The alteration in placental volume and placental mean grey value in growth-restricted pregnancies assessed by 3D ultrasound (Growth Restriction & 3D Ultrasonography).

We aimed to evaluate the volumetric and echogenic alterations in placentas between the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and normal pregnancies using three-dimensional ultrasound and virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) software. This case-control prospective study consisted of 48 singleton pregnancies complicated by IUGR and 60 healthy singleton pregnancies matched for maternal age, gestational age and parity. Placental volume (PV) and placental volumetric mean grey values (MGV) were evaluated. PV (cm(3)) was analysed using the VOCAL imaging analysis program, and 3D histogram was used to calculate the volumetric MGV (%). PV was 278.50 ± 63.68 and 370.98 ± 97.82 cm(3) in IUGR and control groups, respectively (p = 0.004). MGV of the placenta was 38.24 ± 8.41 and 38.24 ± 8.41 in IUGR and control groups, respectively (p = 0.30). receiver operator curve (ROC) curve analysis revealed that area under curve was 0.731 for PV. Correlation analysis revealed that PV was significantly associated with estimated fetal weight (r = 0.319, p = 0.003), biparietal diameter (r = 0.346, p = 0.002), head circumference (r = 0.269, p = 0.019), abdominal circumference (r = 0.344, p = 0.002) and femur length (r = 0.328, p = 0.004). PV was inversely related to the umbilical artery pulsatility index (r = - 0.244, p = 0.017). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating volumetric MGV in IUGR placentas by comparing them with healthy pregnancies. Our study showed that PV diminishes significantly in IUGR pregnancies, whereas volumetric MGV does not alter significantly.

Three-dimensional placental volume and mean grey value: Normal ranges in a Turkish population and correlation with maternal serum biochemistry and Doppler parameters.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound measurements of placenta at 11-13(6) weeks' gestation and maternal serum levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (fßhCG), Doppler parameters in early pregnancy. This prospective study consisted of 334 singleton pregnancies at 11-13(6) weeks' gestation. Placental volume and placental volumetric mean grey values were evaluated. The placental volume (cm(3)) was analysed using the Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) imaging program and 3D histogram was used to calculate the volumetric mean grey value (%). Mean maternal age was 28.35 ± 7.55. Mean gestational age was 12.29 ± 0.68 weeks. Placental volume was 77.04 ± 35.74 cm(3). Mean grey value of the placenta was 34.38 ± 8.02%. Correlation analysis revealed that placental volume was significantly correlated with the crown-rump length (r = 0.173, p = 0.002), gestational week (r = 0.116, p = 0.036), ductus venosus pulsatility index (r = -0.101, p = 0.04) and maternal weight (r = 0.099, p = 0.037). There was a significant relation between the mean grey value of the placenta and maternal age (r = 0.131, p = 0.02), nuchal translucency (r = -0.109, p = 0.048), PAPP-A (r = 0.108, p = 0.04) and fßhCG (r = 0.104, p = 0.042). Volumetry of the placenta can be carried out with a high percentage of 1st trimester pregnancies. Volumetry during the 1st trimester could be helpful because of the less advanced state of placentation. This examination is easy to perform and the measurements can be acquired correctly and quickly.

The effects of sunitinib on endometriosis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of sunitinib on endometriotic implants and adhesions in a rat endometriosis model. An experimental endometriosis model was created in 21 rats. These rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group 1 (control group, 7 rats) was given no medication; Group 2 (sunitinib group, 7 rats) was given 3 mg/kg per day of oral sunitinib; and Group 3 (danazol group, 7 rats) was given 7.2 mg/kg per day of oral danazol. The volume of endometriotic implants was calculated. The extent and severity of adhesions were evaluated. The groups were compared by the Student's t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Mann-Whitney U test. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean volume of endometriotic implants before medication between three groups. The volume of implants and extent, severity, total score of adhesions were significantly decreased after medication in Group 2 and Group 3. We noted that the volume of the endometriotic implants and adhesion formation were decreased both after sunitinib and danazol treatment. As a result, sunitinib seems to be effective for endometriotic peritoneal lesions. The effects of sunitinib in rat models give hope for improving the treatment of human endometriosis and prevention of pain symptoms.

