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Currently, the consequences of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children of mothers affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy are unknown. In addition to pregnancy risks, the impact of COVID-19 on the health of these children can occur in the short, medium, and long term. Initial data reveal a low risk of vertical transmission during the third trimester of pregnancy and through breastfeeding. However, despite this low risk, cases of neonatal COVID-19 have already been reported in the literature. Historically, other viral infections during pregnancy have been associated with an increased risk of neuropsychiatric diseases in the offspring of affected pregnant women, even in the absence of fetal infection. This study aimed to review the impact of viral infections on the offspring of mothers affected in the perinatal period and discuss and determine measures for the possible consequences of COVID-19 in the offspring of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by a sudden decrease in kidney function. Children with congenital heart disease are a special group at risk of developing AKI. We performed a systematic review of the literature to search for studies reporting the usefulness of novel urine, serum, and plasma biomarkers in the diagnosis and progression of AKI and their association with clinical outcomes in children undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery. In thirty studies, we analyzed the capacity to predict AKI and poor outcomes of five biomarkers: Cystatin C, Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, Interleukin-18, Kidney injury molecule-1, and Liver fatty acid-binding protein. In conclusion, we suggest the need for further meta-analyses with the availability of additional studies.

The Ames dwarf (df/df) mouse is a well-established model for delayed aging. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), the most studied small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs), may regulate ovarian aging to maintain a younger ovarian phenotype in df/df mice. In this study, we profile other types of ovarian sncRNAs, PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and piRNA-like RNAs (piLRNAs), in young and aged df/df and normal mice. Half of the piRNAs derive from transfer RNA fragments (tRF-piRNAs). Aging and dwarfism alter the ovarian expression of these novel sncRNAs. Specific tRF-piRNAs that increased with age might target and decrease the expression of the breast cancer antiestrogen resistance protein 3 (BCAR3) gene in the ovaries of old df/df mice. A set of piLRNAs that decreased with age and map to D10Wsu102e mRNA may have trans-regulatory functions. Other piLRNAs that decreased with age potentially target and may de-repress transposable elements, leading to a beneficial impact on ovarian aging in df/df mice. These results identify unique responses in ovarian tissues with regard to aging and dwarfism. Overall, our findings highlight the complexity of the aging effects on gene expression and suggest that, in addition to miRNAs, piRNAs, piLRNAs, tRF-piRNAs, and their potential targets can be central players in the maintenance of a younger ovarian phenotype in df/df mice.

A alface é uma espécie folhosa que apresenta importantes características nutricionais, as quais promovem alta aceitabilidade pelos consumidores, sendo cultivada em vários países do mundo, em diferentes agroecossistemas. Entre as práticas de manejo do solo, o Mulching, sintético e orgânico, surge como alternativa, pois pode promover melhorias nos atributos do solo e no desenvolvimento das plantas, porém, pouco explorado pelos agricultores. Por esta razão, esta revisão de literatura objetivou analisar os efeitos do Mulching sobre a temperatura, umidade e microorganismos do solo, bem como sobre as plantas daninhas, e suas limitações. Foram pesquisados artigos científicos nas bases de dados Periódicos Capes, SciELO, Google Scholar e Scopus, em que ficou evidenciado o efeito do Mulching escuro (sintético e orgânico) sobre a temperatura do solo, com reflexos no aumento do aquecimento, na umidade, na atividade microbiana e na produtividade da alface. Atua na redução da incidência de plantas daninhas e de organismos patogênicos. Apresenta-se como limitações a dificuldade de aquisição ao Mulching sintético, sua espessura, que facilita danos, e o seu descarte pós uso. Os orgânicos, a dificuldade na aquisição, facilidade na mineralização e a mão de obra associada ao manejo, fatores que aumentam os custos de produção. Observa-se, portanto, que a prática do Mulching poderá ser promissora. Porém, há a necessidade de pesquisas, principalmente em regiões tropicais e semiáridas, visando a disseminação dessa tecnologia no meio rural.

