Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Vaccination Coverage among Residents of a Lower-Middle-Class Population in the Federal District, Brazil.

Estimating seroprevalence and vaccination coverage against COVID-19 is crucial to the development of well-targeted public health policies at the local level. Here, we estimated seroprevalence and vaccination coverage in a lower-middle-class population in Brazil. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, population-based survey from 24 September to 19 December 2021.

[Etiopathogenesis and treatment of breast capsular contracture].

Introduction: Capsular contracture is a chronic and the most frequent complication of augmentation mammoplasty with breast implants and the main cause of patient's and surgeon's dissatisfaction. The mammary capsule consists of a fibrous tissue that surrounds the implant that may contract, changing the shape and consistency of the breast. In its advanced stage is accompanied by pronounced deformity, hardness and pain, being indicated for surgical treatment.

Fluctuations in C-reactive protein concentration and neutrophil activation during normal human pregnancy.

Objectives: To clarify the changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and in the neutrophil activation state during normal human pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: A longitudinal study (n=23) was performed during the three trimesters of pregnancy; a group of non-pregnant women (n=24) was used as control. Total and differential leukocyte count, serum concentration of CRP and plasma levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and of lactoferrin and elastase (two indirect markers of neutrophil activation) were measured.

LDL size, total antioxidant status and oxidised LDL in normal human pregnancy: a longitudinal study.

The aim of our work was to evaluate changes in levels of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) during pregnancy and how they correlate with changes in LDL size and serum total antioxidant status (TAS). LDL peak and mean particle diameter (LDL-PPD and LDL-MPD, respectively) and the relative proportion of 3 LDL subfractions were quantified. We evaluated plasma levels of Ox-LDL and serum levels of TAS, total cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I), apolipoprotein B (apo B), HDL-cholesterol (HDLc) and LDL-cholesterol (LDLc).

Apolipoprotein E and cholesteryl ester transfer protein polymorphisms in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism and a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) polymorphism (CETP/TaqIB) with preeclampsia and with lipid/lipoprotein profile in pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: A group of 144 normal pregnant women (67 in the third trimester) were compared with 51 cases of preeclampsia in the third trimester of gestation. Apo E and CETP genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Neutrophil activation and C-reactive protein concentration in preeclampsia.

Preeclamptic pregnancies seem to be associated with a higher extent of inflammation compared with normal ones. We intended to test this proposal and also to clarify the contribution of some variables in such inflammatory process. We measured total and differential leukocyte count, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), and plasma levels of lactoferrin, elastase, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Elevated tissue plasminogen activator as a potential marker of endothelial dysfunction in pre-eclampsia: correlation with proteinuria.

Objective: To clarify the role played by endothelial cell production of fibrinolytic factors in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

Design: A longitudinal study performed during normal pregnancy and a cross sectional study performed in healthy and pre-eclamptic pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of S.

Band 3 as a marker of erythrocyte changes in pregnancy.

Modifications in the erythrocyte membrane protein band 3 seem to mark the cell for death. A decrease in band 3 high molecular weight aggregates (HMWAg) and a rise in its proteolytic fragments (Pfrag) were described for younger erythrocytes. The aim of this work was to study the band 3 profile as a marker of erythrocyte changes in pregnancy and postpartum.

Subcapsular hepatic hematoma in an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy.

Subcapsular hepatic hematoma is rare in pregnancies not complicated by pre-eclampsia or the HELLP syndrome. We now report such a case.

Changes in LDL size and HDL concentration in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in lipids, apolipoproteins and lipoproteins in Portuguese pregnant women and their potential involvement in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. A cross-sectional study was performed by collecting blood samples in the first (n=64), second (n=48) and third (n=67) trimesters and puerperium (n=32) of normal pregnancies. Samples from preeclamptic women were obtained in the third trimester (n=51) and in puerperium (n=26).

SisPorto 2.0: a program for automated analysis of cardiotocograms.

Objective: To describe the latest version of SisPorto, a program for automated analysis of cardiotocograms that closely follows the FIGO guidelines, analyses ante- and intrapartum tracings, performs no signal reduction, and has the possibility of simultaneously recording twins.

Methods: A detailed description of the program's processing algorithms and operation is provided, as well as the main results of the studies performed to-date with this system.

