Socioeconomic disparities in changes to preterm birth and stillbirth rates during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: a study of 21 European countries.

Background: Despite concerns about worsening pregnancy outcomes resulting from healthcare restrictions, economic difficulties and increased stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, preterm birth (PTB) rates declined in some countries in 2020, while stillbirth rates appeared stable. Like other shocks, the pandemic may have exacerbated existing socioeconomic disparities in pregnancy, but this remains to be established. Our objective was to investigate changes in PTB and stillbirth by socioeconomic status (SES) in European countries.

Comparable Hemodilution with Hypertonic Glucose in Patients with and without Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus during Hemodialysis.

(1) Background: It was examined whether glucose-induced changes in the relative blood volume are suitable to identify subjects with and without type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) during hemodialysis. (2) Methods: The relative blood volume was continuously recorded during hemodialysis and perturbed by the infusion of glucose comparable to the dose used for intravenous glucose tolerance tests. Indices of glucose metabolism were determined by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA).

Clarity and consistency in stillbirth reporting in Europe: why is it so hard to get this right?

Background: Stillbirth is a major public health problem, but measurement remains a challenge even in high-income countries. We compared routine stillbirth statistics in Europe reported by Eurostat with data from the Euro-Peristat research network.

Methods: We used data on stillbirths in 2015 from both sources for 31 European countries.

Dravet Syndrome-The Polish Family's Perspective Study.

Aim: The aim of the paper is to study the prevalence of Dravet Syndrome (DS) in the Polish population and indicate different factors other than seizures reducing the quality of life in such patients.

Method: A survey was conducted among caregivers of patients with DS by the members of the Polish support group of the Association for People with Severe Refractory Epilepsy DRAVET.PL.

Glucose tolerance in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus during hemodialysis.

Aims: The disposal of a glucose bolus was studied to identify glucose metabolism in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) during their regular hemodialysis (HD) treatment.

Methods: Plasma glucose, insulin, and c-peptide concentrations were measured during a 60 min observation phase following a rapid glucose infusion (0.5 g/kg dry weight).

Using Robson's Ten-Group Classification System for comparing caesarean section rates in Europe: an analysis of routine data from the Euro-Peristat study.

Objective: Robson's Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) creates clinically relevant sub-groups for monitoring caesarean birth rates. This study assesses whether this classification can be derived from routine data in Europe and uses it to analyse national caesarean rates.

Design: Observational study using routine data.

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (clear cell sarcoma-like tumor of the gastrointestinal tract) of the small intestine in a 12-year-old boy.

The aim of this paper is a clinical and anatomopathological demonstration of a malignant lesion, a gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET), as an exceedingly rare cause of ileus in the pediatric population. Specifically, we present the case of a 12-year-old boy who showed dramatic weight loss, hypochromic anemia, fever, dehydration, exaggerated granulation of the terminal ileum, and mechanical ileus due to the obstruction by an intramural tumor of the small intestine. A 50cm-long part of the small intestine with pathological stricture was surgically removed, sampled and routinely fixed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Quantifying the burden of stillbirths before 28 weeks of completed gestational age in high-income countries: a population-based study of 19 European countries.

Background: International comparisons of stillbirth allow assessment of variations in clinical practice to reduce mortality. Currently, such comparisons include only stillbirths from 28 or more completed weeks of gestational age, which underestimates the true burden of stillbirth. With increased registration of early stillbirths in high-income countries, we assessed the reliability of including stillbirths before 28 completed weeks in such comparisons.

Congenital vesicouterine fistulas-A PRISMA-compliant systematic review.

Aims: Vesicouterine fistulas (VUFs) are infrequent abnormal connections between the bladder and the uterine cavity or cervical canal, being mainly sequelae of repeat Cesarean sections. Exceedingly rare are congenital VUFs. This is a systematic review of available world data aimed to characterize congenital VUFs and better understand the mechanism(s) of their formation.

Structural arrangement of vesicouterine fistula revisited: An immunohistochemical study documenting the presence of the endometrium.

Previous research has described a woman of reproductive age who presented with a vesicouterine fistula (VUF) of 20 months' duration. The VUF was lined with a metaplastic glandular epithelium containing both estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in abundance. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the histology of the VUF canal when exposure to urine of the cellular elements within the fistula was of much shorter duration.

Competitive inhibition of amino acid transport in human preovulatory ovarian follicles.

Unlabelled: To date we have yet to examine whether amino acid (AA) transport in human ovarian follicles is affected by competitive inhibition. In contrast, transplacental transfer of AAs in late-gestation sheep is characterized by reciprocal competition. This phenomenon has been described by algebraic equations of umbilical uptake of AAs based on maternal arterial concentrations.

Variations in very preterm birth rates in 30 high-income countries: are valid international comparisons possible using routine data?

Objective: Concerns about differences in registration practices across countries have limited the use of routine data for international very preterm birth (VPT) rate comparisons.

Design: Population-based study.

Setting: Twenty-seven European countries, the United States, Canada and Japan in 2010.

Prenyl Ammonium Salts--New Carriers for Gene Delivery: A B16-F10 Mouse Melanoma Model.