In December 2019, a new viral respiratory infection known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first diagnosed in the city of Wuhan, China. COVID-19 quickly spread across the world, leading the World Health Organization to declare it a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The disease is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a similar virus to those involved in other epidemics such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Epidemiological studies have shown that COVID-19 frequently affects young adults of reproductive age and that the elderly and patients with chronic disease have high mortality rates. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and breastfeeding. Most COVID-19 cases present with mild flu-like symptoms and only require treatment with symptomatic relief medications, whereas other cases with COVID-19 require treatment in an intensive care unit. There is currently no specific effective treatment for COVID-19. A large number of drugs are being used to fight infection by SARS-CoV-2. Experience with this therapeutic arsenal has been gained over the years in the treatment of other viral, autoimmune, parasitic, and bacterial diseases. Importantly, the search for an effective treatment for COVID-19 cannot expose pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 to the potential teratogenic risks of these drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to determine and understand the safety of anti-COVID-19 therapies prior to conception and during pregnancy and breastfeeding.Im Dezember 2019 wurde erstmals eine neue virale Atemwegserkrankung, die den Namen Coronavirus-Erkrankung 2019 (COVID-19) bekam, in der chinesischen Stadt Wuhan diagnostiziert. COVID-19 verbreitete sich rasch über die ganze Welt, was die Weltgesundheitsorganisation veranlasste, am 11. März 2020 eine Pandemie auszurufen. Die neuartige Erkrankung wird von einem Virus aus der Familie der Coronaviridae hervorgerufen und wird SARS-CoV-2 (

Unhealthy diets have been linked to low-grade chronic inflammation, a condition known to play a role in the pathophysiology of non-communicable diseases as well as pregnancy complications. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) is a tool for evaluating the inflammatory potential of various diets. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the current state of evidence on the use of DII as a predictor of pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women. This study was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PROSPERO, number CRD42021288966). DII was evaluated as a predictor of obstetric complications in observational studies. The search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Web of Science. Data from eligible studies were extracted independently by two reviewers. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. A total of eight studies were eligible for the review. In a meta-analysis of continuous and categorical variables, DII was a predictor of any obstetric complications [mean difference: 0.39, 95 %CI 0.02-0.75, (p = 0.04); and odds ratio: 1.24, 95 %CI 1.11-1.40, (p = 0.0002)]. High DII was associated with pregnancy complications, particularly preeclampsia/hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and preterm birth. The DII is a tool that can assist in the food and therapeutic planning of pregnant women with obstetric risks. Well-designed clinical trials are necessary, especially studies that focus on recurrent pregnancy losses and implantation failures.

The mammalian female is born with a limited ovarian reserve of primordial follicles. These primordial follicles are slowly activated throughout the reproductive lifecycle, thereby determining lifecycle length. Once primordial follicles are exhausted, women undergo menopause, which is associated with several metabolic perturbations and a higher mortality risk. Long before exhaustion of the reserve, females experience severe declines in fertility and health. As such, significant efforts have been made to unravel the mechanisms that promote ovarian aging and insufficiency. In this review, we explain how long-living murine models can provide insights in the regulation of ovarian aging. There is now overwhelming evidence that most life-span–extending strategies, and long-living mutant models simultaneously delay ovarian aging. Therefore, it appears that the same mechanisms that regulate somatic aging may also be modulating ovarian aging and germ cell exhaustion. We explore several potential contributing mechanisms including insulin resistance, inflammation, and DNA damage—all of which are hallmarks of cellular aging throughout the body including the ovary. These findings are in alignment with the disposable soma theory of aging, which dictates a trade-off between growth, reproduction, and DNA repair. Therefore, delaying ovarian aging will not only increase the fertility window of middle age females, but may also actively prevent menopausal-related decline in systemic health parameters, compressing the period of morbidity in mid-to-late life in females.

