Association of breast arterial calcification and osteoporosis in Turkish women

Breast arterial calcification [BAC], medial calcific sclerosis of small to medium-sized muscular arteries, is a benign finding of mammographic evaluation. Previous studies have shown the relationships between BAC and systemic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the association between reduced bone mineral density and BAC. The study population consisted of 567 women who had both mammography and bone mineral density evaluation. BAC [+] and BAC [-] women were compared for age, body mass index, postmenopausal duration, number of deliveries, breastfeeding duration, DM, HT, lipid treatment, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. BAC was seen in mammographic evaluation of 179 women and 388 subjects without BAC accepted as the control group. There was a statistically significant relationship between age, postmenopausal duration, number of deliveries, history of DM, HT, lipid treatment and BAC. While the prevalence of osteopenia was higher in control group [52.8%], the rate of osteoporosis [48.7%] was higher in group with BAC. There was statistically significant relationship between BAC and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Determination of BAC in routine screening mammography might be helpful in both identifying women with risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis

effect of Ramadan fasting on fetal development

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on fetal development and outcomes of pregnancy

Methods: We performed this study in Antakya State Hospital of Obstetrics and Child Care, between 28 June 2014 and 27 July 2014 [during the month of Ramadan]. A total of two hundred forty healthy pregnant women who were fasting during Ramadan, were included in the groups. The three groups were divided according to the trimesters. The each group was consisted of 40 healthy pregnant women with fasting and 40 healthy pregnant women without fasting. For evaluating the effects of Ramadan on fetus, ultrasonography was performed on all pregnant women in the beginning and the end of Ramadan. We used the essential parameters for the following measurements: increase of fetal biparietal diameter [BPD], increase of fetal femur length [FL], increase of estimated fetal body weight [EFBW], fetal biophysical profile [BPP], amniotic fluid index [AFI], and umbilical artery systole/diastole [S/D] ratio

Results: No significant difference was found between the two groups for the fetal age, maternal weight gain [kilogram], estimated fetal weight gain [EFWG], fetal BPP, AFI, and umbilical artery S/D ratio. On the other hand, a statistically significant increase was observed in maternal weight in the second and third trimesters and a significant increase was observed in the amniotic fluid index in second trimester

Conclusion: In Ramadan there was no bad fetal outcome between pregnant women with fasting and pregnant women without fasting. Pregnant women who want to be with fast, should be examined by doctors, adequately get breakfast before starting to fast and after the fasting take essential calori and hydration. More comprehensive randomized studies are needed to explain the effects of fasting on the pregnancy and fetal outcomes

Increased density of Demodex folliculorum mites in pregnancies with gestational diabetes

To investigate the presence of Demodex in patients with gestational diabetes and the impact of glucose regulation on Demodex density in gestational diabetes. The study population consisted of 33 patients with gestational diabetes and 30 pregnant women without gestational diabetes [control group]. The age, parity, gestational age, and BMI of the study group were recorded and the patients were divided into 2 groups, i.e. those with regulated and unregulated glucose levels, according to their postprandial 1st- and 2nd-hour glucose values. A standardized skin surface biopsy method was used to determine if patients had Demodex folliculorum infestation [>5 mites/cm2 of skin].Patients with gestational diabetes had a statistically significantly higher Demodex density compared to the control group [24.2 vs. 3.3%; p < 0.001]. Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of gestational diabetes patients with unregulated glucose levels had a higher Demodex density compared to those in the regulated subgroup [6/19 vs. 2/14; p = 0.001]. Our study revealed that the Demodex density was increased in gestational diabetes patients. Further, poor glucose regulation could be the mechanism responsible for the increased Demodex density in gestational diabetes patients with unregulated glucose levels compared to those with regulated glucose levels

Evaluation of Mean Platelet Volume values in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Mean Platelet Volume [MPV] is an important indicator of platelet activation. It is known that MPV increases in patients with coronory artery disease, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS]. Our aim was to measure the MPV in lean patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. The present study was designed to examine the platelet function by measuring MPV in non-obese women with PCOS. A total of 50 outpatients with PCOS were included. The control group consisted of 50 healthy subjects. Serum platelet, MPV, and white blood cell [WBC] levels were compared and evaluated retrospectively in all participants. These values were compared by statistical analysis. There were no statistically significant difference in between groups regarding MPV [p=0.357], WBC [p=0.414] and platelet [p=0.666]. There are studies implying MPV increase in PCOS patients, in our patients MPV levels did not correlate with PCOS except for patients with obesity. We think that PCOS itself has no effect on MPV levels and obesity changes MPV levels