Prevalence of retinal pathologies in people over 60 years:the Tehran Geriatrics Eye Study

AIM:To determine the prevalence of some retinal pathologies in people over 60y and their association with demographic and ocular factors.METHODS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran using multistage cluster sampling.After selecting subjects aged 60 and over,optometric,and ophthalmic examinations were done.For retinal examination,a 90 D lens was used and indirect ophthalmoscopy was performed after instilling tropicamide drops.Biometry was done using the IOL Master for all participants.RESULTS:Of 3791 people that were invited through cluster sampling,3310 participated in the study(response rate=82%).The prevalence of retinal pigmented epithelium(RPE)change,drusen,geographic atrophy(GA),hypertensive retinopathy(HTR),nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR),choroidal neovascularization(CNV),central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO),myopic retinopathy(MR),branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO),and central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)was 27.42%,11.08%,4.52%,3.03%,4.05%,0.54%,0.82%,0.39%,0.20%,0.49%,and 0.19%,respectively.After removing the effect of age,the odds of NPDR were 1.68 times higher in women compared to men(P=0.014).After removing the effect of sex,the odds of drusen,RPE change,GA,CNV,BRVO,and CRVO increased with age.CONCLUSION:There is a higher prevalence of RPE change,drusen,GA,CNV and a lower prevalence of MR and CRAO in the elderly population of Tehran aged over 60y compared to global average values.Considering the correlation of most of the diseases with age and their effects on vision,attention should be paid to these diseases and the related screening programs to prevent vision impairment.

Anal Pathologies: What Management at the Reference Health Center of Bamako’s Commune V?

Anal pathologies are conditions affecting the anal margin and the anal canal. The aim of our study was to update data on anal diseases. Non-specific, it can reveal an emergency, a serious illness, a chronic disease or a benign condition. It was a prospective, descriptive and analytical study from April 2022 to March 2023, carried out in the hepato-gastroenterology unit of the Centre de Santé de Référence de la commune V du District de Bamako in Mali. Out of seven hundred and forty-nine (749) patients seen in consultation, 98 had anal pathology, i.e. a prevalence of 13.08%. The mean age was 40 ± 15.15 years and the sex ratio was 1.5. Hemorrhoidal disease and anal fissure were the most frequent pathologies in 66.4% and 24.4% of cases respectively. Medical treatment was initiated in 91.9% of patients with hemorrhoidal disease and 91.7% with anal fissure. Anal pathologies are common in young male patients. In our context, they are dominated by benign conditions.

Lamotrigine protects against cognitive deficits,synapse and nerve cell damage,and hallmark neuropathologies in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Lamotrigine(LTG)is a widely used drug for the treatment of epilepsy.Emerging clinical evidence suggests that LTG may improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.However,the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.In this study,amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1(APP/PS1)double transgenic mice were used as a model of Alzheimer’s disease.Five-month-old APP/PS1 mice were intragastrically administered 30 mg/kg LTG or vehicle once per day for 3 successive months.The cognitive functions of animals were assessed using Morris water maze.Hyperphosphorylated tau and markers of synapse and glial cells were detected by western blot assay.The cell damage in the brain was investigated using hematoxylin and eosin staining.The levels of amyloid-βand the concentrations of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-αin the brain were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Differentially expressed genes in the brain after LTG treatment were analyzed by high-throughput RNA sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction.We found that LTG substantially improved spatial cognitive deficits of APP/PS1 mice;alleviated damage to synapses and nerve cells in the brain;and reduced amyloid-βlevels,tau protein hyperphosphorylation,and inflammatory responses.High-throughput RNA sequencing revealed that the beneficial effects of LTG on Alzheimer’s disease-related neuropathologies may have been mediated by the regulation of Ptgds,Cd74,Map3k1,Fosb,and Spp1 expression in the brain.These findings revealed potential molecular mechanisms by which LTG treatment improved Alzheimer’s disease.Furthermore,these data indicate that LTG may be a promising therapeutic drug for Alzheimer’s disease.

