A novel predictive model of lymphovascular space invasion in early-stage endometrial cancer.

Objective: To predict lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) positivity in early-stage (stage 1-2) endometrial cancer (EC) using a predictive model with prognostic factors of EC. Materials and Methods: We included 461 patients who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy as the primary treatment for presumed early-stage EC at our clinic between 2010 and 2020. Moreover, all surgical specimens were examined histopathologically for the positivity or negativity of LVSI, and the patients were divided into two groups based on these pathologic outcomes. Age, menopausal status, histological type (type 1-2), histological grade (grades 1-2-3), depth of myometrial invasion, and peritoneal cytology results were recorded and analyzed as clinicopathological and demographic characteristics of the patients. The Loess algorithm determined the relationship between the observed and predicted outcomes. The distinction between the algorithms was evaluated by calculating the C-index. Results: LVSI positivity was significantly associated with advanced age, menopause, type 2 EC, advanced histological grade, malignant peritoneal cytology, cervical involvement, and a tumor exceeding 50% of the myometrial depth (p<0.001, respectively). Remarkably, LVSI was most strongly associated with three explanatory variables: 1- More than 50% myometrial invasion [odds ratio (OR): 3.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.80-7.60], 2- Advanced histological grade [OR=1.98 (1.20-3.20) 95% CI], 3- Malignant peritoneal cytology [OR= 3.06 (1.40-6.30) 95% CI]. The penalized maximum likelihood estimation model correctly classified 87% of the included patients (C-index: 0.876). Conclusion: Our predictive model may help predict LVSI based on different prognostic factors. The prognostic factors included in the nomogram were significantly associated with LVSI, particularly myometrial invasion depth of more than 50%, advanced histological grade, and malignant peritoneal cytology.

Identification of autophagy-associated miRNA signature for the cervical squamous cell cancer and high-grade cervical intraepithelial lesions.

Cervical cancer markedly threatens women's health worldwide and currently ranks fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in women according to recent global cancer statistics. Recent advances have proven that not only tumor suppressor and oncogenes but also non-coding RNAs including micro RNAs (miRNAs) have significant impact in the development and progression of cervical cancers. Previous studies have identified many cancer-specific miRNAs for the early detection of cervical cancers. However, the diagnostic and prognostic use of autophagy-associated miRNAs for the cervical squamous cell cancer (SCC) cases and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) have not been uncovered. In the present study, we revealed that miRNAs are differentially expressed in both cervical SCC and HSIL. A total of 35 HSIL, 35 cervical SCC and 30 healthy controls were enrolled for the present study. Total RNA including miRNAs were isolated from the FFPE tissue samples and miRNA expression levels were quantified by quantitative PCR. Predicted miRNA targets of autophagy related genes were determined using miRNA-target prediction algorithms. MiR-143, miR-372, miR-375 and miR-30c were markedly downregulated in HSIL and cervical SCC. MiR-130a was significantly upregulated in the cervical SCC group compared to HSIL and control groups. MiR-30a, miR-520e, miR-548c and miR-372 were significantly associated with the overall survival of cervical SCC patients and these miRNAs were determined to be significant diagnostic markers as revealed by ROC analysis. Together, these results indicate that autophagy-associated miRNAs are potentially valuable for the differential diagnosis and targeted therapy to cervical cancer.

