Ultrasonographic imaging of the fetal hippocampus

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to identify the fetal hippocampus and fornix using 2D and to measure the C-shaped length of fornix and hippocampus.

METHODS

This study was designed in cross-section. Healthy singleton and between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation pregnant women who applied to the perinatology outpatient clinic for second-level ultrasound scanning between December 2022 and February 2023 were included in the study. Patients were screened consecutively. Demographic information of the participants was obtained and an ultrasound scan was performed. The fetal fornix-hippocampus' length and hippocampal height were measured in the sagittal section. Data were presented as mean ± standard deviation, median (min, max), or number (percent).

RESULTS

A total of 92 patients were included in the study. Fetal fornix and hippocampus measurements were taken in % 97.8 (90/92) patients. The mean of the fetal fornix-hippocampus length and fetal hippocampus height of 90 patients were measured as 35.6 ± 3.0 and 4.7 ± 3.9, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Fetal fornix and hippocampus can be visualized in easily with two-dimensional ultrasound during anomaly scanning in the second trimester.

The impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesia consumption in women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of preoperative anxiety on pain and analgesic consumption in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy (VH) with general and spinal anesthesia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 200 participants, including 100 undergoing vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia (group 1) and 100 with spinal anesthesia (group 2), were enrolled. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used for the postoperative pain intensity.

RESULTS

The 1st hour, 6th hour, 12th hour, and 18th hour VAS scores were higher in vaginal hysterectomy with general anesthesia than in vaginal hysterectomy with spinal anesthesia.

CONCLUSIONS

Although participants undergoing VH with spinal anesthesia (preoperative state anxiety inventory score > 45) had lower pain intensity scores in the first 18 hours compared to those undergoing VH with general anesthesia, their postoperative analgesic requirements were similar.

Analysis of prognostic factors in Grade 3 endometrioid type endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prognostic factors of patients with Grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer (G3EEC).

METHODS

This four-center, retrospective study included a total of 129 women with G3EEC. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and survival data were collected. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Predictors of outcome were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Median age at the time of diagnosis was 63 (range 39-87) years and median follow up was 37 (range 6-126) months. For the entire cohort, the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 54.3% and 63.6%, respectively. The 5-year DFS rates for lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) -positive and -negative patients were 41.6% and 88.3%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year OS rates for LVSI-positive and -negative patients were 54.7% and 88.3%, respectively (P = 0.001). Positive LVSI status was identified as the independent prognostic factor for decreased DFS and OS (hazard ratio [HR] 5.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65-18.86; P = 0.006 versus HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.33-14.58; P = 0.013, respectively).

CONCLUSION

LVSI seems to be an independent prognostic factor for decreased DFS and OS in G3EEC patients.

Conservative management of placental invasion anomalies with an intracavitary suture technique

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of a new surgical suture technique for uterine preservation among patients with placental invasion anomalies.

METHODS

The present prospective case series included women diagnosed with placental invasion anomalies undergoing cesarean deliveries who desired future fertility at the obstetrics department of a Turkish university hospital between January 10, 2013, and April 20, 2017. Patients were diagnosed with ultrasonography and Doppler ultrasonography; the type of placental invasion anomaly (placenta accreta, increta, or percreta) was confirmed intraoperatively. Surgical management involved an intracavitary suture technique after the proximal branch of the uterine artery was clamped and utero-ovarian anastomoses had been blocked. Outcomes included units of blood transfused, intraoperative and postoperative adverse events, duration of hospital admission, and hysterectomy rate.

RESULTS

There were 62 patients included. The mean operative blood loss was 1350 ± 750 mL (range 600-5000 mL). Blood transfusion required a mean of four units (range 2-15). Bleeding was controlled with the intracavitary sutures in 58 (94%) patients. Three patients experienced postoperative wound infections and two patients developed endometritis that required therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics. The mean length of hospital stay was 3.6 ± 1.6 days (range 2-11). None of the patients required reoperation after the initial surgery.

CONCLUSION

The novel uterus-sparing suture technique was highly effective among patients with placental invasion anomalies.

Assessment of oxidant-antioxidant status alterations with tumor biomarkers and reproductive system hormones in uterine MYOMAS

OBJECTIVES

Uterine myomas (UM) are responsible for significant morbidity and have adverse effects on quality of life in women. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes (AOE), as well as sex steroids play important roles in the reproductive physiology processes. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of oxidant-antioxidant status in UM by measuring the AOE activities and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels. This is the first study assessing these parameters together in UM based on also menopausal status and evaluating possible correlations between AOE activities, LPO markers, tumor biomarkers, female reproductive system hormone levels, comprehensively.

STUDY DESIGN

The study group consisted of patients who have undergone surgical resection with confirmed pathology of uterine myoma (UM, n = 25) and divided into subgroups; premenopausal (UM_pre) and postmenopausal (UM_post). Erythrocyte copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) activities were measured along with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α (8-epi-PGF2α) levels in patients with UM. The obtained data were compared to the data of healthy individuals (C, n = 25) and its subgroups; premenopausal (C_pre) and postmenopausal (C_post).

RESULTS

All AOE activities were higher (∼40% for Cu,Zn-SOD, p = 0.003; ∼55% for CAT, p = 0.001; ∼15% for GPx1, p = 0.169) and the LPO levels were lower (∼60% for MDA, p = 0.011 and ∼45% for 8-epi-PGF2α, p = 0.055) in patients with UM vs control. Approximately similar alterations were observed in UM_pre vs C_pre and in UM_post vs C_post. A significant negative correlation between erythrocyte Cu,Zn-SOD activity and plasma MDA levels (r = -0.431, p = 0.005) was reported.

CONCLUSION

Decreased LPO levels might be the consequence of compensator high antioxidant enzyme activities against mild oxidative stress in the circulation of patients with UM. The marked negative correlation between erythrocyte Cu,Zn-SOD activity and plasma MDA levels also supported this finding.

Impaired antioxidant enzyme functions with increased lipid peroxidation in epithelial ovarian cancer

We aimed to identify the possible role of oxidant-antioxidant status in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) by measuring (a) antioxidant enzyme (AOE) activities [total superoxide dismutase (SOD_total ), manganese-SOD (Mn-SOD), copper,zinc-SOD (Cu,Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1)], (b) Mn-SOD protein expression, (c) lipid peroxidation markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-epi-prostaglandin-F2α (8-epi-PGF2α)] and by evaluating the possible correlations between tumor biomarkers, reproductive hormone levels and all measured parameters, comprehensively. The data obtained from the patients with EOC (M, n = 26) evaluated according to the histopathological/clinical characteristics of tumors and compared with data of healthy controls [C_tissue (C1) and C_blood/urine (C2), n = 30, respectively). Significantly, low activities of tumor SOD_total (52%), Mn-SOD (42%), Cu,Zn-SOD (55%); high activities of tumor and erythrocyte CAT (66%, 33% respectively) and tumor GPx1 (60%); high levels of tumor Mn-SOD protein expression; tumor MDA (193%) and urinary 8-epi-PGF2α (179%) were observed in serous EOC tumors (M1, n = 18) compared with controls (P < 0.05). However, higher levels of tumor MDA, Mn-SOD protein expression and urinary 8-epi-PGF2α were observed along with lower tumor CAT activity in poorly differentiated or undifferentiated (grade 3, G 3) versus well or moderately well differentiated (grade 1-2, G 1-2) serous EOC tumors. Obtained data indicate the presence of a severe redox imbalance in EOC and draw attention to the criticial role of AOEs in the pathogenesis of the disease. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 69(10):802-813, 2017.