The Entero-Mammary Pathway and Perinatal Transmission of Gut Microbiota and SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 is a severe respiratory disease threatening pregnant women, which increases the possibility of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Several recent studies have demonstrated the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the mother enterocytes, disturbing the gut microbiota diversity. The aim of this study was to characterize the entero-mammary microbiota of women in the presence of the virus during delivery. Fifty mother−neonate pairs were included in a transversal descriptive work. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in nasopharyngeal, mother rectal swabs (MRS) and neonate rectal swabs (NRS) collected from the pairs, and human colostrum (HC) samples collected from mothers. The microbiota diversity was characterized by high-throughput DNA sequencing of V3-16S rRNA gene libraries prepared from HC, MRS, and NRS. Data were analyzed with QIIME2 and R. Our results indicate that several bacterial taxa are highly abundant in MRS positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. These bacteria mostly belong to the Firmicutes phylum; for instance, the families Bifidobacteriaceae, Oscillospiraceae, and Microbacteriaceae have been previously associated with anti-inflammatory effects, which could explain the capability of women to overcome the infection. All samples, both positive and negative for SARS-CoV-2, featured a high abundance of the Firmicutes phylum. Further data analysis showed that nearly 20% of the bacterial diversity found in HC was also identified in MRS. Spearman correlation analysis highlighted that some genera of the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla were negatively correlated with MRS and NRS (p < 0.005). This study provides new insights into the gut microbiota of pregnant women and their potential association with a better outcome during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Study of perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a Mexican public hospital.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 is a viral transmissible disease and there is limited evidence on vertical transmission and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the possible perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in mothers and neonates in a Mexican population. METHODS: A total of 133 nasopharyngeal swab samples from mothers, 131 swab samples from neonates, and 140 colostrum samples were obtained, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 was determined by qPCR. RESULTS: One in eight asymptomatic 38-39 weeks' pregnant women were positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs taken just before delivery; and one in 12 nasopharyngeal swabs collected from neonates immediately after delivery without breast feeding were also positive. It was also determined that one in 47 colostrum/milk samples were positive for the test. In addition, there was no association between positive results and any collected metadata of mothers or newborns. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic women carried the SARS-CoV-2 virus during delivery, with perinatal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to newborns. Since neonates were sampled immediately after birth, the detection of positive cases might be due to infection by the virus in utero.

Factores de riesgo asociados a alteraciones histológicas del aparato genital en pacientes del primer nivel de atención / Risk factors associated with histological alterations of the female genital tract in patients attending a first-level medical care facility

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo para las alteraciones histológicas del aparato genital en población abierta. Material y métodos: Estudio de casos y controles anidado en una cohorte. Se incluyeron pacientes de la consulta externa que acudieron de forma espontánea al programa de prevención y control de cáncer cervicouterino. Se estudiaron 1933 pacientes, de las cuales 88 fueron diagnosticadas con alteración celular y fueron pareadas con 88 sin alteraciones. El análisis estadístico se realizó con Anova de una vía para la comparación entre grupos y la asociación de las variables con riesgo relativo para un intervalo de confianza de 95 % y p < 0.05. Resultados: El grupo de pacientes consideradas como casos tuvo edad promedio de 36.1 ± 1.6 y el de controles de 35.8 ± 2.1 años. Los diagnósticos obtenidos en el grupo de casos mostró mayor frecuencia de ectropión, infección por virus del papiloma humano y NIC1. Los factores de riesgo analizados solo demostraron diferencia estadística en el número de gestas mayor a dos (RR = 2.33) y el inicio de vida sexual menor a 19 años (RR = 1.14), para padecer algún problema histológico del aparato genital. Conclusiones: La prevención del cáncer cervicouterino se puede realizar por detección oportuna, orientada a evitar o disminuir factores de riesgo, por lo que utilizar preservativo, posponer el inicio de la vida sexual y limitar el número de parejas, son medidas que debe conocer la población general.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to determine risk factors for histological alterations of the female genital tract in an open population who attend a first-level care medical facility. METHODS: We conducted a case/control cohort study that included patients from outpatient consultation who responded to a cervical cancer control and prevention program. We studied 1933 patients; 88 patients (cases) had cellular alterations and were matched with 88 patients without alterations (controls). Statistical analysis was carried out with one-way ANOVA for comparison between groups and association of variables with relative risk for 95% confidence interval; p <0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of the case group was 36.1 +/- 1.6 years and the control group had a mean age of 35.8 +/- 2.1 years. Diagnoses obtained in the case group showed a greater frequency of ectropion, human papilloma virus infection and CIN1. Risks factors analyzed in these patients showed statistical differences in number of gestations >2 (RR = 2.33) and the early initiation of sexual activity (<19 years) (RR = 1.14) for experiencing histological problems of the female genital tract. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of cervical cancer can be accomplished through timely and opportune detection in order to avoid the disease or to decrease risk factors by using condoms, delaying initiation of sexual activity and limiting the number of sexual partners. These are all strategies that the general population should be aware of.

