Placental SARS-CoV-2 distribution correlates with level of tissue oxygenation in COVID-19-associated necrotizing histiocytic intervillositis/perivillous fibrin deposition.

Introduction: Recent evidence supports the - rare - occurrence of vertical transplacental SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We previously determined that placental expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, and associated viral cell entry regulators is upregulated by hypoxia. In the present study, we utilized a clinically relevant model of SARS-CoV-2-associated chronic histiocytic intervillositis/massive perivillous fibrin deposition (CHIV/MPFVD) to test the hypothesis that placental hypoxia may facilitate placental SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Increased placental expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2, associated with hypoxia in twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS).

Introduction: Recent reports suggest SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, may be transmittable from pregnant mother to placenta and fetus, albeit rarely. The efficacy of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 critically depends on the availability of its receptor, ACE2, in the placenta. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that placental ACE2 expression is oxygenation-dependent by studying the expression of ACE2 and associated cell entry regulators in the monochorionic twin anemia-polycythemia (TAPS) placenta, a model of discordant placental oxygenation.

Correlation between chorionic plate vascularization and risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants.

Introduction/objectives: The chorionic plate vessels of the placenta are in direct continuity with the fetal vasculature, suggesting chorionic and fetal angiogenesis may be subjected to similar regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we determined the correlation between chorionic plate vascularization and complications of prematurity, focusing on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and other conditions with important microvascular components.

Methods: We performed a clinicoplacental analysis of 127 extremely preterm infants (23-28 weeks gestation).

Discordant placental oxygenation and autophagy in twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS).

Background: (Macro)autophagy is an important process of self-degradation of macromolecules and organelles that ensures cellular homeostasis and energy preservation during stressful conditions. Dysregulated placental autophagy has been implicated in a wide range of pregnancy complications. Recent studies identified hypoxia as a key regulator of trophoblast autophagy in vitro; however, its effects on placental autophagy in vivo remain incompletely understood.

Redness discordance in monochorionic twin placentas: Correlation with clinical and placental findings.

Introduction/objectives: Recent studies suggest redness (color) discordance of the placental basal plate may be a marker for twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS), a recently described complication of diamniotic-monochorionic twinning characterized by marked intertwin hemoglobin (Hb) discordance in the absence of oligohydramnios-polyhydramnios. In this study, we determined the clinicoplacental and choriovascular correlates of basal plate color discordance in monochorionic twin placentas, and assessed its value as postnatal indicator of TAPS.

Methods: We performed a clinicoplacental analysis of 100 consecutive non-TTTS diamniotic-monochorionic twin placentas with available photographic documentation of the basal plate.

Florid Intussusceptive-like Microvascular Dysangiogenesis in a Preterm Lung.

The cellular mechanisms underlying the microvascular dysangiogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (chronic lung disease of the newborn) remain largely undetermined. We report unusual pulmonary vascular findings in a 27-week-gestation male newborn who died on the second day of life from intractable respiratory failure, following a pregnancy complicated by prolonged membrane rupture and persistent severe oligohydramnios. As expected, postmortem examination revealed pulmonary hypoplasia (lung/body weight ratio: 2.

Postmortem lung volume/body weight standards for term and preterm infants.

Assessment of lung growth is a critical component of the perinatal autopsy. Increased lung liquid content may lead to overestimation of lung growth based on (wet) lung weight. In contrast, lung volume is not influenced by intraalveolar lung liquid.

Correlation between cord insertion type and chorionic villus vascularization of the co-twin in diamniotic-monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that cord insertion type of one twin correlates with chorionic plate vascularization of the monochorionic co-twin. Specifically, for twins with paracentral cords, chorionic plate vascularization is significantly greater when the co-twin has a velamentous, rather than paracentral cord insertion.

Aims: To determine whether this correlation between cord insertion type and vascularization of the co-twin also extends to the deeper chorionic villus tree.

Intrauterine demise due to congenital mesoblastic nephroma in a fetus conceived by assisted reproductive technology.

Objective: To report a case of antenatally diagnosed congenital mesoblastic nephroma in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) conception.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Tertiary care university-affiliated hospital.