Selman Lacin

Sexual Behaviour During Pregnancy

Summary: The effects of pregnancy on sexuality were studied in 158 pregnant women. They were surveyed by questionnaire about sociodemographic variables and sexual behaviour. Dyspareunia was common in our study group during pregnancy. Pregnancy had a negative effect on orgasmic quality. Dyspareunia and orgasmic quality influenced coital frequency. Coital frequency declined as the month of the pregnancy increased. Pregnancy is a potent influence on sexuality irrespective of an individuals conditioning.

Rupture of rudimentary horn pregnancy at the 15th week of gestation: a case report

A patient with acute abdomen at 15th week of gestation underwent an emergency laparatomy. A ruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy was diagnosed, and the rudimentary part including the fetus and the accessories was resected. The mother survived without any complications.

Collagenase treatment of sore nipples

Lesions that occur on the areola and the nipple of a breast-feeding mother during the immediate postpartum period may lead to infection, and the mother may find breast-feeding too painful to continue 1 . Approximately 65% of lactating women experience severe nipple pain with lesions 2 . Various treatment regimens have been applied to sore nipples. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of collagenase in preventing and healing sore nipples, and compared to dexpanthenol and a control group. Sixty-six primiparous mothers were randomized to one of three groups to receive either collageŽ . Ž . nase group C Novuxol, Knoll , or dexpanthenol Ž . Ž . group D Bepanthene, Roche , or only warm Ž . water and soap group W . They used their agents after breast-feeding sessions qid for 2 weeks. The lesions were evaluated just before the treatment and prior to discharge by a physician blind to

Immunohistochemical staining of IGF‐I, IGF‐binding proteins‐1 and ‐3, and transforming growth factor beta‐3 in the umbilical cords of preeclamptic patients

Background.  To detect the immunoreactivity of insulin‐like growth factor‐I, insulin‐like growth factor‐binding proteins‐1 and ‐3 and transforming growth factor beta‐3 in the umbilical cords of normal and preeclamptic patients.

Assessment of fetal cerebral arterial and venous blood flow before and after vaginal delivery or Cesarean section

To compare perinatal intracranial arterial and venous blood velocity changes between healthy term neonates delivered vaginally or by Cesarean section and to correlate these changes with cord blood gases and pH values at birth.

Immunolocalization of αV, α3 and β1 integrins in the human placenta with pre-eclampsia

Summary Signs of pre-eclampsia are considered to be caused by maternal endothelial dysfunction due to circulating factors of placental origin. Integrins are a large family of cell surface proteins that serve as receptors involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions during placentation. Therefore, low expression of integrins or the lack of it may be encountered during pre-eclampsia. In the present study, we investigated the immunolocalisation of integrins αV, α3 and β1 in placentas of normal and pre-eclamptic women. Thirty-two placentas from pre-eclamptic (n = 14) and normotensive (n = 18) women were used. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, using anti-αV, anti-α3 and anti-β1 antibodies and the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. A semi-quantitative grading system (HSCORE) was used to compare immunohistochemical staining intensities. Distribution patterns of αV, α3 and β1 integrins were detected in cytotrophoblasts and Hofbauer cells in normal and pre-eclamptic placentas. Immunostaining of αV and β1 integrins was slightly decreased in pre-eclamptic samples but α3 integrin immunostaining was similar in pre-eclamptic and normal placentas. Decreased immunostaining of integrins in the cytotrophoblasts may considered to be a structural basis for decreased placental perfusion in pre-eclampsia.

Immunolocalization of transforming growth factor-β3 in pregnant human myometrium: Possible associations with labor

Background. Transforming growth factor‐β3 is a cytokine which is involved in cell growth regulation and differentiation, stimulation of extracellular matrix and modulation of immune responses. The goal of this study was to detect the presence of this cytokine in the myometrium of preterm and term, nonlaboring and laboring patients, and to measure serum levels of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐6 and IL‐8 before cesarean section.

Assessment of the effectiveness of postmenopausal tibolone therapy on neural functions by measuring visual evoked potentials: a placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of hormone replacement therapy on neural transmission in postmenopausal women using tibolone by a non-invasive, objective way. STUDY DESIGN In a randomised, 3 cycle, placebo-controlled study, neurovisual transmission in optic pathways were evaluated by measuring visual evoked potentials (VEP). After neuroophtalmologic examination, eligible subjects were randomised into two groups. Treatment group (n=38) were given tibolone 2.5mg daily continuously for 3 months and control group (n=20) were treated with placebo. A baseline VEP measurement before the treatment and then at the end of first, second and third month were obtained by the EMG-evoked system in the Department of Neurology, University of Celal Bayar, Manisa, Turkey. RESULTS Data from 31 women from treatment group and 16 from control group were available for evaluation. The mean P(100) latency values, which indicate the transition time period between the optic stimuli and electrical change recorded on the occipital area by the skin electrodes, have showed a significant decrease for the study group (from 100.39+/-0.58 to 97.90+/-0.65 ms, P<0.01) at the end of the first month of treatment according to the baseline values. This difference between two groups has remained constant during the study period. CONCLUSION The change in latency measurements of VEP, reflecting the functional status in optic pathways from retina to occipital cortex were significantly different in the treatment group than in that of control. We concluded that a facilitating effect of tibolone was observed on neurovisual transmission.

P242: Assessment of fetal cerebral arterial and venous blood flow before and after birth according to type of delivery

Objective: To determine whether antenatal steroids administration alter the Doppler flow indices of the umbilical, middle cerebral and uterine arteries and to determine the exact time that antenatal steroid administration affects the biophysical profile in fetuses. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 20 fetuses between 26 and 34 weeks’ menstrual age at risk of preterm delivery. Two intramuscular injections of 12 mg of betamethasone were given to the mother 24 hours apart. The Doppler examination included the assessment of the pulsatility index of the umbilical artery (UA PI), the middle cerebral artery (MCA PI) and the pulsatility index of uterine arteries (Ut PI) before treatment, and 24, 48 and 72 hours after the first dose of betamethasone. All fetuses underwent biophysical profile testing prior to and on 24, 48 and 72 hours after steroid administration. We compared the percentage of fetuses with biophysical profile parameters present for each of the five components of the BP using statistical methods where appropriate. Neonatal outcome, including Apgar score, menstrual age at delivery, admission to and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit and mortality were analysed in all subjects. Results: The mean delivery time was 32.4 (27–36 weeks). There was a statistically significant difference in the frequency of the following findings in the precompared to post-steroid measurements: absence of body movements, non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings, and absence of breathing movements. Initially none of the biophysical profile score was < or =8 whereas at 24, 48, and 72 hrs 10, 40 and 50% of them were respectively < or =8. No significant variation was noted in both the fetal and maternal Doppler velocimetry indices. Conclusion: Biophysical profile scores were decreased in more than 40% of fetuses within 48 hours of antenatal steroid administration, but neonatal outcome was not affected. On the contrary, Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical and fetal cerebral circulation appears to be reliable for the assessment of fetuses previously exposed to antenatal steroids. It seems that Doppler studies have the potential to differentiate the steroid induced changes in fetal biophysical profile from those due to fetal compromise.