Beril Gürlek

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between tear function changes and meibomian gland dysfunction in various phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this prospective case–control study, 4 separate case groups were formed for 4 different phenotypes of PCOS, which are variants of clinical presentation. A total of 160 women were included in the study, 32 women for each group and 32 healthy women as control group. Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Oxford score for corneal and conjunctival involvement, Schirmer 1 and 2 tests, noninvasive tear breakup time (NIBUT), lower lid meibomian drop-out grades by non-contact meibography, and meibomian gland disease (MGD) distortion and shortening scores were compared between all groups. When the PCOS group was compared with the control group, phenotype A showed the most significant differences in NIBUT (p = 0.003), MGD (p = 0.002) and OSDI (p = 0.004). Although the mean Schirmer 1 and Schirmer 2 tests value were lower in the PCOS group compared to the control group, no significant difference was detected in any phenotype (p = 0.911, p = 0.117). A statistically significant weak negative correlation was observed between NIBUT and OSDI values (r = − 0.206, p = 0.027). There was a statistically significant positive and very weak correlation between OSDI and BMI (r = 0.079, p = 0.041). Tear film instability attributed to MGD was found to be significantly different in all PCOS patients compared to healthy subjects regardless of phenotype, and this difference was statistically higher in phenotype A.

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular and choroidal thicknesses in women with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and compare these measurements with those of healthy women of reproductive age. Materials and Methods: This prospective case–control study included 120 eyes of 120 women with PCOS, with each of the four distinct phenotypes comprising 30 eyes of 30 women. Additionally, 30 eyes from 30 healthy women were included in the control group. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, and RNFL thickness, macular thickness (MT), and choroidal thickness (CT) in each eye were measured via spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The body mass index (BMI) of the patients was recorded and compared with the retinal changes. Results: The average mean and nasal segments of the RNFL were significantly greater in the PCOS group than in the healthy control group (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in foveal retinal thickness between the groups (p < 0.001). Our study revealed significant choroidal tissue thickening subfoveally and at locations 500 μm temporal, 500 μm nasal, 1500 μm nasal, and 1500 μm temporal to the fovea in all phenotypes of the PCOS group (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between BMI and all CT changes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the retinal layers and choroid are affected by all phenotypes of PCOS, one of the most common reproductive abnormalities, albeit to varying degrees. Furthermore, these changes were found to be correlated with BMI.

The objective of this study was to evaluate anterior segment parameters across various phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), considering body mass index (BMI), serum estradiol and testosterone levels. This prospective study included 116 women with PCOS, with each of the four distinct phenotype comprising 29 women. Additionally, 29 healthy women were included in the control group. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, including intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements. Anterior segment parameters, such as central corneal thickness (CCT), axial length (AL), aqueous depth (AD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and lens thickness (LT) were measured using optic biometry. Endothelial cell density (ECD) was assessed using non-contact specular microscopy. The BMI was calculated, and serum levels of estradiol and testosterone were noted. IOP was found to be significantly higher (p = 0.003) and CCT was significantly thicker (p = 0.004) in all phenotypes of PCOS compared to the control group. BMI, serum estradiol and free testosterone were found to correlate with both IOP and CCT. AL, AD, ACD and LT values showed no significant differences compared to the control group. Although ECD tend to be higher in the PCOS phenotypes, this difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Given our findings that CCT and IOP are significantly elevated in PCOS phenotypes. PCOS should be considered as an important factor when evaluating female patients for anterior segment diseases and glaucoma.

Objective: The present study was conducted to adapt the Obstetric Quality-of-Recovery Score (ObsQoR-11) into Turkish and to test its validity and reliability. Study Design: This study was designed as a methodological study, and the research population consisted of women who gave birth in the gynecology and obstetrics wards of two hospitals in Rize between January and March 2021 and who were hospitalized in the inpatient service 24 hours after delivery. We did not select a sample for the study and instead applied face-to-face questionnaires to women (vaginal delivery: 117 patients, cesarean delivery: 112 patients). Data collection tools included a questionnaire form developed by the researcher and the ObsQoR-11-TR scale. Results: While testing the ObsQoR-11-TR scale for validity and reliability, we first used a language validity method and then exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods. Accordingly, the ObsQoR-11-TR scale had a KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy) value of 0.833 and a Bartlett's Test of Sphericity chi-squared value of 1818.396 (pConclusions: Our validity and reliability tests conclude that the ObsQoR-11-TR consists of 11 items and 2 subscales and is a valid and reliable scale for Turkish society.

Objective In this study, we aimed to focus on the psychological aspect of unexplained infertility by comparing their psychological features to those of infertile patients with a known causes and fertile patients. Patients and Methods 60 unexplained infertility patients, 50 infertile patients with a known cause and 56 fertile patients were included in the study. Patients were evaluated using socio-demographic data form, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS) and Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3). Results No significant differences in the levels of alexithymia, somatosensory amplification and anxiety sensitivity were detected between the groups (p>0.05). When the correlation of clinical scale scores with each other was analyzed in the whole group of infertile patients regardless of the cause, a weak positive correlation was found between anxiety sensitivity and difficulty in identifying feelings. Conclusion In our study, it has been found out that; regardless of the knowledge of the etiology of infertility, the levels of alexithymia, somatosensory amplification, and anxiety sensitivity of infertile cases did not differ from those of fertile women. However, it has been shown that as the difficulty in identifying emotions increases in infertile cases, anxiety sensitivity, which may cause psychological infertility, also increases.

