Randomized Trial of Single-incision Midurethral Sling and Laparoscopic Burch Colposuspension: Postoperative Surgical Outcomes and Complications.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Various retropubic and midurethral sling techniques have shown high cure rates in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This study aimed to compare single-incision midurethral sling (SIMS) and laparoscopic Burch colposuspension (LBC) procedures in patients with SUI in terms of the effectiveness, patient satisfaction, surgical complications and results. DESIGN: This is a prospective randomized study. SETTING: A university tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Forty patients with clinically and/or urodynamically proven SUI who agreed to surgical treatment were randomized to the SIMS and LBC groups and included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were treated with SIMS and LBC operations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographic characteristics of patients, physical and pelvic examination, preoperative and postoperative clinical findings, Kings Health Questionnaire form, Female Sexual Function Index and Prolapse Quality of Life Questionnaire form, postoperative day 1 visual analog scale score, and postoperative complications were recorded. Objective and subjective success rates were recorded by re-evaluating the patients in the first and sixth months of the operation. Objective success was defined as having a negative stress test and subjective success was defined as the absence of stress-induced urine leakage after surgery in a validated questionnaire. The primary result of our study was considered to be objective success, whereas the secondary result was subjective success and life quality tests. Twenty patients each in the SIMS group and the LBC group were included in the study. No significant difference was found in objective success (90% vs 85%, p = .633) or subjective success (85% vs 75%, p = .695) between the 2 groups at 6-month follow-up. A significant improvement in life quality was observed in the postoperative period for both groups; however, the difference between the groups was not significant. There was an improvement in sexual function in both groups. Nonetheless, although this improvement was significant in the SIMS group, it was not significant in the LBC group. In addition, surgery time, catheterization time, and hospitalization time were shorter in the SIMS group than in the LBC group. The visual analog scale score on postoperative day 1 was lower in the SIMS group. Groups were not different in terms of preoperative and postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study is the first randomized study that compares the LBC and SIMS procedures in the literature. It shows that SIMS and LBC procedures have not different objective and subjective success rates in the short term. It was also observed that they increase both sexual and life quality results in a positive and similar way.

A Randomised Trial on the Effects of the Addition of Uterosacral Ligament Plication to Pectopexy Operation on Anatomical Restoration and Female Sexual Functions.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to determine whether the addition of uterosacral ligament plication to pectopexy for pelvic organ prolapse increases anatomical improvement and female sexual functioning. METHODS: This is a prospective randomised study. Forty patients who underwent laparoscopic pectopexy (LP) and laparoscopic pectopexy with uterosacral ligament plication (LPUSL) were included in the study. A total of 38 patients were evaluated in the study. Patients were assessed by the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system and the patients who had symptomatic apical prolapse POP-Q ≥ II were included in the study. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at the 3rd, 6th and 12th month, with respect to anatomical changes as well as sexual function. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found when the preoperative C points was compared with the C points postoperatively, at 3rd, 6th and 12th months in both the LP and LPUSL groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, there were statistically significant difference between the LP and LPUSL groups in terms of C and Aa points at the 6th and 12th postoperative months in favour of the LPUSL group (p = 0.007, p = 0.005 respectively). There was also a statistically significant difference when Ba points were compared between the two groups at the 12th postoperative month, in favour of the LPUSL group (p = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to the variables of the Female Sexual Function Index. Additionally, all parameters were significantly better in both groups at the 3rd and 12th months than the preoperative values in post hoc analysis; only desire also had a significant improvement between the 3rd and 12th months in the LPUSL group in post hoc analysis. CONCLUSION: Pectopexy operation seems to be a successful surgical approach as an alternative to sacrocolpopexy. The addition of uterosacral ligament plication to pectopexy operation improves the anatomical restoration more drastically than with LP on its own. Moreover, either LP or LPUSL has improved the majority of sexual function indices.

