Lung ultrasound and computed tomographic findings in pregnant woman with COVID-19.

Imaging modalities play a crucial role in the management of suspected COVID-19 patients. Before reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results are positive, 60-93% of patients have positive chest computed tomographic (CT) findings consistent with COVID-19. We report a case of positive lung ultrasound findings consistent with COVID-19 in a woman with an initially negative RT-PCR result. The lung ultrasound-imaging findings were present between the negative and subsequent positive RT-PCR tests and correlated with CT findings. The point-of-care lung-ultrasound examination was easy to perform and, as such, could play an important role in the triage of women with suspected COVID-19. The neonatal swabs, cord blood and placental swab RT-PCR tests were negative for SARS-CoV-2, a finding consistent with the published literature suggesting no vertical transmission of this virus in pregnant women. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A novel WT1 gene mutation in a newborn infant diagnosed with Denys-Drash syndrome.

Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS) is a rare disorder characterized by glomerulopathy, genital abnormalities and predisposition to Wilms' tumor. It is associated with constitutional Wilms'tumor suppressor 1 (WT1) gene mutations, in which the majority being missense mutations in the zinc-finger region. Here, we present a newborn with DDS, associated with a novel heterozygous missense mutation, p.Asp396His, on exon 9 of WT1.

Neonatal thrombo-embolism: risk factors, clinical features and outcome.

BACKGROUND: There are few data with respect to prothrombotic risk factors in neonates. AIM: To determine the associated risk factors, clinical features and outcome in newborn infants diagnosed with thrombo-embolism. METHODS: Case records of 25 infants (17 full-term and eight preterm) diagnosed with thrombo-embolism between January 2005 and April 2008 in a neonatal intensive care unit were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 25 infants, 18 cases of venous (72%) and seven of arterial (28%) thrombo-embolism were recorded; in 18 it was associated with central catheterisation. The sites of thrombosis were portal vein (15), right renal vein (one), right femoral vein (one), multiple veins (one), right femoral artery (3), right iliac artery (2), bilateral iliac and renal arteries (one) and left renal artery (one). Hereditary thrombotic mutations were detected in three patients and anticardiolipin antibody was detected in one, none of whom had been catheterised. The remaining three non-catheterised patients had perinatal risk factors. Venous catheter placement was undertaken in 12 patients (48%), eleven of whom had: umbilical venous catheterisation for exchange transfusion (9), partial exchange transfusion (one) and venous access (one), and one had femoral venous catheterisation for an angiographic study. Arterial catheterisation was undertaken in seven patients (28%) (one infant had both umbilical venous and arterial catheters) for angiographic studies (5) and blood sampling (2). Of the 18 catheterised patients (72%), thrombophilic studies were undertaken in 13 and none had abnormal results. Additional perinatal risk factors were present in 18 patients (72%) and included prematurity (8), congenital heart disease (8), septicaemia (5), dehydration (3), respiratory distress syndrome (3), polycythemia (2), meconium aspiration syndrome (one), pneumonia (one), maternal diabetes (one), necrotising enterocolitis (one) and perinatal asphyxia (one). Although most of the patients recovered after anticoagulant or fibrinolytic therapy, the five (20%) deaths were associated mainly with underlying diseases. CONCLUSION: The most important risk factor for thrombo-embolic events in neonates is placement of central catheters and some perinatal prothrombotic conditions. Nevertheless, hereditary or acquired thrombophilic risk factors may also be a cause of thrombo-embolism.

Physiology and pharmacology of the human ureter: basis for current and future treatments.

INTRODUCTION: This article sets out to be a review regarding agents that affect contraction and relaxation of the ureter in order to establish a basis for current and future treatments for upper urinary tract obstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A complete review of the English literature using MEDLINE was performed between 1960 and 2007 on ureter physiology and pharmacology with special emphasis on signal transduction mechanisms involved in the contractile regulation of the human ureter. RESULTS: Activation of muscarinic and adrenergic receptors increases the amplitude of ureteral contractions. The sympathetic nerves modulate the contractions by alpha-adrenoceptors and relaxation by beta-adrenoceptors. The purinergic system is important in sensory/motor functions and ATP is an important non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) agent causing contraction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a major inhibitory NANC neurotransmitter causing relaxation. Serotonin causes contraction. Prostaglandin-F(2)alpha contracts whereas prostaglandin-E(1)/E(2) relaxes the ureter. Phosphodiesterases (PDE) and the Rho-kinase pathway have recently been identified in the human ureter. PDE-IV inhibitors, K(+) channel openers, calcium antagonists, alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists and NO donors seem to be promising drugs in relieving obstruction and facilitating stone passage. CONCLUSIONS: Further understanding of the ureteral function and pharmacology may lead to the discovery of promising new drugs that could be useful in relieving ureteral colic, facilitating spontaneous stone passage, preparing the ureter for ureteroscopy as well as acting adjunctive to extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.

Lactate profiles of wrestlers who participated in 32nd European Free-Style Wrestling Championship in 1989.

Blood samples of 19 volunteer national team wrestlers from various nations were evaluated in the study for lactic acid values after their last match in the 32nd European Free-Style Wrestling Championship in Ankara, 1989. This was the first European Championship after the change of wrestling duration from six minute bout with one minute rest in between to continuous five minute bout. The results showed that means and standard deviations of free-style wrestlers were 103.97 +/- 11.31 mg% for blood lactic acid concentration, 25.32 +/- 4.03 years for age, 1.73 +/- 0.11 m for height, and 78.63 +/- 22.88 kg for weight respectively. The success of the wrestlers in this free-style wrestling championship had no relationship with the level of their blood lactic acid concentration.