Expression of E-Cadherin and Ber-EP4 in the Trophoblastic Tissues of Intrauterine and Ectopic Tubal Pregnancies.

Introduction: We investigated the role of E-cadherin and Ber-EP4 in tubal pregnancy by comparing their expressions in epithelial and trophoblastic cells both in ectopic tubal and intrauterine pregnancies. Methods: The Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks of 17 intrauterine and 17 tubal pregnancies were immunohistochemically stained with E-cadherin and Ber-EP4. Results: E-cadherin was expressed in the epithelium, villous and extravillous trophoblast in tubal and intrauterine pregnancies but not in the syncytiotrophoblast. The staining intensity was lower in the extra-villous trophoblast in tubal ectopic pregnancies compared with intrauterine pregnancies. Ber-EP4 was expressed in the epithelium of tubal and intrauterine pregnancies and only in villous cytotrophoblast. The intensity of staining in tubal pregnancy was higher than in intrauterine pregnancy. Discussion: The loss of E-cadherin expression in extra-villous trophoblast and increased expression of Ber-EP4 in the villous cytotrophoblast may play a role in the formation of tubal pregnancy by allowing the blastocyst to attach to the tubal epithelium.

Is there an association between endometriosis and thyroid autoimmunity?

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that non-uterine endometrial implants can express thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors, thus inducing the formation of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. We aimed to compare the autoantibody positivity in patients with and without endometriosis and to determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of thyroid diseases. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted on 102 women who had been operated on for benign gynecological diseases. Cases enrolling in the study were divided into two groups: the study group with endometriosis (n=51) and the control group without endometriosis (n=51). The blood tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels were checked. RESULTS: The mean thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin level was found to be higher in the endometriosis group than in the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was detected between endometriosis and control groups in terms of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The mean fT4 value (0.97±0.13 ng/dL) of the endometriosis patients was found to be significantly lower than the control group (1.08±0.21 ng/dL) (p=0.002; p<0.05). The mean anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody value of cases with bilateral endometrioma (82.21±252.29 IU/mL) was significantly higher than cases with unilateral endometrioma (15.81±83.13 IU/mL) (p=0.028; p<0.05). There is a positive and significant relationship between the size of endometriosis and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values (p=0.011; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study points to an association between endometrioma diameter and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values which can be a stepping stone for new studies evaluating this hypothesis further.

Is there an association between endometriosis and thyroid autoimmunity?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that non-uterine endometrial implants can express thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors, thus inducing the formation of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. We aimed to compare the autoantibody positivity in patients with and without endometriosis and to determine whether there is a difference in the incidence of thyroid diseases. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted on 102 women who had been operated on for benign gynecological diseases. Cases enrolling in the study were divided into two groups: the study group with endometriosis (n=51) and the control group without endometriosis (n=51). The blood tests for thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels were checked. RESULTS: The mean thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin level was found to be higher in the endometriosis group than in the control group. However, this difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference was detected between endometriosis and control groups in terms of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels. The mean fT4 value (0.97±0.13 ng/dL) of the endometriosis patients was found to be significantly lower than the control group (1.08±0.21 ng/dL) (p=0.002; p<0.05). The mean anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody value of cases with bilateral endometrioma (82.21±252.29 IU/mL) was significantly higher than cases with unilateral endometrioma (15.81±83.13 IU/mL) (p=0.028; p<0.05). There is a positive and significant relationship between the size of endometriosis and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values (p=0.011; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study points to an association between endometrioma diameter and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody values which can be a stepping stone for new studies evaluating this hypothesis further.

The role of transperineal ultrasound in the evaluation of stress urinary incontinence cases

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the use of transperineal ultrasonography while diagnosing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by comparing the urethral angle (α), posterior urethrovesical angle (β), and bladder neck descent (BND) during rest and Valsalva maneuver in continent women and women with SUI. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study was conducted with 50 women with SUI and 50 continent women. Transperineal ultrasonography was performed at rest and during Valsalva maneuver. Q-tip test was performed. Results: During the Valsalva maneuver, both α and β angles were significantly higher in women with SUI (p <0.001). The difference between Valsalva and rest measurements of α and β angles (R α, R β) were also significantly higher in women with SUI (p <0.001). The cut-off point determined for the R α in the diagnosis of stress incontinence was 16° (80% sensitivity, 98% specificity). A statistically significant strong correlation was found between Q-tip test angle and R α value (p=0.000; r=0.890). Q-tip VAS pain scores were significantly higher than ultrasonography VAS pain scores (p <0.001). In relation to the bladder neck descent comparison between the two groups showed that BND was significantly higher in SUI group (p <0.001). The cut-off point determined for BND in the diagnosis of SUI was >11mm (90% sensitivity, 98% specificity). Conclusion: Transperineal ultrasonography is a practical, reliable, non-invasive and comfortable method for evaluation of SUI. It has the advantage of dynamic evaluation during the Valsalva maneuver. Rotation angles and BND have high sensitivity and specificity for detection of SUI. The change in α angle with Valsalva (Rα) can be used as an alternative to Q-tip test.

