Women presenting symptoms and/or signs of lower genital tract infection were examined mycologically and to increase the sensitivity of the culture methods and to estimate the aberrant forms of fungi, hypertonic media was used. 47 yeast species were isolated from 86 patients. On the other hand 8 Candida albicans strains were isolated by using hypertonic culture media in which no growth was observed in any of the media used for routine culture. In relation with this study 8 cases were evaluated and the culture methods that have been used were discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Treatment and results of chronic toxoplasmosis. Analysis of 33 cases.

Women who grew up in Turkey, where undercooked meat is part of the usual diet, have an increased risk of toxoplasmosis. This study covers treatment and prognosis of 33 cases with chronic toxoplasmosis. The study group was selected among the patients with a history of repeated abortions, recurrent preterm labor, stillbirths and babies with congenital anomaly after all other causative reasons were ruled out. IgG and IgM antibody titers were detected by Sabin-Feldman's dye test and indirect fluorescence antibody test. 33 patients, who had negative IgM and IgG antibody titers above 1/64, were accepted as having chronic toxoplasmosis and were included in our study group. These patients were treated with our pyrimethamine treatment protocol (Dinçer Formula) for 36 days before their pregnancies. IgG antibody titers were repeated in the 8th and the 20th week of pregnancy. With the exception of 7 cases, 24 patients (72.7%) still had IgG antibody titers of more than 1/64 and were given the same treatment protocol in the 8th week of pregnancy. Very early abortions occurred in 2 cases. Of 24 patients, 8 had antibody titers still above 1/64 and were treated with spiramycine. While 28 cases (84.8%) had healthy and living infants, pregnancies of 3 cases are still continuing. No teratogenic effects of pyrimethamine on the fetuses were seen. As a result, we can say that a patient who presents with complaints of repeated abortions, recurrent preterm labor or stillbirth should be investigated for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy; even if the IgG antibody test is normal before pregnancy, she should be treated with the protocol mentioned above before pregnancy and in the 8th week of pregnancy when chronic toxoplasmosis is diagnosed.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1991

Myometrial invasion of endometrium cancer assessed by transrectal ultrasonography.

Transrectal ultrasonographic examinations before surgery were performed on 27 patients with stage I endometrial cancer to assess myometrial invasion. The findings were compared with the histopathologic data obtained by surgery. Sensitivity and specificity of transrectal ultrasonography in myometrial invasion of endometrium cancer were 82.6 and 100%, respectively. Therefore, transrectal ultrasonography may be a useful diagnostic tool to determine the myometrial invasion, which is the most important prognostic factor in endometrial cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of tumor angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian cancer: in association with transforming growth factor beta and vascular endothelial growth factor.

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), as well as to find out the relationship between MVD, and VEGF and TGFbeta in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Surgical specimens of 47 patients with stage I-IV primary EOC, who underwent extended surgical staging according to FIGO, were investigated. Five- micro m thick tissue sections were immunostained with antibody to factor VIII-related antigen, and MVD was assessed at three separate areas of x200 magnification. Expressions for VEGF and TGFbeta were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using related monoclonal antibodies. Results were correlated with clinicopathologic factors and survival. We did not find any correlation between MVD and clinicopathologic factors, or patient survival. Similarly, there was no association between the degree of VEGF staining and survival or clinicopathologic factors, except preoperative ascites volume, which was higher in patients showing moderate and intense VEGF staining than those with weak VEGF staining (P = 0.052). The expression of TGFbeta was inversely correlated with preoperative CA-125 levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no correlation between MVD and the staining intensity of VEGF or TGFbeta. In conclusion, angiogenesis does not appear as a prognostic factor in EOC. We suggest that VEGF is an important mediator of ascites formation, and that TGFbeta, which is supposed to have tissue-specific actions in tumorigenesis, may have growth-inhibitory functions in EOC.

Adolescent↗