Evaluation of controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score in the prognosis of hyperemesis gravidarum.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) severity, hospitalization, and length of stay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted between December 2022 and June 2023, involved two groups. Group 1 comprised 52 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, receiving hospitalization and treatment. Group 2 included 105 pregnant women diagnosed with HG in the first trimester, managed and treated as outpatients. The CONUT score was calculated with the formula: Serum albumin score + total lymphocyte score + total cholesterol score. This score is calculated with a number of points between 0 and 12. The interpretation of the score involves four categories: normal (0-1), light (2-4), moderate (5-8), and severe (9-12). RESULTS: The CONUT score differed significantly between the hospitalized (4, IQR: 2.25-5) and outpatient groups (2, IQR: 2-3) (p < 0.001). A CONUT score >3 was associated with the need for hospitalization, demonstrating a sensitivity of 60%, a specificity of 84% (p < 0.001). The CONUT score was the parameter with the highest odds ratio (OR) value among the parameters related to the need for hospitalization, and each unit increase in the CONUT score increased the need for hospitalization by 1.683 times [OR = 1.683 (95% CI: 1.042-2.718), p = 0.033]. A positive correlation was found between the CONUT score and the duration of hospital stay (r = 0.316, p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests CONUT score as a valuable tool for predicting HG severity, hospitalization need, and duration of hospital stay.

Does Second Trimester Maternal Serum Zonulin Level Predict Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?

Zonulin, a protein that regulates intestinal permeability, has attracted attention as a potential biomarker for GDM. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether there are differences in zonulin levels between the GDM group and control groups, especially between those receiving different treatments (diet and insulin). Based on this idea, we included 90 patients with a gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks in our study. While GDM was not detected in 33 of these patients, as a result of OGTT, 57 patients were diagnosed with GDM and these patients were followed throughout their pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed by an OGTT performed between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) standards. During follow-up, GDM patients were divided into two groups according to whether they required insulin treatment. Plasma zonulin levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. The GDM group had significantly higher plasma zonulin levels than the control group (p < 0.005). According to our research, zonulin may be a non-invasive biomarker involved in the etiology of GDM. Large-scale research on this topic is still needed.

The role of first trimester serum inflammatory indexes (NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and PIV) and the ß-hCG to PAPP-A ratio in predicting preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of inflammation parameters and indices measured in the first trimester for the detection of preeclampsia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, we examined the medical records of 276 eligible pregnancies at a tertiary referral center from 2022 to 2023. The cases were categorized into the Control group (n = 171), the Mild Preeclampsia group (n = 63), and the Severe Preeclampsia group (n = 42). We examined the demographic characteristics and perinatal outcomes of all participants. Additionally, we analyzed laboratory parameters, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII) (neutrophil*platelet/lymphocyte), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) (neutrophil*monocyte/lymphocyte), pan-immune inflammation value (PIV) (neutrophil*platelet*monocyte/lymphocyte), and the ß-hCG to PAPP-A ratio in the first trimester. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis was conducted to identify the optimal cut-off levels for inflammatory markers in predicting preeclampsia. RESULTS: SIRI and PIV exhibited statistical significance in differentiating between the preeclampsia and control groups for predicting preeclampsia. The determined cut-off value for SIRI was 1.5, providing a sensitivity of 56.2% and a specificity of 55.6% (p = 0.012). Likewise, the cut-off value for PIV was 394.4, with a sensitivity of 55.2% and a specificity of 55% (p = 0.013). NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, and ß-hCG to PAPP-A ratio could not predict preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that SIRI and PIV hold promise as potential tools for predicting the risk of preeclampsia during the first trimester.

Effect of tumor type on response to adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with stage II-IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of histological subtype on oncological outcome and adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy response in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group was created with stage II-IV EOC patients. Progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) estimates were determined by using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and cox proportional hazards model were performed. RESULTS: A total 396 patients were included the study. Tumor type was serous in 332 (83.8%). Two hundred and thirty-one patients (58.3%) had maximal cytoreduction. Three hundred and twenty-seven (82.6%) patients received complete clinical response. Refractory disease was present in 69 (17.4%) patients. In patients with complete clinical response, 183 (56%) patients recurred. Five-year PFS was 32% in serous group and 31% in non-serous group (p = 0.755). Five-year DSS was 78% in serous group and 87% in non-serous group (p = 0.084). On multivariate analysis, recurrence rates 1.959 times (95% CI: 1.224-3.085; p = 0.004), death rates 2.624 times (95% CI: 1.328-5.185; p = 0.005) higher in patients with optimal cytoreduction than patients with maximal cytoreduction, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of maximal cytoreduction was higher in patients with non-serous tumor type, the rate of refractory disease was higher after adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the recurrence rate was higher in serous tumor type. Survival rates were similar in serous and non-serous tumor types. Maximal cytoreduction was an independent predictor factor for survival. Maximal cytoreduction should be the main target in EOC.