The role of transperineal ultrasound in the evaluation of stress urinary incontinence cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of transperineal ultrasonography while diagnosing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) by comparing the urethral angle (α), posterior urethrovesical angle (ß), and bladder neck descent (BND) during rest and Valsalva maneuver in continent women and women with SUI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted with 50 women with SUI and 50 continent women. Transperineal ultrasonography was performed at rest and during Valsalva maneuver. Q-tip test was performed. RESULTS: During the Valsalva maneuver, both α and ß angles were significantly higher in women with SUI (p < 0.001). The difference between Valsalva and rest measurements of α and ß angles (R α, R ß) were also significantly higher in women with SUI (p < 0.001). The cut-off point determined for the R α in the diagnosis of stress incontinence was 16° (80% sensitivity, 98% specificity). A statistically significant strong correlation was found between Q-tip test angle and R α value (p=0.000; r=0.890). Q-tip VAS pain scores were significantly higher than ultrasonography VAS pain scores (p < 0.001). In relation to the bladder neck descent comparison between the two groups showed that BND was significantly higher in SUI group (p < 0.001). The cut-off point determined for BND in the diagnosis of SUI was >11mm (90% sensitivity, 98% specificity). CONCLUSION: Transperineal ultrasonography is a practical, reliable, non-invasive and comfortable method for evaluation of SUI. It has the advantage of dynamic evaluation during the Valsalva maneuver. Rotation angles and BND have high sensitivity and specificity for detection of SUI. The change in α angle with Valsalva (Rα) can be used as an alternative to Q-tip test.

Perinatal outcomes of pregnant women having SARS-CoV-2 infection.

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this study is to evaluate the prognosis of pregnant women having SARS-CoV-2 infection and investigate whether there was a difference in perinatal outcomes between pregnant women who had SARS-CoV-2 infection and those who did not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted with 116 singleton pregnancies. Cases enrolling in the study were divided into two groups. While those in the first group had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 46) the second group consisted of healthy pregnant women (n = 70). RESULTS: Emergency Cesarean section was performed on three SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnancies (30, 33 and 34 gestational weeks). Intensive care unit admission was required for all three cases after delivery and two of them died. Among the pregnancies that had an infection in the third trimester, 71.4% (n = 20) of them had delivery in 14 days after diagnosis and 17.4% (n = 8) of their newborns were followed up at newborn intensive care unit. Overall, only one newborn had a positive swab test result for SARS-CoV-2. There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding their delivery week (37.02 ± 5.85 vs 38.5 ± 2.33). Similarly, there was no significant difference between groups, concerning mean age, parity, and birth weight (P = 0.707, P = 0.092, P = 0.334; P < 0.05). Furthermore, the difference between SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnancies that were followed up as inpatient or outpatient with respect to the delivery week and birth weight was not significant (p > 0.05). Also, APGAR 5 scores of hospitalized women (9.3 ± 1.1) were found to be lower than the outpatient group (9.8 ± 0.8) (P = 0.043; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant difference was detected between groups in terms of the delivery week, birth weight, and APGAR scores. The inpatient group was found to have lower APGAR 5 scores.

Factors influencing age at natural menopause.

