Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters in obese children and adolescents with masked hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the demographic, laboratory, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) parameters of patients with masked hypertension (MHT), define factors predicting MHT, and determine the ABPM parameters affecting left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in obese youth. METHODS: Data of obese patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with ambulatory hypertension (AHT), white-coat hypertension (WCHT), MHT, or normotension (NT) were determined. Demographic and laboratory findings, office and ABPM measurements, blood pressure variability (BPV), and heart rate variability (HRV) were compared between the groups. The factors predicting MHT and the association between LVMI and ABPM, BPV/HRV parameters were analyzed. RESULTS: None of the 118 patients (M/F: 52/66) had WCHT. Three groups were formed: AHT (n: 60, 51%), MHT (n: 46, 39%), and NT (n: 12, 10%). Striae were significantly more frequent in AHT and MHT groups (P: 0.003). Cut-off levels for office BP measurements predicting MHT were 0.85 and 0.76 for systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) indexes, respectively. Most of the ABPM parameters of MHT group were as high as those of AHT group. On regression analysis, only daytime MAP had a positive (ß: 0.340; P < 0.01) and diastolic dip (ß: -0.204; P < 0.01) had a significantly negative association with LVMI. CONCLUSION: Stria and cut-off levels for office SBP/DBP indexes, which were defined for the first time in this study, may determine the patients at risk of MHT. Although BPV or HRV had no relation to LVMI, daytime MAP and diastolic dip represented independent associations with LVMI.

Endometrial Flushing Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Interleukin 2 Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Leiomyoma and Endometrioma: Comparison with Healthy Controls.

Introduction An important open question in the literature is whether endometrial receptivity marker levels are different in infertility related diseases than healthy women. The aim of the study is to compare the levels of interleukin two (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) during the implantation window in the endometrial flushing fluid of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometrioma, leiomyoma patients with healthy controls. Material and Methods In this case control study, after obtaining endometrial flushing fluids at mid-luteal phase of ovulatory women with PCOS (n = 20), endometrioma (n = 19), leiomyoma (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20), IL-2 and TNF-α levels were measured using ELISA kits in BioTek ELISA devices. Results Mean TNF-α levels (ng/mL) were similar for the PCOS (305.6, p = 0.220) and the leiomyoma group (246.3, p = 0.502) compared to healthy patients (261.1). However, the levels were higher in the endometrioma group (338.2, p = 0,004) than the control group (261.1) in a statistically significant way. Mean IL-2 levels (ng/mL) were significantly lower in the PCOS (290.9, p = 0.0005), the leiomyoma (282.9, p = 0.0002) and the endometrioma patients (229.5, p = 0.0009) than the control group (416.0). Conclusion Relative to the control group, endometrial flushing fluid TNF-α levels were significantly higher in endometrioma patients and IL-2 levels were significantly lower in PCOS, leiomyoma and endometrioma patients. In benign gynecological diseases, endometrial markers related to infertility seem to show differences in endometrial flushing fluid. Future studies might identify the reference values for these markers, and endometrial markers can be used to diagnose gynecologic disorders causing infertility.

Endometrial flushing αVß3 integrin, glycodelin and PGF2α levels for evaluating endometrial receptivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, myoma uteri and endometrioma.

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to compare endometrial flushing fluid levels of αVß3 integrin, glycodelin and PGF2α during the midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, n = 20), myoma uteri (n = 20) and endometrioma (n = 19) with the healthy controls (n = 20). After collecting samples at the midluteal phase of ovulatory volunteers and storing them at -80 °C, αVß3 integrin, glycodelin and PGF2α levels were analyzed using ELISA. The mean ages of the groups were 28.90 ± 5.45, 37.25 ± 2.73, 32.84 ± 6.62 and 32.15 ± 5.18 in PCOS, myoma uteri, endometrioma and control groups, respectively. The αVß3 integrin level (ng/ml) was statistically significantly higher in endometrioma group (9.70 ± 1.72, p < 0.05) as compared to myoma uteri and control groups. Similarly, glycodelin level (ng/ml) was significantly higher in endometrioma group (341.04 ± 93.32) than PCOS (p < 0.01), myoma uteri (p < 0.001) and healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Moreover, PGF2α level (350.04 ± 464.50 ng/ml) was significantly higher in PCOS group relative to myoma uteri (p < 0.001), endometrioma (p < 0.05) and control (p < 0.05) groups. In conclusion, αVß3 integrin level was significantly higher in endometrioma subjects than those with myoma uteri and control groups; glycodelin level was significantly higher in endometrioma group than other three groups, and lastly, PCOS patients had significantly higher PGF2α levels than those patients with myoma uteri, endometrioma and controls.

Laparoscopic Management of Synchronous Bilateral Ovarian Torsion in a Neonate.

Synchronous bilateral ovarian torsion is an uncommon entity of which both ovaries twist at the same time or observed twisted during the surgical intervention. Herein, we present a neonate with bilateral ovarian torsion, which successfully managed by laparoscopic approach.

