Monkeypox infection and pregnancy in lower and middle-income countries: Precautions & recommendations.

Monkeypox (MPX), an orthopoxviral disease endemic in Africa, is now a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) as declared by the World Health Organization in July 2023. Although it is generally mild, the overall case fatality rate was reported to be 3%, and the basic reproduction number (R0) is > 1 in men who have sex with men (MSM, i.e., Portugal (1.4), the United Kingdom (1.6), and Spain (1.8)). However, R0 is < 1 in other settings. In concordance with the smallpox virus, it is also expected to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. The outcomes of the disease in an immunocompromised state of pregnancy are scary, showing high mortality and morbidity of both mother and fetus, with up to a 75% risk of fetal side effects and a 25% risk of severe maternal diseases. Therefore, it warrants timely diagnosis and intervention. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test is the standard approach to diagnosis. We summarized the recent findings of MPX on pregnancy, and the associated risk factors. We also give recommendations for active fetal surveillance, perinatal care, and good reporting to improve outcomes. The available vaccines have shown promise for primary disease prevention.

Atypical Vaginal Aggressive Angiomyxoma in a Virgin: A Case Report from South Jordan.

Aggressive angiomyxoma is a locally invasive, rarely diagnosed mesenchymal tumor that predominantly affects the perineal region of women in their reproductive years. It is typically found in areas such as the vagina, vulva, and other pelvic soft tissues, but its presentation can be highly variable. We describe a particularly unique case of aggressive angiomyxoma, presenting in an atypical manner within the vaginal region of a 31-year-old virgin woman. This case is noteworthy for the unusual growth pattern of the angiomyxoma-located strictly within the vaginal epithelium, showing no signs of invasion into surrounding tissues, which is not typical of the aggressive nature of this type of tumor. The patient presented with a mass that protruded through the hymen, an uncommon presentation that led to initial speculation about the nature of the mass. The definitive diagnosis of aggressive angiomyxoma was made by meticulous histopathological examination after surgical excision of the mass. This case emphasizes the critical importance of considering aggressive angiomyxoma in the differential diagnosis of vaginal masses, particularly those that do not exhibit invasive characteristics. The case also highlights the need for increased awareness among clinicians about the potential for atypical presentations of this rare tumor, to facilitate timely and accurate diagnosis, and to guide appropriate management strategies. This report contributes to the growing body of literature on aggressive angiomyxoma, highlighting the variability in its presentation and the need to heighten suspicion in atypical cases.

Monkeypox infection and pregnancy in lower and middle-income countries: Precautions & recommendations

Abstract Monkeypox (MPX), an orthopoxviral disease endemic in Africa, is now a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) as declared by the World Health Organization in July 2023. Although it is generally mild, the overall case fatality rate was reported to be 3%, and the basic reproduction number (R0) is > 1 in men who have sex with men (MSM, i.e., Portugal (1.4), the United Kingdom (1.6), and Spain (1.8)). However, R0 is < 1 in other settings. In concordance with the smallpox virus, it is also expected to increase the risk of adverse outcomes for both the mother and the fetus. The outcomes of the disease in an immunocompromised state of pregnancy are scary, showing high mortality and morbidity of both mother and fetus, with up to a 75% risk of fetal side effects and a 25% risk of severe maternal diseases. Therefore, it warrants timely diagnosis and intervention. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test is the standard approach to diagnosis. We summarized the recent findings of MPX on pregnancy, and the associated risk factors. We also give recommendations for active fetal surveillance, perinatal care, and good reporting to improve outcomes. The available vaccines have shown promise for primary disease prevention.

Targeting Cytochrome P450 Enzymes in Ovarian Cancers: New Approaches to Tumor-Selective Intervention.

Over the past decade, there have been significant developments in treatment for ovarian cancer, yet the lack of targeted therapy with few side effects still represents a major issue. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme family plays a vital role in the tumorigenesis process and metabolism of drugs and has a negative impact on therapy outcomes. Gaining more insight into CYP expression is crucial to understanding the pathophysiology of ovarian cancer since many isoforms are essential to the metabolism of xenobiotics and steroid hormones, which drive the disease's development. To the best of our knowledge, no review articles have documented the intratumoral expression of CYPs and their implications in ovarian cancer. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide a clear understanding of differential CYP expression in ovarian cancer and its implications for the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients, together with the effects of CYP polymorphisms on chemotherapy metabolism. Finally, we discuss opportunities to exploit metabolic CYP expression for the development of novel therapeutic methods to treat ovarian cancer.

