Thiol/disulfide homeostasis in postmenopausal osteoporosis

AIM

To evaluate the impact of postmenopausal osteoporosis on thiol/disulfide homeostasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 75 participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 40) was composed of healthy postmenopausal women, and group 2 (n = 35) was composed of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clinical findings and thiol/disulfide homeostasis were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The disulfide/native thiol ratio was 8.6% ± 3.6 in group 1 and 12.7% ± 8.4 in group 2 (p = 0.04). The disulfide/native thiol percent ratio was significantly higher in group 2 after adjustment for the years since menopause and age (p < 0.05). The native thiol/total thiol percent ratio was 85.6% ± 4.8 in group 1 and 73.8% ± 24.9 in group 2 (p = 0.01). The native thiol/total thiol percent ratio was significantly lower in group 2 after adjustment for the years since menopause and age (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Thiol/disulfide homeostasis shifted to the disulfide side independent of age and years since menopause in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Evaluation of maternal mortality ratio and causes in a university hospital in eastern Turkey

AIM

To investigate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and causes of maternal death in order to decrease these deaths.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The number of live births, maternal deaths, and the causes of deaths in Yuzuncu Yil University were recorded between 2004 and 2013.

RESULTS

The MMR was 268 per 100,000. Forty-nine maternal deaths were examined in terms of cause. The most frequent cause of death is eclampsia (33%) and associated intracerebral complications. The antenatal follow-up rate was 23.3%. The majority of patients had low income (92.3%), 72.2% were from rural areas, and 95.5% were illiterate.

CONCLUSION

The high MMR may arise from the high incidence of pregnancy complications in eastern Turkey, the rareness of antenatal follow-ups, and the present hospital being a referral hospital. The most frequent cause of maternal mortality is eclampsia and associated complications, followed by bleeding.

Eclampsia with neurological complications: a five-year experience of a tertiary centre

PURPOSE

The neurological signs and symptoms in 107 pregnant women with eclampsia in the last five years at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Yuzuncu Yil University School of Medicine are presented.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of 107 pregnant women with eclampsia in the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Yuzuncu Yil University consulted with neurology clinic from September 2005 to December 2010, were evaluated.

RESULTS

The most common symptoms of the patients were seizure, headache, and seeing spots of light. Although neurologic examination was normal in 81 patients, 26 had pathological signs. The most common neurologic pathologic signs determined were alterations in consciousness.

CONCLUSION

In eclamptic patients, brain scanning might reveal pathological results in spite of normal neurological examination. With neurological examination and brain scanning, it may be possible to diagnose and treat severe complications that may otherwise result in maternal mortality.

Oxidative status and its relation with insulin resistance in young non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Insulin resistance (IR) also can be found in young non-obese women with PCOS. Hyperglycemia may increase reactive oxygen species production and decrease antioxidant levels.

AIM

To investigate oxidative status and its relation with IR in young non-obese patients with PCOS.

MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients with hyperinsulinemic (no.=13) and normoinsulinemic (no.=18) PCOS and 29 healthy controls were included in this study. Serum levels of glucose, insulin, gonadotropins, total testosterone, DHEAS, SHBG, 2-h plasma glucose on oral glucose tolerance test, malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), reduced glutathione (GSH), β carotene, vitamin A, C, E and the enzyme activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase (GST), IR [by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR], and β cell function [by HOMA-B] were assessed.

RESULTS

Serum glucose, insulin, total testosterone, DHEAS, HOMA-IR levels, and LH/FSH ratios were higher in young non-obese women with PCOS. Serum MDA and PC levels were also higher but GSH, vitamin C and E levels, and GST enzyme activity were lower in these women than in healthy controls, independently of the status of IR (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Oxidative stress characterized by increased oxidants and decreased antioxidant levels which are independent of IR may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS in young non-obese women.

Serum trace elements and heavy metals in polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the serum levels of essential trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg) and heavy metals cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

A total of 65 (35 patients with PCOS and 30 healthy controls) women were included in the study. Serum Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Mg, Co and Cd levels were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS

Serum Cu and Zn levels were significantly higher, but Mn and Pb levels were lower in patients with PCOS compared with the healthy participants (p < 0.01). There was no difference between patients with PCOS and the controls with respect to the serum levels of Mg, Co and Cd.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study investigating serum Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Co, Mg and Cd levels in the patients with PCOS. The serum levels of trace elements and heavy metals might change in patients with PCOS. The findings in this study should be investigated with further trials in order to obtain new insights into PCOS.