Reference charts for fetal corpus callosum length in the early second trimester: a prospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish normal reference ranges for fetal corpus callosum (CC) measured by prenatal ultrasonography (USG) between 16 and 25 weeks of gestation in healthy fetuses. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 809 fetuses in the second trimester were evaluated by transabdominal USG. All measurements were obtained by a single clinician. RESULTS: Based on the correlation analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between gestational week and CC (r = 0.907, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We anticipate that the reference intervals obtained from healthy fetuses will help clinicians who are interested in neurosonography to detect CC abnormalities at an early stage.

The role of human epididymis secretory protein E4 in patients with endometrial cancer and premalignant endometrial lesions.

We evaluated the concentrations of human epididymis secretory protein E4 (HE4) and Ca-125 in relation to clinicopathologic features in patients with endometrial cancer and premalignant endometrial lesions. Women with abnormal uterine bleeding (n = 167) who underwent endometrial sampling were divided into four groups. Group 1: endometrial cancer (n = 68), group 2: atypical endometrial hyperplasia (n = 12), group 3: endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (n = 39) and group 4: controls (n = 48). Women with endometrial cancer exhibited higher concentrations of HE4 levels than controls (91.4 pmol/L vs. 46.2 pmol/L, p < 0.001). HE4 levels were significantly higher in patients with lymphatic involvement, deep myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement and non-endometrioid histology (p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for HE4 in detecting endometrial cancer were 72.7%, 84.4%, 80% and 78.4%, respectively. Preoperative HE4 levels are more elevated in women with endometrial cancer than those with benign endometrium as well as in women with prognostic high-risk factors with endometrial cancer. HE4 may be used as an additional marker in combination with other clinicopathologic features for planning the treatment.

The relationship between Polycystic ovary syndrome and vitamin D levels.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to determine the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) levels with hormonal, clinical and metabolic profile in patients with and without Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight normal-weight (body mass index (BMI) of 19-24.99 kg/m2) women with PCOS, 36 overweight (BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2) women with PCOS and 56 normal-weight controls participated in the study. Blood samples were collected in the early follicular phase (between day 2 and day 5 of the menstrual cycle) at 9:00 am after an overnight fast. Circulating concentrations of 25-OH D, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, TSH, free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-SO4), 17-hydroxyprogesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and lipid profile were assessed. RESULTS: Normal weight (BMI 19-24.99 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI 25-29.99 kg/m2) women with PCOS were compared with normal-weight controls and lower 25-OH D levels were found in both PCOS groups (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively 25-OH D significantly negatively correlated with waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), free testosterone and modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores, however, there was a positive correlation between 25-OH D and SHBG levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that PCOS is associated with hypovitaminosis D.

Depressive symptomatology and quality of life assessment among women using the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine the effect of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) treatment on depressive symptoms, changes in bleeding patterns, and quality of life (QoL) among premenopausal women in our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 120 premenopausal women, aged 18-50 years, who had sought care in the previous year for menorrhagia. LNG-IUS was inserted into eligible patients after the relevant evaluations. Both questionnaires were administered at time of the initial screening before and 6 months after insertion of the LNG-IUS. All patients completed the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) for QoL and Beck's Depression Inventory for depressive symptoms. RESULTS: At the 6-month follow-up visit, the pictorial blood assessment chart score (PBAC) considerably decreased (p < 0.001). For SF-36 scores, physical functioning, physical role limitations, emotional role limitations, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health scores improved significantly after treatment (p < 0.001). Depression scores showed no significant difference from baseline to 6 months (p = 0.375). CONCLUSION: The LNG-IUS for the treatment of menorrhagia increases the QoL, and depression scores did not increase significantly in 6 months.