Epidemiological and Therapeutic Aspects of Proctological Pathologies in Pregnant and Postpartum Women at the Reference Health Center of Commune IV of Bamako District

Introduction: Painful proctological conditions that are far less pleasant can mar pregnancy and childbirth. In Mali, few studies have been carried out on proctological pathologies in pregnant women and in the postpartum period. Objective: To determine the frequency and identify the risk factors of anal pathologies during pregnancy and in the postpartum period in the obstetric gynecology department of the Centre de Santé de Référence de la comme IV du District de Bamako. Mali. Methods and Materials: Our observational study, a cross-sectional cohort survey over a period of nine (09) months from January 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020, was conducted in the obstetrics and gynecology department of the Health Center of Reference of Type IV of the District of Bamako. Results: The frequency of anal pathologies during pregnancy and in the post partum period was 24% (36/150). The different anal pathologies found were anal fissures, hemorrhoidal disease, anal incontinence and multiple anal pathologies with respectively 10%;6.67%;5.33%;2%. Chronic constipation (p = 0.003), a newborn weight > 3500 g (p = 0.000) to the occurrence of hemorrhoidal disease. For anal fissures, risk factors were noted such as (weight of the newborn > 3500 g (p = 0.002) and duration of fetal expulsion > 20 minutes (p = 0.000). Finally, a newborn weight > 3500 g (p = 0.000) and a maternal age of up to 30 years (p = 0.001) were associated with the occurrence of anal incontinence. Conclusion: Our study shows that anal pathologies affecting women's intimacy are frequent during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and are part of the many taboos difficult to address in our society.

The Epidemiological, Clinical and Radiological (Echography, Mammography) Characteristics of Breast Pathologies at the Diagnostic Imaging Center (C.I.D) “Teriya” in Bamako

Breast pathology is varied, bringing together tumor and non-tumor lesions. Objective: To study the contribution of the ultrasound-mammography pair in the diagnosis of breast pathologies. Materials and Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study, carried out over a period of 3 years (from January 2018 to December 2020) at the Diagnostic Imaging Center (C.I.D) “TERIYA” in BAMAKO. It concerned all patients who came for a mammogram/ultrasound examination of the breast. All women admitted for mammogram or breast ultrasound who were diagnosed with a breast injury during the study period were included. Incomplete records and radiological checks were not included. The variables analyzed were age, sex, clinical data, and ultrasound and mammography aspects. The devices used are: a Voluson 730 PRO ultrasound machine and a G 600T type mammography machine. Results: At the end of our study, we collected 254 breast pathologies on a number of 382 women, i.e. a frequency of 66.49%. The average age of our patients was 41 years old. The dominant clinical data were mastodynia (41.88%) and mammary nodule (21.70%). On imaging (mammo-ultrasound) the lesions predominated on the left in 36% of cases, bilateral in 28% of cases and in the upper-outer quadrants in 31.5% of cases. Tumor pathologies represented 66.54% of which 45.27% were benign mainly composed of fibro-adenoma (20.88%) and cyst (18.50%), 11.8% of suspected cases and 9.45% of cancers. Non-tumor pathologies represented 33.46%, mainly mastitis (16.14%), galactophoric dilations (11.02%) and abscesses (5.51%). These pathologies were classified in 50.3% in ACR2, 17.75% in ACR3 and 4, and in 14.20% in ACR5. Lymphadenopathy was present in 73.21% of cases.

Epidemio-Clinical and Uretrocystographic Profile of Pathologies of the Lower Urinary Tract at the Chu Pr Bss of Kati

Introduction: Pathologies of the lower urinary tract are common in urology composed of various conditions, responsible for urinary disorders. Despite the new methods, exploration in Africa is mainly based on retrograde urethrocystography (UCR). The main objective was to determine the importance of UCR in the diagnosis of pathologies of the lower urinary tract. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study covering a period of 5 years (July 2016-June 2021). It involved all patients admitted to the ward for retrograde urethrocystography during the period. A remote-controlled table of the GE PRESTILIX 1600× type was used for the examinations. Results: At the end of our study we collected 100 cases of pathologies of the lower urinary tract out of a total of 112 RCUs performed or 89.28%. Pathologies of the lower urinary tract accounted for 78% of the UCRs in the department. The age group of (61 - 70) was the most affected with extremes from 1 year to 101 years. Non-specific urination disorders were the most common indications (43%), followed by acute urine retention (18%). Acquired urethral pathology was the most common (89%), followed by bladder neck disease 5% and posterior urethral valve with 4%, Bladder struggle was the most common associated sign (54%) with post-urination residue in 97% of patients. Conclusion: Pathologies of the lower urinary tract are relatively common in our region, dominated by urethral narrowings. Retrograde urethrocystography remains the reference examination in our control for the diagnosis of obstructive pathologies of the lower urinary tract while specifying the seat of the obstacle.

