Is leptin a significant predictor of bone mineral density in postmenopausal Turkish women?

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between leptin and bone mineral density in postmenopausal Turkish women. A total of 122 healthy postmenopausal women were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Blood samples were obtained for analysis of serum leptin. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and trochanter on the same day. Leptin levels was significantly correlated with BMD of L(1-4) (P = 0.04), but not of femoral neck (P = 0.13), and trochanter (P = 0.39). However, Z scores of L(1-4) (P = 0.009), femur neck (P = 0.009), and femur trochanter (P = 0.025) were positively correlated with leptin levels. In multiple linear regression analysis, leptin was not found to be a statistically significant independent predictor for BMD. Leptin was associated with BMD and Z scores at various body sites; however, it was not an independent predictor of BMD.

The efficacy of a hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose membrane in prevention of postoperative adhesion in a rat uterine horn model.

The current study was designed to investigate the efficacy of a hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose membrane for the prevention of post-operative adhesion in a rat uterine horn model. This is a prospective double-blinded controlled study. Nineteen injured uterine horns were treated with a hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose membrane as a barrier and 19 injured uterine horns without any treatment served as a control group. Two weeks later, second look laparotomies were performed in order to assess the degree of the adhesion. Total adhesion scores, histopathological analysis of inflammation process and vascularization of adhesions were compared with control group. P values of 5% or less were considered statistically significant. Animals treated with a hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose membrane had significantly reduced post-surgical adhesion scores when compared with control group. In histopathological examination, there was less vascularization in the treatment group. The types and extent of inflammation were similar in two groups. Clinically and histopathologically, a hyaluronate/carboxymethylcellulose membrane is effective in reducing postoperative adhesion formation in the rat uterine horn model.

Nasal bone measurement during the 1st trimester: is it useful?

The aim of this study was to present our preliminary data about nasal bone measurements at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy. This study was conducted in our prenatal unit between 2000 and 2003. A total of 642 pregnant women (single pregnancies) were enrolled into the study. During the first trimester of pregnancy, crown-rump length, nuchal translucency thickness, and fetal nasal bone length measurements and ductus venosus Doppler images were evaluated. The distribution of absent or small nasal bones in both normal fetuses and in those having some pathological conditions was compared by statistical analysis. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Nasal bone evaluation was successful in 600 of 642 (93.4%) ultrasound examinations. The linear regression line showed a significant positive slope with increasing crown-rump length (r=0.54, p < 0.001). Absent or small nasal bones were more common in abnormal than in normal fetuses (p=0.007). It is clear that the fetal nasal bone is becoming a powerful tool in prenatal screening for aneuploidy. Larger studies to be performed in a low-risk population are needed to assess whether the measurement of the nasal bone length provides additional benefits beyond the assessment of the presence or absence of the nasal bone.