Multidisciplinary Workup for Stillbirth at a Tertiary-Care Hospital in Northeast Mexico: Findings, Challenges and Perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Stillbirth is an important health problem, and in Mexico, only half of the stillbirths have an explainable cause. The aim of this study was to implement a multidisciplinary workup to identify the etiology and potential risk factors for stillbirth at the Hospital Universitario "Dr. José Eleuterio González". METHODS: This is a prospective, descriptive, observational study that included stillbirths from the Obstetrics Service from October 1st, 2019 to May 25, 2020. Evaluation strategies included a complete maternal medical history, physical examination of the fetus, and a photographic medical record. For every stillbirth either a prenatal ultrasound, a postnatal x-ray, or a fetal autopsy, were needed. Multiplex Ligation Probe Amplification (MLPA) was performed with an umbilical cord sample. RESULTS: Thirty-three stillbirths were reported; 21 were included in the analysis. Eleven women (52.3%) had known risk factors for stillbirth, mainly elevated body mass index and diabetes. On physical examination, external birth defects were found in 8 fetuses (38%). X-ray was performed in 14 cases (66%), alterations were detected as a probable etiologic cause just in one. All cases underwent MLPA, which were reported negative. Three cases had criteria for autopsy. Findings were inconclusive to determine etiology. CONCLUSIONS: The best tools for evaluation of stillbirth were the elaboration of clinical history, physical examination, and prenatal ultrasound. Diabetes and obesity were the most frequent risk factors found in our population. These factors are preventable by implementing strategies that lead to better prenatal care.

Stillbirth is a health problem whose causes are rarely evaluated and explained to the families that go through this situation. To completely explain the causes of stillbirth a complete workup should be performed, where a multidisciplinary participation is needed. Mainly these workups have been performed retrospectively, however we introduce a complete evaluation of stillbirth since the moment of arrival to obstetrics department and performing evaluations for fetal, maternal or combined causes, including genetic testing; detecting key health issues in our population, that can be prevented with an adequate prenatal care.

Undifferentiated embryonal liver sarcoma: case report and review of the literature. / Sarcoma hepático embrionario indiferenciado: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver accounts for 9-13% of malignant tumors in the pediatric age group, and is the third primary malignant neoplasm of the liver in children. However, few cases are reported in the literature. It may manifest with fever, weight loss, pain, and abdominal tumor sensation. In addition to pathology and immunohistochemistry, imaging studies are the appropriate tools for diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 6-year-old female patient diagnosed with undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver by surgery and subsequent biopsy results. CONCLUSIONS: When reviewing the literature, we found that this type of malignant neoplasm is not frequent in children. However, it is important to consider this type of tumor as a cause in those cases of hepatomegaly in the pediatric age.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El sarcoma hepático embrionario indiferenciado representa el 9-13% de los tumores hepáticos malignos en la edad pediátrica y es la tercera neoplasia maligna primaria de hígado en la infancia. Sin embargo, son pocos los casos reportados en la literatura. Se puede manifestar con fiebre, pérdida de peso, dolor y sensación de tumor abdominal. Los estudios de imagen, además de los estudios anatomopatológico e inmunohistoquímico, son las herramientas adecuadas para el diagnóstico. CASO CLÍNICO: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 6 años de edad con diagnóstico de sarcoma hepático embrionario indiferenciado mediante cirugía y posterior resultado de la biopsia. CONCLUSIONES: Al revisar la literatura se encontró que este tipo de neoplasia maligna no es frecuente en la infancia. Sin embargo, es importante considerar este tipo de tumor como causa en aquellos casos de hepatomegalia en la edad pediátrica.

Maternal cafeteria diet exposure primes depression-like behavior in the offspring evoking lower brain volume related to changes in synaptic terminals and gliosis.