Outcomes and management strategies in pregnancies with early onset oligohydramnios.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes and management options in pregnancies with early onset oligohydramnios. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The file datas of all pregnancies diagnosed as oligohydramnios or anhydramnios before 27 gestational weeks between January 2006 and September 2013 were evaluated retrospectively. The underlying pathology and associated anomalies, karyotype analysis, the outcome of the pregnancy (either termination or labour), and gestational week at the time of diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 54 pregnancies were evaluated; mean gestational week at the time of the diagnosis was 19.8 ± 4.6. Mean maternal age was 27.28 ± 6.03. Thirty-seven pregnancies were anhydramniotic, 13 fetuses had associated anomalies, five of them had multicyctic dysplastic kidney, five had bilateral renal agenesis, one had hypoplastic right heart syndrome, one had clubfoot, and one had ventricular septal defect and cleft palate. Karyotyping was normal regarding the fetuses with structural anomalies. Nineteen patients had premature preterm rupture of membranes and 39 patients had termination of pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of early onset oligohydramnios is poor. Main determinant is gestational week at the time of the diagnosis.

Sexual dysfunction in Turkish women with dyspareunia and its impact on the quality of life.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) among Turkish dyspareunic women and to establish the associated factors with FSD. Furthermore, they aimed to investigate if dyspareunia and possible associated sexual complaints were related to impaired quality of life (QoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 154 women admitted to the present gynecology department at a tertiary center in the west region of Turkey, 67 of which suffered from dyspareunia. The remaining 87 sexually healthy women were included in the control group. FSD was assessed with 19-item validated female sexual function index (FSFI). QoL was assessed using short form 36 (SF-36). The chi-squared test and t-test were used for analysing the group differences. Pearson's correlation test was used to determine the effect of the variables of FSFI on the SF-36. Multivariance analysis and logistic regression was used to determine independent risk factors for FSD and to estimate odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The incidence of FSD in dyspareunic group and control group was 86.57% and 36.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). Dyspareunic women had lower scores with regards to sexual desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains at significant level (p < 0.001). Education level, time period after the last delivery, duration of marriage, parity, and dyspareunia were significantly related to FSD. However, dyspareunia was an independent risk factor for FSD (OR 11.49; 95% CI 4.95-26.67). Regarding the impact on the QoL, dyspareunic women had lower scores with regards to the physical role, social function, bodily pain, and vitality domains. CONCLUSION: The present results show that dyspareunia has a major impact on women's sexual function and QoL. Clinicians have an important role for encouraging women to report their sexual complaints. Identifying dyspareunia and treating FSD may positively affect women's sexual function and overall QoL.

[Autism and mental retardation: a study of the early social communication]. / Autisme et retard mental: étude de la communication sociale précoce.

OBJECTIVE: To determine developmental communication profiles in young autistic children with mental retardation. METHODS: A group of 19 autistic children (mean age=43 months) were matched with a group of 11 mentally retarded children (mean age=39 months) on mental age (17,6 months). All of these children were without speech (less than 5 words of vocabulary). Communication skills were assessed with the Guidetti-Tourrette scales (ECSP), French adaptation of the Seibert-Hogan scales. RESULTS: Autistic children displayed a much lower score than mentally retarded children in the 3 functions of early social communication (behavior regulation, social interaction and joint attention). The developmental communication profiles was the same in the 2 groups. DISCUSSION: The results showed evidence of distortion in autistic children development: they displayed important deficits in communication skills, in comparison with cognitive skills. Autistic children mainly displayed requesting gestures: they used adults to help them to reach a goal, instead of regarding them as social partners. However, young children who have mental age less than 18 months mainly use the same functions of communication, with or without autistic trouble. CONCLUSIONS: There is a same developmental sequence in communication skills in young children, with or without autistic trouble.

Behavioral and electromyographic assessment of oxaliplatin-induced motor dysfunctions: Evidence for a therapeutic effect of allopregnanolone.

