Analysis of TP53 gene in uterine myomas: No mutations but P72R polymorphism is associated with myoma development

AIM

The aim of the present study was to investigate the familial and somatic mutations as well as polymorphisms of TP53 gene in patients with uterine leiomyoma.

METHODS

The study included 35 women with histologically diagnosed as uterine leiomyomas at the Gynecology Department of Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine. Tissue and blood samples were analyzed for mutations and polymorphisms of TP53 gene by next generation sequencing (Miseq-Illumina). Acquired data was compared with the normal data in Ensembl database. Data from 1000 genome project and data from exome sequencing analyses in Intergen Genetic Diagnosis Center (Ankara) were used as controls for polymorphism analyses.

RESULTS

There were no mutations in tissue and blood samples. However, when the polymorphisms were evaluated, a significant difference was found in NM_000546.5(TP53):c.215C > G (p.Pro72Arg) polymorphism between the study and control groups. The results indicated that P72R/P72R genotype increased the risk of leiomyoma development by 6.3 fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.880-13.793). There was a negative correlation between P72R/WT genotype and leiomyoma development (OR = 0.261, 95% CI: 0.114-0.596). P72R/P72R genotype was statistically higher in the patients with leiomyoma compared with the controls and 1000 genomes from Asian, European and World populations.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggested that P72R/P72R genotype may be associated with development of uterine leiomyoma in the Turkish population in the Western part of the country.

Effects of two different low-dose oral contraceptives on plasma homocysteine levels

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two currently used low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs) (20 μg ethinyl estradiol [EE]/150 μg desogestrel [DSG] vs. 20 μg EE/100 μg levonorgestrel [LNG]) on plasma homocysteine levels.

METHODS

A total of 90 participants were enrolled in the study; 30 of them had not been using COC for at least 12 months prior to their enrollment, while 60 were on regular treatment within 12-18 months. Therefore, the control group consisted of 30 participants. Group DSG/EE consisted of 30 women and group LNG/EE consisted of 30 women. Serum samples of homocysteine profile were obtained during the early follicular phase.

RESULTS

Significantly lower serum homocysteine concentrations (Group DSG/EE: 7.2 +/- 1.3; Group LNG/EE: 9.1 +/- 3.2;

CONTROL GROUP

8.2 +/- 2.2; p<0.05) were observed in DSG/EE group compared to LNG/EE and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Although the decrease in homocysteine levels with 20 μg EE/150 μg DSG containing COC was statistically significant, the clinical relevance of our findings needs to be further investigated.

Lost intrauterine contraceptive device inserted 42 years before: a case report

OBJECTIVE

The management of a lost abdominal intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is discussed together with a review of the relevant literature.

THE CASE

The IUD is one of the most commonly used, effective, cheap and safe methods of contraception in Turkey. However, IUD insertion may result in uterine perforation which may lead to a variety of abdominal complications or can remain asymptomatic in the abdomen for a long time without causing any complications. An asymptomatic case of a woman with an IUD inserted 42 years before is presented. To the best of our knowledge this is the longest time an IUD (found by X-ray) has been localized in the abdomen.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that in asymptomatic patients with an IUD localized in the abdomen, the risks of both operating and not operating should be discussed thoroughly and in such cases, follow-up without surgery may be considered as an alternative approach.

The effect of low-dose combined oral contraceptive containing 100 ug levonorgestrel on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 20 ug ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 100 ug levonorgestrel (LNG) which is currently used on plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-five women who had not used any COC for at least three months before the initiation of the study were enrolled in the control group. Twenty women who had been using COC containing 20 ug EE and 100 ug levonorgestrel LNG for at least three months prior to the study were enrolled in the LNG/EE group. Serum samples for PAI-1 and other biochemical parameters were obtained at the early follicular phase (cycle day 2-5).

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in PAl- 1 concentrations between the LNG/EE and control group (group LNG/EE: 62.4 +/- 30.2 ng/ml; control group: 58.7 +/- 26.0 ng/ml).

CONCLUSION

Although we observed similar PAI-1 concentrations in both groups, there is need for further interventions to evaluate the clinical relevance of our findings.

Papillary serous adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: a case report

Papillary serous adenocarcinoma of the endocervix (PSAE) is a rarely encountered neoplasm. The literature includes only a limited number of well documented case studies. The present study reports a case of papillary serous adenocarcinoma originating from the endocervix.

Rectal cancer in pregnancy: a case report

Rectal cancer in pregnancy is a rare but a life-threatening disease. This paper presents a case of rectal cancer in pregnancy, discussed in light of the literature.

