Intrauterine transfusion of a hydropic fetus with anemia due to a giant chorioangioma: A case report.

Giant chorioangiomas are a potentially life-threatening condition that may require intrauterine therapy. We describe a case of a large chorioangioma (>4cm) diagnosed at 30 weeks of gestation causing severe fetal anemia and hydrops. An intrauterine blood transfusion was performed at 31 weeks with reversal of the anemia and hydrops. The neonate was born at 37 weeks showing respiratory distress syndrome that required neonatal intensive care unit admission but was discharged at 30 days of life. Further evaluation at two months of age showed no signs of abnormal neurodevelopment. When timely indicated, intrauterine transfusion of a hydropic fetus with anemia due to a giant chorioangioma is a potentially life-saving therapy that shows good neurodevelopment of the surviving fetus.

COVID-19 Infection in Pregnancy: PCR Cycle Thresholds, Placental Pathology, and Perinatal Outcomes.

(1) This study aimed to evaluate characteristics, perinatal outcomes, and placental pathology of pregnant women with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection in the context of maternal PCR cycle threshold (CT) values. (2) This was a retrospective case-control study in a third-level health center in Mexico City with universal screening by RT-qPCR. The association of COVID-19 manifestations, preeclampsia, and preterm birth with maternal variables and CT values were assessed by logistic regression models and decision trees. (3) Accordingly, 828 and 298 women had a negative and positive test, respectively. Of those positive, only 2.6% of them presented mild to moderate symptoms. Clinical characteristics between both groups of women were similar. No associations between CT values were found for maternal features, such as pre-gestational BMI, age, and symptomatology. A significantly higher percentage of placental fibrinoid was seen with women with low CTs (<25; p < 0.01). Regarding perinatal outcomes, preeclampsia was found to be significantly associated with symptomatology but not with risk factors or CT values (p < 0.01, aOR = 14.72). Moreover, 88.9% of women diagnosed with COVID-19 at <35 gestational weeks and symptomatic developed preeclampsia. (4) The data support strong guidance for pregnancies with SARS-CoV-2 infection, in particular preeclampsia and placental pathology, which need further investigation.

Prevalence, clinical features, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women with or without mild/moderate symptoms: Results from universal screening in a tertiary care center in Mexico City, Mexico.

The perinatal consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection are still largely unknown. This study aimed to describe the features and outcomes of pregnant women with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection after the universal screening was established in a large tertiary care center admitting only obstetric related conditions without severe COVID-19 in Mexico City. This retrospective case-control study integrates data between April 22 and May 25, 2020, during active community transmission in Mexico, with one of the highest COVID-19 test positivity percentages worldwide. Only pregnant women and neonates with a SARS-CoV-2 result by quantitative RT-PCR were included in this study. Among 240 pregnant women, the prevalence of COVID-19 was 29% (95% CI, 24% to 35%); 86% of the patients were asymptomatic (95% CI, 76%-92%), nine women presented mild symptoms, and one patient moderate disease. No pregnancy baseline features or risk factors associated with severity of infection, including maternal age > 35 years, Body Mass Index >30 kg/m2, and pre-existing diseases, differed between positive and negative women. The median gestational age at admission for both groups was 38 weeks. All women were discharged at home without complications, and no maternal death was reported. The proportion of preeclampsia was higher in positive women than negative women (18%, 95% CI, 10%-29% vs. 9%, 95% CI, 5%-14%, P<0.05). No differences were found for other perinatal outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 test result was positive for nine infants of positive mothers detected within 24h of birth. An increased number of infected neonates were admitted to the NICU, compared to negative neonates (44% vs. 22%, P<0.05) and had a longer length of hospitalization (2 [2-18] days vs. 2 [2-3] days, P<0.001); these are potential proxies for illness severity. This report highlights the importance of COVID-19 detection at delivery in pregnant women living in high transmission areas.

