The assessment of the relationship between amniotic fluid matrix metalloproteinase-9 and zinc levels with adverse obstetric outcomes

Objective

To examine the relationship between the amniotic fluid MMP-9 and zinc levels during 16–19th gestational weeks and perinatal outcomes.

Method

One hundred and seventeen singleton pregnancies that underwent genetic amniocentesis from January 2005 through November 2009 were evaluated. Subjects were divided into two main groups: a control group (group 1) (n: 74), and an adverse obstetric outcomes group (group 2) (n: 43). Group 2 consisted of the following: preterm birth group, gestational hypertension and preeclampsia group, gestational diabetes group, fetal growth restriction group, macrosomia group, and pregnancy loss group. MMP-9 and zinc (Zn) values in the amniocentesis materials sampled between the 16th and 19th gestational weeks were analyzed retrospectively in terms of perinatal outcomes. Any significant difference among the groups was assessed by unpaired samples t test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

Results

A comparison among groups showed no significant difference in terms of Zn results between the group 1 and 2 (p = 0.879). MMP-9 levels were significantly lower in both the preterm birth group (p = 0.043) and group 1 (p = 0.015).

Conclusion

We found that the amniotic fluid MMP-9 levels of patients who delivered preterm were significantly lower between the 16th and 19th gestational weeks.     

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Various Tissues of Six Ray Species from İskenderun Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean Sea

This study was performed to investigate the heavy metal concentrations in muscle, liver, gill and intestine of six ray species from ?skenderun Bay. The present study is the first for rays in ?skenderun Bay, providing valuable preliminary information about heavy metal contents in different tissues of the examined ray species from the bay, and indirectly, indicating the environmental contamination of ?skenderun Bay. Heavy metal levels in intestines were generally higher than those in other tissues for all species. Metal levels in ray muscle tissue were below the international maximum allowable levels for fish and fishery products, as well as Turkish national guidelines, with the exception of the highest value for Cd in Dasyatis pastinaca.     

MTHFR C677T polymorphism and its relation to ischemic stroke in the Black Sea Turkish population

The MTHFR C677T mutation has been shown to be associated with venous thrombosis. The role of this mutation in ischemic stroke is unclear. We investigated whether the MTHFR mutation is a risk factor for patients with ischemic stroke in the Black Sea Turkish population or not. We analyzed 30 patients (19 male, 11 female) [median age: 50 years (range: 28-78)] with ischemic stroke who had no known predisposition factors for stroke and 242 (182 male, 60 female) healthy controls [median age: 42 years (range: 18-65)]. Detection of the MTHFR C677T mutation was performed by using commercially available allele-specific PCR-ELISA kits. Prevalence of the MTHFR C677T genotype was 49.1% (CT, 45.8%; TT, 3.3%) in controls and 50% (CT, 43.3%; TT, 6.6%) in patients [OR: 1.03, 95% CI (0.45-2.35]). The prevalence of homozygous gene mutation for MTHFR was higher among patients with stroke than control subjects, but this difference was not statistically significant. The MTHFR gene mutation is not a risk factor for ischemic stroke formation in patients from the Black Sea region in Turkey.     

The results of purified protein derivative test in ankylosing spondylitis patients: clinical features,HRCT results and relationship with TNF-blocker usage

In this study, we evaluated the clinical features, treatment modalities, including TNF-blockers, purified protein derivative (PPD) test, chest X-ray and HRCT results in our AS patients. We evaluated the clinical features, disease activity and PPD results in 88 AS patients (72 males, 16 females, mean age: 38.3+/-10) diagnosed at our center. 119 RA, 28 SLE and 27 gouty arthritis patients followed up at the same time period were taken as the control group. The mean disease duration in AS patients was 12.6+/-8.3 years. The frequency of PPD positivity in AS patients (77.3%) was similar to that in gouty arthritis (70.4%) patients; and significantly higher than the frequency in SLE (21.4%) and RA (35.3%) patients (P values<0.001). There was a chest X-ray abnormality in 20 AS patients (22.7%). When subjects (11 patients, 12.5%) with apical fibrosis, aspergillosis, previous or active TB on chest X-ray and/or HRCT were compared to others; it was observed that they were older (P<0.001), had longer disease duration (P=0.006); and less chest expansion (P=0.01). Fifty patients were administered TNF-blockers. The PPD test was positive in 38 of patients (76%) using TNF-blockers. All of these patients were given isoniazid prophylaxis. After a median follow up of 18 months, TB did not develop. In Turkey which is a country with a relatively high incidence of TB, in spite of a higher frequency of PPD positivity in AS patients compared to RA and SLE patients, TNF-blockers did not result in any TB with suitable prophylaxis.     