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is not associated with recurrent miscarriage

AIM(S)

The present study aimed to discover whether there is an association between thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) antigen levels and recurrent miscarriage (RM). In particular, TAFI antigen levels of women with RM were compared with those of a control group of women with previous uncomplicated pregnancies.

METHOD(S)

Group 1 comprised 48 women with RM, defined as the occurrence of two or more fetal losses before 20 weeks of gestation. Group 2 (the control group) was made up of 40 women who had undergone at least two healthy pregnancies and had no history of miscarriage. Group 1 was then stratified in to two groups according to the number of pregnancy losses and group 1A (2 pregnancy losses) consisted of 22 women whereas group 1B (three or more pregnancy losses) consisted of 26 women.

RESULTS

No difference was observed with regard to serum TAFI antigen levels between groups 1 and 2. There was also no statistical difference in serum TAFI antigen levels between group 1A and group 1B.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the current study indicated that TAFI antigen levels are not associated with RM. Further multi-centric research with more subjects is needed to better evaluate the role of TAFI in RM.

The attitudes of menopausal women and their spouses towards menopause

OBJECTIVE

Menopausal experience and symptom reporting of the women was reported to be affected by their attitudes to menopause which in turn is influenced by a range of variables. In this study, we primarily tried to investigate the attitudes of women and their spouses towards menopause. The other aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between menopausal attitudes and menopausal symptom experience, depression and anxiety scores of the participants.

METHOD

The sample included 60 physiological menopausal women and their spouses. Socio-demographic data were obtained with a questionnaire. The menopausal symptoms were measured through the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS). The women and their spouses were administered the Attitudes Towards Menopause Scale (ATMS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

RESULTS

Both the menopausal women and their spouses had a positive attitude towards menopause. The women had a mean total score of 16.36 +/- 7.62 on MRS (moderate). The mean somatic, psychological and urogenital sub-scores of MRS were 6.43 +/- 3.23 (moderate), 5.97 +/- 3.33 (moderate), and 3.93 +/- 2.77 (moderate), respectively. There were no significant differences in BDI scores between the women and their spouses. However, the scores of BAI were more likely to be higher in women than their spouses (p < 0.0001). The current study revealed a significant positive correlation between MRS scores and BAI and BDI scores of the women. A significant negative correlation was found with the scores of ATMS, and scores of MRS in women. The scores of ATMS in men were significantly and negatively correlated with the total, somatic, and urogenital subscale scores of MRS in women.

CONCLUSION

The main finding of this study was that both the menopausal women and their spouses had a positive attitude towards menopause. We also found that, the women who had more negative attitudes towards menopause reported more severe menopausal symptoms. Our results also demonstrated that the severity of menopausal complaints might be related to the attitudes of the husbands towards menopause.

Effects of standard and low dose 17beta-estradiol plus norethisterone acetate on body composition and leptin in postmenopausal women at risk of body mass index and waist girth related cardiovascular and metabolic disease

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of standard and low dose of 17beta-estradiol/norethisterone acetate (E2/NETA) on body composition and leptin in postmenopausal women at risk of body mass index (BMI) -and waist girth (WG) related cardiovascular and metabolic disease.

METHODS

Ninety postmenopausal women aged 45-55 years with BMI >or= 25 kg/m2 participated in this 6-month prospective, randomized, single-blinded and controlled study, conducted between September 2004 and April 2006 at Adnan Menderes University Hospital. According to their WG, the subjects were divided into 2 risk groups: WG <88 cm (Group increased risk [IR], n=48) or WG >or= 88 cm (Group high risk [HR], n=42). The subjects in each group were equally assigned to receive standard or low dose of E2/NETA (2 mg E2/1 mg NETA, or 1 mg E2/0.5 mg NETA). Accordingly, the 2 groups were divided into 4 subgroups. Serum leptin levels (SLLs), body weight/height, waist/hip girth, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were evaluated before and after therapy.

RESULTS

In the Group IR, WG decreased significantly only in low dose subgroup. In the Group HR, both standard and low dose subgroups had a significant reduction in WG. Those who had WG >or= 88 cm showed more reduction than those who had WG <88 cm in response to both doses of E2/NETA, insignificantly. Basal SLLs had a significant correlation with body weight, BMI and WG.

CONCLUSION

Oral standard and low dose E2/NETA reduce WG and attenuate the BMI- and waist girth- related risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in postmenopausal women.