Maternal and fetal leptin and ghrelin levels: relationship with fetal growth.

PURPOSE: In our study, we investigated the influence of plasma levels ghrelin, leptin and other metabolic hormones (ILGF-1 and ILGF-2) in pregnants in regulating fetal body weight and mode of delivery. METHODS: A total of 36 appropriately healthy pregnants 19-36-year-old were involved in the study. Demographic characteristics, serum ghrelin, leptin, IGF-1 and IGF-2 levels of the pregnants were studied. RESULTS: Plasma ghrelin and leptin levels did not differ significantly among trimesters and delivery, in contrast to IGF-I and IGF-II concentrations were significantly higher in the first half of the pregnancy (P < 0.05). Serum leptin was significantly associated with mode of delivery (r = 0.231; P = 0.008), BMI (r = 0.462; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Metabolic factors are associated with fetal growth, but in AGA babies, there were no differences between any parameter and clinical factor.

Prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model: efficacy comparison between cabergoline and meloxicam.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of cabergoline (Cb2) and meloxicam in curbing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). DESIGN: Randomized controlled, animal study. SETTING: Academic facility. SAMPLE: We used a total of 50 immature Wistar female rats randomly to create an experimental OHSS model. METHODS: Ten rats each formed the control group and mild OHSS group. The remaining 30 were separated into three equal groups of severe OHSS. Mild and severe OHSS were induced through ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. One group with severe OHSS was administered a low-dose 100 microg/kg Cb2 therapy; another group with severe OHSS received 600 microg/kg meloxicam. Body weight, vascular permeability (VP), VEGF expression, ovary weight, and diameter were then compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The efficacy of Cb2 and meloxicam for preventing OHSS. RESULTS: Comparison of the severe OHSS groups with the controls and mild OHSS group revealed significant increases in VEGF expression, VP, ovary weight, and diameter. The increase in VEGF expression was demonstrated to be dependent on human chorionic gonadotropin doses. However, low-dose Cb2 and meloxicam therapies were shown to be ineffective in decreasing VEGF expression and VP, ovary weight, and ovary diameter in severe OHSS. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF elevation played a critical part in OHSS pathogenesis, but the therapies administered failed to curb VEGF expression.

Human papillomavirus typing and soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in female sex workers with a negative cervical smear result.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in female sex workers with a negative cervical smear result, and to determine the effectiveness of using sIL-2R levels to screen for high-risk strains of HPV. METHOD: A negative cervical smear result and a blood sample were obtained from 68 women: 43 female sex workers and 25 women acting as controls. HPV DNA genotyping was performed and sIL-2R levels were assessed. RESULTS: Female sex workers had significantly higher sIL-2R levels than women in the control group (318.37+/-239.7 vs 114.4+/-56.5 U/mL, respectively P<0.001). In addition, female sex workers with high-risk strains of HPV had significantly higher sIL-2R levels than those who did not have high-risk strains of HPV (736.7+/-251.5 vs 250.5+/-156.1 U/mL, respectively; P=0.001). CONCLUSION: High sIL-2R levels may be useful in screening for high-risk strains of HPV in female sex workers who have a negative cervical smear result.

What should be the ideal time for ischemic preconditioning in a laparoscopic rat model?

BACKGROUND: Pneumoperitoneum (Pp) induces an ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury as a result of released oxidative stress markers. Ischemic preconditioning (IP) is one of the used methods to reduce the harmful effects of Pp, which is a mechanism for reducing organ I/R injury by a brief period of organ ischemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the ideal time for IP in the laparoscopic model. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were assigned into four groups: group 1 (control, n = 8) was subjected to a sham operation. Group 2 (5-minutes IP, n = 8) was subjected to 5 minutes of Pp with 15 mm Hg of pressure followed immediately by 5 minutes of deflation, and after that, 60 minutes of Pp with 15 mm Hg, followed by 60 minutes of deflation. Group 3 (10-minutes IP, n = 8) was subjected to 10 minutes of Pp and 10 minutes of deflation. Group 4 (Pp only, n = 8) was subjected to 60 minutes of Pp with 15 mm Hg of pressure, followed by 60 minutes of deflation. At the end of the experiment, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) values, the oxidative stress marker, and plasma-reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, the marker showing antioxidant activity, were determined. RESULTS: Highest plasma MDA values were in group 4 (Pp only), followed by groups 2 and 3 and group 1 (P = 0.181). In addition, IP groups had almost the same values for MDA. Plasma GSH levels in the control group were significantly higher than those in the IP groups and the Pp-only group (P < 0.001). Similarly, as in MDA levels, no difference was found between plasma GSH levels of the IP 5-minutes and IP 10-minutes groups. CONCLUSIONS: Five minutes of the IP model may be as reliable as 10 minutes of the IP model. In that case, 5 minutes of IP can be more suitable in reducing I/R injury in laparoscopy.