The evaluation of soluble Fas and soluble Fas ligand levels of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in lung cancer patients

Fas-Fas Ligand (FasL) is one of the major mediator system that activates programmed cell death. Cleavage of membranebound FasL by a metalloproteinase-like enzyme resulted in the formation of soluble FasL (sFasL). sFasL as well as the transmembrane form of FasL binds to Fas and transduces apoptotic signal in Fas-expressing cells. It's suggested that soluble Fas (sFas) and sFasL has an impact on tumor progress and immune escape feature of tumor cells from the host immune system. Since Fas antigen expression in the lungs has been localized to alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells, in this study we aimed to investigate the sFas (pg/mL) and sFasL levels (pg/mL) of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in lung cancer patients. Study population was consisted of 27 patients with lung cancer (mean age 62.9 +/- 10.7 years, 25 control subjects (mean age 47.9 +/- 13.9 years). BAL was performed under local anesthesia, on the unaffected lung of patients; either subsegments of right middle or lingula. BAL sFas and sFasL were evaluated by using ELISA method. The mean levels of sFas was 60.8 +/- 56.8 in lung cancer patient and 39.5 +/- 25.9 in control subjects (p> 0.05). The mean levels of sFasL was 51.6 +/- 39.2 in cancer patient and 41.2 +/- 27.4 in control subjects (p> 0.05). In conclusion, although we did not observe any significant difference between two groups, higher BAL levels of sFas and sFasL levels in lung cancer patients than control subjects, made us thought that apoptosis might have a role development and progression of lung cancer.     

Surgical treatment of liver trauma (analysis of 244 patients)

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The liver is the most common injured intraabdominal organ after trauma. This retrospective study was designed to analyze the results of the surgical treatment of 244 cases of liver trauma operated between 1973 and 2001. METHODOLOGY: Two hundred and seventeen of the cases were male and 27 were female. Mean age of the patients was 29.6. Blunt injuries were responsible for liver trauma in 53.6% of the patients. According to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma classification we evaluated the patients to two groups. The first one was Group A, minor hepatic injuries, which consisted of grade I, grade II and grade III injuries, and the second one was Group B, major hepatic injuries, which consisted of grade IV, grade V and grade VI injuries. There were 238 cases in Group A and 6 cases in Group B. Primary suturing of the hepatic rupture was performed in 187 of 238 cases in group A. Liver injuries of the other 50 cases did not require suturing so that we drained the suprahepatic and infrahepatic spaces during laparotomy. The remaining case in group A had resectional debridement and hemostasis. On the other hand we performed regular or irregular hepatic resection in all group B patients. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 16.3%. The mortality rate was higher in group B than group A (66.6% and 15.1%, respectively). The mortality rate was also higher in the blunt abdominal trauma cases than penetrating injuries (25.9% and 5.3% consecutively). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the injury grade and the type of trauma influence the mortality rate. Careful clinical assessment and close radiological monitoring of the patients with minor hepatic injuries, may prevent unnecessary laparotomies.     

Differentiation of malignant and benign lung lesions with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

Background

The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of lung lesions.

Patients and methods.

Sixty-seven patients with lung lesions (48 malignant, 19 benign) were included in this prospective study. Signal intensities (SIs) were measured in diffusion-weighted MR images that were obtained with b=0, 500 and 1000 s/mm² values. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were calculated by using images with b=0 and 1000 s/mm² values. The statistical significance was determined using the Student-t test.

Results

The SIs of malignant lesions were significantly higher than those of benign lesions (p<0.004 for b=0 s/mm² and p<0.000 for the other b values). Using b=500 s/mm², SI≥391 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 95%, specificity of 73% and positive predictive value of 87%. Using b=1000 s/mm², SI≥277 indicated a malignant lesion with a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 69% and positive predictive value of 85%. There was no significant difference between malignant and benign lesions regarding ADC values (p=0.675). There was no significant difference in SIs or ADC values between small cell carcinoma and non-small cell carcinoma. When comparing undifferentiated with well- partially differentiated cancers, SIs were higher with all b values, but the difference was statistically significant only with b=1000 s/mm² (p<0.04).

Conclusions

Diffusion-weighteted MR trace image SI is useful for the differentiation of malignant versus benign lung lesions.     

Color and duplex Doppler sonography to detect sacroiliitis and spinal inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis. Can this method reveal response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of color and duplex Doppler ultrasound (CDDUS) in the detection of sacroiliac (SI) and spinal inflammation, as well as response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: We included 39 consecutive patients with AS followed at our center and 14 healthy controls. In the AS and control groups, blood vessels in SI joints and lumbar vertebral (LV) and thoracal vertebral (TV) paraspinal areas were investigated by CDDUS. When the artery was found, the resistive index (RI) was measured by CDDUS. Disease activity characteristics (ESR, CRP, BASDAI, and BASMI) were evaluated in patients with AS. In 11 patients for whom anti-TNF therapy was indicated, CDDUS measurements were performed before and on Week 12 of therapy. RESULTS: In patients with AS, RI values of SI joints and of LV and TV areas were lower than in controls (all p < or = 0.01). In AS patients with active disease according to BASDAI, RI values of TV (p = 0.0013) and LV (p = 0.027) were significantly lower than in the inactive group. In the group with active AS, SI RI was nonsignificantly lower (p = 0.16). After anti-TNF therapy, there were significant increases in mean SI RI (p = 0.028) and LV RI (p = 0.039), and a nonsignificant increase in TV RI (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: CDDUS may be an alternative, less expensive, and easier method for detecting inflammation secondary to increased SI and spinal vascularization and in evaluating response to anti-TNF therapy in AS.