Effect of Fetuin-A and oxidative stress on the occurrence of unexplained infertility.

Objective: Unexplained infertility refers to a diagnosis in which all standard examinations are usually normal and is statistically seen in approximately 30-40% of infertile couples and endometriosis encountered in 25-50% of patients with unexplained infertility. Unexplained infertility is thought to be closely associated with endometriosis and serum and peritoneal fluid levels of Fetuin-A is increased in patients with endometriosis. Fetuin-A is proposed as a diagnostic marker for endometriosis and has anti-inflammatory effects on several diseases. Oxidative stress also is central to the etiopathogenesis of infertility in women. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum Fetuin-A and oxidative stress parameter concentrations impact on unexplained infertility. Materials and Methods: In the study, serum Fetuin-A, IL-1ß, CA I, TAS, TOS levels, and PON and ARE enzyme activities were measured using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay in the sera of diagnosed unexplained infertility females (n=44) and controls (n=41). Results: There was no statistically significant difference between unexplained infertile patients and control groups in terms of serum IL-1ß, CA I, OSI, and PON levels (p>0.05). Serum Fetuin-A and ARE levels were significantly higher in unexplained infertility compared with the control, whereas serum TAS and TOS levels were lower (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: It is thought that increased Fetuin-A levels may be a response to the inflammatory process and increased ARE activity may be a sign of the impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance in unexplained infertility. This may contribute to the pathogenesis of infertility, and the data obtained will make a significant contribution to new works to be done in this sense.

Problems of modern approaches to management of early pregnancy failure.

In the last 20 to 30 years, early diagnosis of pregnancy has markedly decreased ectopic pregnancy-related maternal mortality, and the necessity for surgical treatment. With modern approaches in the treatment of ectopic pregnancy, surgical therapy has been replaced by medical therapy and medical treatment by spontaneous follow-up in appropriate cases. However, this current trend has led to some problems, including the maximization of ultrasonographic interpretations, misunderstandings in serial human koryonik gonadotropin hormon measurements, and complications due to inappropriate methotrexate use. The aim of the present study was to review the literature relating to the diagnosis and follow-up of early pregnancies, to underline some of the important considerations, and to help avoid possible iatrogenic errors.

Effects of oral hormone replacement therapy on mean platelet volume in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND/AIM: To examine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on mean platelet volume (MPV), lipid profile, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in postmenopausal women who have a high risk and incidence of cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed retrospectively. Twenty-seven healthy postmenopausal women received 1 mg estradiol and 2 mg drospirenone orally for 6 months. Twenty-eight healthy postmenopausal women not taking any HRT were admitted to the study as the control population. RESULTS: Time effect (independent from group effect) was statistically significant for the MPV variable (P = 0.025), but there was no significant change in MPV levels and other cardiovascular disease risk markers in women receiving HRT compared to women in the control group. CONCLUSION: Younger postmenopausal women taking HRT and women who initiated hormone therapy close to menopause are not at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Prohepcidin in maternal circulation: is it related to spontaneous preterm labor?

BACKGROUND/AIM: To investigate whether spontaneous preterm labor (PTL) with intact membranes is associated with changes in maternal serum prohepcidin concentrations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of patients with spontaneous PTL with intact membranes (n = 25), a control group of healthy pregnant women between the 24th and 37th gestational weeks (n = 22), and uncomplicated term pregnancies in spontaneous labor (n = 19). Blood samples were collected from patients at the time of clinical diagnosis. Levels of prohepcidin, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, total iron binding capacity, transferrin and transferrin saturation, C reactive protein, and interleukin-6 were measured. RESULTS: Patients with spontaneous PTL had significantly lower maternal serum prohepcidin concentrations than term delivery and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Maternal serum prohepcidin concentration is lower in patients with spontaneous PTL compared to term delivery and control subjects. This suggests that measuring maternal serum prohepcidin concentrations in PTL may be a feasible method for understanding etiologic causes of spontaneous preterm delivery, but, before suggesting this as a course of action, low levels of prohepcidin in patients with PTL need to be more fully investigated.