Aim: In various experimental animal studies, it has been proven that solanine, a subtype of glycoalkaloids, is responsible for neural tube defects. However, there have not been any human studies yet in this area. Our aim is to investigate whether there are any connections between blood glycoalkaloid levels and anencephaly in humans. Methods: Blood and amniotic fluid samples were taken from patients diagnosed with fetal anencephaly during pregnancy. The samples from patients with normal pregnancies were taken as well and was compared to the patients with fetal anencephaly during pregnancy. We searched the levels of three glycoalkaloids: solanine, chaconine and solamargine in the collected samples. Results: Solanine, which is one of the glycoalkaloids, could not be detected in both serum and amniotic fluid in the anencephaly as well as the control groups. However, alpha-solamargine levels were observed to be significantly higher in the blood and amniotic fluid samples of the control group than in the study group (p = 0.04). Alpha-chaconine levels were also significantly higher in the control group (p < 0.001) as well. Conclusion: Based on our tests, we can conclude that no connections were found between blood solanine levels and anencephaly during pregnancy. Alpha-chaconine and alpha-solamargine levels were observed to be higher in blood and amniotic fluid in pregnancies without anencephaly. The relationship between glycoalkaloids and congenital anomalies needs to be further investigated in tissues other than blood.

Background: Cervical ectopy is a common physiological condition in women of reproductive age and may be associated with symptoms such as vaginal discharge, postcoital bleeding, dyspareunia, and pelvic pain. While ablative treatments are frequently used in symptomatic cases, interest in non-ablative approaches has increased. This study evaluated clinical and epithelial changes following vaginal hyaluronic acid therapy in women with symptomatic cervical ectopy. Methods: This prospective observational study included 121 women diagnosed with symptomatic benign cervical ectopy. All participants received hyaluronic acid vaginal ovules (Cicatridine) once daily for 14 days. Follow-up was performed at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after treatment. Epithelial transformation was assessed by quantifying the extent of columnar epithelium during speculum examination. Temporal changes were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: The mean epithelial transformation rate increased progressively from 61.5% ± 19.8 at 4 weeks to 74.6% ± 21.2 at 8 weeks and 82.9% ± 20.4 at 3 months ( p < 0.001). Clinical follow-up notes suggested a trend toward symptom relief; however, symptom change was recorded descriptively without a validated scoring instrument. Conclusion: Vaginal hyaluronic acid therapy was associated with progressive epithelial transformation in women with symptomatic cervical ectopy, with descriptively observed symptom relief. However, because of the observational design, absence of a control group, and non-standardized symptom assessment, these findings should be interpreted as exploratory. Further randomized controlled trials are required to determine clinical effectiveness.

Early diagnosis of premature membrane rupture is important to reduce the risk of feto-maternal complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of serum acute phase reactants in the early diagnosis of premature prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM). In this case-control study, the role of acute phase reactants in the early diagnosis of PPROM was evaluated in 60 pregnant women with PPROM compared to 60 healthy pregnant women. It was found that mean albumin and factor 12 values were lower, while C-reactive protein (CRP), sedimentation, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen and protein S values were higher in patients with PPROM. In the classification of PPROM, the areas under the curve (AUC) and cutoff values were determined: albumin (AUC = 0.735, cutoff < 36 g/dL), factor 12 (AUC = 0.732, cutoff < 207.4%), CRP (AUC = 0.698, cutoff > 4.3 mg/L), ferritin (AUC = 0.660, cutoff > 10.39 ng/mL), ceruloplasmin (AUC = 0.788, cutoff > 0.44 mg/dL), fibrinogen (AUC = 0.764, cutoff > 3.74 mg/dL), protein S (AUC = 0.656, cutoff > 42%). In the logistic regression analysis to predict the probability of PPROM according to the optimal cutoff values, the risk of PPROM was found to be OR (odds ratio) = 6.69 times higher in patients with albumin < 36 g/dL, OR = 8.5 times higher in patients with ferritin > 10.39 ng/mL, OR = 4.66 times higher in patients with ceruloplasmin > 0.44 mg/dL, OR = 3.19 times higher in patients with fibrinogen > 3.74 mg/dL and OR = 3.64 times higher in patients with protein S > 42%. The sensitivity of the logistic regression model was found to be 88.3% with a specificity of 81.7%. The likelihood ratio (LR)(+) value of the model was 4.82, and LR(−) value was 0.14. In the Fagan nomogram, if the model was positive, the probability of developing PPROM in the patient was calculated as 67.4%, and if the model was negative, the probability of not developing PPROM was calculated as 87.5%. The combined use of acute phase reactants in the early diagnosis of PPROM may be a helpful diagnostic tool in suspected cases.