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Introduction: Chorioamnionitis is one of the most important maternal complications in the expectant management of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Procalcitonin (proCT), the precursor of the hormone calcitonin, is used to differentiate bacterial infections from non-bacterial ones. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of maternal serum procalcitonin levels in the early prediction of chorioamnionitis in women with PPROM. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 76 pregnant women hospitalized due to PPROM at the maternal-fetal medicine unit of a tertiary center in Istanbul. Patients were followed up with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and proCT levels every 2 days. The values of investigated parameters were recorded at the diagnosis of PPROM and at the time of delivery. The maximum values during the follow-up period were also recorded. Results: Out of the 76 patients with PPROM, 15 (19.73%) developed clinical chorioamnionitis. No significant difference could be detected in the gravidity, parity, duration of hospitalization and gestational week at diagnosis between those patients who developed clinical chorioamnionitis and those who did not. The WBC at the time of hospital admittance and before delivery, and CRP levels before delivery were statistically higher in the chorioamnionitis group (p < 0.05). No difference in the proCT levels could be detected either at the time of hospital admittance or before delivery between the two groups. Conclusions: Maternal proCT was not found to be predictive of chorioamnionitis. However, since there are reports in the literature that contradict these results, further studies are warranted to determine the true efficacy of proCT in the prediction of clinical chorioamnionitis.

Objective:Uterine leiomyomas are the most common pelvic tumor in women. The calculated prevalence of prolapsed pedunculated leiomyoma was 2.5% in patients who underwent surgery. Although vaginal removal is safe and effective, hysterectomy demand is questionable. We aimed to analyze the association between patient characteristics, clinical features of prolapsed pedunculated submucosal leiomyoma, and the probability of successful vaginal myomectomy.Material and Methods:This study was conducted in 35 women who presented with prolapsed pedunculated uterine leiomyoma. Patients were grouped according to the treatment procedure, either vaginal myomectomy or hysterectomy.Results:Hysterectomy was performed in 14 patients and vaginal myomectomy was performed in 21 women. The mean ages and menopausal status were similar. Parity was higher in the hysterectomy group (p=0.02). The preoperative hematocrit value of patients undergoing vaginal myomectomy was significantly lower (p=0.04). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the largest leiomyoma diameter. However, the median calculated leiomyoma volume was lower in the vaginal myomectomy group (p=0.04). None of the variables were independently associated with successful vaginal myomectomy on multivariable logistic regression analysis.Conclusion:The feasibility and choice of vaginal myomectomy is associated with low parity, absence of coexisting leiomyoma, high volume of leiomyoma estimated via ultrasound measurement, and severe anemia.

Hiatal area and diameters at rest are not related to sexual functions. Changes in anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus during Valsalva, which may be a sign of pelvic floor laxity or levator muscle weakness, are weakly associated with sexual functions, particularly desire, arousal, and orgasm domains.

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