Purpose: To evaluate corneal parameters of scleroderma (SC) patients by Pentacam-HR. Methods: Twenty-two eyes of 22 SC patients and 33 eyes of 33 control subjects were enrolled. All participants underwent Pentacam (Pentacam-HR, Oculus, Germany) evaluation. Both SC and control groups were divided into two subgroups as dry eye (DE) (Schirmer test with topical anesthesia (STA) ˂5 mm) and without DE (STA ˃5 mm). Results: Pachymetric measurements and mean corneal volume (CV) were significantly lower in the SC group than in the control group (p<0.001). Pachymetric measurements and CV of SC patients with DE were significantly lower than all the other subgroups. Control subgroups with or without DE were similar in pachymetric measurements and CV. Conclusions: The results suggest that SC patients have thinner corneas compared with control subjects. Additionally, coexistence of DE seems to have an additional impact in the thinning of cornea in SC patients.

Objectives: We aimed to compare gender difference on sizes of some structures in the brain of normal male and female fetuses between 20 and 22 week gestations. Methods: A total of 300 female and 300 male singleton pregnancies with low risk were included in the study. Biparietal diameter, head circumference, transcerebellar diameter, cisterna magna, nuchal fold thickness, anterior and posterior horn of lateral ventricles, length and width of cavum septum pellucidum were measured transabdominally. Mean±SD values were calculated and comparison of measurements were done between male and female fetuses. Kolmogorov–Smirnov and independent samples t-test were used for statistical analysis. A value of p<0.05 were accepted as statistically significant. Results: We determined statistically significant difference in sizes of some structures of the brain of male and female fetuses. Mean±SD value of cavum septi pellucidi width was 3.38±0.61 and 3.85±0.96 in female and males, respectively (p<0.05). Male fetuses were also found to have larger anterior (1.92±0.30 vs. 1.58±0.26, p<0.0001) and posterior horn of lateral ventricles (6.00±0.87 vs. 5.53±1.17, p<0.05). Conclusions: Difference in sizes of some structures of the brain starts in fetal life. This finding may be important in evaluating the intracranial structures more precisely. These results may also give a contribution to the understanding physiological and pathologic differences between males and females.

To evaluate the relationship between varicocele and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) via color duplex sonography (CDS). Thirty male patients (age range 18-40 years, mean age 30.27 years) with AS and 30 male healthy controls (age range 20-36 years, mean age 27.23 years) were evaluated for varicocele using CDS. Vein diameter in right and left pampiniform plexus (PP) in the AS group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). The incidence of varicocele was observed as 33.3 % in the AS group and 10 % in the control group. However, the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.028). The rate of right, left, and bilateral varicocele was 3.3 % (1 patient), 23.3 % (7 patients), and 6.6 % (2 patients), respectively, in the AS group, versus 0, 10, and 0 % in the control group (p = 1.000, p = 0.166, and p = 0.492, respectively). The incidence of varicocele in AS patients is higher than in control subjects, and the difference is statistically significant. Therefore, varicocele must be taken into consideration and investigated in patients with AS.

Background and Objectives: Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of adverse perinatal outcomes. Early diagnosis of pregnant women at risk of PE can facilitate disease prevention and management. However, the presence of different phenotypes of the disease complicates its prediction. In particular, the challenges in the early diagnosis of term PE cases necessitate research on PE prediction in the second and third trimesters. This study aims to examine the association between PE development and mid-trimester blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and the BUN/creatinine ratio in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case–control study was conducted on women diagnosed with PE. Pregnant women who underwent routine biochemical blood tests between the 18th and 24th weeks of gestation and subsequently gave birth at our hospital between January 2022 and May 2023 were categorized into three groups. Accordingly, healthy women who had term deliveries were classified as Group 1 (150 cases), women diagnosed with PE were classified as Group 2 (58 cases), and those diagnosed with severe PE were classified as Group 3 (44 cases). Results: There were no significant differences in age, gravidity, parity, body mass index, or gestational week at blood sampling between the patient and control groups (p > 0.05). When comparing the mean blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and BUN/creatinine ratios, a significant difference was observed between the control group and those who developed PE (p = 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.031, respectively). Univariate analysis revealed a significant association between BUN levels and PE development (OR 1.083; 95% CI, 1.031–1.139; p = 0.002). A stronger association was observed between serum creatinine levels and PE development (OR 112.344; 95% CI, 11.649–1083.416; p < 0.001). However, no significant association was found between the BUN/creatinine ratio and PE in univariate analysis (OR 1.003; 95% CI, 0.979–1.028; p > 0.05). Mid-trimester BUN and serum creatinine levels were significantly higher in patients who developed PE and severe PE. The AUC value for the BUN parameter in predicting PE was 0.614 (AUC 0.614; 95% CI, 0.539–0.689; p = 0.002). A BUN cut-off value of 16.2 mg/dL predicted disease development with a sensitivity of 52.9% and a specificity of 74%. Similarly, the AUC value for the serum creatinine parameter in predicting PE was 0.644 (AUC 0.644; 95% CI, 0.574–0.751; p < 0.001). A serum creatinine cut-off value of 0.58 mg/dL was able to predict disease development with 37.2% sensitivity and 88% specificity. No significant AUC value was obtained for the BUN/creatinine ratio (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that elevated BUN and serum creatinine levels measured during the mid-trimester (18–24 weeks) are associated with an increased risk of developing preeclampsia.

The molecular mechanisms differentiating early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE) from late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE) remain unclear. High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in immune responses and oxidative stress, has emerged as a potential contributor to PE pathogenesis. Our aim was to investigate expression of HMGB1 in the placentas of EO- and LO-PE patients by immunohistochemical methods and in silico analysis. This experimental case-control study included 20 EO-PE, 20 LO-PE, and 20 normotensive control pregnant women. Placental samples underwent immunohistochemical staining to determine HMGB1 expression levels, which were analyzed semiquantitatively using ImageJ software. Bioinformatic analysis utilizing STRING and Cytoscape identified HMGB1-associated protein networks and pathways relevant to PE. Clinical and biochemical parameters were statistically analyzed. HMGB1 expression was significantly elevated in placentas from EO-PE patients compared to both LO-PE and control groups (p < 0.05). Histopathological assessment indicated severe structural disruptions in EO-PE placentas, including increased fibrin deposition, vascular degeneration, and higher incidence of apoptotic cells. Bioinformatics revealed significant interactions of HMGB1 with cytokine signaling pathways (IL-4, IL-13, IL-10) and platelet-related pathways (platelet activation and aggregation). Clinically, EO-PE patients exhibited higher systemic inflammatory markers (CRP, WBC, NLR) and greater biochemical evidence of multi-organ dysfunction. This study identifies significantly increased HMGB1 placental expression predominantly in EO-PE, supporting its role in heightened inflammation and endothelial dysfunction characteristic of this subgroup, suggesting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target specifically for EO-PE.