High Glucose Promotes Inflammation and Weakens Placental Defenses against E. coli and S. agalactiae Infection: Protective Role of Insulin and Metformin.

Placentas from gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients undergo significant metabolic and immunologic adaptations due to hyperglycemia, which results in an exacerbated synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and an increased risk for infections. Insulin or metformin are clinically indicated for the treatment of GDM; however, there is limited information about the immunomodulatory activity of these drugs in the human placenta, especially in the context of maternal infections. Our objective was to study the role of insulin and metformin in the placental inflammatory response and innate defense against common etiopathological agents of pregnancy bacterial infections, such as E. coli and S. agalactiae, in a hyperglycemic environment. Term placental explants were cultivated with glucose (10 and 50 mM), insulin (50-500 nM) or metformin (125-500 µM) for 48 h, and then they were challenged with live bacteria (1 × 105 CFU/mL). We evaluated the inflammatory cytokine secretion, beta defensins production, bacterial count and bacterial tissue invasiveness after 4-8 h of infection. Our results showed that a GDM-associated hyperglycemic environment induced an inflammatory response and a decreased beta defensins synthesis unable to restrain bacterial infection. Notably, both insulin and metformin exerted anti-inflammatory effects under hyperglycemic infectious and non-infectious scenarios. Moreover, both drugs fortified placental barrier defenses, resulting in reduced E. coli counts, as well as decreased S. agalactiae and E. coli invasiveness of placental villous trees. Remarkably, the double challenge of high glucose and infection provoked a pathogen-specific attenuated placental inflammatory response in the hyperglycemic condition, mainly denoted by reduced TNF-α and IL-6 secretion after S. agalactiae infection and by IL-1ß after E. coli infection. Altogether, these results suggest that metabolically uncontrolled GDM mothers develop diverse immune placental alterations, which may help to explain their increased vulnerability to bacterial pathogens.

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.

Prevalencia de patología endometrial detectada por histeroscopia en un centro de tercer nivel / Prevalence of endometrial pathology by hysteroscopy among infertile patients in a tertiary referral hospital

Resumen OBJETIVO: Describir la prevalencia de patología endometrial diagnosticada mediante histeroscopia en pacientes infértiles atendidas en un centro de tercer nivel. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo y observacional efectuado en pacientes con diagnóstico de infertilidad atendidas en el Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Humana del Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Ciudad de México. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes infértiles entre 18 y 43 años a quienes se realizó histeroscopia. Criterios de exclusión: pacientes del servicio de Reproducción Humana a quienes no se les realizó histeroscopia o ésta fue fallida. Se utilizó el paquete estadístico para las ciencias sociales (SPSS Statistics) versión 20.0. El análisis estadístico fue descriptivo, con media, desviación estándar o porcentaje. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron los expedientes físicos de 440 pacientes infértiles a quienes se efectuó histeroscopia. Las características demográficas incluyeron edad, IMC, tipo y años de infertilidad. Los hallazgos histeroscópicos fueron: cavidad uterina normal 38.4% y anormal 61.6%, pólipo o endometrio polipoide en 34.3%, malformación mülleriana 13.4%, sinequias 10.7%, leiomioma 7.3%, hiperplasia endometrial 1.4%, adenomiosis 0.9%, cuerpo extraño 0.9%. El 7.5% consiguió el embarazo espontáneo y a 21.8% se les practicaron distintas técnicas de reproducción asistida y se logró el embarazo en 34.3%. CONCLUSIONES: La evaluación de la cavidad uterina es un requisito indispensable del estudio de las pacientes infértiles; en esta búsqueda más de la mitad tuvieron hallazgos histeroscópicos anormales.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of endometrial pathology by hysteroscopy among infertile patients in a tertiary referral hospital, from January 2015 to December 2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive, retrospective and observational study. The inclusion criteria were patients between 18 and 43 years of age, who had a hysteroscopy due to infertility. The exclusion criteria were patients from Reproductive Science Department who did not undergo hysteroscopy or for whom it failed. We used the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 Data in this study were analyzed using mean ± standard deviation or expressed as percentages. RESULTS: Four hundred forty infertile women underwent hysteroscopy. Data from physical patient records were retrieved. Demographic characteristics included age, BMI, type of infertility, years of infertility. Hysteroscopic findings were: normal uterine cavity 38.4%, abnormal 61.6%. Some patients had 2 or more findings: polyp or endometrial polypoid 34.3%, müllerian malformation 13.4%, synechia 10.7%, leiomyoma 7.3%, endometrial hyperplasia 1.4%, adenomyosis 0.9%, foreign body 0.9%. In 7.5%, spontaneous pregnancy occurred, 21.8% underwent assisted reproduction technique, achieving pregnancy in 34.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Assessing of uterine cavity should be an indispensable requirement of infertile patients, since in this study more than half of them had abnormal hysteroscopic findings.

[Occupational disability during pregnancy and lactation]. / Incapacidad laboral durante el embarazo y la lactancia.

Historically, women have been known for their role as housewives and were held responsible for children's education. This has changed throughout the years, and they have modified their role in our society. Nowadays, in developed countries, 50% of the working population is represented by women of reproductive age. An important number of these women end up pregnant, and most of them are willing to keep theirjobs after delivery. This is the main reason why pregnancy should not compromise their employment or economic stability. Several international treaties have been signed to defend women, improve their health and reduce child mortality. Even when most countries have developed measures to protect and defend maternity, there is still, a strong difference comparing legislations in this matter, between developed and non-developed countries like Mexico. This is why it is essential to get to know and analyze the main legal dispositions and regulations about maternity issues and protection. We must be aware of the differences in legislation between Mexico and other countries that might influence our own country secondary to sociocultural, commercial and financial exchange. There have been clear and evident improvements related to women's health and maternity matters in the past 15 years. These include longer periods of rest after delivery and making the employer responsible for financing maternity leave.

[Chronic pelvic pain and cervical endometriosis after a subtotal hysterectomy]. / Dolor pélvico crónico y endometriosis cervical después de histerectomía subtotal.

The ectopic location of endometrial glands and stroma may cause the formation of a tumor known as endometrioma. It almost always occurs in the ovary, and due to its characteristic appearance has been called "chocolate cyst". Cervical localization of this disease is extremely rare, and when it occurs, tends to be an exocervical and/or endocervical injury, as a result of cervical procedures. We communicate the case of a patient with cystic endometriosis in the cervix after a subtotal abdominal hysterectomy, performed by obstetric hemorrhage. Even though there have been reports about cases of cervical endometriosis, most of them have been reported as superficial cervical endometriosis and as a discovery after a total hysterectomy or cervical biopsy, in some cases even with original diagnosis ofAGUS (atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance). We concluded that in this case, instrumented uterine curettage and subtotal hysterectomy by obstetric indication are a possible origin of cervical endometriosis, due to "seeding" endometrial tissue during the curettage in a friable cervix.