AIM: Women who experience menopause before 45 years, have an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify the factors influencing the age at natural menopause and to investigate whether tubal ligation alter age at natural menopause. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on total 1660 women with natural menopause. The participants were divided into two groups as the ones having menopause before age of 45 years and after 45 years old. RESULTS: Positive family history, smoking and use of oral contraceptive were found to increase the risk of early menopause by 3.68, 1.34 and 1.04 times, respectively. First pregnancy at older age reduced the risk of early menopause by 0.97 and obesity reduced this risk by 0.65 (95% CI 0.47-0.90). There was no significant difference between menopausal age of patients who underwent BTL (47.46 ± 4.67 years old) and those who did not (47.68 ± 5.18 years old) (P:0.320; P > 0.05). The mean age at menopause of patients who had tubal ligation with laparoscopic cauterization and Pomeroy technique was 46.91 ± 4.07 and 47.55 ± 4.76 years old, respectively (P:0.503; P > 0.05). Besides, there was no significant difference between patients having tubal ligation at the time of cesarean section and those who did not regarding menopausal age (P:0.314; P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend identifying modifiable factors and informing women at risk of early menopause. Tubal ligation, when performed correctly, should not compromise ovarian function. If tubal ligation interferes with vascular supply to the ovaries, it may not be substantial enough to result in an earlier onset of menopause.

Assesment of pregnancy outcomes among twin pregnancies with single fetal demise regarding chorionicity and fetal death time

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess maternal and perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies with single fetal demise in terms of chorionicity and fetal death time. Material and Methods: All deliveries between January 2008 and July 2015 were reviewed retrospectively and 85 twin pregnancies with single fetal demise were included. These cases were grouped according to chorionicity and fetal death time. Results: The incidence of single fetal demise was 4.7%. The mean delivery week was later in the dichorionic group (34.16±4.65) than in the monochorionic group (31.1±3.83). The ratios of deliveries before the 34th gestational week were 71.4% in monochorionics and 35% in dichorionics. Monochorionics had a 13 times greater risk for having delivery before the 37th gestational week and a 4 times greater risk for having delivery before the 34th gestational week compared with dichorionics. Furthermore, monochorionics had a 7 times greater risk for having abruptio placenta compared with dichorionics. The newborn intensive care unit admission ratios were 61.3% in dichorionics and 85.7% in monochorionics. Also, monochorionics had a 3.7 times greater risk for admission to newborn intensive care unit compared with dichorionics. Conclusion: We recommend follow-up of twin pregnancies with single fetal demise in terms of premature birth, regardless of chorionicity. Also, close monitoring is recommended for monochorionic twin pregnancies with single fetal demise in terms of premature birth before 34 weeks of gestation, abruptio placenta, the need for neonatal intensive care, and respiratory distress syndrome.

Colloid Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix and Its Immunohistochemical Analysis: A Case Report.

Colloid carcinoma, which is a very rare tumor of the uterine cervix, is composed of an excessive amount of mucus and a relative paucity of tumoral glandular cells within them. Herein, we report a rare case of colloid carcinoma of the cervix with adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), intestinal and usual types, and endocervical adenocarcinoma (usual type) components. We also discuss the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of this tumor. A 51-year-old woman was referred to our outpatient clinic with the symptom of genital bleeding lasting for 5 months. She had a cervix surrounded by an irregular tumor with a diameter of 5 cm. The colloid carcinoma cells were positive for MUC2, MUC5AC, and cytokeratin (CK) 7, focal positive for CDX2, and negative for MUC6 and CK20. Also, the intestinal type AIS showed a similar staining pattern. Colloid carcinoma cells producing mucin showed an intestinal phenotype and AIS. The intestinal type can be considered as a precursor lesion of colloid carcinoma.

Comparison of the Classical Method and SEE-FIM Protocol in Detecting Microscopic Lesions in Fallopian Tubes with Gynecological Lesions.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the classical method and Sectioning and Extensively Examining the Fimbriated End Protocol (SEE-FIM) in detecting microscopic lesions in fallopian tubes with gynecological lesions. METHODS: From a total of 1,118 cases, 582 with various parts of both fallopian tubes sampled in three-ring-shape sections and 536 sampled with the SEE-FIM protocol were included in this study. Pathological findings of cases with endometrial carcinoma, non-uterine pelvic malignant tumor, ovarian borderline tumors, premalignancy, and benign lesions were compared. RESULTS: We detected two tubal infiltrative carcinomas among 40 uterine endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 15 serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas in 39 non-uterine pelvic serous high-grade carcinoma cases, seven papillary tubal hyperplasias in 13 serous borderline tumor cases, and 11 endometriotic foci and four adenomatoid tumors among all cases sampled with the SEE-FIM protocol. Using the classical method, we detected only one serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma in 113 non-uterine pelvic serous high-grade carcinoma cases and two papillary tubal hyperplasia cases in 31 serous borderline tumors. We did not identify additional findings in 185 uterine endometrioid carcinoma cases, and neither endometriotic focus nor adenomatoid tumor was shown in other lesions by the classical method. CONCLUSIONS: Benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions can possibly be missed using the classical method. The SEE-FIM protocol should be considered especially in cases of endometrial carcinoma, nonuterine pelvic serous cancers, or serous borderline ovarian tumors. For other lesions, at least a detailed examination of the fimbrial end should be undertaken.

