A proposal for analyzing the inflammatory and remodeling processes of mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis through MRI.

Objectives: Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling process. The remodeling process in nasal polyps has mainly been studied by histology analysis. However, it is limited to a polyp fragment and requires tissue removal.

Decidual production of interferon lambda in response to ZIKV persistence: Clinical evidence and modelling.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infections during pregnancy can result in Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS), a range of severe neurological outcomes in fetuses that primarily occur during early gestational stages possibly due to placental damage. Although some placentas can maintain ZIKV persistence for weeks or months after the initial infection and diagnosis, the impact of this viral persistence is still unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the immunological repercussion of ZIKV persistence in term placentas.

Fetal hemodynamics and placental histopathology in Down syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the association between Doppler patterns in fetuses with Down syndrome (DS) and their placental histopathologic findings.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed by collecting data from medical records of singleton pregnancies between January 2014 and January 2022, whose fetuses had a confirmed diagnosis of DS either prenatally or postnatally. Placental histopathology, maternal characteristics, and prenatal ultrasound (biometric parameters and umbilical artery [UA] Doppler) were evaluated.

Clinical and serological findings in pregnant women and newborns: patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 placental histopathology.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between clinical and serological findings of pregnant women and newborns with patterns of histopathologic changes of the placenta diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted with pregnant women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or serology (IgG and IgM). Clinical analyses were performed using ELISA to detect anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA antibodies using the S1 spike protein domain with the Euroimmun kit.

Real-time PCR in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.

The diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis presents limitations and therefore new options are necessary. The analysis of amniotic fluid by real-time PCR has already proved effective for confirmation of fetal infection. However, its performance in other biological samples is not clear yet.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia grade 2 biopsy: Do p16INK4a and Ki-67 biomarkers contribute to the decision to treat? A cross-sectional study.

Background: Managing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) is challenging, considering the CIN2 regression rate, perinatal risks associated with excisional procedures, and insufficient well-established risk factors to predict progression.

Objectives: To determine the ability of p16INK4a and Ki-67 staining in biopsies diagnosed with CIN2 to identify patients with higher-grade lesions (CIN3 or carcinoma).

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study conducted at a referral center for treating uterine cervical lesions.

TP53 and p21 (CDKN1A) polymorphisms and the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: The p53 and p21 proteins are important regulators of cell cycle and apoptosis and may contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As genetic polymorphisms may cause changes in protein levels and functions, we investigated associations of TP53 and p21 (CDKN1A) polymorphisms (p53 72 G > C-rs1042522; p53 PIN3-rs17878362; p21 31 C > A-rs1801270; p21 70 C > T-rs1059234) with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Southeastern Brazilian population.

Methods: Genotyping of 353 female volunteers (cases, n = 145; controls, n = 208) was performed by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism and/or DNA sequencing.

Obesity Induces an Impaired Placental Antiviral Immune Response in Pregnant Women Infected with Zika Virus.

Obesity is increasing in incidence worldwide, especially in women, which can affect the outcome of pregnancy. During this period, viral infections represent a risk to the mother, the placental unit, and the fetus. The Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil has been the cause of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), with devastating consequences such as microcephaly in newborns.

Histopathological and immunological characteristics of placentas infected with chikungunya virus.

Although vertical transmission of CHIKV has been reported, little is known about the role of placenta in the transmission of this virus and the effects of infection on the maternal-fetal interface. In this work we investigated five placentas from pregnant women who became infected during the gestational period. Four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of placenta (cases 1-4) were positive for CHIKV by RT-PCR.

SARS-CoV-2 Is Persistent in Placenta and Causes Macroscopic, Histopathological, and Ultrastructural Changes.

SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that belongs to the genus of the family. Other coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, were associated with complications in pregnant women. Therefore, this study aimed to report the clinical history of five pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 (four symptomatic and one asymptomatic who gave birth to a stillborn child) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Placental Alterations in a Chikungunya-Virus-Infected Pregnant Woman: A Case Report.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus first isolated in Tanzania, Africa. The virus has spread to Asia as well as South and Central America through infected mosquitoes. Vertical transmission may also occur, and was first documented during a chikungunya outbreak in La Réunion Island in 2005.

ZIKV replication is differential in explants and cells of human placental which is suppressed by HSV-2 coinfection.

During the Zika fever outbreak in Brazil in 2015-2016, only some babies from infected mothers had teratogenic effects, suggesting that cofactors may influence congenital transmission. We investigated the ZIKV infection profile in explants and isolated cells from full-term human placenta to infection with the Brazilian Zika virus strain (ZIKV) and the effect of coinfection with the Brazilian Human alphaherpesvirus 2 strain (HSV-2) on ZIKV replication. We found that the ZIKV infect the explants of amniotic and chorionic membranes, as well as chorionic villi core, but not the trophoblasts layer.

Placental Tissue Destruction and Insufficiency From COVID-19 Causes Stillbirth and Neonatal Death From Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury.