Purpose: Prenyl ammonium iodides (Amino-Prenols, APs), semi-synthetic polyprenol derivatives were studied as prospective novel gene transfer agents.

Methods: AP-7, -8, -11 and -15 (aminoprenols composed of 7, 8, 11 or 15 isoprene units, respectively) were examined for their capacity to form complexes with pDNA, for cytotoxicity and ability to transfect genes to cells.

Results: All the carriers were able to complex DNA.

Variations in Multiple Birth Rates and Impact on Perinatal Outcomes in Europe.

Objective: Infants from multiple pregnancies have higher rates of preterm birth, stillbirth and neonatal death and differences in multiple birth rates (MBR) exist between countries. We aimed to describe differences in MBR in Europe and to investigate the impact of these differences on adverse perinatal outcomes at a population level.

Methods: We used national aggregate birth data on multiple pregnancies, maternal age, gestational age (GA), stillbirth and neonatal death collected in the Euro-Peristat project (29 countries in 2010, N = 5 074 643 births).

Linking databases on perinatal health: a review of the literature and current practices in Europe.

Background: International comparisons of perinatal health indicators are complicated by the heterogeneity of data sources on pregnancy, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Record linkage can extend the range of data items available and thus can improve the validity and quality of routine data. We sought to assess the extent to which data are linked routinely for perinatal health research and reporting.

Socioeconomic inequalities in stillbirth rates in Europe: measuring the gap using routine data from the Euro-Peristat Project.

Background: Previous studies have shown that socioeconomic position is inversely associated with stillbirth risk, but the impact on national rates in Europe is not known. We aimed to assess the magnitude of social inequalities in stillbirth rates in European countries using indicators generated from routine monitoring systems.

Methods: Aggregated data on the number of stillbirths and live births for the year 2010 were collected for three socioeconomic indicators (mothers' educational level, mothers' and fathers' occupational group) from 29 European countries participating in the Euro-Peristat project.

Is Free Testosterone Concentration a Prognostic Factor of Survival in Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)?

Background: Lowered testosterone level in CRF patients is associated with elevated risk of death due to cardiovascular reasons, and is influenced by many factors, including acid-base balance disorders.

Aims: evaluation of testoste-rone concentration (TT) and free testosterone concentration (fT) in pre-dialysis and dialysis patients; assessment of TT and fT relationships with biochemical parameters; evaluation of prognostic importance of TT and fT in predicting patient survival.

Material And Methods: 4 groups of men: 14 - on hemodialysis (HD), 13 - on peritoneal dialysis (PD), 9 - with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 8 - healthy (CG), aged 56±17, 53±15, 68±12, 43±10 years, respectively.

Surface antigen expression on peripheral blood monocytes in women with gynecologic malignancies.

Background: Of many specialized blood cells, monocytes are gaining increasing attention for their role in neoplastic disorders. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the expression of selected peripheral blood monocyte surface antigens in cases of cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. In addition, our aim was to validate the diagnostic value of two artificial coefficients recently proposed for the diagnosis of gynecologic malignancies: Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), and Multiplication of Neutrophil and Monocyte Counts (MNM).

Novel point mutations in survival motor neuron 1 gene expand the spectrum of phenotypes observed in spinal muscular atrophy patients.

The aim of our study was to identify point mutations in a group of 606 patients diagnosed for spinal muscular atrophy with excluded biallelic loss of the SMN1 gene. Point missense mutations or small deletions in the SMN1 gene were ultimately identified in 18 patients. Six patients were found to have small deletions, the c.

Ethnic variation in maternity care: a comparison of Polish and Scottish women delivering in Scotland 2004-2009.

Objectives: Birth outcomes in migrants vary, but the relative explanatory influence of obstetric practice in origin and destination countries has been under-investigated. To explore this, birth outcomes of Scots and Polish migrants to Scotland were compared with Polish obstetric data. Poles are the largest group of migrants to Scotland, and Poland has significantly more medicalized maternity care than Scotland.

Impact of the shift to neonatal noninvasive ventilation in Poland: a population study.

Objective: This study was undertaken to document the real impact of a directed shift in the standard of neonatal practice to a pervasive use of noninvasive respiratory support.

Design: Before-after observational study.

Setting: All 18 neonatal ICUs in the capital region of Poland.

CD34+ cell subpopulations detected by 8-color flow cytometry in bone marrow and in peripheral blood stem cell collections: application for MRD detection in leukemia patients.

Fast development in polychromatic flow cytometry (PFC) makes it possible to study CD34+ cells with two scatter and eight fluorescence parameters. Minimal residual disease (MRD) is determined as persistence of leukemic cells at submicroscopic levels in bone marrow (BM) of patients in complete remission. MRD can be present in collections of hematopoietic stem cell from blood (HSC-B).

Is "watchful waiting" superior to surgery in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 presenting with extracranial and extramedullary tumor mass at diagnosis?

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare aggressive surgery to "watchful waiting" in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) patients with benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors exceeding 150 cm(3).

Materials And Methods: Observational study based on imaging studies and results of surgery was utilized.

Results: Twenty-seven out of 114 NF-1 patients (mean age of 12.