Vascular endothelial growth factor gene +813CC polymorphism of foetus is associated with preterm labour but not with pre-eclampsia in Turkish pregnant women.

We investigated the effect of polymorphism at +813 locus of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene on predisposition to preterm labour and pre-eclampsia (PE). We examined polymorphism of the VEGF +813 gene of foetuses from umbilical cord blood in 31 cases of preterm labour, 34 pre-eclamptic and 58 healthy term labour. VEGF +813 gene polymorphisms were studied using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. In preterm group, foetal CC genotype was found at 80.6%, and CT genotype was seen at 19.4%. No any TT genotype was detected in preterm group. CC genotype of VEGF 813 gene was significantly more frequent than CT genotype (P = 0.04). Foetuses with CC genotype VEGF+813 gene have an increased risk for preterm labour. C allele frequency was 90.3 and 76.7% in preterm and control groups, respectively. T allele frequency was 9.7 and 23.3% in preterm and control groups, respectively. C allele was significantly associated with preterm labour (P = 0.02). OR of C and T alleles for preterm labour was 2.8 (CI: 1.1-7.2). In PE group, foetal CC genotype of +813 locus was found in 67.6%, and CT genotype was seen in 29.4%. Only one TT genotype was detected in 2.9% of PE group. There was no association between PE and VEGF gene genotypes and alleles at +813 locus. These results suggest that foetal VEGF gene polymorphism of +813 CC seems to be highly associated with preterm labour, whereas in PE, foetal VEGF gene polymorphism at +813 locus is not related. Especially, C allele was significantly associated with preterm labour. Carriage of the +813C allele of the VEGF gene has been found 2.8 times increased susceptibility to the development of preterm labour in Turkish women and may be an independent risk factor for prematurity. There was no association between PE and VEGF gene genotypes and alleles at +813 locus. We suggest to search for foetal aetiologies or genetic susceptibility in preterm labour, whereas in PE, not foetal, but maternal susceptibility is to be investigated.

Troponin I and homocysteine levels in mild and severe preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate troponin I and homocysteine in pregnant women with severe and mild preeclampsia. METHODS: 43 women with mild and 22 women with severe preeclampsia, and 34 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Homocysteine and troponin levels of the three groups were measured at admission and compared. RESULTS: Mean troponin I levels were 0.005 ng/ml, 0.0116 ng/ml and 0.007 ng/ml in healthy pregnant women and mild and severe preeclampsia, respectively. These results were similar among the three groups. Homocysteine levels were similar in the mild and severe preeclampsia groups and significantly higher than in healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Troponin I levels are not significantly increased in either mild and severe preeclampsia. Homocysteine increases in preeclampsia, but the severity of preeclampsia is not correlated with homocysteine levels.

Prevalence of human papilloma virus infection in pregnant Turkish women compared with non-pregnant women.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: We aimed to find a prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in order to define the 100 genotypes and subset of 14 oncogenic genotypes in pregnant Turkish women and to compare these with non-pregnant women. METHODS: Cervical thin-prep specimens were obtained from 164 women in the first trimester pregnancy and 153 non pregnant women. RESULTS: 29.2% of pregnant versus 19.6% of non-pregnant Turkish women had at least one of the 100 types of HPV infection--a statistically significant difference. The rate of 14 high-risk HPV genotype infections was significantly higher in pregnant (14.6) compared to non-pregnant Turkish women (9.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant Turkish women are at higher risk for all HPV infections including high-risk cervical cancer genotypes.

Efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estrogen therapy on psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estradiol therapy on menopausal and psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause. METHOD: Seventy-five women who had undergone surgical menopause were randomized to a 6-month double-blind interventional study treatment with oral 2.5 mg/day tibolone, transdermal 3.9 mg/week estradiol or oral placebo. The patients were assessed using Kupperman's Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) before and at the end of the 6 months of treatment. RESULT: Sixty-five subjects completed the study: 23 on tibolone, 21 on transdermal estradiol and 21 on placebo. At the end of the 6 months of therapy, highly significant improvements in menopausal symptoms, depression and anxiety scores were observed in both groups (tibolone and transdermal estradiol groups) as compared with baseline values (p<0.001). However, in the placebo group, there were no significant differences on changes from baseline to the end of treatment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that tibolone and transdermal estradiol therapy significantly improve menopausal and psychological symptoms in women following surgical menopause.