the growth and health of calves. Forty Holstein calves (20 male, 20 female) were randomly assigned, within sex, to one of two groups at 5 d of age. Calves were fed fresh, warm whole milk (control) or fresh, warm whole milk supplemented with MOS (4 g of Bio-Mos per calf daily at a.m. feeding). Calves were fed 4 L of whole milk per day in two equal feedings for 6 weeks. Pelleted calf starter and fresh water were available ad libitum during the experiment. No hay was fed. Body weights (BW) were measured at the beginning of the experiment and then weekly till the end of the experiment. Height at withers, heart girth, withers to pins, and point of shoulder to pins were measured at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Fecal fluidity scores and respiratory condition were monitored daily. Intake of whole milk was similar between the groups (P>0.10). Although there was no significant difference in starter intakes (P>0.10), calves in MOS treatment consumed 19.9 % more calf starter than calves in control diet (499.2 vs. 416.5 g/d) for 26 to 46 d of age. BW gains for various age periods were unaffected by treatment (P>0.10). However, calves in MOS treatment gained 11.2 % more BW than calves in control diet (627.4 vs. 564.2 g/d) from 26 to 46 d of age. Skeletal growth and feed efficiencies were similar for calves in both groups. No respiratory problems in calves in both groups occurred during the experiment. Fecal fluidity scores, percent calf days with scours and percent calf days treated for scours were unaffected by treatment (P>0.10). However, calf scours was a common problem especially during the first 3 weeks of the experiment. The reason for this may have been that calf scours had been a common problem at the location of the experiment for many years. This suggests that there must have been a significant enteric challenge for calves at this location. Even under these stressful conditions, MOS in whole milk did not elicit an improvement in enteric health in the circumstances of this location. Although there were no significant differences between the groups, the results suggest that starter intake and consequently BW gain from 26 to 46 d of age tended to be improved in calves in MOS group compared with calves in control group.

Identification of a U2HR gene mutation in Turkish families with Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis

Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis (MUHH) is an autosomal dominant form of isolated alopecia. The disorder is characterized by the absence or scarcity of scalp hair, eyebrows and eyelashes at birth. Coarse wiry hair begins to grow during childhood, but this is followed by progressive hair loss, which usually begins around puberty. A recent study identified mutations in U2HR, an inhibitory upstream open reading frame in the 5'-untranslated region of the human hairless gene. We investigated three reportedly unrelated Turkish multigeneration families with MUHH. Using direct sequencing of U2HR we were able to identify the c. 2T>A (p.M1K) mutation in one index patient of each family. The mutation cosegregates perfectly with the disease in all members of the families. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a mutation in U2HR has been identified in families from the Middle East. The observation of a common mutation is suggestive of a possible founder effect.

Encapsulating fly ash and acidic process waste water in brick structure

Fly ash contains metals such as cadmium, iron, lead, aluminum and zinc in its structure in appreciable amounts. These metals can leach out into surface and ground waters if fly ash is not properly disposed of. A similar problem also exists for acidic process waste waters discharged by numerous industries. The purpose of this study was to utilize such wastes as additives in the production of construction quality bricks for the purpose of waste elimination. The bricks produced were subjected to flexural strength and water retention capacity tests along with heavy metal leaching experiments in order to determine the applicability of the procedure and the best possible recipes. This paper summarizes the results obtained in these tests along with the possible mechanisms involved in stabilizing the two wastes in the brick structure.

Analytical solution of Poisson-Boltzmann equation for interacting plates of arbitrary potentials and same sign

Efficient calculation of electrostatic interactions in colloidal systems is becoming more important with the advent of such probing techniques as atomic force microscopy. Such practice requires solving the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PBE). Unfortunately, explicit analytical solutions are available only for the weakly charged surfaces. Analysis of arbitrarily charged surfaces is possible only through cumbersome numerical computations. A compact analytical solution of the one-dimensional PBE is presented for two plates interacting in symmetrical electrolytes. The plates can have arbitrary surface potentials at infinite separation as long they have the same sign. Such a condition covers a majority of the colloidal systems encountered. The solution leads to a simple relationship which permits determination of surface potentials, surface charge densities, and electrostatic pressures as a function of plate separation H for different charging scenarios. An analytical expression is also presented for the potential profile between the plates for a given separation. Comparison of these potential profiles with those obtained by numerical analysis shows the validity of the proposed solution.

Classifying patients with Behçet's disease for disease severity, using a discriminating analysis method

BACKGROUND

Interleukin (IL)-8 has been shown to correlate with the activity of Behçet's disease (BD). The aim of this study was to develop tools as reliable as IL-8 levels in defining BD severity.

METHODS

In total, 32 patients with BD and 16 healthy controls were included in the study. Medical history, physical examination, routine laboratory investigations and measurement of serum IL-8 levels were performed. The patients were classified as groups I and II based on the serum IL-8 levels. The patients were then reassigned to groups based on the predictions through discriminating analysis.

RESULTS

In addition to the differences between patient and control groups, the differences between groups I and II, group I and controls, and group II and controls were statistically significant. The discriminating analysis results showed that the patients had been assigned to groups I and II with 100% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

Discriminating analysis using clinical and routine laboratory findings indicated that 100% of the patients were accurately assigned to the same groups as their IL-8 levels indicated. This suggests that the classification made according to discriminating analysis using these routine variables is a reliable method in determination of the disease severity.