The effectiveness of erector spina plane, quadratus lumborum blocks, and intrathecal morphine for analgesia after cesarean: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective randomized study was conducted at Ataturk University Medical Faculty Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, from June 2022 to May 2023. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block, quadratus lumborum block, and intrathecal morphine to decrease postoperative pain after cesarean section. METHODS: Sixty-term pregnant women who were scheduled for elective cesarean sections with spinal anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly divided into three groups (n=20 for each group): Group 1: Patients were administered intrathecal morphine during spinal anesthesia; Group 2: Patients performed bilateral erector spinae plane block postoperatively; and Group 3: Patients performed bilateral quadratus lumborum block postoperatively. In the postpartum care unit, patients received intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia. The Patient-Controlled Analgesia devices were set to administer an intravenous bolus of 25 µg fentanyl, with a lockout interval of 10 min. Opioid consumption and maximum pain score in the 24 postoperative hours were recorded. RESULTS: Patients in Group 1 had a longer time to first analgesic requirement compared to Group 2 (p=0.017). Opioid consumption and resting and moving visual analog score scores in the first 24 h postoperatively were similar between groups. CONCLUSION: All three methods, including intrathecal morphine, erector spinae plane block, and quadratus lumborum block, are efficacious and comparable in providing postoperative analgesia after cesarean under spinal anesthesia.

May endocan be a new biomarker in the diagnosis of endometriosis?

AIM: As known, inflammatory substances are considered to have a role in the onset and progression of endometriosis. In this study, we aimed to find a biomarker that can be used in the diagnosis of endometriosis by investigating the serum levels of endocan, which is a substance that we know to have an important role in angiogenesis and inflammation, in patients with endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: 45 patients between the ages of 18-40 with the diagnosis of stage 3-4 endometriosis and whose postoperative histopathological tissue diagnoses were endometriosis were included in the study as study group. As the control group, a total of 45 healthy women between the ages of 18-40 were included in the study. The two groups were statistically compared. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, LH, E2, and mean Hb values. It was observed in the examination of the endocan levels that the mean values in the study (endometriosis, patient group) group were statistically and significantly higher compared to the control (healthy) group (p:0.000). Also, mean FSH and Ca125 levels were determined to be statistically and significantly higher in the endometriosis group (p:0.042 and p:0.000). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found a statistically significant correlation between the levels of serum endocan and endometriosis. As the results, endocan can be used as a new biomarker to diagnose patients with endometriosis or in their follow up period. Much more comprehensive future studies are needed on this subject.

Protective Effect of Lycopene against Reperfusion Injury in Rats with Ovarian Torsion: A Biochemical and Histopathological Evaluation.

Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of two different doses of lycopene, an antioxidant, on experimentally induced ovarian ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in rat model. Materials and Methods Twenty-four female rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation (group 1), 3-hour ischemia, 3-hour reperfusion (IR) (group 2), and IR + 100 mg/kg lycopene (PO) (group 3), IR + 200 mg/kg of lycopene (group 4). The rats' superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) levels were calculated. Ovarian tissue damage was assessed using a histopathological scoring system. Results Serum parameter levels and histological scores showed that treatment with lycopene may be conservative approach to prevent IR injury after the ovarian detorsion procedure.The improvement with lycopene was higher at 200 mg than at 100 mg. The MPO and MDA values were significantly lower in groups 3 and 4 as compared with group 2 ( p < 0.05), whereas the MPO and MDA values were lower in group 4 as compared with group 3.The SOD and GSH values were significantly higher in groups 3 and 4 as compared with group 2 ( p < 0.05), whereas the SOD and GSH values were higher in group 4 as compared with group 3.Tissue damage scores were elevated in the IR group compared with the sham group, but the treatment with different lycopene doses after reperfusion improved the histopathological tissue damage scores. Conclusion The results showed that lycopene treatment reduced ovarian IR damage. Antioxidant activity was found to increase in a dose-dependent manner. Lycopene treatment may be conservative approach for ovarian torsion patients after the detorsion procedure to prevent IR damage.

Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnancies Complicated by Intrahepatic Cholestasis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to report the maternal and fetal outcomes in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maternal and fetal outcomes in 70 consecutive women who gave birth at Ataturk University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2017 were assessed. The clinical diagnosis of ICP and diagnosis confirmed post-delivery when all the symptoms regressed and laboratory parameters returned to normal was utilized. RESULTS: Liver transaminases were elevated in 61 (87%) women. The median week of delivery was 37 (range, 26-42) and the preterm delivery rate was 40% (28 women delivered spontaneously at ≤36 weeks of gestation). Preeclampsia was noted in 8 (11%) women. There were no cases of stillbirth or neonatal death. CONCLUSION: The rate of stillbirth does not increase in women with ICP. However, further investigations are needed to determine if this result is related to preterm birth.

A Rare Case Report: A Malignant Histiocytic Tumor in the Form of Ovarian Mass.

Histiocytic cell malignancies are very rare. Hence, the information about this disease in hematology is limited. In this case report, we present a case of malignant histiocytic tumor affecting the ovary of a 40-year-old virgin female. Primary ovarian malignancy was not considered for the patient who was approached as if she had ovarian malignancy, since there was an indication of a mass in the ovary. Therefore, an aggressive surgery was not performed. Since our patient was in the reproductive age, fertility-preserving surgery was performed. Our patient was then treated systemically by medical oncology. In conclusion, the rare malignancy group was investigated in the present study along with an evaluation of the current literature.

Serum heme oxygenase-1 levels in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

PURPOSE: Primary dysmenorrhea effects the life-quality of women negatively. The aim of this study was to evaluate heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) activity together with malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: A total of 28 nulliparous women with the diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea and 26 healthy controls were included in this study. On the first day of menstruation, all patients underwent ultrasound examination to exclude pelvic pathology and the visual analogue scale was applied to patients. Patient's visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, age, body mass index (BMI), menstrual cycle length (day), length of bleeding (day) were recorded. In the same day, fasting blood samples were taken from each patient for biochemical analysis. RESULTS: Serum MDA, NO and HO1 levels were found to be higher in women with primary dysmenorrhea compared to healthy controls (p = 0.012, p = 0.009, p < 0.001, respectively). There were no correlation among serum levels of HO1, NO and MDA, age, BMI, cycle length, pain score and menses duration in both groups. In Pearson's correlation analysis, positive correlation was found between HO1 levels with the NO levels (r = 0.316, p < 0.05) and VAS scores (r = 0.520, p < 0.01). Also, positive correlation was found between MDA levels and VAS scores (r = 0.327, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum HO1, NO and MDA levels increase in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Antioxidant support might be helpful to reduce pain severity in primary dysmenorrhea.

Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer with MR Imaging Importance of Serum HE4 and CA 125 Levels in the Extent of Disease at Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, no clinically useful tumor marker is available for primary diagnosis in endometrial cancer. Human epididymis protein-4 (HE-4) has high sensitivity and specificity as a tumor marker. Further, HE-4 has been shown to be elevated in early stage endometrial cancer and is more sensitive than CA 125. In our study, CA 125 and HE-4 reputation as a tumor marker for diagnosis of ovarian and endometrial cancer with the use of both the availability and affect the way we investigated the rate of diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here 20 patients with ovarian cancer, 26 patients with endometrial cancer, which had been histologically diagnosed, and 40 healthy volunteers were included. Peripheral blood samples were taken and serum CA 125 and HE-4 were tested. RESULTS: Serum CA 125 and HE-4 levels in patients with ovarian cancer were found to be significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers (p<0.05). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. For patients with ovarian cancer and healthy controls, the CA 125 (0.83) and HE-4 (0.84) levels showed increased sensitivity (95%). There was no significant difference in the CA 125 levels in patients with endometrial cancer and healthy controls (p>0.05), whereas HE-4 levels were found to be higher in patients with endometrial cancer than in healthy controls (p<0.05). ROC analysis was performed. For endometrial cancer patients and healthy controls, the CA 125 (0.59) and HE-4 (0.63) levels showed increased sensitivity (88.5%). CONCLUSION: In ovarian and endometrial cancer, wherein early diagnosis is the most important factor for prognosis and survival, HE-4 is a new serum tumor marker that can be used with the aim of noninvasive diagnoses. For early diagnosis, the concomitant use of CA 125 and HE-4 is more effective and reliable than using either of them alone.