Bleaching melanin in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded melanoma specimens using visible light: a pilot study

In fluorescence microscopy, light radiation can be used to bleach fluorescent molecules in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, in order to increase the ratio between signal of interest and background autofluorescence. We tested if the same principle can be exploited in bright field microscopy to bleach pigmented melanoma FFPE sections together with cell morphology maintenance. After dewaxing and rehydration, serial FFPE sections of a feline diffuse iris melanoma, a canine dermal melanoma, a gray horse dermal melanoma and a swine cutaneous melanoma were irradiated with visible light for I, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days, prior to Hematoxylin & Eosin staining. Complete bleaching was obtained after 1-day treatment in feline and swine melanomas, while 2 and 3 days were required in canine and equine neoplasms, respectively. In all treated samples, cell morphology was maintained. Photo-induced bleaching combined with immunohistochemistry was tested after a 3-day photo-treatment using five different markers. According to the literature, in all samples neoplastic cells stained positive for vimentin, S100 and PNL2, while negative for FVIII and pancytokeratin. in conclusion, visible light can be effectively exploited to bleach pigmented melanoma FFPE sections prior to perform routine histochemical and immunohistochemical stains

Clinical characteristics and evolution of 71 neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 at a tertiary center in Brazil

Introduction: Limited data are available on pregnant women with COVID-19 and their neonates. Objective: This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and evolution from birth to discharge of a retrospective cohort of 71 neonates, with one set of twins, born to women with COVID-19 diagnosed at the end of pregnancy. The authors included all newborns admitted into a neonatal unit of a tertiary hospital in Brazil, between March 2020 and March 2021, whose unvaccinated mothers had COVID-19 symptoms and RT-PCR (Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) for SARS-CoV-2 positive within fourteen days prior to delivery. Newborns to mothers with COVID-19 symptoms and negative tests for SARS-CoV-2 were excluded. Results: The main route of birth delivery was cesarean, corresponding to 60 pregnant women (84.5%). The foremost indications for cesarean were pregnant with critical disease (24.6%) and acute fetal distress (20.3%). The mean birth weight was 2452 g (865‒3870 g) and the mean gestational age was 345/7 weeks (25‒40 weeks). There were 45 premature newborns (63.3%), of which 21 newborns (29.5%) were less than 32 weeks of gestational age. RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 on oropharyngeal swabs was positive in 2 newborns (2.8%) and negative in the other 69 newborns (97.2%). Most newborns (51.4%) needed respiratory support. Therapeutic interventions during hospitalization were inotropic drugs (9.9%), antibiotics (22.8%), parenteral nutrition (26.8%), and phototherapy (46.5%). Conclusion: Maternal COVID-19 diagnosticated close to delivery has an impact on the first days of neonatal life

Cuidados paliativos em medicina fetal

Fetal malformations affect approximately 3% of pregnancies, and the possibility of this diagnosis is one of the main concerns of parents and family members. When a malformation that implies potential mortality for the child is diagnosed, the pregnancy’s follow-up needs to be planned, including diverse aspects such as thorough evaluation of the prognosis, organization of post-partum care, and follow-up with the family in a broad and integrated manner. Recently, palliative care concepts have been introduced into perinatology for this purpose. This article discusses the application of the palliative care model to the care of pregnant women and family members of fetuses with malformations.Malformações fetais acometem cerca de 3% das gestações, e a possibilidade desse diagnóstico é uma das principais preocupações vivenciadas pelos pais e familiares. Quando é diagnosticado uma malformação que implique em possível mortalidade da criança, é necessário o planejamento do seguimento da gestação, o que abrange diversos aspectos que incluem avaliação minuciosa do prognóstico, organização do cuidado após o parto, e seguimento da família de forma abrangente e integrada. Recentemente os conceitos de cuidados paliativos foram introduzidos na perinatologia com essa finalidade, e o presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir o modelo de cuidado paliativo aplicado no atendimento a gestantes e familiares de fetos com malformação

LINEE GUIDA NAZIONALI PER LE AUTOPSIE A SCOPO FORENSE IN MEDICINA VETERINARIA

Vedi Prefazione nel testo

LINEE GUIDA NAZIONALI PER LE AUTOPSIE A SCOPO FORENSE IN MEDICINA VETERINARIA

Vedi Prefazione nel testo

Sciadicleithrum variabilum (Dactylogyridae: Monogenea) Infection in Symphysodon discus: a Case Report

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Expert recommendations for the care of newborns of mothers with COVID-19

This article presents expert recommendations for assisting newborn children of mothers with suspected or diagnosed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The consensus was developed by five experts with an average of 20 years of experience in neonatal intensive care working at a reference university hospital in Brazil for the care of pregnant women and newborns with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Despite the lack of scientific evidence regarding the potential for viral transmission to their fetus in pregnant mothers diagnosed with or suspected of COVID-19, it is important to elaborate the lines of care by specialists from hospitals caring for suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases to guide multidisciplinary teams and families diagnosed with the disease or involved in the care of pregnant women and newborns in this context. Multidisciplinary teams must be attentive to the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 so that decision-making is oriented and assertive for the management of the mother and newborn in both the hospital setting and at hospital discharge