The uterine fibrosis contributes to gestational outcomes. Collagen deposition in the uterus is related to uterine aging. Senolytic therapies are an option for reducing health complications related to aging. We investigated effects of aging and the senolytic drug combination of dasatinib plus quercetin (D+Q) on uterine fibrosis. Forty mice, 20 young females (03-months) and 20 old females (18-months), were analyzed. Young (Y) and old (O) animals were divided into groups of 10 mice, with one treatment (T) group (YT and OT) and another control © group (YC and OC). Comparative analysis of Pi3k/Akt1/mTor and p53 gene expression and related microRNAs (miR34a, miR34b, miR34c, miR146a, miR449a, miR21a, miR126a, and miR181b) among groups was performed to test effects of age and treatment on collagen deposition pathways. Aging promoted downregulation of the Pi3k/Akt1/mTor signaling pathway (P = 0.005, P = 0.031, and P = 0.028, respectively) as well as a reduction in expression of miR34c (P = 0.029), miR126a (P = 0.009), and miR181b (P = 0.007). D+Q treatment increased p53 gene expression (P = 0.041) and decreased miR34a (P = 0.016). Our results demonstrate a role for the Pi3k/Akt1/mTor signaling pathway in uterine aging and suggest for the first time a possible anti-fibrotic effect in the uterus of D+Q senolytic therapy.

Na pesquisa científica, planejamento e execução de experimentos consistem em práticas comuns nas Ciências Agrárias. Apesar de os métodos experimentais serem amplamente conhecidos, percebe-se que, muitas vezes, suas pressuposições não são verificadas, refletindo em baixa precisão e qualidade dos resultados. Esta pesquisa objetiva: 1) discutir conceitos básicos da estatística experimental; 2) apresentar os principais modelos e métodos estatísticos utilizados em Ciências Agrárias; 3) avaliar a adequabilidade do uso dos testes estatísticos em artigos científicos. No planejamento, a escolha do delineamento deverá considerar a heterogeneidade ambiental. As hipóteses são testadas pelo teste F, sendo necessário atender as pressuposições da Anova. A transformação de dados é uma ferramenta eficiente, muitas vezes, necessária, mas pouco explorada. Ao se testar tratamentos qualitativos, utiliza-se teste de comparação/agrupamento de médias, sendo o teste Scott-Knott o mais robusto. Quando quantitativo, regressão linear. Quando avaliações sucessivas são realizadas na mesma unidade experimental, utiliza-se a análise de medidas repetidas. O coeficiente de variação indica a precisão experimental e varia com os tratamentos, variáveis e ambiente. O coeficiente de repetibilidade estima o número de avaliações e de experimentos a serem realizados, com alto grau de precisão. Quanto a adequabilidade, foram analisados ‘n’ artigos e todos apresentaram informações insuficientes na metodologia, comprometendo a reprodutibilidade da pesquisa. Portanto, o planejamento experimental permite a condução da pesquisa com economia de tempo, custos e mão de obra, sem comprometer a precisão das conclusões

Introduction Pregnant women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have high risk of pregnancy loss. Pathophysiological mechanisms appear to be associated with obesity, hormonal factors, or blood clotting disorders. Our aim is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between coagulation disorders and risk of recurrent miscarriage (RM) in patients with PCOS and to identify coagulation biomarkers for this condition. Material and Methods PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched for publications in English language. The search terms used included “RM”, “polycystic ovary syndrome”, “coagulation disorders”, and “thrombophilia”. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for miscarriage in different RM groups (with and without PCOS). Results A total of 575 publications including the search terms were identified. Six studies were included for qualitative analysis, and five were included for quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). We found no association between RM and inherited thrombophilias in patients with PCOS: (1) Factor V Leiden (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.38 – 1.45; p = 0.38); (2) C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism (MTHFR) (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.64 – 1.59; p = 0.97); and (3) A1297C MTHFR polymorphism (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.62 – 1.89; p = 0.77). Other potential biomarkers were identified, with emphasis on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1. Conclusion Data available in the current literature revealed that there was no association between RM and inherited thrombophilias in patients with PCOS. RM patients with PCOS have a high risk of thromboembolic events.

