Search

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is commonly characterised by obesity, insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenemia and hirsutism. Nesfatin-1 a recently discovered hormone, acts upon energy balance, glucose metabolism, obesity and probably gonadal functions. This study was to evaluate the circulating levels of nesfatin-1 in patients with PCOS ( n = 30) and in age and body mass index (BMI)-matched controls ( n = 30). PCOS patients had significantly lower levels of nesfatin-1 (0.88 ± 0.36 ng/mL) than healthy controls (2.22 ± 1.14 ng/mL). PCOS patients also had higher gonadotropin and androgen plasma concentrations, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, blood glucose levels and a homeostasis model of assessment-IR index (HOMA-IR) index than in healthy women. Correlation tests in PCOS subjects detected a negative correlation between nesfatin-1 levels and BMI, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels and a HOMA-IR index. Lower nesfatin-1 concentration may plays a very important role in the development of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the severity of pain and circadian changes in uterine artery blood flow in primary dysmenorrhea cases. The study included 27 cases diagnosed as primary dysmenorrhea and 25 individuals who had no dysmenorrhea complaint. Bilateral uterine artery systole/diastole rates (S/D), pulsatility indices (PI) and resistance indices (RI) of all cases were measured using transvaginal colour Doppler at 12.00–02.00 p.m. and 12.00–02.00 a.m. Severity of pain was evaluated in dysmenorrhea cases at the same hours using a verbal pain assessment scale. Doppler measurements of dysmenorrhea cases conducted at 12.00–02.00 p.m. showed right uterine artery S/D: 3.37 ± 0.26, RI: 0.73 ± 0.07, PI: 2.38 ± 0.34 and left uterine artery S/D: 3.33 ± 0.37, RI: 0.74 ± 0.14, PI: 2.41 ± 0.15, while measurements carried out at 12.00–02.00 a.m. showed right uterine artery S/D: 3.88 ± 0.12, RI: 0.87 ± 0.14, PI: 2.94 ± 0.21 and left uterine artery S/D: 3.90 ± 0.27, RI: 0.92 ± 0.12, PI: 2.93 ± 0.21. Comparisons revealed significantly higher Doppler indices at night ( P < 0.05) than in the day in dysmenorrhea cases. There was not any significant circadian difference in individuals who did not have dysmenorrhea ( P > 0.05). Pain score in the verbal pain assessment of dysmenorrhea cases was found 3.6 ± 1.4 in the day and 5.8 ± 1.7 at night. The difference was found significant ( P < 0.05). Uterine artery blood flow is reduced at night in dysmenorrhea cases. In correlation with this, the cases feel more pain at night. Our results may be important on the planning of working hours and their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and attitudes and behavior toward dysmenorrhea in the female students of an university toward this problem. A total of 1,266 female university students were anonymously surveyed by doctors. It was found that mean age of the surveyed students was 21.02 ± 2.13 years, mean menarche age was 13.3 ± 1.4 years, and menstruation frequency was 32.58 ± 19.8 days. Of the students, 45.3% were found to suffer pain in each menstruation, 42.5% in some and 12.2% in none. Of those with primary dysmenorrhea, 66.9% were established to take analgesic drugs. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was found higher than that cited in the literature. It was established that although the rate of consultation with health professionals about menstruation and related changes was low, use of agents known to be effective in primary dysmenorrhea treatment was highly common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the efficacy of venlafaxine, which is used as an antidepressant, in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The study was designed as a placebo-controlled, double-blind and randomized clinical study. Patients in Group 1 ( n = 20) were administered 75 mg venlafaxine, those in Group 2 ( n = 20) were administered placebo for 12 weeks. All the cases were evaluated in terms of weekly incontinence episode frequency (IEF), change in void interval (VI), the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QOL) in weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12. Additionally, PGI-S was assessed at baseline and was followed by PGI-I evaluations in weeks 4, 8 and 12. Evaluations in weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 did not show any significant difference in IEF, VI, IQOL and PGI-I values of placebo group ( p > 0.05). However, in the patients who were administered venlafaxine declines in IEF and PGI-I values as well as the elevations in VI and IQOL scores showed significant changes parallel to the increasing follow-up period ( p < 0.05). Nausea was observed in 40% of cases in venlafaxine group, and 15% of those in placebo group ( p < 0.05). It was seen in our study that efficacy of venlafaxine started early and the clinical efficacy associated with the use of the drug continued in the following months. Venlafaxine should be considered a clinically efficient alternative drug in the treatment of SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since sex hormones are reported to have important roles in the regulation of immune function, this study was designed to investigate the effects hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and raloxifene (RAL) on serum cytokine concentrations in healthy postmenopausal women. Fifty-three healthy postmenopausal women were randomly assigned and treated by RAL (Group I, [RAL 60 mg daily and continuously], n = 16), HRT (Group II, [2 mg estradiol valerat + 2 mg dienogest, continuously] n = 18) or placebo (Group III, n = 19). Two fasting morning blood samples were obtained from each participant before and 3 months after the treatments. Serum concentration of interleukin (IL)-4 (as a Th2 cytokine) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)1 (as a Th3 cytokine), were measured by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney U, and Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Tests were used as necessary. At the beginning of the study, the chronological ages, menopausal ages, years of amenorrhea, weights, body mass indexes, and blood pressures were not significantly different between groups ( P < 0.05). RAL treatment caused a significant decrease on serum IL-4 concentration ( P < 0.001). Although HRT caused a 14% decrease in serum IL-4 concentration, this decrease was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Serum TGF-β1 concentrations were significantly decreased by HRT when compared to basal value ( P < 0.001), and to control ( P < 0.05). RAL treatment has no significant effect on serum TGF-β1 concentration ( P > 0.05). It seems that RAL treatment might cause a decrease in serum IL-4 concentration while valerate plus dienogest treatment as HRT seems to cause a Th3 tendency in healthy postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of uterus (PNET) are extremely rare in tumors of the female genital system and therefore there is no sufficient information about their diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The case is a 32-year-old, operated in emergency conditions due to intra-abdominal hemorrhage, and discusses our diagnosis and treatment approaches in the light of literature data. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report of uterine PNET that presented with intraabdominal hemorrhage due to uterine rupture. Despite advances in therapy, the prognosis is poor. The low number of these cases precludes accurate standardization of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]