Bilgi üreten Üniversiteler, mütemadiyen güncelledikleri bilgi ile eğitimlerini sürdürmekte; dolayısıyla bir yandan toplumun refahına katkı sağlarken diğer yandan da kendi geleceklerini güvence altına almaktadır. Bilginin güncellenmesi yeni ve derinlikli araştırmalarla mümkündür. Derinlikli araştırma ise alan hakimiyetine ve bilimsel araştırma yeteneğine bağlıdır. Bu imkanı sağlayacak olanlar ise biritecrübeli bilim insanı, diğeri de alan hakimiyetini kolaylaştıracak olan temel bilgi kitaplarıdır.Dünyanın Covid-19 pandemisiyle uğraştığı bir dönemde hekimlerimizin yükü katlanarak artmıştır. Görev ve sorumluluk bilinciyle kendilerini korumayı ikinci planda değerlendiren hekimlerimizin, bu yoğun iş yükü altında akademik metin üretimine zaman ayırmaları ve tıp camiasında başvuru kitabı olarak işlev üstlenecek böyle bir eseri literatüre kazandırmaları her türlü takdirin üstündedir. Eserinortak bir çalışmanın ürünü olarak gün yüzüne çıkmış olması, daha nitelikli eserlerin habercisi olarak değerlendirdiğimiz için, gelecek açısından bizi ümitledirmektedir.

OBJECTIVE: Routine follow-up of pregnancy is a comprehensive care process starting from planning of pregnancy that involves rational and careful use of medical, psychological, and social support. In this study, our objective was to compare the adherence rate to routine antenatal follow-up program during the COVID-19 pandemic with that of previous years among pregnant women, in an effort to shed light on health policies to be developed similar events in the future. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out between March 11, 2019, when isolation measures were initiated in the context of precautionary steps taken in Turkey against the COVID-19 pandemic, and June 1, 2020, when the "normalization" was initiated. RESULTS: During the study period in 2020, the proportion of cesarean sections were higher, 61.1%, as compared to previous years (p=0.27). The stillbirths were numerically lower (1.2%, p=0.77), but the rate of spontaneous abortions was significantly higher (19.6%, p=0.009). The number of follow-up visits per pregnancy was lower than in previous years (3.8, p=0.02), although the proportion of patients visiting the outpatient units for regular controls to the overall patient group increased as compared to previous years (52.0%). CONCLUSION: During the flare-up of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e. between March and June 2020), the rate of obstetric/neonatal morbidity and mortality except spontaneous abortion was not significantly higher as compared to the corresponding period in previous years. However, considering the potential increase in the risk of obstetric complications during a pandemic, specialized management programs targeting basic pregnancy follow-up services should be developed.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between periodontal status and sexual dysfunction in perimenopausal women.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 106 participants. After the evaluation of the sexual functioning of participants with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), their periodontal status and decayed–missing–filled teeth (DMFT) were assessed using appropriate indexes and obtained results were recorded for comparisons. Participants were divided into two groups by the periodontal status. Patients with periodontitis were grouped by the stage and the extent of the disease. Besides, participants were grouped according to the bleeding on probing (BOP) ratios for more detailed analyses.Results: A negative significant correlation was observed between total FSFI scores and each of the clinical periodontal parameters. Total FSFI scores and the scores of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains were significantly lower in periodontitis patients (p < .05). When the patients were grouped as having localized or generalized periodontitis or whether they had stage‐I, ‐II, and ‐III periodontitis, no statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of general sexual dysfunction parameters across the groups (p > .05).Conclusion: Periodontal status in perimenopausal women may be associated with sexual dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus infections, most of which are known to be transient is of critical importance for the development of precursor lesions and cancer in the cervix. The aim of the present study is to investigate the persistence and clearance of genotype-based human papillomavirus infections and also some cofactors that could be effective in persistence. STUDY DESIGN: Data of 115 patients whose human papillomavirus and genotype detection was made with multiplex Polymerase chain reaction, and capillary electrophoresis were categorized as low-risk human papillomavirus/high risk human papillomavirus and single/multiple human papillomavirus infections, and clearance/persistence data of two years were investigated. RESULTS: While 82 (71.3%) out of 115 patients (mean age 40.1 years) had a single human papillomavirus infection, the remaining had two or more human papillomavirus infections. Of all human papillomavirus infections, 81.5% (128/157) were high risk-human papillomavirus. Clearance rates of human papillomavirus infections during the first two years was 85.4% (134/157), persistence was 14.6% (23/157). The most frequently persisted high risk-human papillomavirus genotypes were 31, 52, 68, 16, and 35, respectively. A statistically significant difference was not found in human papillomavirus persistence with regard to the infection’s being single/multiple or low-ris/high risk. A significant difference was not found between age groups and persistence. CONCLUSIONS: Of human papillomavirus infections, 85.4% are cleared during the first two years while the most frequently persisted high risk-human papillomavirus genotypes were 31, 52, 68, 16, and 35, respectively. Being aware of population-based clearance/persistence results of type-specific infections may specify screening strategies.