Dear Editor, It was with great interest that we read and analyzed the letter to the editor of Xiang et al. The authors presented initial outcomes on the safety of lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) in a group of patients diagnosed with alloimmune recurrent miscarriage (RM) during November 1, 2019–January 17, 2020 in Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

Cellular senescence contributes to age-related disorders including physical dysfunction, disabilities, and mortality caused by tissue inflammation and damage. Senescent cells accumulate in multiple tissues with aging and at etiological sites of multiple chronic disorders. The senolytic drug combination, Dasatinib plus Quercetin (D+Q), is known to reduce senescent cell abundance in aged mice. However, the effects of long-term D+Q treatment on intestinal senescent cell and inflammatory burden and microbiome composition in aged mice remain unknown. Here, we examine the effect of D+Q on senescence (p16Ink4a and p21Cip1) and inflammation (Cxcl1, Il1β, Il6, Mcp1, and Tnfα) markers in small (ileum) and large (caecum and colon) intestine in aged mice (n = 10) compared to age-matched placebo-treated mice (n = 10). Additionally, we examine microbial composition along the intestinal tract in these mice. D+Q-treated mice show significantly lower senescent cell (p16 and p21 expression) and inflammatory (Cxcl1, Il1β, Il6, Mcp1, and Tnfα expression) burden in small and large intestine compared with control mice. Further, we find specific microbial signatures in ileal, cecal, colonic, and fecal regions that are distinctly modulated by D+Q, with modulation being most prominent in small intestine. Further analyses reveal specific correlation of senescence and inflammation markers with specific microbial signatures. Together, these data demonstrate that the senolytic treatment reduces intestinal senescence and inflammation while altering specific microbiota signatures and suggest that the optimized senolytic regimens might improve health via reducing intestinal senescence, inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis in older subjects.

Studies have investigated the gestational outcomes of new immunological therapies in the treatment of patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The objective of this article is to assess the current state of evidence available in the literature on intrauterine perfusion immunotherapies in women undergoing ART treatments. By considering the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), the authors performed systematic review by searching the databases of PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus using the following key words: "recurrent implantation failure," "intrauterine infusion," "Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)," "Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC)," "Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (G-CSF)," and "Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)." The authors analyzed the indications and the impact of new immunological therapies with intrauterine infusions on the pregnancy outcomes of patients undergoing ART. PRP, PBMC, G-CSF, and hCG were the four most used immunological therapies with intrauterine infusion. These new therapies appear to improve the results of ART treatments in cases of RIF. However, the small number of studies does not allow definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of these therapies.

The aim of this study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the relationship between excess weight and risk of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and to highlight the common immunological mechanisms of these two conditions. The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched for publications in English available as of November 2017. The search terms used were 'recurrent pregnancy loss', 'body mass index' (BMI), 'overweight' and 'obesity'. For calculation of the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for miscarriage in different BMI groups, RevMan software was used (Review Manager, Version 5.3.5 for Windows; The Cochrane Collaboration). In total, 100 publications including the search terms were identified. Six studies were included for qualitative analysis, and two studies were included for quantitative analysis (meta-analysis). The association between excess weight and RPL was significant (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05-1.70; P = 0.02). The isolated analyses of the groups of obese and overweight women revealed an association only between obesity and RPL (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.24-2.47; P = 0.001). The data available in the current literature revealed that obese women with a history of RPL have a high risk of future pregnancy losses, a risk which was not found among overweight women.

The association between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the first half of pregnancy and pregnancy loss is still unknown. Infections by other coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), appear to increase the risk of miscarriage. The purpose of this study is to assess whether SARS-CoV-2 infection increases the risk of miscarriage. Firstly, a narrative review of the literature on animal and human studies was performed to analyze the immunopathological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection during preconception and early pregnancy, by which it may increase the risk of miscarriage. Secondly, a systematic review/meta-analysis of studies was conducted to assess the prevalence of miscarriage in COVID-19 patients diagnosed during pregnancy. Meta-analysis of proportions was used to combine data, and pooled proportions were reported. Seventeen case series and observational studies and 10 prevalence meta-analyses were selected for the review. The estimate of the overall miscarriage rate in pregnant women with COVID-19 was 15.3 % (95 % CI 10.94–20.59) and 23.1 (95 % CI 13.17–34.95) using fixed and random effect models, respectively. Based on the data in the current literature, the miscarriage rate (

Currently, we are facing a new outbreak of coronavirus infection that started in December 2019 in China and is already present in more than sixty other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO...