The antineoplastic oxaliplatin (OXAL) is pivotal for metastatic cancer treatments. However, OXAL evokes sensory and motor side-effects including pain, muscle weakness, motor nerve fiber dysfunctions/neuropathies that significantly impact patients' lives. Therefore, preclinical investigations are struggling to characterize effective analgesics against OXAL-induced painful/sensory symptoms but surprisingly, OXAL-evoked motor dysfunctions received little attention although these neurological symptoms are also disabling for patients. Here, we validated a rat model of OXAL-induced motor neuropathy by using (i) behavioral methods as the wire suspension and balance beam tests to assess muscle weakness and (ii) electrophysiological techniques to record the gastrocnemius electromyography (EMG). The conductance velocity of motor fibers was reduced and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) duration increased in OXAL-treated rats, leading to CMAP dispersion with no modification of the area under the curve, reflecting a heterogeneous demyelination of motor fibers. Functional motor unit analysis revealed a 50 % decrease of their estimated number which was compensated by a motor unit size increase. OXAL-induced motor weakness appeared as a combined consequence of motor fiber demyelination and motor axonopathy. Because we previously observed that allopregnanolone (AP) counteracted OXAL-evoked painful/sensory symptoms, we evaluated its action against OXAL-induced motor neurological dysfunctions. AP treatment successfully corrected motor behaviors, conductance velocity, CMAP duration, motor unit number (MUN) and motor unit size altered by OXAL-chemotherapy. These results, which are the first to show that AP efficiently rescues OXAL-induced motor neuropathy, consolidate the idea that AP-based therapy may be relevant for the treatment of both sensory and motor peripheral neuropathies.

Enzymatic versus chemical deinking of non-impact ink printed paper.

Enzymatic versus chemical deinking is examined for MOW and photocopy prints. Several enzymatic preparations and two fibre/ink particle separation methods are tested. Deinking was monitored by image analysis and standard pulp and paper characterisation procedures. The effectiveness of the fibre/ink particle separation method depends on the ink particle's size: for smaller particles a washing step is recommended whereas for larger particles, the use of flotation is necessary. The enzymatic treatment is a competitive alternative for MOW and photocopy paper deinking. However, the process requires the selection of an adequate enzymatic preparation for each paper grade.

Characterisation and application of glycanases secreted by Aspergillus terreus CCMI 498 and Trichoderma viride CCMI 84 for enzymatic deinking of mixed office wastepaper.

Two enzymatic extracts obtained from xylan-grown Aspergillus terreus CCMI 498 and cellulose-grown Trichoderma viride CCMI 84 were characterised for different glycanase activities. Both strains produce extracellular endoxylanase and endoglucanase enzymes. The enzymes optimal activity was found in the temperature range of 45-60 degrees C. Endoglucanase systems show identical activity profiles towards temperature, regardless of the strain and inducing substrate. Conversely, the endoxylanases produced by both strains showed maximal activity at different pH values (from 4.5 to 5.5), being the more acidic xylanase produced by T. viride grown on cellulose. The endoglucanase activities have an optimum pH at 4.5-5.0. The endoxylanase and endoglucanase activities exhibited high stability at 50 degrees C and pH 5.0. Mannanase, beta-xylosidase, and amylase activities were also found, being the first two activities only present for T. viride extract. These two enzymatic extracts were used for mixed office wastepaper (MOW) deinking. When the enzymatic extract from T. viride was used, a further increase of 24% in ink removal was obtained by comparison with the control. Both enzymes contributed to the improvement of the paper strength properties and the obtained results clearly indicate that the effective use of enzymes for deinking can also contribute to the pulp and paper properties improvement.

Encapsulated fish oil enriched in alpha-tocopherol alters plasma phospholipid and mononuclear cell fatty acid compositions but not mononuclear cell functions.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have reported that dietary fish oil (FO) supplementation alters cytokine production and other functional activities of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). However, few of these studies have been placebo controlled and few have related the functional changes to alterations in PBMC fatty acid composition PATIENTS AND METHODS: Healthy subjects supplemented their diets with 9 g day-1 of encapsulated placebo oil (3 : 1 mix of coconut and soybean oils), olive oil (OO), safflower oil (SO), evening primrose oil (EPO) or FO [providing 2.1 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus 1.1 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day] for 12 weeks; the capsules also provided 205 mg alpha-tocopherol per day. Blood was sampled at 4-weekly intervals and plasma and PBMC prepared. Plasma phospholipid and PBMC fatty acid composition, plasma alpha-tocopherol and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance concentrations, plasma total antioxidant capacity, the proportions of different PBMC subsets, the proportions of PBMC expressing the adhesion molecules CD2, CD11b and CD54, and PBMC functions (lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cell activity, cytokine production) were measured. All measurements were repeated after a 'washout' period of 8 weeks. RESULTS: The placebo, OO and SO capsules had no effect on plasma phospholipid or PBMC fatty acid composition. The proportion of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid in plasma phospholipids was elevated in subjects taking EPO and was decreased in subjects taking FO. There was no appearance of gamma-linolenic acid in the plasma phospholipids or PBMC in subjects taking EPO. There was a marked increase in the proportion of EPA in the plasma phospholipids (10-fold) and PBMC (four-fold) of subjects taking FO supplements; this increase was maximal after 4 weeks of supplementation. There was an increase in the proportion of DHA in plasma phospholipids and PBMC, and an approximately 20% decrease in the proportion of arachidonic acid in plasma phospholipids and PBMC, during FO supplementation. Plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were significantly elevated during supplementation in all subjects and returned to baseline values after the washout period. There were no effects of supplementation with any of the capsules on total plasma antioxidant activity or plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances or on the proportion of different PBMC subsets, on the proportion of PBMC expressing adhesion molecules, on natural killer cell activity, on the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated whole blood cultures or PBMC, or on the ex vivo production of a range of cytokines by whole blood cultures or PBMC cultures stimulated by either concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. CONCLUSION: Supplementation of the diet with 3.2 g EPA plus DHA per day markedly alters plasma phospholipid and PBMC fatty acid compositions. The lack of effect of FO upon PBMC functions may relate to the level of alpha-tocopherol included in the supplements.

Dietary fish oil suppresses human colon tumour growth in athymic mice.

1. Human colon tumour growth, initiated by subcutaneous inoculation of HT29 cells, was measured in athymic mice fed ad libitum on high-fat (210 g/kg) diets rich in coconut oil (CO), olive oil (OO), safflower oil (SO) or fish oil (FO); a low fat (LF; 25 g/kg) diet was used as the control. In one experiment the mice were fed the experimental diets for 3 weeks before HT29 cell inoculation and were killed 2 weeks post-inoculation. In a second experiment the mice were maintained on the LF diet until 4 days post-HT29 cell inoculation; they were then fed the experimental diets for 17 days. 2. Compared with mice fed the LF diet, tumour size was increased in mice fed the CO, OO or SO diets for 3 weeks before HT29 cell inoculation; FO feeding did not significantly increase tumour size. 3. Feeding mice the CO or OO diets from 4 days post-inoculation increased tumour growth rate and tumour size compared with feeding the LF, SO or FO diets; tumour growth rate and size did not differ among mice fed the latter diets. 4. The fatty acid composition of the tumours was markedly influenced by the fatty acid composition of the diet. 5. We conclude that human colon tumour growth is influenced by the type of fat consumed in the diet. Human colon tumour growth in this model is promoted by feeding high fat diets rich in medium chain saturated fatty acids (CO) or monounsaturated fatty acids (OO). A high fat diet, rich in long chain n - 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (FO), does not promote colon tumour growth. The effect of a high fat diet rich in n - 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (SO) depends upon the time at which it is fed: if fed before tumour cell inoculation such a diet promotes tumour growth, whereas if fed once tumour growth is initiated it does not. This suggests that n - 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids promote the initiation of colon tumour growth, but do not exert growth-promoting effects on colon tumours once they are established.