Corneal Endothelial Cell Density and Morphology in Different Trimesters of Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate corneal endothelial cell density (CD) and morphology in different trimesters of pregnancy. METHODS: This prospective study included 66 (66 eyes) pregnant women. The patient group was divided into three subgroups comprised of 22 women in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. An age-matched group of 22 (22 eyes) volunteers served as controls. Corneal measurements were performed using specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP8000, Konan Medical). Central corneal thickness (CCT) and CD, hexagonal cell ratio (HEX), and coefficient of variation (CV) of the corneal endothelial cell layer of the patients were measured at each trimester. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness did not change significantly during the pregnancy compared to controls (P>0.05). Endothelial CD was decreased in the first trimester and increased in the second and third trimesters, but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). Hexagonal cell ratio was decreased significantly in the first trimester (P<0.05). There was an increase in the second and third trimesters, which was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Coefficient of variation was increased significantly in the first trimester and showed a significant decrease in the second and third trimesters (P<0.05, respectively). Endothelial CD had a significant positive correlation with CV and HEX had a negative correlation with CV in the second trimester (r=0.438, P=0.041 and r=-0.822, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Central corneal thickness and endothelial CD did not change significantly throughout the pregnancy. Hexagonal cell ratio and CV showed a significant but transient increase in the first trimester.

The evaluation of temperament and quality of life in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIMS: To evaluate the temperament and quality of life (QoL) of patients with PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-three adult patients with PCOS and 38 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Demographic characteristics including age, education and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Affective temperaments were assessed by the temperament evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A) scale. The general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument used in this study was short Form 36. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were also performed. RESULTS: The patients with PCOS had significantly higher rates of depressive, anxious and hyperthymic scores compared to controls. The PCOS patients had significantly lower mean SF-36 health summary scores. CONCLUSIONS: TEMPS-A seems to be an easy and reliable test to evaluate temperament in PCOS patients.

Personality profile in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: To investigate the personality traits of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Forty-nine patients with PCOS and 34 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Psychometric evaluation was made with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Additionally, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were also performed. RESULTS: Polycystic ovary syndrome patients had significantly higher absolute and clinical elevation scores on depression, hysteria, psychasthenia and hypomania compared with the controls. Patients with PCOS had lower SF-36 physical and mental health summary scores and higher HADS anxiety and depression subscale scores. CONCLUSION: Polycystic ovary syndrome patients seem to have depressive, hysterical, psychasthenic and hypomanic personality traits.

Ocular blood flow in polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) alters ocular blood flow parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels was performed in 41 eyes of 41 patients with PCOS. Forty-eight eyes of 48 age-matched volunteers served as controls. The ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery and the posterior ciliary artery were examined. Ocular blood flow indices of the peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index were computed. RESULTS: The peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity of the OA, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery were significantly increased in PCOS patients in comparison to the controls (all P < 0.001). The mean systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index of the OA in PCOS patients were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Ocular blood flow velocity was positively correlated with serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and total cholesterol levels. There was a significant negative correlation between serum glucose and insulin levels and ocular blood flow velocity. CONCLUSION: Ocular blood flow velocity is increased in PCOS patients and vascular resistance seems to decrease only in the OA.

Marked changes in olfactory perception during early pregnancy: a prospective case-control study.

Pregnancy seems to be related with a significant change in olfaction. Here, we investigate this theory by testing the odor identification abilities of uncomplicated pregnant women and compare the results with non-pregnant controls. The study included 31 healthy pregnant women in the first trimester (Group 1), 30 in the second trimester (Group 2), 31 in the third trimester, and 30 non-pregnant healthy controls (Group 4). In order to measure odor identification abilities, each subject completed the 12-item Brief Smell Identification Test (BSIT). Next, the demographic characteristics and BSIT scores of the groups were compared. The total BSIT scores of the subjects in Group 1 were found to be significantly lower than those of the other groups (p < 0.001). This reduction in odor identification abilities was particularly noticeable for leather, pine, and soot. Pregnant women in the second and third trimesters had similar odor identification abilities to the healthy controls (p > 0.05). Early pregnancy might be related to significant changes in olfactory performance. The distortion of odor identification in the first trimester might be a causative factor for the development of pregnancy-specific conditions, such as morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum, which are both common complaints during the early phase of parturition.