Spinal versus general anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy: A prospective, randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare spinal anesthesia (SA) with general anesthesia (GA) in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery regarding anesthetic parameters and patient satisfaction together with an assessment of total oxidant, antioxidant levels, and Oxidative Stress index (OSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients who were planned to undergo gynecologic laparoscopy were randomized into group G (GA) and group S (SA). Demographics, adverse events and anesthetic parameters were recorded before induction, after induction, and at the 5th, 10th, 15th, 30th, 60th, 90th, and 120th minutes. Patients and surgeons completed questionnaires. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant level (TOL), and OSI were measured. RESULTS: There was no difference between the groups in terms of hemodynamic parameters except heart rate at 30th minute and mean arteral pressure at 10th, 15th, 30th, and 60th minute (p<0.05). The postoperative arterial blood pH value was lower in group S (p=0.021). Intraoperative hypotension was lower in group S (p=0.038). There was more intraoperative hypotension in group S when compared with group G (p=0.038). Postoperative analgesic consumption was higher and onset of postoperative pain was shorter in group G (p=0.001 for both). There was no difference between the groups in terms of patient and surgeon satisfaction. There was no difference in terms of TAC, TOL, and OSI between the groups (p=0.862, p=0.940, and p=0.728, respectively). CONCLUSION: SA may become a reliable alternative to GA in gynecologic laparoscopy when hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, patient and surgeon satisfaction, as well as total oxidant, antioxidant levels, and OSI are considered.

Subcutaneous rifampicin versus povidone-iodine for the prevention of incisional surgical site infections following gynecologic oncology surgery - a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical site infection (SSI) following gynecologic oncology surgery is a severe problem for both patient and surgeon in terms of increasing morbidity, length of hospital stay, anxiety, and costs. In this prospective, randomized, controlled study we investigated the effect of subcutaneous rifampicin and povidone-iodine on incisional SSI following gynecologic oncology surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three hundred patients scheduled for abdominal surgery due to any malign gynecological pathology were randomly assigned into one of three groups of 100 members each, as follows: the subcutaneous tissue was irrigated with saline in Group 1; saline + 10% povidone iodine in Group 2; saline + rifampicin in Group 3. Patients were invited to follow-up once every 10 days in a 30-day period for evaluation. Patients who developed a superficial incisional SSI were recorded. RESULTS: No significant relationship was observed between the SSI and the subcutaneous agents used (p = 0.332). It was observed that there was a statistically significant increase in the rate of incisional surgical site infections as the period of hospitalization (p = 0.044), patient's age (p = 0.003), existence of comorbidities (p = 0.001), and perioperative blood transfusion (p = 0.021) increased. CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous agents are not effective in preventing surgical site infections after gynecologic oncology surgeries. Further large-scale prospective randomized controlled studies may provide other options to prevent SSIs.

Blunt dissection technique with finger and vessel skeletonization in the posterior vesical wall for abnormally invasive placenta previa.

Purpose: This study described a new technique to minimize the bleeding resulted from aberrant engorged vessels and unintended bladder injury in cases with abnormally invaded placenta adjacent to posterior bladder wall at cesarean hysterectomy.Methods: After filling the bladder with 300 ml saline aberrant engorged vessels were identified and skeletonized between lower uterine segment and bladder with blunt dissection by index finger down to the distal end point of cervix.Results: This technique has beneficial effect on preventing bladder injury and reduces bleeding resulting from the aberrant vessels and the communicating vessels that were based around the vesicouterine fold and the cervico-vesical interface (in the lower part of the cervix); respectively.Conclusion: Our procedure may have some benefits including shorter operation time, lower amount of hemorrhage, and less bladder injury where anatomical landmarks are unclear, especially in abnormally invasive placentation adjacent to posterior bladder wall at cesarean hysterectomy.

Topical Rifampicin versus Povidone-Iodine for the Prevention of Incisional Surgical Site Infections Following Benign Gynecologic Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

In this prospective, randomized, controlled study we investigated the effect of subcutaneous rifampicin and povidone-iodine irrigation on incisional surgical site infection. Superficial incisional surgical site infection (SSI) following gynecologic surgery is a serious problem for both patient and surgeon in terms of increased morbidity, length of hospital stay, anxiety, and costs. Three hundred patients scheduled for abdominal surgery due to various benign gynecological pathologies were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 100 members each, as follows: the subcutaneous tissue was irrigated with saline in group 1; saline + rifampicin in group 2; saline +10% povidone iodine in group 3. Patients were invited to follow-up once every 10 days in a 30-day period for evaluation. Patients who developed a superficial incisional SSI were recorded. The superficial incisional SSI rate increased significantly with the use of saline alone (p = 0.006). There was no significant difference between saline +10% povidone iodine and saline + rifampicin (p=0.055). The results suggest that the incidence of superficial incisional SSI is significantly reduced when irrigation is performed using rifampicin and povidone-iodine compared with using saline alone.