Recurrent miscarriage (RM) affects up to 2–3% of couples of reproductive age. There are several causes for this condition, including immunologic. The embryo is considered an allograft, subject to the rejection mechanisms of the maternal immune system. Immunotherapy involving immunization with lymphocytes is considered in cases of idiopathic RM. However, there is still no consensus regarding the efficacy and safety of this therapy. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the data available in the literature regarding the efficacy and safety of the use of immunotherapy with lymphocytes in couples with history of RM. Searches in PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Library databases were conducted, using the following keywords: “recurrent miscarriage,” “lymphocyte immunotherapy,” and “meta-analysis.” Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan), version 5.3. Six published meta-analysis were retrieved; two found no improvements in the rate of live births after the use of immunization with lymphocytes in the treatment of RM, and four found a beneficial effect of the use of immunotherapy with lymphocytes in cases of RM, with significant improvements in the rate of live births. Data available in the literature supports the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy with lymphocytes in cases of RM without an identified cause.

Female reproductive function is negatively impacted by age. Animal and human studies show that fibrosis of the uterus contributes to gestational outcomes. Collagen deposition in the myometrial and endometrial layers is the main change related to uterine aging. Senolytic therapies are a potential option for reducing diseases and health complications related to aging. We investigated effects of aging and the senolytic drug combination of dasatinib plus quercetin (D+Q) on uterine fibrosis. A total of 40 mice, 20 young females (03-months) and 20 old females (18-months), were analyzed. Young (Y) and old (O) animals were divided into groups of 10 mice, with one treatment (T) group (YT and OT) and another control (C) group (YC and OC). Comparative analysis ofPi3k/Akt1/mTorand p53 gene expression among the 4 groups was performed to test effects of age and treatment on collagen deposition in uterine tissue. Uterine levels of microRNAs (miR34a, miR34b, miR34c, miR146a, miR449a, miR21a, miR126a, and miR181b) were evaluated. Aging promoted downregulation of genes of thePi3k/Akt1/mTorsignaling pathway (p=0.005, p=0.031, and p=0.028, respectively) as well as a reduction in expression of miR34c (p=0.029), miR126a (p=0.009), and miR181b (p=0.007). D+Q treatment increased p53 gene expression (p=0.041) and decreased levels of miR34a (p=0.016). Our results demonstrate a role for thePi3k/Akt1/mTorsignaling pathway in uterine aging and suggest for the first time a possible anti-fibrotic effect in the uterus of D+Q senolytic therapy.

Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and regulates various metabolic processes throughout the body. GH and IGF-1 levels are markedly reduced in older humans, leading some to hypothesize GH supplementation could be a viable “anti-aging” therapy. However, there is still much debate over the benefits and risks of GH administration. While an early study of GH administration reported reduced adiposity and lipid levels and increased bone mineral density, subsequent studies failed to show significant benefits. Conversely, other studies found positive effects of GH deficiency including extended life span, improved cognitive function, resistance to diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and improved insulin sensitivity despite a higher fat percentage. Thus, the roles of GH in aging and cognition remain unclear, and there is currently not enough evidence to support use of GH as an anti-aging or cognitive impairment therapy. Additional robust and longer-duration studies of efficacy and safety of GH administration are needed to determine if modulating GH levels could be a successful strategy for treating aging and age-related diseases.

Objective: To report a case of prenatal diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR) and neonatal surgical treatment as well as undertaking a systematic review of the literature to determine most frequent...

