The Relationship between Z-Protein Level and other Parameters in Pregnant Women with Intrauterine Growth Retardation in Third Trimester.

BACKGROUND: Protein Z is a glycoprotein which acts as an anticoagulant factor. A deficiency of protein Z is associated with thrombotic events and adverse obstetric outcomes. The association between protein Z deficiency and adverse obstetric outcomes has previously been demonstrated in several studies. However, none of them have investigated each complication independently. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of protein Z in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: Pregnant and nonpregnant healthy women between the ages of 18 and 40 years were included in the study. There were three groups: One: Study group: pregnant women with IUGR fetuses; Two: Control group 1: pregnant women with normal fetuses; Three: Control group 2: nonpregnant, healthy women. Plasma protein levels of protein Z, protein S, and protein C were measured for each group. RESULTS: Women with IUGR had significantly higher mean plasma concentrations of protein Z compared to women with normal pregnancies. This is in contrast to previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the association between protein Z levels and IUGR is still controversial.

Colposcopic biopsy findings among women with either HPV-16 only or HPV-18 only who have normal cervical cytology.

OBJECTIVE: To compare colposcopic biopsy results among women with normal cervical cytology who had positive test results for either HPV-16 only or HPV-18 only. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between July 1, 2015, and October 31, 2017. Colposcopic biopsy results were compared among women in the HPV-16 only (n=185) and HPV-18 only (n=43) groups. RESULTS: Women who had HPV-16 only were more likely to be smokers than women with HPV-18 only (P=0.003). By contrast, women with HPV-18 only were more likely to be aged at least 45 years than women who had HPV-16 only (P=0.038). High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were detected more frequently in the HPV-16 only group (51 [27.6%]) than in the HPV-18 only group (4 [9.3%]; P=0.010). By contrast, no between-group difference was found for the rate of invasive cervical cancer, which was detected in 1 (0.5%) woman in the HPV-16 only group and 1 (2.3%) woman in HPV-18 only group (P=0.342). CONCLUSION: Although the risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was increased among women with HPV-16 only, this finding did not influence the rate of invasive cervical cancer when compared with women in the HPV-18 only group.

Prognostic factors for maximally or optimally cytoreduced stage III nonserous epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors predictive of poor prognosis in women with stage III nonserous epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who had undergone maximal or optimal primary cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by six cycles of intravenous carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with stage III nonserous EOC who had undergone maximal or optimal primary CRS followed by six cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy at seven gynecological oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological and survival data were collected. RESULTS: A total of 218 women met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 64 (29.4%) patients had endometrioid, 61 (28%) had mucinous, 54 (24.8%) had clear-cell and 39 (17.9%) had mixed epithelial tumors. Fifty-five (25.2%) patients underwent maximal CRS, whereas 163 (74.8%) had optimal debulking. With a median follow-up of 31.5 months, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 34.8% and 44.2%, respectively. Bilaterality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.44, 95% CI 1.01-2.056; P = 0.04), age (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.176-4.323; P = 0.014) and maximal cytoreduction (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.202-0.58; P < 0.001) were found to be independent prognostic factors for PFS. However, age (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.215-5.591; P = 0.014) and maximal cytoreduction (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.166-0.615; P < 0.001) were defined as independent prognostic factors for OS. CONCLUSION: The extent of CRS seems to be the only modifiable prognostic factor associated with stage III nonserous EOC. Complete cytoreduction to no gross residual disease should be the main goal of management in these women.