Tales of the Tail and Sperm Head Aches --Changing concepts on the prognostic significance of sperm pathologies affecting the head, neck and tail

This article presents an update on the variable prognostic significance of different sperm pathologies in patients with severe male factor infertility due to morphology and motility disorders. Severe asthenozoospermia is one of the leading causes of male infertility as spermatozoa cannot reach the oocyte and/or penetrate normally. Identifying structural causes of sperm immotility was of great concern before the advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection （ICSI）, because immotility was the limiting factor in the treatment of these patients. In these cases, in vitro methods are used to identify live spermatozoa or stimulate sperm motility to avoid selection of non-viable cells. With these advances, fertilization and pregnancy results have improved dramatically. The identification of genetic phenotypes in asthenozoospermia is important to adequately inform patients of treatment outcomes and risks. The one sperm characteristic that seriously affects fertility prognosis is teratozoospermia, primarily sperm head and neck anomalies. Defects of chromatin condensation and acrosomal hypoplasia are the two most common abnormalities in severe teratozoospermia. The introduction of microscopic methods to select spermatozoa and the development of new ones to evaluate sperm quality before ICSI will assure that ultrastructural identification ofsperm pathologies will not only be of academic interest, but will also be an essential tool to inform treatment choice. Herein, we review the differential roles played by sperm components in normal fertilization and early embryo development and explore how assisted reproductive technologies have modified our concepts on the prognostic significance of sperm pathologies affecting the head, neck, mid-piece and tail.

Reversing multiple age-related pathologies by controlling the senescence-associated secretory phenotype of stem cells

Regenerative medicine by cell transplantation is a novel therapy for treating end-stage organ failure and tissue damage. Cell-based therapy based on the transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells （NSPCs） represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, but obtaining large numbers of these cells is difficult and their differentiation potential is strictly restricted in a spatiotemporally-regulated manner during central nervous system （CNS） development. Therefore, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells represent an attractive alternative for cell-transplantation therapy in regenerative medicine.

Utility, Appropriateness of Request and Report of Computed Tomography Scan for the Diagnosis of Paranasal Sinuses Pathologies in a Sub-Saharan Africa Urban Setting

Background: Computed tomography (CT) Scan is the imaging of choice for the diagnosis of sino nasal (SN) pathologies in sub-Saharan African setting. However, it is often requested by non experienced practitioners. We aimed to describe the utility and the appropriateness of CT Scan request forms and results in the diagnosis of SN pathologies. Method: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in four health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroun, from October 2018 to September 2019. All patients to whom SN CT Scan was performed were called for an appointment. After informed consent, data on the appropriateness and conformity of the request form were collected and compared to the guidelines of the French society of radiology. CT Scan results were also collected and the quality of the report was evaluated. Results: A total of 206 SN CT Scan request forms and reports were included, with a mean patient age of 37.7 ± 16.1 years. The request form was conformed to guidelines in 8.3% of cases and was found appropriate in 62.6% of cases. No CT Scan report had all the items required, and 159 (77.2%) reports were useful. The most common diagnosis in patients with abnormal results was chronic sinusitis (49.5%) and SN polyp or polyposis (19.4%). Conclusion: Most of SN CT Scan requested were appropriate and useful. However, the conformity of request forms and reports to the guidelines is low. Suggesting the need for capacity building for the diagnosis of SN pathologies especially for non specialists like general practitioners and nurses.