The Impact of Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases of Vulvar on Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of vulvar dermatoses (VD) and vulvar infections (VE) on anxiety, depression scores, general, and dermatological quality of life (QOL) of women. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey on patients diagnosed with VD and VE. All patients were assessed using a sociodemographic form, Skindex-29 scale, World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL) BREF scale, Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D). RESULTS: HAM-A score was significantly higher in the VD group than in the control group. Based on age groups, all subscales of Skindex-29 were found to be higher in women > 50 years. For women with severe pruritus, the symptom subscale was higher in patients with skin involvement and the function and emotion subscales were higher in patients with and emotion subscales were higher in patients with mucosal involvement. CONCLUSIONS: We found that VD was particularly significantly associated with decreased QOL.

Comparison of bleaching efficacy of two bleaching agents on teeth discoloured by different antibiotic combinations used in revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the whitening effects of different bleaching agents on teeth discoloured by different antibiotic combinations of ciprofloxacin and metronidazole with minocycline, doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefaclor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty extracted bovine incisors were collected and discoloured with triple antibiotic pastes (TAP) with minocycline, doxycycline, amoxicillin and cefaclor throughout 30 days. The specimens were then randomly divided into two subgroups and each group received different bleaching materials: 35% hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate. Spectrophotometric measurements were obtained on the buccal surfaces of the crown, firstly in the beginning, then on the 4th, 8th and 12th days after the placement of the bleaching materials. The acceptability threshold was set to 3.5. The ∆E values were calculated and the data was analysed using the repeated measures analysis of variance (P = .05). RESULTS: All the test groups induced colour changes exceeding the acceptability threshold 30 days after the antibiotic pastes were placed. The 35% hydrogen peroxide was more effective than sodium perborate in the whitening of discoloured teeth by antibiotic pastes (P = .001). The whitening effect after the 8th and 12th days was significantly more than after 4 days of treatment (P <.001). The discolouration caused by the TAP with minocycline and cefaclor showed greater whitening compared to the TAP with doxycycline and amoxicillin groups (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The whitening treatment effect of 35% hydrogen peroxide on teeth discoloured by antibiotic pastes seems to have significantly outperformed the sodium perborate treatment. Both bleaching agents were allowed to bleach the teeth gradually each day and the effects on the 8th and 12th days were superior to the one on the 4th day. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The use of 35% hydrogen peroxide could be advantageous to bleach the teeth discoloured with antibiotic pastes compared to sodium perborate.

Translating biotechnology to knowledge-based innovation, peace, and development? Deploy a Science Peace Corps--an open letter to world leaders.

Scholarship knows no geographical boundaries. This science diplomacy and biotechnology journalism article introduces an original concept and policy petition to innovate the global translational science, a Science Peace Corps. Service at the new Corps could entail volunteer work for a minimum of 6 weeks, and up to a maximum of 2 years, for translational research in any region of the world to build capacity manifestly for development and peace, instead of the narrow bench-to-bedside model of life science translation. Topics for translational research are envisioned to include all fields of life sciences and medicine, as long as they are linked to potential or concrete endpoints in development, foreign policy, conflict management, post-crisis capacity building, and/or peace scholarship domains. As a new instrument in the global science and technology governance toolbox, a Science Peace Corps could work effectively, for example, towards elucidating the emerging concept of "one health"--encompassing human, environmental, plant, microbial, ecosystem, and planet health--thus serving as an innovative crosscutting pillar of 21(st) century integrative biology. An interdisciplinary program of this caliber for development would link 21(st) century life sciences to foreign policy and peace, in ways that can benefit many nations despite their ideological differences. We note that a Science Peace Corps is timely. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations released the Fifth Assessment Report on March 31, 2014. Worrisomely, the report underscores that no person or nation will remain untouched by the climate change, highlighting the shared pressing life sciences challenges for global society. To this end, we recall that President John F. Kennedy advocated for volunteer work that has enduring, transgenerational, and global impacts. This culminated in establishment of the Peace Corps in 1961. Earlier, President Abraham Lincoln aptly observed, "nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." We therefore petition President Barack Obama, other world leaders, and international development agencies in positions of power around the globe, to consider deploying a Science Peace Corps to cultivate the essential (and presently missing) ties among life sciences, foreign policy, development, and peace agendas. A Science Peace Corps requires support by a credible and independent intergovernmental organization or development agency for funding, and arbitration in the course of volunteer work when the global versus local (glocal) value-based priorities and human rights intersect in synergy or conflict. In all, Science Peace Corps is an invitation to a new pathway for competence in 21(st) century science that is locally productive and globally competitive. It can open up scientific institutions to broader considerations and broader inputs, and thus cultivate vital translational science in a world sorely in need of solidarity and sustainable responses to the challenges of 21(st) century science and society.