Objective: This study aims to elucidate which types of recurrent miscarriage (RM) patients experienced a livebirth after paternal lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT) and to evaluate the perinatal outcome. Study design: Retrospective analysis of a multicenter, observational study which enrolled 1096 couples with a history of two or more spontaneous miscarriages without any intercalated delivery. We conducted an intention-to-treat analysis of couples with RM treated with or without LIT regarding to gestational and perinatal outcomes. We compared groups by using the Student’s t-test or Kruskal–Wallis test, Fisher’s exact-test and χ2 test when appropriate. Results: The success of gestation was significantly higher in the LIT group (60.1% vs. 33.1%; p

Highlights • Pregnant women with COVID-19 have proinflammatory immune responses. • Maternal COVID-19 is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, IUGR and LBW. • Vascular malperfusion, inflammation and thrombosis are major placental pathologies. • Placental pathologies may progress even in asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. • COVID-19 may increase long-term offspring risk for non-communicable disease., Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly across the world. The vast majority of patients with COVID-19 manifest mild to moderate symptoms but may progress to severe cases or even mortalities. Young adults of reproductive age are the most affected population by SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is no consensus yet if pregnancy contributes to the severity of COVID-19. Initial studies of pregnant women have found that COVID-19 significantly increases the risk of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, and low birth weight, which have been associated with non-communicable diseases in offspring. Besides, maternal viral infections with or without vertical transmission have been allied with neurological and behavioral disorders of the offspring. In this review, obstetrical outcomes of women with COVID-19 and possible risks for their offspring are discussed by reviewing maternal immune responses to COVID-19 based on the current evidence. Structural and systemic follow-up of offspring who are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in-utero is suggested.

Highlights • Pregnant women with a history of reproductive failures with immune etiologies (RFI) are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. • In pregnant women with RFI, including mild COVID-19 patients, low dose prednisone, heparin, tacrlolimus, plaquenil, and IVIg can be continued. • There is no clear evidence that anti-TNF drugs and intralipid infusion cannot be used in pregnant women with RFI during COVID-19 pandemic. • Those with severe COVID-19 infection, immunotherapy for RFI should be curtailed unless indicated for the management of COVID-19. • The current recommendation is based on observational studies with limited data, and validation studies are needed., COVID-19 pandemic is affecting various areas of health care, including human reproduction. Many women with reproductive failures, during the peri-implantation period and pregnancy, are on the immunotherapy using immune modulators and immunosuppressant due to underlying autoimmune diseases, cellular immune dysfunction, and rheumatic conditions. Many questions have been raised for women with immunotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including infection susceptibility, how to manage women with an increased risk of and active COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel virus, and not enough information exists. Yet, we aim to review the data from previous coronavirus outbreaks and current COVID-19 and provide interim guidelines for immunotherapy in women with reproductive failures.

Objective: To evaluate the difference between chromosomal abnormalities between the gender of couples affected by Recurrent miscarriage (RM) and if there is an association between previous obstetri...

To present a case of an early treatment of cardiac intraperitoneal teratoma (IPT) in a newborn and its associated systematic literature review.We presented a case of a newborn with IPT but without hydrops and having a good perinatal outcome after cardiac surgery. Using the PubMed database, we conducted a systematic literature review of articles regarding cases with cardiac IPT diagnosed and treated in the neonatal period and published in English from 2004 onward. We excluded cases that involved fetal death or interrupted gestation events.In total, 38 cases of IPT from 31 articles were included. The mean ± standard deviation of the gestational age at diagnosis and delivery were 27.9 ± 5.7 and 33.0 ± 3.5 weeks, respectively, and that of birth weight was 2373 ± 834.5 g. The majority of fetuses (42.1%) were males. Pericardial effusion was the most common symptom (60.5%) followed by hydrops (42.1%) and respiratory distress (42.1%). Intrauterine procedure was not performed in 63.1% of cases, and 71.0% of newborns were alive.IPT in newborns is usually associated with a good prognosis without the need for intrauterine procedures. Cases with IPT-related death are associated with hemodynamic impairment in fetuses with hydrops.

