Travelling after amniocentesis: answer to a frequent question.

The study investigated whether travelling after amniocentesis has an effect on outcomes of the procedure. A total of 57 patients who were referred to our tertiary centre from distant cities and who had to travel back by bus, by car or by plane, were evaluated for amniocentesis outcomes. The travelled distances were divided into 3 zones, which consisted of 50-100, 101-300 and over 300 km. Patients (n = 85) residing in our city (within 50 km) were identified as the control group. All of the procedures were done by the same perinatology team, following exactly the same procedure. It was found that there was one transient amniotic fluid leakage patient who had travelled 70 km by car after the amniocentesis. No other patients who had to travel after amniocentesis had a complication related to the procedure. It was concluded that although done on a limited number of patients, this study provides the first scientifically supported evidence that travelling by bus, by car or by plane after amniocentesis does not have adverse effects on the outcomes.

Comparison of tumor markers and clinicopathological features in serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess tumor markers and clinicopathological findings of patients with serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) features. METHODS: The study consisted of 50 patients that were diagnosed with and treated for BOT between 2005-2010 in three centers. CA125, CA19-9, and CA125+CA19-9 levels and clinicopathological features were compared in serous and mucinous histotypes. In serous and mucinous BOTs, correlations between tumor markers and demographics such as age, menopausal status, parity, clinical findings (stage, relapse, adjuvant chemotherapy, cytology, lymph node involvement and tumoral morphology (cystic-solid content, papilla, septation) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between serous and mucinous tumors in the clinicopathological features such as stage, tumor markers, age, menopausal status, or cytology. In serous BOTs we found a significant relation between elevated CA125+ CA19-9, CA19-9 and recurrence (p < 0.05). Also there was a significant relation between elevated CA125+ CA19-9, CA19-9 and cytology positivity (p < 0.05). We found a significant relation in serous BOTs between elevated CA125+CA19-9, adjuvant chemotherapy and lymph node metastases (p < 0.05). Also In mucinous BOTs with papilla formation we found a significant relation between elevated CA125 and CA125+ CA19-9 (p < 0.05). There was significant relation between cytology positivity and elevated CA19-9 in mucinous BOTs (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum tumor markers of serous and mucinous BOTs were different in relation to their clinicopathological features. This may reflect differences of serous and mucinous BOTs.

Comparison of risk of malignancy indices; RMI 1-4 in borderline ovarian tumor.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic values of the risk of malignancy index (RMI)/1-4 in patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). METHODS: The study consisted of 50 patients with BOT diagnosed and treated between 2005-2010 and 50 patients with benign adnexal massses between 2009-2010 as a control comparison group in the retropsective study. Preoperative serum CA125, U score, tumor size (S), and menopausal status were recorded. The RMI 1-3 was calculated according to the formula; UxMxCA125 and RMI4 formulation was; UxMxCA125xS. S equaled 1 for tumor size <7 cm and was 2 when size a 7 cm. The RMI 1-4 indices were calculated for all patients together with the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy (DA). The performances of RMI indices were evaluated by McNemar's test and determined the best score cutoff value by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: The mean age, median value of CA125, ultrasound score, menopausal status, median values of RMI 1-4 of BOTs were statistically higher than benign adnexal masses. The sensitivity of RMI 1-4 was 26, 36, 62, and 60% at cutoff 200 level, respectively. The areas under curve of RMI 1-4 were found to be 0.676, 0.665, 0.668 and 0.734, respectively. DA of RMI 1-4 was found to be 56, 59, 50, and 71, respectively. When RMI 1-4 indices were compared with each other RMI 4 was the best RMI for BOTs. CONCLUSION: RMI 4 was the best predictive RMI for preoperative discrimination of BOT at a cutoff level of 200.

Effects of estradiol-drospirenone on ocular and nasal functions in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Hormones may have an impact on the incidence and course of dry-eye syndrome, and also nasal obstruction, especially in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of drospirenone 2 mg + estradiol 1 mg (Angeliq®, Bayer AG, Berlin, Germany) on ocular functions and nasal airflow in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Thirty-four postmenopausal women were recruited for the study. A questionnaire on ocular surface disease index (OSDI) was administered; after routine ophthalmologic examination, tear film break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer tests were performed. Intraocular pressure was measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer. Nasal airflow resistance values were measured using rhinomanometry. Participants were submitted to oral daily treatment with drospirenone 2 mg + estradiol 1 mg. The duration of the study was 6 months and the participants were studied in the basal condition and after 6 months of therapy. RESULTS: The OSDI score and intraocular pressure were significantly higher before treatment than after treatment (p<0.001); however, the results of the TBUT and Schimer test were significantly lower (p<0.05). Rhinomanometric values were better during drospirenone 2 mg + estradiol 1 mg therapy than those observed at baseline (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Oral daily treatment with drospirenone 2 mg + estradiol 1 mg reduces the risks for ocular diseases and nasal obstruction in postmenopausal women.

Sexual dysfunction assessment and hormonal correlations in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

In this controlled study, we aimed to evaluate the sexual dysfunction of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to healthy controls. We enrolled 64 sexually active women in our study. The PCOS group consisted of 32 women who met the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria, and the control group was composed of 32 age-matched, healthy females. In addition to the demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants, the hormonal and biochemical parameters were also studied. All patients were invited to fill out the female sexual function index (FSFI) and Beck's Depression Inventory questionnaires. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in the PCOS group was similar to controls (25% vs 19%; P=0.54). No significant difference was found according to each domain score of FSFI. Significant negative correlations were found between the total FSFI scores of the PCOS group and the total (r=-0.278) and free testosterone (r=-0.493) levels. Although depressive scores of PCOS patients were higher, they did not show greater impaired sexual functions than age-matched controls according to their FSFI scores. Considering the multifactorial state of female sexual dysfunction, further studies are needed to clarify the impact of PCOS upon sexuality.