Results: Considering both current and previous versions of the program, SisPorto has been tested in over 6000 pregnancies.

Fetal heart rate baselines in twins. Interobserver agreement in antepartum estimation.

Objective: To assess interobserver agreement in antepartum estimation of fetal heart rate (FHR) baselines in twins.

Study Design: Two residents and one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, all with special interest in FHR monitoring, independently estimated baselines in 162 consecutive antepartum FHR tracings recorded in 24 twins. Tracings were obtained with a dual-channel fetal monitor for the simultaneous recording of both twins' heart rates.

Inconsistencies in classification by experts of cardiotocograms and subsequent clinical decision.

Inter-observer agreement in the interpretation according to the FIGO guidelines of 33 cardiotocographic tracings by experts and subsequent clinical decision was evaluated, using the kappa statistic (K) and the proportions of agreement (Pa). Overall agreement in the classification of tracings was fair (K = 0.48) and was better for normal (Pa = 0.

Objective computerized fetal heart rate analysis.

Objective: To assess the validity of a computerized methodology for cardiotocogram analysis based on a recently described reproducible visual estimation of the baseline.

Methods: Forty-two antepartum and 43 intrapartum cardiotocograms (CTGs) acquired by a personal computer were selected. Antepartum tracings were performed in the 48 h that preceded an elective cesarean section, and intrapartum tracings were performed until delivery.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma during pregnancy.

The authors report a case of a pregnancy with a Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A histological association of high-grade B-cell and a MALT type lymphoma was found which, to their best knowledge, is described for the first time in pregnancy.

Evaluation of interobserver agreement of cardiotocograms.

Objective: To evaluate interobserver agreement in visual analysis of each cardiotocographic event.

Methods: Three experts independently divided 16 antepartum and 17 intrapartum cardiotocograms into baseline segments, accelerations and decelerations, according to the FIGO guidelines. Baseline segments were further classified as having normal, reduced or increased variability and decelerations as early, late and variable.

Comparative study of lactoferrin and other blood markers of inflammatory stress between preeclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Objective: To test lactoferrin as a blood discriminator of neutrophil activation between normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.

Design: Comparative study between normal (n = 40) and preeclamptic women receiving treatment (n = 42) in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the post partum period (30 women with normal pregnancy and 22 with preeclampsia).

Methods: Blood, serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxidation products, elastase, C-reactive protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma GT), haptoglobin, osmotic fragility, urea, creatinine, uric acid, transaminases (ASAT, ALAT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), platelets, red and white blood cells.

Lactoferrin as a sensitive blood marker of neutrophil activation in normal pregnancies.

Objective: To test lactoferrin as a marker of neutrophil activation during pregnancy.

Design: Cross-sectional study in normal pregnant (n = 100), nonpregnant (n = 11) and post partum women (n = 30).

Methods: Serum or plasma measurements of neutrophils, lactoferrin, vitamin C, vitamin E, lipid peroxide, elastase, C-reactive protein gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, haptoglobin and osmotic fragility.

Inter-observer agreement in analysis of basal body temperature graphs from infertile women.

In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility of analysis of basal body temperature graphs under optimized conditions for agreement. A total of 160 recordings were selected from spontaneous cycles of infertile women and analysed by three experienced clinicians using uniform criteria. Agreement at the various stages of analysis was assessed by the 'proportions of agreement' with 95% confidence intervals.

Loss of dopamine D1-like receptors in the umbilical artery of pre-eclamptic subjects.

1. The influence of pre-eclampsia on the density and pattern of dopamine D1-like receptors was studied in frozen samples of the placental end of the umbilical artery by using radioligand binding and autoradiographic techniques in combination. 2.

Pharmacological characterization and autoradiographic localization of dopamine D1 receptors in the human umbilical artery.

Combined in vitro radioreceptor binding and autoradiographic techniques with [3H]SCH 23390 as a ligand were used to analyze the pharmacological profile and anatomical localization of dopamine D1 receptor sites in sections of human umbilical artery. The ligand was bound to sections of the artery in a manner consistent with the labelling of D1 receptors. These receptors, which show a fetal-to-maternal gradient with the highest concentration near the placenta, are located within the smooth muscle layer of the umbilical artery.