Context.—: Perinatal death is an increasingly important problem as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, but the mechanism of death has been unclear.

Objective.

Congenital Zika Syndrome Is Associated With Interferon Alfa Receptor 1.

Host factors that influence Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) outcome remain elusive. Interferons have been reported as the main antiviral factor in Zika and other flavivirus infections. Here, we accessed samples from 153 pregnant women (77 without and 76 with CZS) and 143 newborns (77 without and 66 with CZS) exposed to ZIKV conducted a case-control study to verify whether interferon alfa receptor 1 () and interferon lambda 2 and 4 () single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) contribute to CZS outcome, and characterized placenta gene expression profile at term.

Case Report: SARS-CoV-2 Mother-to-Child Transmission and Fetal Death Associated With Severe Placental Thromboembolism.

SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is not usually associated with significant adverse effects. However, in this study, we report a fetal death associated with mild COVID-19 in a 34-week-pregnant woman. The virus was detected in the placenta and in an unprecedented way in several fetal tissues.

A prognostic value of CD45RA, CD45RO, CCL20 and CCR6 expressing cells as 'immunoscore' to predict cervical cancer induced by HPV.

The interplay between cervical cancer (CC) and immune cells, mainly intratumoral lymphocytes, has a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. In this context, we evaluated the distribution of CD45RA and CD45RO cells as well as CCR6 and CCL20 cells in intraepithelial (IE) and marginal stroma (MS) areas from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I-III, and CC as 'immunoscore' for HPV-induced CC outcome. We observed increased CD45RA and CD45RO cells distribution in IE and MS areas in the CC group compared to CIN groups and healthy volunteers.

Spontaneous Abortion and Chikungunya Infection: Pathological Findings.

Intrauterine transmission of the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) during early pregnancy has rarely been reported, although vertical transmission has been observed in newborns. Here, we report four cases of spontaneous abortion in women who became infected with CHIKV between the 11th and 17th weeks of pregnancy. Laboratorial confirmation of the infection was conducted by RT-PCR on a urine sample for one case, and the other three were by detection of IgM anti-CHIKV antibodies.

Zika virus NS3 protease induces bone morphogenetic protein-dependent brain calcification in human fetuses.

The most frequent fetal birth defect associated with prenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is brain calcification, which in turn may potentially affect neurological development in infants. Understanding the mechanism could inform the development of potential therapies against prenatal ZIKV brain calcification. In perivascular cells, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is an osteogenic factor that undergoes maturation to activate osteogenesis and calcification.

Zika Induces Human Placental Damage and Inflammation.

In Brazil, an epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infections was declared in 2015 that coincided with alarming reports of microcephaly in newborns associated with mother infection. Although the virus has placental tropism, changes in the tissue morphology and immunity of infected patients have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the histopathological and ultrastructural changes along with the immunological profile and the BDNF expression in rare placental material.

Practical considerations in the use of a porcine model (Sus scrofa domesticus) to assess prevention of postoperative peritubal adhesions.

Infertility has been a common postoperative problem caused by peritoneal adhesions. Since several prophylactic agents have recently shown promising preliminary results, more complete studies comparing their real efficacy and safety are needed urgently. The aim of this study was to investigate and describe practical considerations of a porcine model that can be used to assess such prophylactic agents.

Discordant Zika Virus Findings in Twin Pregnancies Complicated by Antenatal Zika Virus Exposure: A Prospective Cohort.

Background: There are limited data on the natural history of antenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure in twin pregnancies, especially regarding intertwin concordance of prenatal, placental, and infant outcomes.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included twin pregnancies referred to a single institution from September 2015 to June 2016 with maternal ZIKV. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of maternal, placental, and neonatal samples was performed.

single nucleotide polymorphisms are not associated with cervical HPV-induced pre-malignant lesion but regulate cervical TNFR1 expression.

TNF-α is involved in HPV infection control by triggering cell signaling through binding in specific receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2. Genetic polymorphisms in these receptors may influence TNF-α signaling. Herein, we investigated rs767455 and rs2234649 single nucleotide polymorphisms, and TNFR1 protein expression in cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) to identify their role in cervical pre-malignant development.

The Role of Amniocentesis in the Diagnosis of Congenital Zika Syndrome.

There are limited data on amniocentesis as a diagnostic tool for congenital Zika syndrome. Here we report on a prospective cohort of 16 women with suspected Zika virus infection in a highly endemic area, and discuss the role of amniocentesis in the prenatal diagnosis of fetal Zika infection.

Persistence of Zika Virus After Birth: Clinical, Virological, Neuroimaging, and Neuropathological Documentation in a 5-Month Infant With Congenital Zika Syndrome.

During the Zika epidemic in Brazil, a baby was born at term with microcephaly and arthrogryposis. The mother had Zika symptoms at 10 weeks of gestation. At 17 weeks, ultrasound showed cerebral malformation and ventriculomegaly.