In vivo combination therapy of chloroquine and stigmasterol against Plasmodium berghei induced pathologies in mice

Objective:To investigate the effect of combination therapy of chloroquine and stigmasterol on Plasmodium berghei(thereafter referred to as P.berghei)malaria-induced organ pathologies.Methods:Thirty five mice weighing 20-30 g were placed into seven groups of five mice each and distributed as uninfected administered 100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol,uninfected administered only feed and water ad libitum,infected with P.berghei and-administered 50 mg/kg BW stigmasterol,100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol,100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol plus 5 mg/kg BW chloroquine,and 5 mg/kg BW chloroquine.The last group of mice served as P.berghei infected and not treated control.The levels of parasitemia,packed cell volume,and other biochemical parameters were measured.Results:Combination therapy of P.berghei infection with stigmasterol and chloroquine did not significantly(P>0.05)reduce parasitemia level while stigmasterol treatment alone significantly(P<0.05)reduced the parasitemia level.However,the P.berghei induced anemia was decreased significantly(P<0.05)upon treatment with a combination of chloroquine and stigmasterol as well as with stigmasterol alone.Furthermore,the combination of chloroquine and stigmasterol significantly(P<0.05)decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,urea and spleen total proteins levels in P.berghei mice in comparison with the untreated group.Treatment of P.berghei infected mice with stigmasterol alone and in combination with chloroquine significantly(P<0.05)increased the level of serum creatinine while serum and spleen malondialdehyde levels were significantly(P<0.05)decreased.Levels of glutathione in spleen and kidney were insignificantly(P>0.05)altered upon treatment with both doses of stigmasterol as well as the combination therapy.Conclusions:This study concluded that the combination of stigmasterol and chloroquine could combat anemia and some organ pathologies associated with P.berghei infection.

In vivo combination therapy of chloroquine and stigmasterol against Plasmodium berghei induced pathologies in mice

Objective:To investigate the effect of combination therapy of chloroquine and stigmasterol on Plasmodium(P.)berghei malaria-induced organ pathologies.Methods:Totally 35 mice weighing 20-30g were placed into 7 groups of 5 mice each and distributed as uninfected administered 100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol,uninfected administered only feed and water ad libitum,infected with P.berghei and administered 50 mg/Kg BW stigmasterol,100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol,100 mg/kg BW stigmasterol plus 5 mg/kg BW chloroquine,and 5 mg/kg BW chloroquine.The last group of mice served as P.berghei infected and not treated control.The levels of parasitemia,packed cell volume,and other biochemical parameters were measured.Results:Combination therapy of P.berghei infection with stigmasterol and chloroquine did not significantly(P>0.05)reduce parasitemia level while stigmasterol treatment alone significantly(P<0.05)reduced the parasitemia level.However,the P.berghei induced anemia was decreased significantly(P<0.05)upon treatment with a combination of chloroquine and stigmasterol as well as with stigmasterol alone.Furthermore,the combination of chloroquine and stigmasterol significantly(P<0.05)decreased the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,urea and level of spleen total proteins in P.berghei infected mice in comparison with the untreated group.Treatment of P.berghei infected mice with stigmasterol alone and in combination with chloroquine significantly(P<0.05)increased the level of serum creatinine while serum and spleen malondialdehyde levels were significantly(P<0.05)decreased.Levels of glutathione in spleen and kidney were insignificantly(P>0.05)altered upon treatment with both doses of stigmasterol as well as the combination therapy.Conclusions:This study concluded that the combination of stigmasterol and chloroquine could combat anemia and some organ pathologies associated with P.berghei infection.

