Comparison of the maternal serum endocan levels in preterm premature rupture of membrane and normal pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Endocan is a novel marker of endothelial inflammation. In this study, we aimed to show whether there was a significant difference between the endocan levels of pregnant women with and without preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM and non-PPROM). Also, we aimed to find a relation between endocan levels and the latent period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Pregnant women with PPROM between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation and those without PPROM with similar gestational weeks were included in the study. A total of 88 pregnant women, 44 with PROM and 44 healthy pregnancies, were evaluated. Demographic and obstetric features, leukocyte, and endocan levels of the study and control groups were compared. RESULTS: The demographic features and obstetric history of both groups were similar. The mean leukocyte and endocan levels of the study group were higher than in the control group (p < 0.001 and 0.029, respectively). The leukocyte level was the only independent factor predicting PPROM after multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Although the endocan levels were higher in patients with PPROM, multivariate analysis showed that the only independent predictive factor was the leukocyte level.

An overview of female genital mutilation.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. To present a case of type III FGM corrected by de-infibulation for treatment of sexual dysfunction. A 31-year-old woman who had FGM reporting unconsummated marriage presented to our clinic clinic. The patient had undergone type III FGM at age 7 in her country. Surgical correction was performed. By de-infibulation, the vaginal and urethral orifices were revealed after incision of scar tissue. The World Health Organization classifies FGM in four types. Type III FGM is narrowing of the vaginal orifice with the creation of a covering seal by cutting and appositioning the labia minora and/or the labia majora, with or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation). De-infibulation surgery is recommended for resolving problems related with sexual dysfunction and child-birth.