Problem To evaluate the predictors of successful pregnancies in women with a history of recurrent miscarriages (RMs) having undergone lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT). Method of study Retrospective, multicenter, observational study which involved 702 pregnant women with history of RM treated with LIT. Comparative analysis of women with a history of RM having undergone LIT and experienced treatment success vs those having experienced treatment failure along with the analysis of the association between the number of prior miscarriages and the efficacy of LIT. Results A total of 421 women were able to carry the pregnancy to term, with treatment success rate of 60%. The multivariate analysis showed that age, the association between autoantibodies and thrombophilia, and the number of previous miscarriages were factors associated with LIT failure. Secondary RMs alone were not found to be a factor predictive of LIT success or failure; however, secondary RMs among women with a history of 5 or more RM were found to be a predictor of LIT success (OR: 10.24; 95% CI: 1.9-55.8; P = .007). Conclusion Age, the number of previous miscarriages, and the association between autoantibodies and thrombophilia are associated with LIT failure. A higher number of previous miscarriages in cases of secondary RM resulted in better LIT outcomes.

The productive potential, adaptability and stability were evaluated in 16 Pennisetum spp. genotypes under the influence of four nitrogen levels in six evaluations cycles. The experiment was carried out in 2009, at the Itambe Experimental Station of Pernambuco, Agricultural Research Institute-IPA, Northeast Brazil, in split plots scheme, with four nitrogen (N) levels (control, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 cut-1) and 16 Pennisetum spp. genotypes (G) (10 new interspecific hybrids, one cultivated interspecific hybrid and five elephant grass varieties), in three blocks. The cycles (CI) comprised evaluations in 2010 (04/21, 07/19 and 09/28) and 2011 (01/06, 04/07 and 08/03). The forage mass (MF), the leaf length (CF), the leaf width (LF) and the internode length (CE) were influenced by triple interaction (N x G x CI). The new hybrid, IPA-7 (Pioneiro x IPA Bulk-1), was not influenced by the interaction, presenting high adaptability (b1= 1) and high stability (s2di= 0) for the MF, reaching average of 0.88 kg DM shoot-1 cut-1, 76.24 cm and 78.79 mm for MF, CF and CE, respectively. This hybrid can be selected for the next phase of the Breeding Program of Pennisetum spp.

Background/purpose The mechanism of fetal gastric dilation in gastroschisis is controversial. This study was designed to characterize changes in the contractile profile of strips of stomach from rats following experimental gastroschisis. Methods Pregnant Wistar rats were operated on day 18.5. Fetuses were divided into three groups: gastroschisis (G), sham (S), and control (C). On day 21.5, gastric fundus and antrum strips were obtained and suspended to a force transducer connected to a digital data acquisition system. They were submitted to increasing concentrations of carbachol (CCh) and weighed at the end of each procedure. Frequency and amplitude of each contraction were evaluated. Results Under basal conditions, spontaneous oscillatory contractions of antrum and fundus strips of G, S, and C were similar (P>0.05; ANOVA). However, cumulative concentrations of CCh (0.01–100μM) produced different effects in all groups and were characterized by a significant increase in amplitude and frequency of spontaneous contractions in antral smooth muscle and a sustained increase in tonus in fundic strips. Upon analysis, no significant difference in frequency or amplitude was noted in antral tissues comparing C to G and to S (P>0.05). No significant contractility difference was noted in fundic smooth muscle (comparing all groups, P >0.05), with the CCh-induced curve following a typical sigmoidal format, dependent on increasing concentrations (P Conclusions Gastric contractile responses to CCh are preserved in experimental gastroschisis. These results do not support the theory that gastric dilation occurs secondary to intestinal inflammation alone.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os coeficientes de repetibilidade de caracteres morfofisiológicos em genótipos de capim-elefante (Pennisetum spp.), a partir de dados obtidos durante seis ciclos de avaliação. Foram estimados: número mínimo de medições e parâmetros genéticos. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro níveis de N (controle, 30, 60 e 90 kg ha‑1 por corte) e 16 genótipos de Pennisetum (11 híbridos interespecíficos e cinco cultivares). Os ciclos consistiram de avaliações em 2010 (21/4, 19/7 e 28/9) e 2011 (6/1, 7/4 e 3/8). Os coeficientes de repetibilidade foram de média‑alta magnitude para todas as variáveis, o que indica que houve regularidade entre as medidas repetidas. Para as variáveis massa de forragem, altura da planta, comprimento e largura da folha, diâmetro do colmo, clorose e índice de área foliar, três ciclos de avaliação são suficientes para obter R² de 90%, pela análise de componentes principais. Para o comprimento do entrenó, o mínimo de sete avaliações é necessário para predizer o valor real dos genótipos. Os parâmetros genéticos das variáveis massa de forragem, comprimento e largura da folha, diâmetro do colmo e clorose foliar são de alta magnitude, o que favorece a seleção de genótipos superiores de Pennisetum. The objective of this work was to determine the coefficients of repeatability of morphophysiological traits in elephant grass (Pennisetum spp.) genotypes, from data obtained during six evaluation cycles. The minimum number of measurements and genetic parameters were estimated. The experiment design was a randomized complete block, in a split‑plot arrangement, with four N levels (control, 30, 60, and 90 kg ha‑1 per cut) and 16 Pennisetum genotypes (11 interspecific hybrids and five cultivars). The cycles consisted of evaluations in 2010 (4/21, 7/19, and 9/28) and 2011 (1/6, 4/7, and 8/3). The coefficients of repeatability were of medium‑high magnitude for all variables, indicating that there was regularity between repeated measures. For the variables forage mass, plant height, leaf length and width, stem diameter, leaf chlorosis and area index, three cycles of evaluation are enough to reach R² of 90% by principal component analysis. For internode length, the minimal of seven evaluations is necessary to predict the true value of genotypes. The genetic parameters of the variables forage mass, leaf length and width, stem diameter and leaf chlorosis are of high magnitude, favoring the selection of superior Pennisetum genotypes.

Resumen pt: Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar o desempenho agronomico, determinar a dissimilaridade genetica e indicar combinacoes hibridas mais promissoras para pro...

To assess the perinatal outcomes and risk factors for further pregnancy loss in patients with recurrent miscarriage treated with lymphocyte immunotherapy (LIT).We performed a retrospective observational study of women with a history of two or more consecutive miscarriages who underwent LIT. All patients had undergone investigation of the etiology of the pregnancy losses according to a specific protocol. These etiologic factors were compared between those whose pregnancy outcome was successful and those who had a further miscarriage. The comparison between the groups was performed by Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher exact and Chi-square tests. Perinatal outcome data were collected for the successful pregnancies.One-hundred six patients were included. The mean number (±SD) of previous pregnancies, deliveries and miscarriages in all patients were 2.73 ± 0.8, 0.19 ± 0.4 and 2.54 ± 0.6, respectively. A successful pregnancy outcome after lymphocyte therapy occurred in 82 patients (group I), while 24 (22.6%) sustained a further miscarriage (group II). There was no statistical difference in the genetic, anatomic and hormonal causes of miscarriage between the groups (p 0.05). Antinuclear (ANA) and antithyroglobulin (TgAb) autoantibodies occurred more frequently in group II (p = 0.0010 and p = 0.0024, respectively). Of those with successful pregnancies, 11 women (13.4%) had a preterm delivery. The mean birth weight was 3036.4 ± 498.6 g.In patients with recurrent miscarriage treated with LIT, the presence of ANA and TgAb was a risk factor for further pregnancy loss. Perinatal outcomes in those whose pregnancies continued were favorable.

The risk factors for death and changes in clinical patterns in leptospirosis (Weil's disease) have not been well studied. We retrospectively studied 110 patients with Weil's disease hospitalized in Brazil between 1985 and 1996. Univariate statistical analysis showed that nonsurvivors were older than survivors, and had higher frequency of oliguria, cardiac arrhythmia, dyspnea, and pulmonary rales. Logistic regression showed that the only independent factor associated with death was oliguria (odds ratio [OR] = 8.98). The presence of arthralgia (OR = 4.71), dehydration (OR = 6.26), dyspnea (OR = 17.7), and pulmonary rales (OR = 9.91) increased after 1994. These data suggest that in Weil's disease the clinical patterns have changed and the presence of oliguria is a risk factor for death.