Evaluation of serum telomerase activity in normal-weight young girls with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relation to metabolic parameters.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the discriminative value of serum telomerase levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its relation to metabolic parameters. METHODS: Patients aged 16-23 years old who visited an adolescent outpatient clinic were included in the study. Our study consisted of 45 non-obese girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), while our control group consisted of 45 healthy girls with normal menstrual cycles and no signs of hyperandrogenism. During the early follicular phase, all individuals were analyzed for serum telomerase levels, blood cell count, biochemical parameters, basal hormone levels, lipid profile and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index. RESULTS: Serum telomerase levels in PCOS patients were considerably lower (80.0 ± 52.8 IU/mL) than in the controls (113.1 ± 54.9 IU/mL) (p=0.004). We observed that blood telomerase levels less than 108.6 distinguished PCOS group from healthy controls with a sensitivity of 73.33% and a specificity of 57.78%. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HOMA-IR index, Ferriman-Gallwey score and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate values were higher in the study group. Moreover, serum telomerase levels were inversely correlated with body mass index (r=-0.339, p=0.023) and triglycerides (r=-0.511, p=0.002) in this group. Telomerase levels were also considerably lower in patients with metabolic syndrome (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Serum telomerase activity is lower in PCOS patients than in healthy controls. Furthermore, decreased serum telomerase levels may correlate well with the metabolic complications of PCOS.

Two cases of acute urinary retention caused by large cervical leiomyoma with review of literature.

OBJECTIVE: Large uterine or cervical leiomyomas may cause acute urinary retention due to bladder outlet obstruction. We report two cases with acute urinary retention caused by cervical leiomyoma. Myomectomies were performed due to their desire of fertility and frozen-section examinations were reported as benign leiomyomas in both cases. The urinary symptoms completely resolved in two patients following myomectomies. In patients who are admitted with the complaint of acute urinary retention, cervical leiomyomas should be considered in differential diagnosis.

Meperidine versus valethamate bromide in shortening the duration of active labor.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of meperidine hydrochloride and valethamate bromide against placebo in shortening the duration of active labor. METHOD: We randomly assigned 160 nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy at term who needed induction of labor to one of 3 treatments: 50 mg of meperidine (n=53), 16 mg of valethamate bromide (n=53), or a normal saline solution as placebo (n=54). All medications were given by slow intravenous infusion. Labor duration was the main outcome measure. RESULTS: The intervals between infusion and complete cervical dilation and between infusion and delivery were significantly reduced (P<0.001 and P<0.01) in the meperidine group (103.0+/-64.5 minutes and 119.8+/-70.2 minutes), in contrast to the placebo group (173.9+/-74.8 minutes and 192.2+/-82.8 minutes). However, differences were not significant between the 2 treatment groups (139.6+/-63.1 minutes and 160.6+/-71.9 minutes), or between the valethamate bromide and the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Meperidine, but not valethamate bromide, significantly shortened the duration of active labor in nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy at term.