Serum levels of the adipokines, free fatty acids, and oxidative stress markers in obese and non-obese preeclamptic patients.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To investigate the roles of adipokines, free fatty acid (FFA), and oxidative stress in obese and non-obese preeclamptic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gestational age-matched obese preeclamptic (n=32), non-obese preeclamptic (n=32), and non-obese normotensive healthy (n=32) pregnant women were included in the study. Serum insulin, insulin resistance, leptin, nesfatin, ghrelin, chemerin, FFA levels, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and oxidative stress index were determined. RESULTS: Leptin and nesfatin levels were significantly lower and ghrelin levels were significantly higher in the normotensive group as compared to the preeclamptic groups, while no difference was observed between obese and non-obese preeclamptic groups. Chemerin and FFA levels were significantly higher in obese preeclamptics as compared to non-obese preeclamptics and normotensive group. Total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were significantly higher in the normotensive group as compared to the preeclamptic groups, while no difference was observed between obese and non-obese preeclamptics. Total oxidative status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels were significantly lower in the normotensive group as compared to the preeclamptic groups, while no difference was observed between obese and non-obese preeclamptics. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of adipokines, TOS, and FFAs were significantly higher in pregnants with preeclampsia as compared to non-obese normotensive controls. Chemerin and FFA levels were significantly higher in obese preeclamptics as compared to non-obese preeclamptics.

Expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in the endometrium of patients with repeated implantation failure after in vitro fertilization.

AIM: To compare the immunohistochemical expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) in repeated implantation failure (RIF) patients with normal fertile controls. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of primary infertile patients with RIF and normal fertile controls between January 2011 and February 2013. Endometrial samples received at the luteal phase were exposed to immunohistochemical staining for EMMPRIN antibodies. EMMPRIN expression of endometrial glandular epithelial cells, stromal cells and vascular endothelial cells were evaluated. The main outcome measure was defined as immunohistochemical score with regard to the severity and extent of staining. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 26 primary infertile patients, whereas the control group consisted of 40 normal fertile controls. The fertile group was found to have stronger expression of EMMPRIN than the study group when endometrial glandular epithelial cells, stromal cells and vascular endothelial cells were evaluated with regards to the severity of staining (p < 0.001), the extent of staining (p < 0.001) and total staining score (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study showing low expression of EMMPRIN in the endometrial cells of the patients with RIF compared with fertile healthy controls. We suggest that reduced EMMPRIN expression in the human endometrium may lead to poor endometrial receptivity.

Copper, ceruloplasmin and oxidative stress in patients with advanced-stage endometriosis.

AIM: To compare patients with advanced stage endometriosis with control patients without endometriosis with respect to serum Copper (Cu) and Ceruloplasmin (Cp) levels and oxidative stress markers in order to evaluate the importance of these parameters in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 72 women who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy for evaluation of infertility, pelvic pain, pelvic mass, tubal ligation or endometriosis were enrolled for this prospective clinical study. Patients were divided into two groups by visual diagnosis at surgery and histological confirmation of endometriosis: control patients (n=41) without endometriosis and study group (n=31) with stage III/IV (advanced stage) endometriosis. Serum Cu, Cp, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), malondialdehyde (MDA), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were compared between the two groups. Correlations between Cu, Cp and oxidative stress markers were determined. RESULTS: Serum TOS, OSI, Cu, Cp, TG, TC, LDL were significantly higher, whereas TAS, PON-1 activity and HDL were significantly lower, in women with advanced-stage endometriosis than in control groups. There was no difference in serum MDA activities between the two groups. Positive correlations were found between Cu and TOS, Cu and OSI, Cu and Cp, while a negative correlation was found between Cu and PON-1 in the advanced-stage endometriosis group. Positive correlations were found between Cp and TOS, and Cp and OSI in the advanced-stage endometriosis group. CONCLUSIONS: Cu and Cp appear to be associated with the etiopathogenesis of and oxidative stress in endometriosis.