Maternal nutritional programming by caloric exposure during pregnancy and lactation results in long-term behavioral modification in the offspring. Here, we characterized the effect of maternal caloric exposure on synaptic and brain morphological organization and its effects on depression-like behavior susceptibility in rats' offspring. Female Wistar rats were exposed to chow or cafeteria (CAF) diet for 9 weeks (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and lactation) and then switched to chow diet after weaning. By postnatal day 60, the male Wistar rat offspring were tested for depressive-like behavior using operational conditioning, novelty suppressed feeding, sucrose preference, and open-field test. Brain macro and microstructural morphology were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging deformation-based morphometry (DBM) and western blot, immunohistochemistry for NMDA and AMPA receptor, synaptophysin and myelin, respectively. We found that the offspring of mothers exposed to CAF diet displayed deficient motivation showing decrease in the operant conditioning, sucrose preference, and suppressed feeding test. Macrostructural DBM analysis showed reduction in the frontomesocorticolimbic circuit volume including the nucleus accumbens (NAc), hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Microstructural analysis revealed reduced synaptic terminals in hippocampus and NAc, whereas increased glial fibrillary acidic protein in hippocampus and lateral hypothalamus, as well as a decrease in the hippocampal cell number and myelin reduction in the dentate gyrus and hilus, respectively. Also, offspring exhibited increase of the GluR1 and GLUR2 subunits of AMPA receptor, whereas a decrease in the mGluR2 expression in hippocampus. Our findings reveal that maternal programming might prime depression-like behavior in the offspring by modulating macro and micro brain organization of the frontomesocorticolimbic circuit.

Recurrent renal cell carcinoma to the breast and thigh soft tissues. A case report and review of the literature.

The breast seldom harbors secondary malignant lesions and is rarer for the kidney to be the origin of the metastatic lesion. Keen Imaging analysis, as well as a high index of suspicion, are critical to differentiate a primary tumor from a metastatic lesion. We describe an unusual case of a recurrent RCC presenting as metastatic lesions to the breast and soft tissue of the right thigh in a 51-year-old patient referred to our breast-imaging unit 10 months after therapeutic surgery. An adequate and close follow-up accompanied by a thorough physical exam and appropriate imaging methods is essential to identify these types of cases.

ADIPOQ single nucleotide polymorphisms and breast cancer in northeastern Mexican women.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms have been shown to affect adiponectin serum concentration and some have been associated with breast cancer (BC) risk. The aims of this study were to describe the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ADIPOQ in Mexican women with BC and to determine if they show an association with it. METHODS: DNA samples from 397 patients and 355 controls were tested for the ADIPOQ gene SNPs: rs2241766 (GT) and rs1501299 (GT) by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested. Multiple SNP inheritance models adjusted by age and body mass index (BMI) were examined for the SNP rs1501299. RESULTS: We found that in the frequency analysis of rs1501299 without adjusting the BMI and age, the genotype distribution had a statistically significant difference (P = 0.003). The T allele was associated with a BC risk (OR, 1.99; 95% CI 1.13-3.51, TT vs. GG; OR, 1.53; 95% CI 1.12-2.09, GT vs. GG). The SNP rs2241766 was in HW disequilibrium in controls. In conclusion, the rs1501299 polymorphism is associated with a BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the genotype of these polymorphisms in patients with BC can contribute to integrate the risk profile in both patients and their relatives as part of a comprehensive approach and increasingly more personalized medicine.

Respiratory distress associated with heterotopic gastrointestinal cysts of the oral cavity: A case report.

Heterotopic gastrointestinal cysts of the oral cavity are benign lesions usually discovered during infancy. Their pathogenesis is not very clear. They are rare congenital anomalies that result from remnants of foregut-derived epithelium in the head, neck, thorax or abdomen during embryonic development. The majority of these lesions occur in the anterior ventral surface of the tongue and extend to the floor of the mouth. They are confused clinically by surgeons in cases of head and neck masses in children as ranulas, dermoid and thyroglossal cysts, and lymphangioma. We report the case of a 28-day newborn with a 3.6 cm oval mass on the floor of the mouth causing difficulty eating and cyanosis during crying. Complete surgical excision was performed by an oral approach under general anesthesia. Microscopic examination revealed gastric epithelium with tall columnar mucous cells on the surface and numerous short closed crypts, resembling fundal glands and mature gastric epithelium.