Imaging of Degenerative Pathologies of the Lumbar Spine: Professional Habits in Some Hospitals in Cameroon

Background: The lumbar spine is the portion most frequently involved in degenerative pathologies. Everyone will suffer one day from “low back pain”. These pathologies are very frequent: epidemiological studies have shown that 65% to 90% of the general population could be affected by low back pain (lumbago) which could become chronic at acertain stage or could be complicated (2% to 4%) of cases could end up affecting nerve roots. Chronic low back pain causes a major public health problem in terms of morbidity and socioeconomic repercussions. Purpose: The overall purpose of this study is to evaluate the professional habits of exam applicants in case of degenerative pathologies of the lumbar spine, to Appreciate the knowledge of clinicians on the usefulness of medical imaging techniques in the event of suspicion of a degenerative pathology of the lumbar spine and finally to evaluate if the professional habits of requesting examinations in Cameroon comply with the Recommendations for Clinical Practice. Methods: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was used and was based on questionnaires distributed to those practitioners who requested for these diagnostic medical imaging studies and procedures at Yaoundé General Hospital (HGY), Yaoundé Central Hospital, La Cathédrale Medical Center, Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital, the Douala General Hospital, the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala, the Military Hospital of Douala, the Daniel Muna Memorial Clinic of Douala, the International Center for Clinical and Medicine Imaging, the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital and the Protestant Hospital of Ngaoundere (HPN), from April 2020 to March 2021. Data collected was processed and analyzed via Epi Info version 12.0 and the statistical test used for correlation was Chi2. Results: 137 practitioners were retained among whom, 90 were male and 47 females, their average age being 46 years with working experience less than 5 years (35.8%). The results obtained show that parameters such as availability and accessibility of the required diagnostic medical imaging modalities could greatly influence the examination prescription. On the contrary, few prescribers were less interested in the costs and secondary effects due to irradiation and the invasiveness of these examinations. Professional habits of those who requested these examinations were in majority closer in line with the recommended clinical practices. However, an average of 43.78% of prescribers never followed recommendations nor applied them. On the other hand, knowledge and the application of these recommendations increased as the prescriber’s working experience too increased. Up to 54.47% of prescribers were not aware of those recommendations about requesting these examinations. Conclusion: Our results indicate that Medical Diagnostic Imaging techniques are not judiciously and optimally exploited in the diagnosis of degenerative pathologies of the lumbar spine and it would be necessary to establish recommendations for clinical practice adapted to Cameroonian realities.

Identification of the Origins and Risks of Pathologies in Steel Structure Buildings Using Total Quality Management Tools

The steel structure construction is an interesting option to the already established concrete structure at a time when the Brazilian civil construction seeks more efficiency.To promote the use of this material it is necessary to have a better understanding of its characteristics and,especially,of its possible pathologies,to avoid degradation,costs,and even the collapse of the structure.In this study Total Quality Management tools were applied to analyze the pathologies found in five medium and large steel-structured buildings.The most frequent ones were structure corrosion,cracks in the closures,and infiltrations in the interface closure/structure.The Ishikawa Diagram is used to identify the origin of the causes of pathologies and the Gravity Urgency Tendency Matrix(GUT Matrix)is used in the risk analysis of each pathology.The results obtained show that it is possible,through these Quality Management tools,to understand the origin of the pathologies,establishing their dangerousness and the degree of risk each one offers.

ENT Pathologies Screening in Woodworkers in Parakou,Benin

Wood dust may induce health risks on exposed timber or wood workers, one of which is ENT disorders. This article aimed to detect ENT pathologies found among woodworkers in Parakou. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out from 1st March to 31st May, 2012 in Parakou, North-Benin. It involved 703 carpenters and sawyers operating in timber workshops in Parakou, regardless of age and sex. The mean age of the wood-workers was 26.14 ± 7.77 years. Their seniority in the timber profession was on average 4.9 ± 2.64 years. All of them were males. It had been noticed that 81.6% of them did not comply with any safety measure for their protection. ENT pathology had been diagnosed in 60.3% of the timber workers. Rhinitises came first and affected 43.1% of the workers, followed by pharyngitises (14.1%). The histological nature of the only case of tumor observed in Parakou could not have been specified, as the patient refused to undergo anatomopathological examination. Measures should be taken to get Parakou timber workers to protect themselves.