Paraoxonase-1 Polymorphisms (L55M/Q192R) and Activities (PONase/AREase) in Patients with Idiopathic Recurrent Early Pregnancy Loss: A Preliminary Study.

Aim: To evaluate the associations between idiopathic recurrent early pregnancy loss (REPL) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) polymorphisms and the activities of its encoded enzymes. Materials and Methods: Ninety-eight women were enrolled in this study, including 21 currently pregnant multiparous women without a history of miscarriage; 18 multiparous women who were not pregnant during the study; 30 women with a history of idiopathic REPL who were pregnant; and 29 who were not. Paraoxonase (PONase) and arylesterase (AREase) activities, two activities of the PON1 enzyme, were measured through commercially available kits (Relassay, Gaziantep, Turkey). PON1 genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 19.0 (SPSS). Results: There was no association between idiopathic REPL and PON1 polymorphisms or PONase activity. The AREase activity of the PON1 enzyme trended higher in the healthy pregnant group than in the healthy nonpregnant group (p = 0.067), and was higher in the pregnant group with a history of idiopathic REPL than in the nonpregnant group with a history of idiopathic REPL (p = 0.041). Conclusions: Despite there being no detected association between PON1 activities or genotype and idiopathic REPL, we showed that AREase activity increased during early gestation. New studies, including longitudinal changes in serum AREase activity throughout normal pregnancy, should be carried out to further evaluate the association between PON encoded enzymatic activities and early gestational pathophysiology.

Analysis of cystic hygroma diagnosed in the prenatal period: 5-years' experience at a tertiary hospital in Southeastern Turkey.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the association of cystic hygroma (CH) with fetal malformations and also to investigate the outcome of fetuses with CH diagnosed in the prenatal period. METHODS: We divided the CH patients into two main groups as isolated CH or CH associated with the congenital structural abnormality (CSA) by measuring the thickness of CH and showing other fetal abnormalities. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded as spontaneous abortion, elective termination, intrauterine death, live birth, postnatal death, and lost to follow-up. RESULTS: There were 74 cases of fetal CH including 19 in CSA-CH group and 55 in isolated-CH group diagnosed between 11 and 21 weeks' gestation. Karyotype analysis of these 28 patients revealed 18 (64.2%) normal karyotypes. Pregnancy outcomes included 54 elective terminations, five postnatal deaths, one spontaneous abortion, six live births, four intrauterine deaths, and four patients were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: In the presence of any CSA concurrent with CH, prognosis may be considered as poor and any additional help of fetal karyotyping is questionable. But fetal karyotyping may be advocated in counseling patients with isolated CH, in which a better prognosis and resolvement of CH may be expected in case of a normal karyotype.

The potential of serum fetal DNA for early diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in order to test the hypothesis that cfDNA circulating in maternal plasma could provide early detection of GTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 32 patients with GTD (complete mole and partial mole) and 30 non-GTD patients in the first trimester of pregnancy with no other medical problems. cfDNA levels in maternal serum were measured using polymerase chain reaction analysis on Y-chromosome-specific sequences. RESULTS: cfDNA was found as 327±367 pg on average in the control group and 600±535 pg in the GTD group. Within the GTD group, the partial mole group had an cfDNA average of 636±549 pg, and the complete mole group had an cfDNA average of 563±536 pg. Although there was a statistically significant difference between the GTD group and the control group in terms of cfDNA (p=0.02), there was no statistically significant difference between the complete mole group and the partial mole group (p=0.76). CONCLUSION: Non-parametric analysis of covariance in terms of cfDNA in GTD was performed, thereby increasing its power and revealing a significant difference compared with the control group. This indicates that maternal peripheral bloodstream cfDNA monitoring might be significant in the early diagnosis of GTD.

DNA Repair Gene (XPD, XRCC4, and XRCC1) Polymorphisms in Patients with Endometrial Hyperplasia: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between endometrial hyperplasia and DNA repair gene (XPD, XRCC4, and XRCC1) polymorphisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 114 cases enrolled in the study in 4 groups: simple endometrial hyperplasia (SH) (Group 1), complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (CH) (Group 2), complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia (CAH) (Group 3), and normal endometrium (NE) (Group 4). Of these cases, 37 cases had SH, 36 cases had CH, 16 cases had CAH, and 25 cases had NE. To evaluate an association between atypia and DNA repair genes, we consider a group that included both SH and CH, the endometrial hyperplasia without atypia cases (Group 5). Genomic DNA was isolated from paraffin-embedded endometrial tissue collected from the Pathology Department of Gaziantep University Medical School. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was used for evaluating of XPD (-751), XRCC4 (-1394 and a variable number of tandem repeats in intron 3), and XRCC1 (-399) genes. RESULTS We observed a notable distinction in patients having endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (the SH+CH group) and the CAH group in terms of XPD (-751) gene polymorphisms. A notable contrast was observed in patients with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (the SH+CH group) and the NE group in terms of XRCC4 (VNTR intron 3) polymorphisms (P=0.026, P=0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS It was evident the DNA repair gene XPD and XRCC4 polymorphisms had a role in the pathophysiology of endometrial hyperplasia.

Assessment of total sialic acid levels in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum: a preliminary study.

To determine the levels of serum total sialic acid (TSA) in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and their gestational age-matched controls. Thirty pregnant women with HG, and 30 healthy pregnant women at up to 14 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this preliminary study. Total sialic acid levels in maternal serum were measured using the quantitative sandwich ELISA method. We observed statistically significant difference in TSA levels between HG and the control groups (p = .003). The identification of the role of SA in the prediction, diagnosis and follow-up of HG warrants more comprehensive studies in the future. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? The derivatives of neuraminic acid are collectively referred to as sialic acid (SA). Changes in SA levels are known to trigger various conditions and disorders, including inflammatory, cardiovascular, neurological and endocrine diseases. Although a sensitive test capable of identifying hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) would be useful for diagnosis purposes, such a test is currently not available. Studies focussing on identifying new potential indicators and biomarkers for HG - as well as identifying their relevance in establishing diagnosis and assessing disease severity - would not only assist in elucidating the underlying causes of this condition but would also contribute to the development of new diagnostic tests for HG. What the results of this study add? Total sialic acid levels are significantly higher in sera of the patients with HG. The present study is the first in the literature to assess total sialic acid levels in patients with HG and healthy pregnant women before 14 weeks of gestation. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Total sialic acid levels could give an idea to clinicians in the etiopathogenesis of HG. The identification of the role of sialic acid in the prediction, diagnosis and follow-up of HG warrants more comprehensive studies in the future.

Use of Bladder Filling to Prevent Urinary System Complications in the Management of Placenta Percreta: a Randomized Prospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of filling the bladder on peripartum genitourinary injuries (especially bladder complications) in women with placenta percreta and to compare patient characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our prospective cohort study consisted of pregnant women with placenta percreta who underwent planned cesarean hysterectomy at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Gaziantep University Hospital between January 2015 and July 2016. Bladders were filled with 300 ml saline solution to determine surgical borders better and enable dissection of the lower uterine segment without excessive bleeding or unintended injury. RESULTS: A total of 66 women were included in the study: 32 women whose bladders were filled during surgery (filled-bladder group) and 34 women whose bladders were not filled (not filled-bladder group). Comparisons of demographic and obstetrical data, surgical parameters, the need for transfusion, and bladder injury rates revealed no significant differences between the two groups. We did not observe any beneficial effect of filling the bladder on preventing urinary complications compared with the women whose bladders were not filled (p = 0.339). CONCLUSIONS: Filling the bladder with saline solution and mobilization of the bladder from the lower uterine segment did not have a statistically significant beneficial effect on preventing complications of the genitourinary system. But although the beneficial effects were not significant, shorter operation times, shorter postoperative hospital stays, and fewer bladder injuries were noted in patients whose bladders were filled.

Is ultrasound-guided suction curettage a reliable option for treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy? A cross-sectional retrospective study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to present clinical courses and outcomes of 50 first-trimester cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) cases, which are managed either with transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS)-guided suction curettage alone or abdominal hysterotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed our records from 2011 to 2016 at a single-center. TAUS-guided suction curettage alone was preferred in hemodynamically stable patients when the myometrial thickness was ≥3 mm and there was no vascular invasion. If the myometrial thickness was <3 mm and/or vascular invasion was present, then hysterotomy was preferred. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of age, gravidity, parity, history of previous CS (≥3 or <3), presence of embryonic cardiac activity, complaints (vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, or both), preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels (g/dl), blood transfusion, initial serum ß-hCG levels, and duration to resolution of ß-hCG demonstrated no significant difference between TAUS-guided suction curettage and abdominal hysterotomy groups. There was a significant difference between two groups in terms of postoperative length of stay in the hospital and gestational age. CONCLUSION: TAUS-guided suction curettage in selected cases may be considered as a reliable first-line treatment option due to its low cost, ease of application, lower side-effect profile, and potentially minimal influence on future fertility in CSP patients that are hemodynamically stable.

No increase in free fetal DNA level in ectopic pregnancy: A preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to diagnose ectopic pregnancy in the early period by measuring cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) levels in maternal blood using spectrophotometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with ectopic pregnancy and 30 patients with first trimester intrauterine pregnancy were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. cffDNA levels in maternal serum were measured using spectrophotometry. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of cffDNA absorbance levels. CONCLUSION: Spectrophotometry is not suitable for measuring cffDNA levels to diagnose ectopic pregnancies in the early period. Practical and cost-effective methods should be found or larger patient series should be investigated.

Chondrosarcoma mimicking an adnexal mass: A very rare case report.

Chondrosarcoma is considered as a common primary bone sarcoma. These sarcomas can form large masses without any specific symptoms because there are no barriers in pelvic anatomy to prevent the enlargement of tumors, and can mimic ovarian masses. We present a pelvic chondrosarcoma in a woman aged 37 years who was misdiagnosed as having an ovarian mass due to the limited information obtained from imaging studies. Pelvic chondrosarcoma should be considered in patients who have pelvic masses with solid components. It should be kept in mind that interventions should be performed at centers where there are orthopedic surgeons with experience of this subject.

Summary of 2185 prenatal invasive procedures in a single center: A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency, indications, and outcomes of diagnostic invasive prenatal procedures (DIPP) performed in a university hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included 2185 cases of DIPP (chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, and cordocentesis) performed at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of a university hospital between 2010 and 2016. We included all DIPP cases performed between 11 and 24 weeks of gestation. We compared the different types of DIPP performed in our hospital. RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred eighty-five procedures were performed (1853 amniocenteses, 326 chorionic villus sampling, and 6 cordocenteses). The main indication for performing invasive procedures was abnormal results of aneuploidy screening for trisomy 21, followed by maternal age, and fetal structural abnormality. The fetal karyotype was altered in 154 (26.1%) cases. Trisomy 21 was the most common aneuploidy followed by trisomy 18, monosomy X, and trisomy 13. Fetal karyotype could not be revealed in 42 (2%) cases due to maternal contamination in 18 cases, inadequate sampling in 4 cases, and failure of cell culture in 27 cases. There were 2 pregnancy losses due to the invasive procedure (only in amniocentesis). CONCLUSION: The ideal approach to pregnancies with a detected chromosomal abnormality should be tailored according to the individual choice of the couples regarding whether they decide for or against a child with a known chromosomal abnormality.

Early vulvar and umbilical incisional scar recurrence of cervical squamous cell carcinoma: Earlier than usually expected.

Cutaneous metastasis is considered as a hazardous condition depending on the mean survival around 9 months, which usually originates from cancers of the breast, lung, ovary, colon, and rarely from the cervix. The crucial prognostic factor of cutaneous metastasis depends on the period between the primary malignancy and cutaneous metastasis. We report two cases of the unusual presentation of squamous cell cancer of the cervix that developed vulvar and umbilical metastasis in the 5th month of primary treatment. Both of our patients survived for 11 months following the primary treatment. In addition, our first case is the earliest vulvar recurrence of cervical carcinoma in the English literature following appropriate medical and surgical management.

Emergency peripartum hysterectomy: single center ten-year experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study is to determine the incidence, risk factors, indications, outcomes, and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy (EPH) performed in a university hospital. METHODS: This retrospective study includes 54 cases of EPH performed at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Gaziantep University Hospital between the years 2005-2015. We included all hysterectomy cases during the first 24 h after delivery beyond 20 weeks of gestation. We compared the most common indications of EPH between each other. RESULTS: There were 54 EPH out of 8922 deliveries with an incidence of 6.1 per 1000 deliveries during the study period. The most common indication was abnormal placentation (74.0%). Urinary tract injury (33.4%) was the most common intraoperative complication. Bilateral hypogastric artery ligation, urinary tract injury, type of hysterectomy, post-op stay in the hospital, delivery in another hospital and other complications were significantly related to the type of EPH indication (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Abnormal placentation was the most common indication for EPH. Previous CS can be suggested as a high-risk factor for abnormal placentation. The delivery should be performed in appropriate clinical settings with experienced surgeons when high-risk factors like abnormal placentations are determined preoperatively.

Assessment of oxidative stress markers in recurrent pregnancy loss: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of oxidative stress markers in recurrent pregnancy loss using a novel automated method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 pregnant women in their first trimester with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and 30 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant level (TOL) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in maternal serum were measured using the more recently designated Erel method. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant increased TOL and OSI levels in patient group (p = 0.032, p = 0.007, respectively). We also demonstrated statistically significant decreased TAC in pregnant women who had a history of RPL (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Our results support the concept that oxidative stress plays a central role in the etiopathogenesis of RPL. Further studies to evaluate the predictive role of TAC, TOL, OSI levels using Erel method are needed.

Assessment of maternal serum sialic acid levels in preterm versus term labor: a prospective-controlled clinical study.

PURPOSE: To compare total serum sialic acid (SA) levels between singleton pregnant women diagnosed with preterm labor between 24th and 36th weeks of pregnancy, singleton pregnant women at term, and their gestational age-matched controls. METHODS: Thirty pregnants diagnosed with preterm labor (group I), 30 gestational age-matched control pregnants (group II), 30 pregnants with labor at term (group III), and 30 gestational age-matched control pregnants (group IV) were enrolled. Detailed history, demographic data (age, gravidity, parity, abortion), ultrasound parameters, cervical dilatation and effacement, fetal tococardiography, routine laboratory tests, and total SA levels were assessed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the parameters other than SA. SA levels of the preterm labor group (group I) were significantly higher than the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: We may suggest that pathways including SA or molecules containing SA in subclinical infection without the clinical manifestations of apparent infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Future longitudinal studies are needed to investigate prediction performance and to better understand the role of SA in molecular mechanisms leading to preterm labor.