The value of urocortin and Ca-125 in the diagnosis of endometrioma

Purposes

In this study, we sought to establish the value of a new molecule, urocortin (Ucn), in the diagnosis of endometrioma and compare with Ca-125 to identify superiority of urocortin.

Methods

Of the patients operated on at our hospital with the initial diagnosis of adnexal mass, 88 patients whose pathology results were endometrioma and benign ovarian cyst were included in the study. As a result of the pathological examination, the patients were assessed in two groups. Group 1 consisted of 42 cases of endometrioma and Group 2 included 46 cases of benign ovarian cyst (control group). The serum Ucn and CA 125 levels of patients were measured from the blood samples drawn prior to the operation.

Results

While the serum Ucn level was 4.8?±?1.00?ng/ml in the endometrioma group, it was 4.5?±?1.03?ng/ml in the control group (P?=?0.21). The difference was statistically not meaningful. On the other hand, mean serum Ca-125 level was 43.8?U/l (11.7?C251) in the endometrioma group, it was 16.5?U/l (4.3?C121.1) in the control group. The difference was statistically meaningful (P?=?0.001). When the cut-off point for Serum Ca-125 level was taken as 21.38, sensitivity and specificity levels were found to be 88.1 and 63%. When the cut-off point for Ucn was taken as 4.16, sensitivity was 76.2%, and specificity 45.7%.

Conclusion

Ucn was not found to be efficient in distinguishing endometrioma from other benign ovarian cysts or to be superior to CA125 in the diagnosis of endometrioma.     

Electroacupuncture for cervical ripening prior to labor induction: a randomized clinical trial

Purpose

The present study was aimed to compare the effects of the use of electroacupuncture and misoprostol in inducing labor in patients with Bishop score?<?7 and to observe the characteristics of labor in both methods.

Methods

As much as 67 pregnant women with Bishop score?<?7, single cephalic presentation with gestational age confirmed by first-trimester ultrasound, reactive cardiotocography, and amniotic fluid volume and estimated fetal weight within the respective normal ranges for gestational age were selected. They were randomized into 2 groups: electroacupuncture (AC) or misoprostol (M).

Results

There were no significant differences regarding age, gestational age, fetal weight, parity, Bishop score, or indication for induction. Labor was the main outcome, which was obtained in both groups without significant difference regarding frequency (p?=?0.07) and time of induction (p?=?0.29). Absence of obstetric complication, higher duration of labor (p?=?0.036), and tendency to a higher satisfaction of the patients (p?=?0.046) were observed among patients of group AC. Higher frequency of cesarean sections (p?=?0.014) and obstetric complications (9.3%) were observed among patients of group M.

Conclusions

Our results showed that electroacupuncture can be used to obtain cervical ripening, with similar results as compared with misoprostol, with a significantly higher frequency of vaginal deliveries and without occurrence of obstetric complications.     

Why are children living in poverty getting fatter?

In recent decades, there has been a dramatic increase in unhealthy weight for both children and adults. The Canadian standard of living has changed in favour of more easily prepared, calorie-dense foods and sedentary practices. Many family characteristics have also changed over the past 50 years. More Canadian families are living in disadvantaged situations, forecasting a host of unhealthy behaviours and attitudes in adults. The poor are not only getting poorer, they are also becoming heavier. Children from disadvantaged families seem to be leading the trend in increasing prevalence of unhealthy weight. Because they live in neighbourhoods that are perceived as unsafe, these children are likely spending more time indoors. This is associated with watching more television, which not only displaces other forms of educational and active entertainment but also places them at risk of learning inaccurate information about proper eating. Social science research helps identify factors contributing most to the rise in excess weight within this population, thus providing essential clues for effective approaches to its eradication.     

Accumulation of L-type Bovine Prions in Peripheral Nerve Tissues

We recently reported the intraspecies transmission of L-type atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). To clarify the peripheral pathogenesis of L-type BSE, we studied prion distribution in nerve and lymphoid tissues obtained from experimentally challenged cattle. As with classical BSE prions, L-type BSE prions accumulated in central and peripheral nerve tissues.