Serum catestatin level is increased in women with preeclampsia.

Catestatin can inhibit catecholamine release from chromaffin cells and adrenergic neurons. Catestatin can also have a strong vasodilator effect. This may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and its treatment. In this study, we investigated the serum catestatin levels in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia. Fifty consecutive women with mild preeclampsia, 50 consecutive women with severe preeclampsia, and 100 consecutive pregnant women with a gestational age-matched (±1 week) uncomplicated pregnancy were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Mean serum catestatin was significantly increased in the preeclampsia group compared to the control group (290.7 ± 95.5 pg/mL vs. 182.8 ± 72.0 pg/mL). Mean serum catestatin was comparable in mild and severe preeclampsia groups (282.7 ± 97.9 pg/mL vs. 298.7 ± 93.4 pg/mL, p = .431). Serum catestatin levels had positive correlations with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, urea, uric acid, and creatinine. In conclusion, serum catestatin levels are increased in preeclamptic pregnancies compared to gestational age-matched controls.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The role of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is known. The most obvious part of this dysregulation is the sympathetic nervous system activation. The adrenal medulla is one of the locations of the sympathetic nervous system in the body.What do the results of this study add? Serum catestatin levels were found to be correlated with clinical and laboratory data of preeclampsia. This highlights the importance of chromaffin cell secretions in the adrenal medulla in preeclampsia.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study will help understand the role of the adrenal medulla in the autonomic nervous system dysregulation in preeclampsia. Also, control of serum catestatin levels may support the treatment of hypertension in preeclampsia.

Serum neprilysin levels are elevated in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible associations between serum Neprilysin (NEP) levels and preeclampsia and mild and severe preeclampsia subgroups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five consecutive women with mild preeclampsia and fifty-five consecutive women with severe preeclampsia were compared with 110 approximately gestational age-matched (±1 week) women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. RESULTS: Mean serum NEP was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia compared to that of the gestational age-matched-controls (231.62 ± 65.30 pg/mL vs. 187.75 ± 84.38 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Mean serum NEP was significantly higher in the mild preeclampsia group compared to its gestational age-matched control group (228.84 ± 67.26 pg/mL vs. 186.14 ± 85.09 pg/mL, p = 0.008); and in the severe preeclampsia group compared to its gestational age-matched control group (234.45 ± 63.85 pg/mL vs. 189.29 ± 84.59 pg/mL, p = 0.004). Serum NEP was positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BUN, uric acid, and creatinine. CONCLUSION: Mean serum NEP was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible therapeutic role of NEP inhibitors to treat preeclampsia.

Serum survivin is decreased in women with preeclampsia.

Objective: To evaluate the serum survivin level in preeclampsia.Methods: Eighty-eight pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and 88 gestational-age (GA)-matched uncomplicated pregnancies were evaluated.Results: Mean serum survivin was detected to be significantly decreased in the early- (EOPE) and late-onset (LOPE) preeclampsia subgroups than the GA-matched control-groups; and were comparable in EOPE- and LOPE-groups after correction for GA. Serum survivin had weak negative correlations with systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure.Conclusion: The serum survivin level was decreased in preeclamptic patients than the GA-matched controls. More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify the timing and extent of placental apoptosis in preeclampsia.

Serum kisspeptin levels correlated with anti-mullerian hormone levels in women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, comparative study that included 70 women with PCOS and 58 non PCOS controls. PCOS patients were diagnosed according to the Rotterdam criteria. Age, body mass index (BMI), number of menstrual cycles per year, and the Ferriman-Gallwey Score were determined for each woman. Serum levels of kisspeptin, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), estradiol, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), AMH, fasting glucose and insulin were determined. RESULTS: Women with PCOS were younger (p < .001), with higher BMI (p = .027) and glucose values (p < .001); while displaying less number of menstrual cycles per year (p < .001). Although serum kisspeptin levels were similar in both groups, age was negatively (r= -0.33, p = .00018) and serum AMH levels were positively correlated (r = 0.25, p = .0039) with the serum kisspeptin levels in women with the PCOS. After adjusting for age, serum kisspeptin levels were comparable in both groups (p > .05). Serum LH, AMH, DHEA-S and total testosterone glucose, insulin levels and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher in women with PCOS as compared to controls (all p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum kisspeptin levels were similar in women with and without PCOS but positively correlated with AMH serum levels in PCOS women.

A Very Rare Case: HPV-Negative Vulvar Cancer in an Adolescent.

Carcinoma of the vulva is usually regarded as a disease of older women, with the typical age of 65-85 years. There are a limited number of reports of vulvar cancer cases younger than 30 years. These patients have usually risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and immunosuppression. Herein, we present a case of invasive squamous vulvar cancer in an 18-year-old patient without any risk factor. Vulvar radical local excision and bilateral inguinal sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed. The clitoris was preserved during the surgery. Patient did not receive adjuvant therapy. Follow-up after 12 months of the disease showed no evidence of disease. Vulvar carcinoma in very young women may develop without any predisposing factor. Early detection will result in better survival. So, there should be a high index of suspicion when a vulvar lesion is seen, even if the patient falls below the typical age range and does not carry any well-known risk factors such as HPV infection and immunodeficiency.