Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery: a tertiary center experience in North Italy.

OBJECTIVES: Although the knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy has greatly improved, there is still a lack of information on its role in the later stages of gestation. The aim of this study is to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 discovered at delivery is associated with any obstetric or neonatal complications. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy, from March 2020 to March 2023. Pregnant women admitted were tested for SARS-CoV-2. 168 women resulted positive at the time of delivery; the women were asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. 170 negative women were selected as controls, selecting, for each SARS-CoV-2 positive patient, the patient who gave birth right before, if negative. Demographic and anamnestic characteristics, pregnancy, labor, and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were more likely to have gestational diabetes (13.7 vs. 5.3 %) and required less frequently intrapartum analgesia (11.3 vs. 27 %) and labor augmentation (7.3 vs. 16.5 %). Post-partum hemorrhage rate was lower (13.7 vs. 22.9 %) and a shorter length of first and second stage of labor occurred. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients have shorter labor length and a lower incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. Fewer obstetric interventions, as well as less use of intrapartum analgesia and oxytocin, could explain these findings. Moreover, gestational diabetes could increase susceptibility to infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery in asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic patients does not appear to increase the rate of cesarean delivery or other obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes have not worsened.

Vaginal metastasis of lung cancer: A case report.

Lung adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is a rare biphasic malignant tumor with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) components. ASC is reported to be aggressive; the most common metastatic sites are the regional lymph nodes and surrounding areas. A 46-year-old woman was referred to the emergency department with a persistent dry cough. She underwent fibro-bronchoscopy and was diagnosed with an adenosquamous lung carcinoma. Other than pulmonary and lymphatic findings, a total-body computed tomography (CT) examination highlighted a hypodense formation, of about 9 mm, with a cystic appearance, at the level of the vaginal region. A biopsy performed in the posterior vaginal wall highlighted a vaginal wall flap with subepithelial localization of neoplasia, compatible with the pulmonary ASC. Oncologists took charge of the case and the patient commenced medical therapy with entrectinib. Four months later, she developed dyspnea, and high-resolution CT highlighted an increase in the pathological tissue causing bronchial occlusion. The patient underwent endobronchial stent placement and thereafter restarted therapy with entrectinib, previously stopped because of the new symptoms, and was closely monitored. Apparently only one case of vaginal metastasis from pulmonary tumor has been previously reported, and this is the first report of vaginal metastasis from ASC. Although extremely rare, the presence of such metastasis should be considered in women with suspected vaginal neoformations.

Hysteroscopy in the new media: quality and reliability analysis of hysteroscopy procedures on YouTube™.

BACKGROUND: Hysteroscopy plays a crucial role in diagnosing and managing various intrauterine pathologies. However, its execution can be influenced by patients' perception and understanding, which are often shaped by digital resources such as YouTubeTM. Given its popularity and accessibility, YouTubeTM has the potential to greatly influence patients' knowledge and expectations about this procedure, highlighting the need for accurate and reliable information. PURPOSE: This study aims to assess the reliability and quality of hysteroscopy information available to patients on YouTubeTM. Understanding the nature of information patients' access can help address their fears and potential misunderstandings about the procedure, consequently reducing the likelihood of suspension or postponement due to anxiety. METHODS: A comprehensive analysis of YouTubeTM was conducted, simulating the search process of a patient seeking information about hysteroscopy. The study evaluated the reliability and quality of 90 out of the first 100 hysteroscopy-related videos on YouTubeTM, scored by four gynecologists-two experienced hysteroscopists and two trainees. The videos were assessed for reliability and quality using the mDISCERN and Global Quality Scale (GQS) scores. RESULTS: The average mDISCERN and GQS scores for the evaluated videos were below the optimal three points, highlighting the lack of fluency, comprehensiveness, and reliability of the available information. Notably, while videos produced by experts, including doctors and professional channels, had higher scores, they still fell short of the minimum score of 3. These videos also were not considered more suitable for either patients or trainees. Videos that were assessed as reliable (mDISCERN ≥ 3) were observed to be longer and were more frequently produced by doctors. These videos were suggested more to trainees rather than patients. Similarly, videos deemed as fluent and comprehensive (GQS ≥ 3) were longer and were more often recommended to patients. CONCLUSIONS: While YouTubeTM is a widely used source of medical information, the quality and reliability of hysteroscopy videos on the platform are poor. The strategic use of selected, high-quality hysteroscopy videos can enhance procedure success and alleviate patient fears. However, the unsupervised discovery of information by patients could potentially lead to procedure failure or an elevated level of stress due to misleading or incorrect information.

COVID-19 susceptibility in endometriosis patients: A case control study.

PROBLEM: Starting from November 2019, the world has had to face a devastating pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. Various studies have identified potential risk factors facilitating the infection, however it has not been demonstrated whether endometriosis might represent one of them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if patients with endometriosis had a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 infection and, in such case, whether they developed a more severe infection than the general population. Furthermore, this study evaluated the possible correlation with the stage of endometriosis, based on the r-ASRM score, and the potential worsening of the disease during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHOD OF STUDY: A case-control study was conducted from March 2020 to April 2021 at Macedonio Melloni Hospital, in Milan. A total of 401 women were recruited. The cases were 201 women with clinical or surgical diagnosis of endometriosis. The control group consisted of 200 women, without the disease. All women completed a self-administered questionnaire which evaluated their demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as a potential diagnosis of Covid-19. RESULTS: Comparison between the two groups showed that women with endometriosis had a higher frequency of COVID-19 than the control subjects (23% vs. 13.5%, P = .014), with a greater prevalence of fever (14.4% vs. 6%, P = .008) and myalgias or arthralgias (11.4% vs. 4.5%, P = .01). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, women with endometriosis had a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 2.11, 95% IC: 1.20-3.80), regardless the stage of the disease. CONCLUSION: Endometriosis increases the susceptibility to COVID-19, and women who suffer from it should be considered as fragile patients, worthy of prior access to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign.