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The Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene codes for protein pyrin, which is among the modulators of inflammasome activity in innate immune cells. It was suggested that there is a relation between MEFV variations and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate MEFV gene variations in the patients with primary dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of common MEFV gene variations (M694V, M680I, V726A, E148Q and R202Q) was investigated in 145 young women with primary dysmenorrhea and 135 unrelated healthy controls. MEFV gene variations were genotyped using PCR-based RFLP assay. Number of childbirth and marriage were significantly lower in the study group than the controls, respectvely (p < 0.001, p = 0.001). Family history was statistically higher in the patient group (p < 0.001). In total, MEFV genotype and allele frequencies were significantly higher in patients than controls, respectively (p = 0.008 and p = 0.005, respectively). It was found that MEFV gene E148Q allele was more common in patient group (p = 0.039). MEFV R202Q A allele was higher in the patients than the controls (p = 0.045). A significant association was observed when the patients were compared with the controls according to R202Q variant AA versus GG+GA genotypes (p=0.020). Our findings suggest that MEFV variations may be a risk factor for patients with dysmenorrhea in a Turkish cohort. There are very few studies in the literature regarding the relationship between pathological variants of MEFV and dysmenorrhea disease. The common MEFV mutations/variants were evaluated in primary dysmenorrhea patients. Family history was statistically higher in the patient group (p <.001). MEFV gene variations were found 52 (35.9%) in patients and 29 (21.5%2) in controls. MEFV gene allele frequency was significantly higher in-patient group than control (p =.005). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecological complaint with painful menstrual cramps in pelvis without any pathology. It affects about half of menstruating women, and it causes significant disruption in quality of life. We investigated the association betweenIL6gene promoter andESR1geneXbaI andPvuII polymorphisms and primary dysmenorrhea. In this case–control study, 152 unrelated young women with primary dysmenorrhea and 150 unrelated healthy age-matched controls participated. Genomic DNA was isolated andIL6andESR1gene polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-based RFLP assay. The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies ofIL6gene promoter andESR1geneXbaI polymorphisms were not statistically different between patients and controls (p> 0.05). However, the genotype and allele frequencies ofESR1genePvuII polymorphism showed statistically significant differences between primary dysmenorrhea patients and controls (p= 0.009 andp= 0.021, respectively). Statistically significant associations were also observed between age and married status of primary dysmenorrhea patients andESR1genePvuII polymorphism (p= 0.044 andp= 0.023, respectively). In combined genotype analyses, AG atESR1 XbaI and TC atESR1 PvuII loci encoded ap-value of 0.027. Thus, individuals who are heterozygote at both loci have a lower risk of developing primary dysmenorrhea. Our study suggests no strong association betweenIL6gene promoter andESR1geneXbaI polymorphisms and primary dysmenorrhea in Turkish women. However,ESR1genePvuII polymorphism showed statistically significant differences between primary dysmenorrhea patients and controls. The potential association betweenESR1genePvuII polymorphism and age and married status of dysmenorrhea patients deserves further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autophagy is a system that regulates cell growth, development and differentiation and is activated in the event of nutrient deficiency and stress of cells. Recently, although mechanisms have not yet been described, it is known that autophagy increases in placental-related obstetric diseases such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. In particular, ubiquitin-proteasome pathway proteins (UPP) such as Ubiquitin and Valosin-containing protein (p97/VCP) have not been studied in diabetic placentas in the regulation of autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of UPP (p97/VCP and ubiquitin), autophagic (p62 and LC3B) and autolysosomal proteins (Lamp2) in normal and diabetic human placentas and to demonstrate the regulatory mechanism of these proteins associated with p97/VCP in the autophagy pathway. Material and Method: The placentas were collected from women who completed the normal gestational period (n = 20) and women with diabetes (n = 10) after cesarean delivery. Tissue samples were taken from the middle part between the basal plate and the chorionic membrane. For Western blot, it has been stored at -80°C, and for hematoxylin and eosin it has been embedded in paraffin for immunohistochemistry staining. Results: p97/VCP and ubiquitin expressions were significantly increased in diabetic placentas compared to normal placentas. p97/VCP immunostaining was observed in cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer cells. In diabetic placentas which the expression of p97/VCP increased, the expression of autophagic proteins p62 and LC3II had also showed a significant increase. However, there was no difference in the expressions of autolysosomal proteins. Conclusion: Increased expression of UPP proteins (p97/VCP and ubiquitin) and autophagic proteins (p62 and LC3II) compared to normal placentas were analysed in diabetic human placenta. These results indicate that there is a relationship between autophagic cell pathway and UPP pathway in diabetic human placenta. p97/VCP inhibitors and siRNAs will be used in future trophoblast cell culture studies and will contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the choroidal and retinal thicknesses in singleton versus twin pregnancies., Materials and Methods: This study included 20 single and 20 twin pregnant women in their 3 rd trimester with 20 age-matched healthy nonpregnant women as a control group. All participants underwent a detailed ocular examination. Cirrus enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography was used for choroidal thickness (CT) with frame enhancement software. The study was divided into three groups: Group 1 - singleton pregnancy, Group 2 - twin pregnancy, and Group 3 - healthy nonpregnant controls. CT was measured from nasal, subfoveal, and temporal fields., Results: Regarding CT, the twin pregnancy group had the thickest choroid followed by the singleton pregnancy group and control group. There was a statistically significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3 in terms of nasal, subfoveal, and temporal CTs ( P = 0.002, P = 0.001, and P = 0.003, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3 regarding just subfoveal CT ( P = 0.028). Regarding retinal thickness, there was a statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3 regarding the mean macular volume and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thicknesses ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, regarding mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, there was a statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 and between Group 2 and Group 3 ( P = 0.004, P = 0.003, respectively)., Conclusion: Our study is the first one which evaluates choroidal and retinal thicknesses in twin pregnancies. We found that there was an increase in CT in the 3 rd trimester of pregnancies and it was prominent in twin pregnancies., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology.)

Objective: To determine the effects of sevoflurane by inhalation on female reproductive hormones and ovarian tissues., Methods: This experimental study was conducted at the Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey, and comprised Wistar-Albino female rats. The rats were divided into six groups; one control and five study groups. The control group (C) received 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for seven days; the first study group (S1) received 1 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane + 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for seven days; the second group (S2) received 1 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane + 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for seven days and no treatment for the following seven days; the third group (S3) received 1 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane + 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for 14 days; the fourth group (S4) received 1 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane + 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for 14 days and no treatment for the following seven days; and the fifth group (S5) received 1 minimum alveolar concentration sevoflurane + 2 L/min O2 in 18 min/day for 14 days and no treatment for the following 14 days. The duration of the study was 28 days in February 2015. Reproductive system hormone levels were analysed and histological assessment of the ovaries was performed. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis., Results: Of the 30 rats, there were 5(16.7%) in each group. Histological injury scores in S2, S3, S4, and S5 were significantly higher than in C (p=0.016, p=0.008, p=0.016 and p=0.032, respectively). The hormone levels belonging to follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, estradiol and progesterone revealed significant alterations in all groups (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Chronic exposure to sevoflurane negatively affected the histological structure of the ovary and hormonal regulation.