Effects of sulfasalazme on biopsy mucosal pathologies and histological grading of patients with active ulcerative colitis

AIM： To investigate the mechanisms of sulfasalazine （SASP） in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC）.METHODS： Changes of pathological signs and histological grading of 106 patients with active UC were observed before and after the treatment with SASP, 1 g, thrice daily for 6 wk.RESULTS： The effect of SASP on the vasculitis in lamina propria was 48.2% and 17.4% in the mild active UC （P〈0.001） and 68% and 26.7% in the moderate active UC （P〈0.001） before and after treatment, Fibroid necrosis of vessel wail was found in one case of mild UC and two cases of moderate UC before treatment and was not found after treatment, No thrombosis was found in mild UC before and after treatment, while thrombosis was found in one case of moderate UC before treatment, The effect on mucosal glandular abnormality was 30.4% and 13.0% in mild UC （P〈0.05）, and 42% and 40% in moderate UC （P〉0.05） before and after treatment, The rate of eosinophil infiltration was 98.2% and 80,4% in mild UC （P〈0.01）,and 100% and 91,1% in moderate UC （P〈0.05） before and after treatment, The effect on crypt abscess was 21.4% and 4.4% in mild UC （P〈0.05）, and 48% and 13.3% in moderate UC （P〈0.001） before and after treatment. The effect on mucosal pathohistological grading was 2.00±0.84 and 0.91±0.46 in mild UC （P〈0.001）, and 2.49±0.84 and 1.31±0.75 in moderate UC （P〈0.001） before and after treatment.CONCLUSION： SASP can improve small vessel lesions and crypt abscesses and reduce neutrophilic and eosinophilic leukocyte infiltration in inflammatory mucosa of UC.

Stem cell therapy in ocular pathologies in the past 20 years

Stem cell therapies are successfully used in various fields of medicine.This new approach of research is also expanding in ophthalmology.Huge investments,resources and important clinical trials have been performed in stem cell research and in potential therapies.In recent years,great strides have been made in genetic research,which permitted and enhanced the differentiation of stem cells.Moreover,the possibility of exploiting stem cells from other districts(such as adipose,dental pulp,bone marrow stem cells,etc.)for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases,renders this topic fascinating.Furthermore,great strides have been made in biomedical engineering,which have proposed new materials and threedimensional structures useful for cell therapy of the eye.The encouraging results obtained on clinical trials conducted on animals have given a significant boost in the creation of study protocols also in humans.Results are limited to date,but clinical trials continue to evolve.Our attention is centered on the literature reported over the past 20 years,considering animal(the most represented in literature)and human clinical trials,which are limiting.The aim of our review is to present a brief overview of the main types of treatments based on stem cells in the field of ophthalmic pathologies.

Neuropilin-1: A feasible link between liver pathologies and COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)pandemic has a tremendous impact on the health of millions of people worldwide.Unfortunately,those suffering from previous pathological conditions are more vulnerable and tend to develop more severe disease upon infection with the new SARS-CoV-2.This coronavirus interacts with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to invade the cells.Recently,another receptor,neuropilin-1(NRP-1),has been reported to amplify the viral infection.Interestingly,NRP-1 is expressed in nonparenchymal liver cells and is related to and upregulated in a wide variety of liver-related pathologies.It has been observed that SARS-CoV-2 infection promotes liver injury through several pathways that may be influenced by the previous pathological status of the patient and liver expression of NRP-1.Moreover,coronavirus disease 2019 causes an inflammatory cascade called cytokine storm in patients with severe disease.This cytokine storm may influence liver sinusoidal-cell phenotype,facilitating viral invasion.In this review,the shreds of evidence linking NRP-1 with liver pathologies such as hepatocellular carcinoma,liver fibrosis,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and inflammatory disorders are discussed in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.In addition,the involvement of the infection-related cytokine storm in NRP-1 overexpression and the subsequent increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection are also analyzed.This review aims to shed some light on the involvement of liver NRP-1 during SARSCoV-2 infection and emphasizes the possible involvement this receptor with the observed liver damage.