Fatal Outcome from Brain Vascular Lesions in a Neonate with Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome.

The most common cause of death in blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is gastrointestinal bleeding. Here we present a case of central nervous system bleeding that resulted in death.

Pediatric Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Horseshoe Kidney: A Case Report with Review of the Literature.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the kidney in adults. In children, however, it only accounts for an estimated 1.8 to 6.3% of all pediatric malignant renal tumors. Papillary renal cell carcinoma is the second most common type of renal cell carcinoma in children. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with a 2-month history of abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, and gross hematuria. Computed tomography revealed a horseshoe kidney and a well-defined mass of 4 cm arising from the lower pole of the right kidney. Microscopically the tumor was composed of papillae covered with cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and high-grade nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Immunohistochemistry was performed; EMA, Vimentin, and AMACR were strongly positive while CK7, CD10, RCC antigen, TFE3, HMB-45, and WT-1 were negative. Currently, 10 months after the surgical procedure, the patient remains clinically and radiologically disease-free.

Population based prostate cancer screening in north Mexico reveals a high prevalence of aggressive tumors in detected cases.

BACKGROUND: Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent neoplasia in men worldwide. Previous reports suggest that the prevalence of PCa in Hispanic males is lower than in Africans (including communities with African ancestry) and Caucasians, but higher than in Asians. Despite these antecedents, there are few reports of open population screenings for PCa in Latin American communities. This article describes the results of three consecutive screenings in the urban population of Monterrey, Mexico. METHODS: After receiving approval from our University Hospital's Internal Review Board (IRB), the screening was announced by radio, television, and press, and it was addressed to male subjects over 40 years old in general. Subjects who consented to participate were evaluated at the primary care clinics of the University Health Program at UANL, in the Metropolitan area of Monterrey. Blood samples were taken from each subject for prostate specific antigen (PSA) determination; they underwent a digital rectal examination (DRE), and were subsequently interviewed to obtain demographic and urologic data. Based on the PSA (>4.0 ng/ml) and DRE results, subjects were appointed for transrectal biopsy (TRB). RESULTS: A total of 973 subjects were screened. Prostate biopsy was recommended to 125 men based on PSA values and DRE results, but it was performed in only 55 of them. 15 of these biopsied men were diagnosed with PCa, mostly with Gleason scores > or = 7. CONCLUSION: Our results reflect a low prevalence of PCa in general, but a high occurrence of high grade lesions (Gleason > or = 7) among patients that resulted positive for PCa. This observation remarks the importance of the PCa screening programs in our Mexican community and the need for strict follow-up campaigns.

A 5-year-old girl with a congenital ganglioneuroma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration biopsy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Ganglioneuroma is a rare, benign, neuroblastic tumor arising mainly from the central or peripheral autonomic nervous system, especially the sympathetic system. The most affected anatomical sites are the posterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, adrenal gland and head and neck soft tissue. In the current literature, reports of ganglioneuroma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration and its cytological appearance are scarce. CASE PRESENTATION: A 5-year-old girl presented with a mass in the cervical region since birth. Laboratory routine tests were within normal limits, ultrasonography demonstrated a solid and well-circumscribed lesion in the soft tissues of the cervical region. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was carried out, and the obtained smears showed a mixture of mature ganglion cells and groups of spindle cells suggestive of schwann cell origin. A diagnosis of ganglioneuroma was suggested. Core biopsy and surgical resection confirmed this diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Congenital ganglioneuroma of the cervical region is an uncommon soft tissue benign neoplasm of neuroblastic origin, and it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck pediatric soft tissue tumors. Fine needle aspiration biopsy technique is a reliable method that can be used with confidence when dealing with pediatric soft tissue tumors.