Delivery Mode and Neurological Complications in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Objective: The risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia is associated with low birth weight and gestational age. Caesarean section (CS) may reduce the risk of IVH, although it has been a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the mode of delivery (MOD) on the development of IVH and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL).

Case Report of a Neonate Born to a Mother with Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection under ECMO.

Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infections are rare and although there is some evidence of vertical transmission, most newborns show no clinical signs or present with only mild clinical symptoms. Fetal survival is reported around 70% in mothers submitted to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. We present a case of a male newborn born at 29 weeks from a mother under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

GLP-1 improves adipose tissue glyoxalase activity and capillarization improving insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes.

Methylglyoxal was shown to impair adipose tissue capillarization and insulin sensitivity in obese models. We hypothesized that glyoxalase-1 (GLO-1) activity could be diminished in the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetic obese patients. Moreover, we assessed whether such activity could be increased by GLP-1-based therapies in order to improve adipose tissue capillarization and insulin sensitivity.

Performance of Intergrowth 21st Growth Charts in the Diagnosis of Small and Large for Gestational Age in Term and Preterm Newborns.

Introduction: Birth weight is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality and is associated with chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate the use of Intergrowth 21st instead of the Fenton & Kim 2013 growth charts in the diagnosis of small and large for gestational age in a group of Portuguese newborns.

Material And Methods: We conducted an analytical and retrospective study to evaluate birth weight of term and preterm newborns using both growth charts.

Functional Impairment of Circulating FcεRI Monocytes and Myeloid Dendritic Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma Patients.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represent the most common primary liver malignancies whose outcome is influenced by the immune response.

Methods: In this study, we have functionally characterized, by flow cytometry, circulating myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and FcεRI monocytes in a group of healthy individuals (n = 10) and in a group of patients with HCC (n = 19) and CCA (n = 8), at the time point of the surgical resection (T0) and once the patient had recovered from surgery (T1). Moreover, we proceeded to a more in depth phenotypic characterization of the FcεRI monocyte subpopulation.

[Morbidity in Prematurity Associated with Fetal Growth Restriction: Experience of a Tertiary Care Center].

Introduction: Prematurity and low birth weight have been associated with increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate possible risk factors for prematurity associated with fetal growth restriction and being small for gestational age and to determine the incidence of morbidity in these two groups of infants.

Material And Methods: Retrospective case-control study of newborns with gestational age of less than 32 weeks, with obstetric diagnosis of fetal growth restriction and with the clinical diagnosis of small for gestational age, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital for a period of six years.

Dental caries and bacterial load in saliva and dental biofilm of type 1 diabetics on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

Objectives: Since most of the studies evaluates diabetics on multiple daily injections therapy and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion may help gain better metabolic control and prevent complications, the objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries, the unstimulated salivary flow rate and the total bacteria load, Streptococcus spp. levels and Lactobacillus spp. levels in saliva and supragingival dental biofilm of type 1 diabetics on insulin pump.

[Being a Mother After 35 Years: Will it be Different?].

Introduction: Advanced maternal age is defined as maternity after 35 years old and is associated with more complications during pregnancy and neonatal period as well as decreased fertility. This study aims to examine the relationship between advanced maternal age and their maternal and fetal consequences, as well as maternal perception of the risk of pregnancy after 35 years old.

Material And Methods: Observational, retrospective and comparative study, between two groups: advanced maternal age group (aged ≥ 35 years) and non-advanced maternal age group (age < 35 years), conducted between March and June 2015.

Histologic evaluation of the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate-Fillapex as a root canal sealer in rat teeth submitted to late replantation.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of new root canal based silicate cement, in rat teeth after late replantation, comparing with calcium hydroxide (CH) in preventing tooth root resorption.

Materials And Methods: The study group included 16 Wistar rats in which the upper right central incisors were extracted and were left on a worktable for 60 min, simulating a case of tooth avulsion, after had been anesthetized. One group, (Group I), the canals were filled with CH past, before replantation.

Sealing efficacy of system B versus Thermafil and Guttacore obturation techniques evidenced by scintigraphic analysis.

Background: This study compared root canal sealing ability, filled by Continuous Wave compaction and two carrier-based obturation systems, using the nuclear medicine approach.

Material And Methods: Fifty-five single-rooted extracted teeth were selected. The crowns were sectioned and each tooth was instrumented using rotary Protaper® Universal system.

In vivo biodistribution of antihyperglycemic biopolymer-based nanoparticles for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

This study aimed to assess the biodistribution of antihyperglycemic insulin-loaded alginate/dextran sulfate-based nanoparticles dual coated with chitosan and technetium-99m-albumin (Tc-BSA) after oral administration. The oral administration of 50IU/kg insulin-loaded nanoparticles to type 1 diabetic rats showed prolonged antihyperglycemic effects up to 12h and relative pharmacological availability of 5.04% comparing to the subcutaneous administration.

An unusual cause of neonatal cyanosis….

We report a case of a female neonate whose pulse oximetry screening for congenital heart disease at 40 h of life was positive. The pregnancy was uneventful with no relevant family history. The neonate presented with bluish discolouration of the skin lasting until day 15.

Invasive fungal infection in neonatal intensive care units: a multicenter survey.

This study assesses the epidemiology of invasive fungal infection (IFI) in Portuguese Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and compares the effectiveness and safety of antifungal therapies. A survey concerning the period 2005-2010 was carried out in NICUs of Greater Lisbon. Among 10 473 admitted neonates, 44 cases were identified, 29 among extreme low birth weight neonates (65.

2-Bromo-5-hydroxyphenylporphyrins for photodynamic therapy: photosensitization efficiency, subcellular localization and in vivo studies.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality capable of inducing cell death by oxidative stress through activation of a sensitizer by light. Aryl-porphyrin with hydroxyl groups are good photosensitizers and presence of bromine atoms can enhance the photodynamic activity through heavy atom effect. These facts and our previous work made pertinent to compare the photodynamic capacity of tetraaryl brominated porphyrin (TBr4) with the corresponding diaryl (BBr2) derivative.

Quantitative scintigraphic analysis of pulp revascularization in autotransplanted teeth in dogs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pulpal changes associated with autogenous single-rooted immature tooth transplantation in dogs, using either one, or two-stage surgical techniques.

Methods: Teeth from 3 beagle dogs, 5 months old, were extracted and transplanted to mechanically prepared recipient sockets. Group (A), where the teeth were transplanted using a one-stage method to recipient beds prepared immediately before transplantation.

In vitro photodynamic activity of 5,15-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and its halogenated derivatives against cancer cells.

5,15-Diarylporphyrins (1-5) with hydroxyl groups and halogens as substituents were prepared by condensation between unsubstituted dipyrromethane and halogenated m-hydroxybenzaldehydes. Photophysical properties show that the nonhalogenated porphyrin 1 has higher fluorescence yield but lower singlet oxygen formation quantum yield than the halogenated derivatives due to the heavy atom effect. The in vitro activity of these derivatives was tested against WiDr colorectal adenocarcinoma and A375 melanoma cancer cells.

Dynamics of CD86 expression on allergic inflammation--new insights.

CD86 is a well-known costimulatory molecule in its interaction with CD28 and/or CTLA present on T cells, and is essential for full activation of naïve T-cell and subsequent differentiation. Usually the B7 molecules are expressed mainly on APCs and B cells and in specific conditions on other activated cells. These costimulatory molecules are involved in the development of allergic inflammation and airways hyperreactivity (AHR) in allergen-challenged mice.

Brain blood flow SPET imaging in heroin abusers.

To assess whether chronic heroin abuse may generate vascular central nervous deficits, we studied the profile of vascular alterations in 17 heroin addicts (14 males mean age 31 years, range 23-39 years and 3 females mean age 33 years, range 30-35 years) before and, in one of them, 10 weeks after an ultra-rapid heroin detoxification. Using the functional technique of single-photon emission tomography (SPET) with 740 MBq of (99m)Tc-hexametazine (HMPAO) and computational brain-mapping techniques by means of a Talairach analysis, we determined the pattern of vascular brain alterations associated with chronic heroin abuse. Compared with controls, subjects who had used heroin chronically showed a decrease of global brain perfusion that was more significant in the frontal cortex-mainly in orbito-frontal regions, as well as in the occipital and temporal lobes.