Congenital cyanogenic heart disease (CCHD) is a malformation of the heart and large vessels characterized by an oxygen desaturation in the arterial blood, responsible for cyanosis. The general objective was to study the profile of CCHD in Senegalese hospitals. This is a retrospective study carried out over a period of 8 years (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2017) and including all children aged 0 to 16 years followed for a CCHD. The hospital prevalence was 0.87% for 420 cases collected. The sex ratio was 1.44 and the average age at diagnosis was 16 months. First degree parental consanguinity was noted in 36 cases (30.78%). The main reasons for consultation were breathing difficulty in 242 cases (57.62%) and fever in 136 patients (32.36%). Apart from cyanosis, the clinical signs were dominated by the heart murmur in 313 cases (74.7%), tachycardia in 283 cases (67.38%) and digital hippocratism in 162 cases (38.57%). Cardiomegaly was found in 239 patients (83.36%). The main types of CCHD were tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the large vessels. In biology, 206 patients (49.05%) presented polyglobulia. A complete surgical cure was carried out in 22 patients (5.24%). Complications were anoxic crisis (52 cases) and hemorrhagic syndrome (17 cases). There were 97 deaths (28.28%) during hospitalization. The diagnosis of CCHD is late in our country and surgical management is poor explaining the high mortality.
Innovative technologies offer promising potential to transform the future of reproductive biology by developing specialized ex vivo models and tools for research by providing personalized therapeutic treatment options, which can be translated from bench to bedside [1−4]. Keeping future perspective in view, the potential of emerging tools need to be explored to gain a deeper insight in understanding the regenerative potential of germ cells, gonadal function and for developing clinical options for fertility preservation [5−7]. During germline development Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs) undergo sex specific differentiation and give rise to male and female germ cells during sex specific gonadal development [2]. PGC specification occurs during epiblast stage in humans, and is regulated by a tripartite network of transcription factors Prdm1, Prdm14 and Tfap2c.
It is natural for women to be pregnant but full of risks. Food and diet greatly influence the gestation, it can worthful supporting the pregnancy or in the opposite it can also be harmful to and destroy the mother and/or the foetus growing inside her. Healthy diet at the time of pregnancy is very important. The amount shall meet the requirement, the composition shall be balanced and it has to be safe from anything harmful for the mother or the foetus. Some suggestions such as cooking all food consumed, consuming more fresh food rather than processed and/or canned, avoiding alcohol and cigarette smoke and also limiting salt, simple sugar and seafood are very important to be followed.
This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted from January 2nd to march 30th 2019 in the township of Hiheatro in Togo. Were included in the study, women who had given birth at least once at home and who accepted to undergo the survey. Data was collected, using a pre-planned and pre-tested survey sheet, by a team of four trained interviewers under the responsibility of a supervisor. Interviews were carried out in the homes of the respondents after obtaining their informed consent. The parameters studied were the number of births at home, socio-demographic characteristics, and reasons for births at home and maternal-fetal prognosis 411 women gave birth at home in the township. The average number of births at home per woman was 2 with extremes of 1 and 7 births per woman. The average age of the women was 28.4 years with the extremes of 15 and 38 years. The 25-34 age group represents 67.1% of cases. The average parity of the patients was 2. Multiparas represent 59.8% of cases. The main reasons for births at home given by the interviewees were insufficient financial means in 36% of cases and the lack of means of transport in 28% of cases. Maternal morbidity is marked by 14.1% perineal tear, 1.6% hysterectomy. Four hundred and eleven newborns were registered. Of these newborns, 4.4% were stillborn and 8,8% did not cry at birth. Free obstetric care and increased awareness on the importance of assisted deliveries will improve the maternal-fetal prognosis.
BRCA mutation carriers have a significantly increased lifetime risk of ovarian cancer compared to the general population. Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy (RRSO) is the primary evidence-based treatment to decrease that risk. The National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) endorse a set of surgical guidelines to be completed at the time of RRSO. In the study “Provider Adherence to Surgical Guidelines for Risk Reducing Salpingo-oophorectomy”, we found that only two-thirds of all surgical providers were fully adherent to these guidelines. Gynecologic oncologists were more likely to follow surgical guidelines compared to general Obstetrician Gynecologists, and more likely to diagnose occult neoplasia despite similar patient populations. Here we discuss the reason for the surgical protocol, the clinical implications of noncompliance, and practical ways that providers can ensure full adherence to the protocol.
A majority of today’s adolescents and young adults are constant social media users. Social media allows individuals to express themselves, communicate with peers and meet new people. Peer support is crucial for adolescent development and disease management. Young people with chronic conditions may not know someone in their offline life with a similar condition. A majority of young people with chronic conditions are interested in finding peers with similar conditions through social media. There is a gap in the literature regarding how young people with chronic conditions use their social media in relation to their condition. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss social media use in adolescents and young adults with connective tissue disorders (CTDs) and to explore future avenues for social media research in this population.
