A randomized controlled experimental study of the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid for the prevention of adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model.

PURPOSE: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been known to possess an efficacy in tissue regeneration. The aim of this study was to determine the role of PRP on post-operative adhesion formation in an experimental rat study. METHODS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, hyaluronic acid, and PRP treatment groups and operated on for uterine horn adhesion modeling. Blood was collected to produce a PRP with platelet counts of 688 × 10(3)/µL, and 1 ml of either hyaluronic acid gel or PRP was administered over the standard lesions, while the control group received no medication. The evaluation of post-operative adhesions was done on the 30th post-operative day. The location, extent, type, and tenacity of adhesions as well as total adhesion scores, tissue inflammation, fibrosis and transforming growth factor-1beta (TGF-1ß) expressions were evaluated. RESULTS: The total adhesion score was significantly lower in the PRP group (3.2 ± 1.5) compared with the hyaluronic acid (5.0 ± 1.3) and control (8.1 ± 1.7) groups. The extent of the adhesions was significantly lower in the PRP group. There was no significant difference in the type and tenacity of adhesions between the hyaluronic acid and the PRP group. The level of inflammation was significantly higher in the control group than the others, while there was no difference between the PRP and hyaluronic acid groups. TGF-1ß expression was significantly lesser in the PRP group than the control and hyaluronic acid groups. CONCLUSIONS: PRP is more effective than hyaluronic acid treatment in preventing post-operative adhesion formation in an experimental rat uterine horn adhesion model.

Diagnostic value of CA 19-9 in pregnancies complicated by spinal neural tube defects: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVES: Various physiological and pathological conditions can induce significant variations in plasma concentrations of tumor markers, such as CA 19-9, which is present in the serum and amniotic fluid of pregnant women. Herein, we aimed to determine the clinical importance of maternal serum CA 19-9 levels in the diagnosis of neural tube defects (NTDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 women were included in this controlled cross-sectional study. Thirty-three patients whose pregnancies were complicated by isolated meningocele or meningomyelocele constituted the study group, whereas 33 normal, healthy pregnant women constituted the control group, and 34 age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched non-pregnant women were chosen for the validation group. RESULTS: The mean maternal serum CA 19-9 levels were 17.2 ± 17.0 IU/mL, 7.1 ± 5.9 IU/mL, and 4.7 ± 3.6 IU/mL in the study, control, and validation groups, respectively (p < 0.001). ROC analyses showed that elevated CA 19-9 values may predict NTDs (p < 0.001). The cut-off value for CA 19-9 was found to be 9.6 IU/mL at 70% (51%-84%, 95% CI) sensitivity and 84% (74%-92%, 95% CI) specificity. CONCLUSIONS: CA 19-9 may be a promising noninvasive marker for NTDs. Further studies are needed to reveal the clinical applicability and diagnostic potential of maternal serum CA 19-9 levels in the identification of NTDs.

First trimester interleukin-6 levels help to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes in both thyroid autoantibody positive and negative patients.

AIM: The aim of the present study is to compare pregnancy outcomes among patients with and without thyroid antibodies and/or subclinical hypothyroidism and investigate whether there is an association between first trimester maternal plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out including 83 pregnant women (40 thyroid antibody positive and 43 healthy controls). The predictive value of first trimester maternal plasma IL-6 levels on adverse pregnancy outcomes were investigated. The optimal cut-off points of IL-6 for determining maternal and fetal outcomes were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analyses. RESULTS: Compared with the control, median IL-6 levels were significantly higher in thyroid antibody positive pregnancies (median 1.58 vs 1.63 pg/mL; P = 0.047). IL-6 levels were found to be significantly higher in women who had suffered a miscarriage (P = 0.002), preterm delivery (P < 0.001), intrauterine growth restriction (P = 0.047), preterm premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.043) and overall prenatal complications (P < 0.001). A statistically significant negative correlation between gestational week at birth and IL-6 levels was also determined among all participants involved in the study (r = -0.385, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: IL-6 levels are significantly increased in thyroid antibody positive patients and predictive for future adverse outcomes, irrespective of thyroid autoimmunity. Increased first trimester IL-6 levels independently predict adverse pregnancy outcomes, regardless of subclinical hypothyroidism.

Mid-trimester maternal serum and amniotic fluid biomarkers for the prediction of preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation.

AIM: Our purpose was to evaluate the predictive value of maternal serum and amniotic fluid biomarkers that were obtained at the time of genetic amniocentesis for preterm delivery and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). METHODS: A prospective cohort analysis was conducted in 107 singleton pregnancies that underwent amniocentesis at 16-22 weeks according to standard genetic indications. Maternal blood and amniotic fluid obtained from genetic amniocentesis were tested for glucose, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ceruloplasmin, ferritin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Ninety-four pregnancies were followed until delivery. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients, 16 (18.1%) delivered before 37 weeks and seven (7.5%) delivered a baby below the 10th percentile for gestational age. Amniotic fluid glucose levels were significantly lower in patients with preterm delivery than term deliveries (P = 0.01). Median amniotic fluid ferritin and IL-6 levels and mean amniotic fluid ALP levels were higher in the preterm group but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Mean maternal ALP and LDH levels tended to be insignificantly higher. Only median maternal blood ferritin levels in the IUGR group were found to be higher than patients who were appropriate for gestational age (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Low amniotic fluid glucose levels are associated with risk of preterm delivery, whereas high maternal blood ferritin levels increase the risk for IUGR. Although this result is significant and notable, there is not enough clinical evidence to recommend their use as a screening test for preterm delivery and IUGR in routine practice.

Ghrelin and motilin levels in hyperemesis gravidarum.

PURPOSE: Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secratogogue receptor, and its receptors are found in the reproductive organs and placenta. Motilin is produced from the endocrine cells of the duodeno jejunal mucosa and considered to be a regulator of interdigestive migrating contractions. Aim of this study is to investigate ghrelin and motilin levels in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS: A total of 56 patients with singleton pregnancies in the first trimester were recruited in the study, 39 with hyperemezis gravidarum and 17 normal pregnant women. Patients with medical complications and body mass index <18 or >25 were excluded. Fasting plasma ghrelin and motilin concentrations were measured. Fasting blood glucose, liver enzymes, blood urea nitrogen, creatinin, estradiol, progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin, and thyroid function tests were also investigated. RESULTS: Ghrelin levels were significantly higher in patients with hyperemesis group than the normal pregnant women (p = 0.025). Serum estradiol levels were also higher in the hyperemesis group (p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed in plasma motilin levels between the two groups. In correlation analyses, maternal ghrelin was positively correlated with estradiol (r = 0.29, p = 0.029) in the whole cohort. CONCLUSION: There are a few studies about the course of circulating ghrelin levels during human pregnancy. Ghrelin administration increases food intake through central mechanisms but its effects on appetite in relation to human pregnancy is unknown. The increased levels of ghrelin in hyperemesis gravidarum might be a compensatory mechanism to restore the energy metabolism of the pregnant women.