Cambios morfológicos en las placentas de pacientes con preeclampsia o restricción del crecimiento intrauterino e interpretación de los desenlaces perinatales / Morphological changes in placentas of patients with preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction and interpretation of perinatal outcomes

Resumen OBJETIVO: Determinar las diferencias morfológicas macro y microscópicas en las placentas de pacientes con preeclampsia o restricción del crecimiento intrauterino con las de pacientes sanas. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de casos y controles, retrospectivo, observacional y comparativo. Se revisaron las bases de datos del servicio de Medicina Materno Fetal del Instituto Nacional de Perinatología (INPer) de febrero de 2018 a marzo de 2020 en busca de pacientes con embarazo único y diagnóstico de preeclampsia temprana o restricción del crecimiento temprano y finalización del embarazo en el INPer. El análisis de los datos se llevó a cabo en el programa estadístico SPSS versión 25. Las variables categóricas se compararon entre grupos con χ2 y los resultados se representaron en porcentajes. Para la evaluación estadística analítica se utilizó ANOVA para una muestra independiente para contrastar las asociaciones entre las diversas variables. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 52 pacientes que se dividieron en: grupo 1: preeclampsia temprana sin restricción del crecimiento intrauterino (n = 13), grupo 2: preeclampsia y restricción del crecimiento intrauterino temprano (n = 13), grupo 3: restricción del crecimiento intrauterino temprano (n = 13) y grupo 4 (control) pacientes sanas (n = 13). Se demostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el peso de la placenta, con un valor de p < 0.05 pero sin diferencia en el diámetro del cordón umbilical entre los cuatro grupos. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio histopatológico placentario es una oportunidad para obtener información detallada de la base fisiopatológica de la enfermedad y, así, ofrecer una asesoría y seguimiento preciso a la paciente y al neonato.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine the macro and microscopic morphologic differences in placentas of patients with preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction with those of healthy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, observational and comparative case-control study. The databases of the Maternal Fetal Medicine service of the National Institute of Perinatology (INPer) from February 2018 to March 2020 were reviewed for patients with singleton pregnancy and diagnosis of early preeclampsia or early growth restriction and termination of pregnancy at the INPer. Data analysis was performed in the statistical program SPSS version 25. Categorical variables were compared between groups with χ2 and the results were represented in percentages. For the analytical statistical evaluation, ANOVA for an independent sample was used to contrast the associations between the various variables. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included and divided into: group 1: early preeclampsia without intrauterine growth restriction (n = 13), group 2: preeclampsia and early intrauterine growth restriction (n = 13), group 3: early intrauterine growth restriction (n = 13) and group 4 (control) healthy patients (n = 13). A statistically significant difference in placental weight was demonstrated, with a p value < 0.05 but no difference in umbilical cord diameter among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: Placental histopathologic study is an opportunity to obtain detailed information on the pathophysiologic basis of the disease and thus provide accurate counseling and follow-up to the patient and neonate.

Establishment of human embryonic stem cell line Amicqui-2 using poor-quality embryos from Mexican population.

Although investigation with human embryonic stem cells (HESC) is not decreasing, the derivation of new lines has been diminished. The preeminence of only a few HESC lines in research is accompanied by lack of universal applicability of results as well as by genetic under-representation. We previously reported the derivation of one line with male karyotype from Mexican population. Here, we derived one HESC line (Amicqui-2) with female karyotype from poor-quality embryos. These line comply the pluripotent requirements (normal karyotype, detection of pluripotency-associated markers, mycoplasma test and teratoma formation) and could be a valuable model for studying diseases specific to under-represented population.

Congenital Zika Syndrome and Extra-Central Nervous System Detection of Zika Virus in a Pre-term Newborn in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, the Zika virus (ZIKV) replicates in the placenta and central nervous system (CNS) of infected fetuses; nevertheless, the ability of ZIKV to replicate in other fetal tissues has not been extensively characterized. METHODS: We researched whether dissemination of congenitally-acquired ZIKV outside the CNS exists by searching for the accumulation of the viral envelope protein, ZIKV ribonucleic acid (RNA), and infectious viral particles in different organs of a deceased newborn with Congenital Zika Syndrome. A real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect ZIKV RNA in the brain, thymus, lungs, kidneys, adrenal glands, spleen, liver, and small intestine. The same tissues were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase assays using the monoclonal antibody 4G2 to detect ZIKV envelope antigens. Isolation of infectious ZIKV in a cell culture was carried out using brain and kidney samples. RESULTS: A postmortem, virological analysis of multiple organs, such as the kidneys (epithelial cells in the renal tubules), lungs (bronchial epithelia), thymus (epithelial cells inside the Hassall's corpuscles), and brain (neurons, ependymal cells, and macrophages) revealed the presence of ZIKV RNA and envelope antigens. Other tissues of the deceased newborn tested positive by qPCR for Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 6, including the brain cortex (Epstein-Barr) and the thymus, kidneys, and adrenal glands (human herpesvirus 6). The kidneys were identified as a significant niche for viral replication, given that infectious particles were successfully isolated from renal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate the ability of congenitally-acquired ZIKV to produce disseminated infections and the viral tropism towards epithelial cells.