Placental pathologies and fetal outcome in pregnant women with COVID-19: A retrospective study

Objective:To describe histopathologic findings in the placentas in women with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)during pregnancy.Methods:In a cross-sectional study,38 pregnant women with COVID-19 and undergoing delivery between March 2020 and January 2022,were included.The patients had positive polymerase chain reaction(PCR)test for SARS-CoV-2 infection and the placentas after delivery were sent for histopathologic evaluation based on the Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement and assessed by two pathologists.Results:Our results showed that maternal vascular malperfusion was the most common and was present in 17 cases(44.7%).These features included accelerated villous maturation(36.8%)distal villous hypoplasia(5.3%),placental infarction(5.3%)and intervillous fibrin deposition(10.5%).Other pathologic findings included focal calcification(10.5%),intravillous congestion and hemorrhage(10.5%),sub-chorionic hemorrhage(5.3%),acute villitis,chronic histiocytic intervillositis and delayed villous maturation each in one case(2.6%).Twelve out of 38 cases showed no significant pathologic changes.Fetal outcomes included neonatal intensive care unit admission rate of 13.2%,dyspnea 31.6%,newborn’s anosmia 7.9%,intrauterine fetal demise 2.6%,asphyxia 2.6%and neonate COVID infection 5.3%.Conclusions:Microvasculopathy,as a sign of maternal vascular malperfusion,is a common finding in placentas from SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women in the present study.Further studies with larger sample sizes and comparative studies between COVID-19 positive and negative,as well as information from patient follow-up are suggested.

Hypertensive Pathologies in Peripartum: Complications and Maternal and Neonatal Outcome

Introduction: Among the hypertensive pathologies of pregnancy, preeclampsia remains the entity responsible for pregnancy complications. Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the frequency of hypertensive pathologies in the peripartum, to determine the maternal and neonatal morbidity factors associated with preeclampsia on the one hand, and on the other hand, to other forms of hypertension in the peripartal period. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional study of hypertensive pathologies in per partum over a period of 15 months?which have been included any pregnant, parturient and hypertensive childbirth. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0. Data positioning and dispersion parameters were studied. The factor analysis?was?performed by determining the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level set at p?≤ 0.05. Results: 142 cases of hypertension were collected from a total of 2988 deliveries,?i.e.?a frequency of hypertension of 4.8%. The main form of high blood pressure (HBP) was the isolated HBP at 51.4%. 60.3% of primiparas were preeclamptic [OR 2.47 (CI 1.25 - 4.91)], 63.2% of preeclampsia did not follow prenatal consultations?[OR 2.43 (CI 1.06 - 5.62)], 63.6% of preeclampsia had moderate and severe threat premature delivery [OR 4.57 (CI 2.11?-?9.99)], neonatal hypoxia in the fifth minute was found in 34.4% of newborns of preeclamptic mothers [OR 3.02 (CI 1.44?-?6.34)], hypotrophy was observed in 41.4% of the cases in the preeclamptic patients [OR 5.41 (IC 1, from 55 to 19.57)]. Conclusion: Preeclampsia is significantly associated with maternal and neonatal morbidity.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1αin myocardial infarction

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1(HIF1)has a crucial function in the regulation of oxygen levels in mammalian cells,especially under hypoxic conditions.Its importance in cardiovascular diseases,particularly in cardiac ischemia,is because of its ability to alleviate cardiac dysfunction.The oxygen-responsive subunit,HIF1α,plays a crucial role in this process,as it has been shown to have cardioprotective effects in myocardial infarction through regulating the expression of genes affecting cellular survival,angiogenesis,and metabolism.Furthermore,HIF1αexpression induced reperfusion in the ischemic skeletal muscle,and hypoxic skin wounds in diabetic animal models showed reduced HIF1αexpression.Increased expression of HIF1αhas been shown to reduce apoptosis and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes during acute myocardial infarction.Genetic variations in HIF1αhave also been found to correlate with altered responses to ischemic cardiovascular disease.In addition,a link has been established between the circadian rhythm and hypoxic molecular signaling pathways,with HIF1αfunctioning as an oxygen sensor and circadian genes such as period circadian regulator 2 responding to changes in light.This editorial analyzes the relationship between HIF1αand the circadian rhythm and highlights its significance in myocardial adaptation to hypoxia.Understanding the changes in molecular signaling pathways associated with diseases,specifically cardiovascular diseases,provides the opportunity for innovative therapeutic interventions,especially in low-oxygen environments such as myocardial infarction.