Search Results (3)

Background and objective: Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) has an oncogenic role in promoting tumorigenesis through enhancing tumor cell proliferation and the metastatic potential. The aim of our study was to determine whether serum LCN2 could serve as a diagnostic marker of cervical cancer (CC) and to evaluate the correlation between its serum concentration, the clinical stage of the cancer and Human Papilloma Virus HPV infections in women. Materials and methods: A total of 33 women with histologically proven cervical cancer (CC), 9 women with high- grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HSIL) and 48 healthy women (NILM) were involved in the study. A concentration of LCN2 was assayed with the Magnetic LuminexR Assay multiplex kit. An HPV genotyping kit was used for the detection and differentiation of 15 high-risk (HR) HPV types in the liquid-based cytology medium (LBCM) and the tissue biopsy. Results: The majority (84.8%) of the women were infected by HPV16 in the CC group, and there was no woman with HPV16 in the control group (P < 0.01). Several types of HR HPV were found more often in the LBCM compared to in the tissue biopsy (P = 0.044). HPV16 was more frequently detected in the tissue biopsy than the LBCM (P < 0.05). The LCN2 level was higher in HPV-positive than in HPV-negative women (P = 0.029). The LCN2 concentration was significantly higher in women with stage IV than those with stage I CC (P = 0.021). Conclusions: Many HR HPV types, together with HPV16/18, can colonize the vagina and cervix, but often HPV16 alone penetrates into the tissue and causes CC. The serum LCN2 concentration was found to be associated not only with HR HPV infection, irrespective of the degree of cervical intraepithelial changes, but also with advanced clinical CC stage. LCN2 could be used to identify patients with advanced disease, who require a more aggressive treatment. Full article

Background and aim: Obese women are at an increased risk of various adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on maternal and neonatal outcomes in a tertiary referral center and to compare obstetric outcomes by the level of maternal obesity.Materials and methods: A cohort study included 3247 women with singleton gestations who gave birth at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, in 2010. Pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes were identified using the hospital Birth Registry database in normal weight (body mass index [BMI] 18.5–24.9 kg/m², n = 3107) and prepregnancy obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m², n = 140) women. Pregnancy outcomes were compared according to the level of obesity (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m², n = 94 and BMI ≥35 kg/m², n = 46). Results: Obese women were significantly more likely to have gestational hypertension (OR = 8.59; 95% CI, 5.23–14.14; P < 0.0001), preeclampsia (OR = 2.06; 95% CI, 1.14–3.73; P < 0.0001), gestational diabetes (OR = 5.56; 95% CI, 3.66–8.49; P < 0.0001), dystocia (OR = 2.14; 95% CI, 1.36–3.38; P < 0.0001), induced labor (OR = 2.64; 95% CI, 1.83–3.80; P < 0.0001), failed induction of labor (OR = 18.06; 95% CI, 8.85–36.84; P < 0.0001), cesarean delivery (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.25–2.49; P = 0.001), large-for-gestational-age newborns (OR = 3.68; 95% CI, 2.51–5.39; P < 0.0001). Significantly increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, dystocia and newborns with Apgar score ≤7 after 5 min was only observed in women with BMI ≥35 kg/m². Conclusions: Maternal obesity is significantly associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, dystocia, labor induction, failed induction of labor, large-for-gestational-age newborns and cesarean delivery. Full article

Objective. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of tubal pathology among infertile patients.
Patients and methods. A prospective cross-sectional study in Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital within the period of 18 months was performed. Consecutive infertile women formed the study group according to defined criteria. Hysterosalpingography was performed in the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. Laparoscopy and dye test was performed within one – three months after hysterosalpingography. General tubal pathology, tubal occlusion, and peritubal adhesions detected at hysterosalpingography were compared with general tubal pathology, tubal occlusion, and peritubal adhesions detected at laparoscopy.
Results. The study population comprised 149 infertile women. The sensitivity of 81.4% and specificity of 47.8% the likelihood ratio of a positive test result of 1.6 and a negative test result of 0.4 for hysterosalpingography while evaluating general tubal pathology was determined. Sensitivity of 84.1% and specificity of 59.1% and likelihood ratios of 2.1 and 0.3, respectively, were calculated, when tubal occlusion was defined as any abnormality of tubal patency. When definition of tubal occlusion was limited to two-sided occlusion, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.5% and 90% and likelihood ratios 9.0 and 0.1, respectively. As a test of peritubal adhesions, hysterosalpingography had sensitivity of 35.5% and specificity of 81.3% and likelihood ratios of 1.9 and 0.8, respectively.
Conclusion. The diagnostic performance of hysterosalpingography in the diagnosis of general tubal pathology and peritubal adhesions is poor. Hysterosalpingography is more accurate in the diagnosis of tubal occlusion. Full article