Cytochrome 4Z1 Expression Connotes Unfavorable Prognosis in Ovarian Cancers.

Background and Objective: Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death in females. Since its treatment is challenging and causes severe side effects, novel therapies are urgently needed. One of the potential enzymes implicated in the progression of cancers is Cytochrome 4Z1 (CYP4Z1). Its expression in ovarian cancer remains unknown. Therefore, the current study aims to assess CYP4Z1 expression in different subtypes of ovarian cancers. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to characterize CYP4Z1 expression in 192 cases of ovarian cancers along with eight normal ovarian tissues. The enzyme's association with various clinicopathological characteristics and survival was determined. Results: CYP4Z1 was strongly expressed in 79% of ovarian cancers, compared to negative expression in normal ovarian samples. Importantly, significantly high CYP4Z1 expres-sion was determined in patients with advanced-stage cancer and a high depth of invasion (p < 0.05). Surprisingly, CYP4Z1 expression was significantly associated with a low patient survival rate. Univariate analysis revealed that patient survival was strongly associated with CYP4Z1 expression, tumor stage, depth of invasion, and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that only CYP4Z1 expression was significantly associated with patient survival (p < 0.05). Conclusions: CYP4Z1 expression is correlated with shorter patient survival and has been identified as an independent indicator of a poor prognosis for ovarian cancer patients.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on training and mental health of residents: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Residency programs have been impacted by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this study we aim to investigate and evaluate the impact of the pandemic on residents as well as residency training programs. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study including a survey of 43 questions prepared on Google forms and electronically distributed among a convenience sample of residents training at a tertiary center in North Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected in the period between October 30th and November 8th of 2020. The survey included questions that addressed the impact of the pandemic on residents' health as well as training programs. The study participants included residents in training at KAUH in 2020 and were stratified according to the type of residency program (surgical residents (SRs) and non-surgical residents (NSRs)). Statistical methods included descriptive analysis, Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, Mann Whitney U test, and Cramer's V and r statistics as measures of effect sizes. RESULTS: Of all 430 residents, 255 (59%) responded to the survey. A total of 17 (7%) of residents reported being infected with COVID-19 and a significant difference was reported between SRs and NSRs (10% vs 4%, V = .124 "small effect" (95% CI; .017-.229), p = 0.048). Approximately, 106 (42%) reported a decrease in the number of staff working at the clinic and 164 (64%) reported limited access to personal protective equipment during the pandemic. On a 4-point Likert scale for the feeling of anxiety, the median was 2 (2-3 IQR) in the NSRs group, vs 2 (1-2 IQR) in the SRs groups, with the NSRs being more likely to feel anxious (r = 0.13 "small effect" (95% CI; 0.007-0.249), p = .044). Similarly, the proportion of residents who reported feeling anxious about an inadequacy of protective equipment in the work area was significantly greater in the NSRs group (90.3% vs 75.2%; V = .201 "small effect" (95% CI; .078-.313), p = .001), as well as the proportion of residents who reported feeling increased stress and anxiety between colleagues being also significantly higher in the NSRs group (88.1% vs 76%; V = .158 "small effect" (95% CI; .032-.279), p = .012). CONCLUSION: The burden of the ongoing pandemic on the mental health status of residents is very alarming and so providing residents with psychological counseling and support is needed. Also, critical implications on the flow of residency training programs have been noticed. This necessitates adapting and adopting smart educational techniques to compensate for such limitations.

In vitro anti-inflammatory potential of phloretin microemulsion as a new formulation for prospective treatment of vaginitis.

Phloretin is a promising polyphenolic compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but its poor solubility and low bioavailability hinder its clinical applicability. Till current date, its potential in the treatment of vaginitis has not been explored, and only very few papers reported its formulation as nanoparticles to overcome its pharmaceutical challenges. Therefore, in the current study, phloretin was formulated in microemulsion of 11 nm size, and its in vitro anti-inflammatory properties were explored using histamine and IL-6 release inhibition assays, protease inhibition assay, and membrane stabilization potential. The anti-inflammatory properties of phloretin microemulsion were compared to the drug phloretin, and the reference standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Results proved that both phloretin and phloretin microemulsion significantly inhibited the release of the inflammatory mediators histamine and IL-6, inhibited protease action, and exhibited membrane stabilization potential. Phloretin microemulsion exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory properties to the NSAIDs diclofenac and indomethacin, and, hence, it can be delineated as a promising therapeutic tool in topical treatment of vaginal inflammation.