Background: Acute respiratory infections continue to be the leading cause of acute illnesses worldwide and remain an important health concern. Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge and practice of mothers caring for children with an acute respiratory infection. Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the hospital employing all consecutive mothers who brought their children to the under-five outpatient department (n=195). The data was analyzed by SPSS, and the finding was presented by figures and tables. Results: Among the included mothers more than half, 54.87% of them were within age group of 25-34 years. The study indicated that 70% of respondents had good knowledge, the rest 30% had poor knowledge on the other hand, and 57.15% of the respondents had a good practice on ARTI. Conclusion: Although the majority of the mothers had good knowledge, still a significant proportion of the mothers had poor practice about acute respiratory tract infection. Therefore, to further increase the knowledge and improve the practice of mothers about ARTI additional effort is needed. Furthermore, identifying the determinant factors by interested researcher is also valuable.
ABSTRACT Background Current next generation sequencing (NGS) and microarray based Non-Invasive Prenatal Tests (NIPT), used for the detection of common fetal trisomies, are still expensive, time consuming and need to be performed in centralized laboratories. To improve NIPT in clinical routine practice as universal prenatal screening, we have developed a digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) based assay called iSAFE NIPT using cell free fetal DNA (cffDNA) for detection of fetal trisomies 13, 18 and 21 in a single reaction with advantage of high diagnostic accuracy and reduced cost. Materials and Methods We first used artificial DNA samples to evaluate analytical sensitivity and specificity of the iSAFE NIPT. Next, we analysed 269 plasma samples for the clinical validation of iSAFE NIPT. Fifty-eight of these, including five trisomies 21, two trisomies 18 and one trisomy 13 were utilised to establish the assay cut-off values based on ratios between chromosome counts. The remaining 211 plasma samples, including 10 trisomies 21, were analysed to evaluate iSAFE NIPT clinical performance. Results iSAFE NIPT achieved a 100% analytical sensitivity (95% CI 94.9-100% trisomy 21; 79.4-100% trisomy 18; 73.5-100% trisomy 13) and 100% specificity (95% CI 96.3-100% trisomy 21; 97.6-100% trisomy 18; 97.6-100% trisomy 13). It also achieved a 100% clinical sensitivity and specificity for trisomy 21 detection in the 211 clinical samples (95% CI for sensitivity is 69.1-100%, and 95% CI for specificity is 98.2-100%). Conclusions The iSAFE NIPT is a highly multiplexed ddPCR based assay for detection of fetal trisomies from maternal blood. Based on clinical validation, the iSAFE NIPT has high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. It can be decentralized in routine clinical laboratories, is fast, easy to use and economical comparing to current NIPT.
Objective: the study aimed to discover the subjective cure rate, and the safety of using escalating dose regimens of solubilized cholecalciferol in the medical treatment of endometriosis- related pain after ablative surgeries in vitamin-D deficient women. Design classification: Prospective study. Setting: Alsaedy Maternity Hospital, Makka, Saudi Arabia. Patients and interventions: In this double-blind clinical trial, we enlisted patients with endometriosis assessed for dysmenorrhea and pelvic discomfort by VAS test at 8 weeks after treatment by laparoscopy. All patients were vitamin-D deficient (<12 ng/ml). They were arbitrarily received vitamin-D (50 000 IU weekly for 6 months) or placebo. Intensity of pain in the 2 groups was reassessed at 6 months after surgery. Results: There were 25 patients in the vitamin-D group and 25 in the placebo group. Standard features in both groups were analogous. Subsequent to the administration of vitamin-D or placebo, we did not find significant differences in severity of pelvic pain score (p=0.09) and dysmenorrhea score (p=0.366) between the 2 groups. Mean pelvic pain score at 6 months after laparoscopy in the vitamin-D group was 2.96 ± 2 and in placebo group it was 3.3 ± 2 (p=0.55). Mean dysmenorrhea score was 2.44 ± 1.5 in the vitamin-D group and 2.5 ± 1.3 in the placebo group (p=0.88). Conclusion: After ablative surgery for endometriosis, vitamin-D treatment did not have a noteworthy outcome in decreasing dysmenorrhea and/or pelvic pain.
Premature rupture of the fetal membranes is spontaneous rupture of the membranes any time above 28th week of pregnancy but before the onset of labor. Its occurring before 37 weeks of gestation is usually referred to as preterm premature rupture of the membranes.Previous findings show that 8 to 10% of pregnant women present with this problem at term as well as from 2 to 4% and 7 to 20% of pregnant women developed premature rupture of membranes at preterm for all singleton and twin pregnancies respectively [2]. But these studies are reporting little about associated factors of premature rupture of the membranes. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify risk factors of premature rupture of membranes among pregnant women admitted in Amhara regional state Hospitals, North West Ethiopia.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Common symptoms that occur in pregnant mothers with COVID-19 include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 has mutated and based on facts it is also shown that number of COVID-19 cases increasing. Increase in number of COVID-19 cases associated with the emergence of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 due to mutation. Furthermore, the severity of COVID-19 patients is influenced by comorbidity of COVID-19 . The three major comorbidity of COVID-19 that affects the severity of COVID-19 patients are diabetes mellitus, hypertension and heart disease. For general community who have comorbidity of COVID-19, especially diabetes mellitus, hypertension and or heart disease (top three comorbidity of COVID-19) should still be careful and have a healthy lifestyle, keep adhering to health protocols so that they are not infected with SARS-CoV-2, and not suffering of COVID-19. The invitation to avoid COVID-19 is intended for anyone, including mothers, especially pregnant mothers who have comorbidity of COVID-19.