Risk factors associated with histological alterations of the female genital tract in patients attending a first-level medical care facility.

BACKGROUND: We undertook this study to determine risk factors for histological alterations of the female genital tract in an open population who attend a first-level care medical facility. METHODS: We conducted a case/control cohort study that included patients from outpatient consultation who responded to a cervical cancer control and prevention program. We studied 1933 patients; 88 patients (cases) had cellular alterations and were matched with 88 patients without alterations (controls). Statistical analysis was carried out with one-way ANOVA for comparison between groups and association of variables with relative risk for 95% confidence interval; p <0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of the case group was 36.1 +/- 1.6 years and the control group had a mean age of 35.8 +/- 2.1 years. Diagnoses obtained in the case group showed a greater frequency of ectropion, human papilloma virus infection and CIN1. Risks factors analyzed in these patients showed statistical differences in number of gestations >2 (RR = 2.33) and the early initiation of sexual activity (<19 years) (RR = 1.14) for experiencing histological problems of the female genital tract. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of cervical cancer can be accomplished through timely and opportune detection in order to avoid the disease or to decrease risk factors by using condoms, delaying initiation of sexual activity and limiting the number of sexual partners. These are all strategies that the general population should be aware of.

[Endometriosis in delayed scarring of postpartum eutocic episiorrhaphy. Integral aspects and a case report]. / Endometriosis en cicatriz tardía de episiorrafia posparto eutócico. Aspectos integrales y reporte de un caso.

Endometriosis remains a mystery because it has not yet been shown why these cells are viable in the abdominal cavity, although it has been thought that the immune system plays a role in implantation outside the intrauterine cavity by abasement in the regulatory capacity of natural killer cells, as well as peripheral and peritoneal immunologic cells. Among methods used to recognize this illness are laparoscopy, laparotomy, ultrasound, antibodies, and the histologic study. It has been observed that surgical scars can present cyclical inflammation and pain when affected with this pathology. We present the case of a patient with a second delivery who arrived at the Gynecology Service due to referring intense pain in the episiorrhaphy scar as well as superficial dyspareunia. One year after performance of the surgical procedure, pain did not allow the patient was unable to sit normally; in addition, during the last 3 months the area of the cicatrix augmented in volume during menstruation. Under peridural block and with surgical spindle excision, the abnormal tissue was dissected without complications; the surgery showed brittle tissue and with abundant new vascularity. The histologic diagnosis reported vulvar-tissue endometriosis. Was initiate complementary treatment was initiated with gestrinon once a week for 4 weeks, as well as danazol daily for 2 months to avoid possible persistence of endometrial tissue. The scar at present is minimal and is observed along the borders of the surgical union line, without an increase in size nor discomfort on digital pressure. We consider it necessary to assure cleaning of the episiotomy before initiating surgical suturing to diminish presence of endometriosis, despite the fact that incidence of this disturbance is low (0.03%). Advancement in knowledge of the physiopathology process will permit elimination of the remaining endometrial tissue with new therapeutic strategies, as well as clearing up the mechanism of ectopic implantation of endometrial cells.