Background Immunological factors play a unique role in the setting of preeclampsia; there is a rising debate about the performance of interleukin 17 (IL-17) as inflammatory mediator in its pathogenesis. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the significance of IL-17 in the diagnosis and prognosis of preeclampsia and estimate a cutoff value for better prediction. Methods A prospective case control study, 40 patient were enrolled in the study, two groups were designed: a normotensive (control) group (n=20) and preeclampsia group (n=20). Both groups were compared regarding serum IL-17 level to clarify its significance, then ROC curve analysis was done to establish the best cutoff level to predict preeclampsia, with further assessment of its relation to blood pressure to determine its prognostic value. Results We noted a statistically significant difference in serum IL-17 (pg/mL) level between the preeclampsia and control group ( P <0.05). The best cutoff value of serum IL-17 in preeclampsia was (8.2 pg/mL) with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity 80% and accuracy 89%. There was also significant variation in its concentrations before and after control of blood pressure and a significant positive correlation with systolic blood pressure level ( r =0.9). Conclusion IL-17 is a significant inflammatory biomarker in preeclampsia with useful prognostic power to predict severity of disease.

Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder characterized by obesity, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance (IR). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA associated with ovarian follicle development and female fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of miRNA- 320 and its target gene endothelin-1 (ET-1) as a noninvasive biomarker of PCOS and to evaluate its possible relationship with IR as well as clinic-morphological features of PCOS. Methods Case-control study enrolled 60 patients with PCOS and 40 control group. We subdivided our PCOS women according to homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to PCOS women with and without IR.ET-1 levels were measured by ELISA. We estimated the serum expression level of miRNA- 320 by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results Our results revealed that serum miR-320 expression level was lower in PCOS patients compared to controls, in particular, PCOS women with IR. Moreover, it was negatively correlated to its target gene; ET-I as well as fasting serum insulin (FSI), HOMA-IR, PCOS phenotype; hirsutism score, ovarian volume and antral follicle count (AFC). In the PCOS group, linear regression analysis revealed that only hirsutism and HOMA-IR was the main predictor of expression levels of miRNA − 320 among other clinical and laboratory biomarkers of PCOS. The sensitivity and specificity of serum miR-320 expression levels in diagnosis PCOS was 80, and 97.5% respectively. Conclusion The Expression serum levels of miR-320 were lower in PCOS compared to control and it could be a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker of PCOS.

BackgroundGroup B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the main causes of neonatal sepsis.PurposeEvaluation of the diagnostic performance of direct latex agglutination test (DLA), post-enrichment latex agglutination (LA) test, and direct culture on chromogenic media in rapid identification of GBS carrier in pregnant women in comparison with the conventional post-enrichment CDC-recommended culture method and further to estimate GBS carriage prevalence and its antimicrobial susceptibility.MethodsTwo hundred pregnant women at gestational age (35–37 weeks) were enrolled. Three low vaginal swabs were obtained from each participant. One swab was directly inoculated into Strep B Select (SBS) agar. The second swab was inoculated in enrichment Lim broth for immunological antigen detection by post-enrichment latex agglutination (5 h and 24 h) and subculture for bacteriological detection. The third swab was used for immunological detection of GBS antigen by direct latex agglutination. The isolated GBS was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing.ResultsAmong 200 pregnant women, 47 (23.5%) were GBS carriers. Considering post-enrichment subculture on SBS medium as a gold standard, the sensitivities for post-enrichment 5 h and 24 h LA were 66% and 95.7%, respectively. However, direct cultivation of the vaginal swabs on SBS medium and DLA recorded 83% and 4.3%, respectively, for sensitivity. All GBS isolates (100%) were sensitive to penicillin G, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin. In contrast, 21.3% and 12.8% of isolated GBS were resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin, respectively.ConclusionGroup B streptococcal antigen detection by latex agglutination after 5 h enrichment is a reliable, easy, and relatively rapid method for screening of GBS carriage in pregnant woman not in labor. Latex agglutination after 18–24 h enrichment can be used alternative to standard subculture method for screening GBS carriage.

Daily dienogest is as effective as depot LA for relieving endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, low back pain and dyspareunia. In addition, dienogest has acceptable safety, tolerability and lower incidence of hot flushes. Thus, it may offer an effective and well-tolerated treatment in endometriosis.

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