Arch Med Sci
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Smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Data on the correlation between passive maternal smoking and pregnancy outcomes remain limited. We investigated the effect of active smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during pregnancy on neonatal birthweight, including the risk for low birthweight (LBW). ⋯ Smoking is associated with decreased birthweight and in a group of active smoking mothers increased risk for LBW. This effect is dose-dependent and is also present in a group of women who smoked before pregnancy. There is also a cumulative effect of active smoking and ETS causing decreased neonatal birthweight and increased risk for low birthweight.
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No significant regression has been reported in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) rates despite substantial progress in implant technologies and surgical techniques. It is critical to investigate how patient demographics, THA indications, surgical techniques, types of implants, and other factors influence the frequency of early and late revision surgery. The main purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and 10-year survival rates of revision hip arthroplasties among revision time groups. ⋯ According to our results, early revision hip arthroplasty was found to be mostly dependent on surgery-related factors rather than demographic factors. On the other hand, we observed that survival rates of very early revision hip arthroplasties are higher than late revision hip arthroplasties.
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The outbreak of a newly identified coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 (alternative name 2019-nCoV), capable of jumping across species causing zoonosis with severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS), has alerted authorities worldwide. Soon after the epidemic was first detected in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei Province of China, starting in late December 2019, the virus spread over multiple countries in different continents, being declared a pandemic by March 2020. The demographic characteristics of the infected patients suggest that age, sex, and comorbidities are predictive factors for the fatality of the infection. ⋯ This brings new insights into the possibilities of exploiting viral entry mechanisms to limit associated complications by means of enhancing the resistance of the infected patients using methods of regulating the RAS and strategies of modulating ACE2 expression. In this perspective article we exploit the mechanisms of COVID-19 pathogenesis based on the demographic characteristics of the infected patients reported in the recent literature and explore several approaches of limiting the initial steps of viral entry and pathogenesis based on viral interactions with ACE2 and RAS. We further discuss the implications of reproductive hormones in the regulation of the RAS and investigate the premise of using endocrine therapy against COVID-19.
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The FMR1 gene plays an important role in brain development and in the regulation of ovarian function. The FMR1 gene contains CGG repeat variation and the expansion of the repeats is associated with various phenotypes e.g. fragile X syndrome, premature ovarian failure, etc. Repeats ranging < 55 CGG are considered normal, however recent studies suggest that high-normal (35-54 CGG) and low-normal (< 26 CGG) alleles may also have an impact on female reproductive function. ⋯ In our study, the FMR1 gene high-normal alleles were associated with secondary infertility. However, to address the controversies related to the role of FMR1 genes in the development of diminished ovarian reserve, further studies on the subject are required.
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Coordinated medical care offered in Poland for patients suffering from neurofibromatosis type 1 and related RASopathies combines complex multispecialty consultation with permanent supervision and the patient's oriented longitudinal care. Neurofibromatosis type 1 is one of the most common single gene disorders in the global population, observed in 1 out of 2500-3000 live births. It is a primary neoplasia disease with 100% penetration of the gene mutation but remarkable age-dependent onset of different disease signs and symptoms, outstanding clinical heterogeneity between patients even in one family and lack of genotype-phenotype correlation, a high rate of spontaneous mutation exceeding 50%, and multiple comorbidities among which increased risk of malignancy is the most important. Medical practice proved that not only patient-oriented complex but also coordinated care provided in centers of competence is indispensable for patients and the families and provides a sense of medical security to them in conjunction with public health costs rationalization.