Body composition: A predictive factor of cycle fecundity.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of body composition on reproduction in women with unexplained infertility treated with a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted on 308 unexplained infertile women who were scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme and were grouped as pregnant and non-pregnant. Anthropometric measurements were performed using TANITA-420MA before the treatment cycle. Body composition was determined using a bioelectrical impedance analysis system. RESULTS: Body fat mass was significantly lower in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (15.61±3.65 vs.18.78±5.97, respectively) (p=0.01). In a multiple regression analysis, body fat mass proved to have a stronger association with fecundity than the percentage of body fat, body mass index, or the waist/hip ratio (standardized regression coefficient≥0.277, t-value≥2.537; p<0.05). The cut-off value of fat mass, which was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristics curve, was 16.65 with a sensitivity of 61.8% and a specificity of 70.2%. Below this cut-off value, the odds of the pregnancy occurrence was found to be 2.5 times more likely. CONCLUSION: Body fat mass can be predictive for pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility scheduled for a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and intrauterine insemination programme.

Predictive factors for failure of salpingostomy in ectopic pregnancy.

AIM: The objective of this study was to review our experience with ectopic pregnancy management and to evaluate major predictive factors for failure of conservative linear salpingostomy. METHODS: Seven hundred and ninety-seven cases that were treated for ectopic pregnancy in our clinic between October 2005 and September 2011 were analyzed retrospectively for incidence and treatment options. We defined failure as rising or plateauing postoperative serum ß-hCG levels that required additional medical or surgical treatment after initial removal of the ectopic pregnancy by laparoscopy or by laparotomy. We examined the risk factors consisting of preoperative ß-hCG, size and location of ectopic lesions, the presence of fetal heart beat and tubal condition that can influence the failure or success of conservative salpingostomy. RESULTS: In total, 403 patients were treated conservatively. These conservative managements consist of 334 salpingostomies performed by laparoscopy and 69 by laparotomy. Because of persistent ectopic pregnancy, 16 patients underwent medical treatment. In total, 387 patients were treated successfully with conservative management and 16 patients were treated unsuccessfully with conservative management. When variables of P < 0.05 were subjected to multivariate analysis, size of the ectopic pregnancy of 33.5 mm or greater and fimbrial and isthmic region ectopic pregnancies were significantly associated with the failure rate. CONCLUSIONS: The size of the ectopic pregnancy and fimbrial and isthmic region ectopic pregnancies were determinant of failure of conservative surgery. Our success rate in the ruptured group is not an underestimated value to dissuade patients wishing to maintain fertility by undergoing salpingectomy. So, the conservative approach to ectopic pregnancy should be undertaken after careful patient evaluation.

Comparison of 24-hour urinary protein and protein-to-creatinine ratio in women with preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the spot urine protein-to-creatinine (P/C) ratio and 24-hour urine protein excretion in pregnant women with preeclampsia and also to determine the best discriminator values of the spot P/C ratios for 300 mg and 2000 mg protein per 24h. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 200 pregnant women with new onset hypertension at or greater than 140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks of gestation. Women were instructed to collect urine during a 24-hour period, and after the 24-hour urine sample collection was completed a mid-stream urine specimen was obtained for P/C ratio determination. The correlation between 24-hour urine protein excretion and spot urine P/C ratio was calculated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the cut-off values of the spot P/C ratios for 300 mg and 2000 mg protein per 24h. Areas under ROC curves were calculated. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between 24-hour protein excretion and the urine P/C ratio (r=0.828, p<0.0001). The cut-off P/C ratio for 300 mg per 24h was 0.28: sensitivity and specificity were 60.4% and 77.9%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 77.5% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 60.9%. The cut-off P/C ratio for 2000 mg per 24h was 0.77: sensitivity and specificity were 96.8% and 98.6%, respectively. The PPV was 96.8% and NPV was 98.6%. Area under ROC curves for 24-hour urine total protein of 300-2000 mg/day and >2000 mg/day were 0.74 (95% CI 0.66-0.80) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.95-0.99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Spot P/C ratio is a poor predictor of 24-hour proteinuria but can predict proteinuria >2000 mg better than 300-2000 mg.