Implication of Tumor Necrosis Factor - Alpha in Preeclampsia

Introduction: Preeclampsia is an exacerbation of a generalized inflammatory response, physiologically present in the third trimester of pregnancy.Aim: The aim of the study consists in the evaluation of proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the context of preeclampsia. Material and Method: A transversal study was performed in three groups of patients: non-pregnant patients, patients with normal pregnancies in the third trimester, patients with preeclampsia. Serum TNF-α levels were determined using the immunometric sandwich EIA method.Results: The results obtained confirm a significant increase (p<0.01) in circulating TNF-α levels in the last trimester of pregnancy, compared to the non-pregnant status. Significantly increased serum TNF-α concentrations (p<0.001) were also found in pregnant patients with preeclampsia, compared to normotensive pregnant women. Conclusion: This proinflammatory cytokine can be a potential marker of the severity of the preeclamptic syndrome, without being an indicator of the fetal status at birth

Auxological correlation between the maternal obesity, excessive weight gain during pregnancy, macrosomia, feeding practices and infant obesity

UMF “Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj, UMF “Gr. T. Popa” Iaşi, UMF “Carol Davila” Bucureşti, Fac. Medicină Oradea, UMF Târgu Mureș, SJU SibiuThe infant and adult obesity is becoming a real public health concern in Romania too. The mother's obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are proven risk factors for the obesity of the child in the future. The protective role of breastfeeding against obesity is already demonstrated. The most important issue is whether the choice of a milk formula with the right protein composition could also protect or not the newborn from becoming future obese infants and children.Obezitatea copilului şi adultului are rate îngrijorătoare şi în Romania. Obezitatea mamei şi creşterea excesivă în greutate a gravidei constituie factori de risc pentru macrosomie şi pentru obezitatea ulterioară a copilului. Rolul protector al laptelui de mamă în prevenţia obezităţii infantile este deja demonstrat. Se pune întrebarea dacă alegerea unei formule de lapte cu conţinut adecvat de proteine protejează sau nu nou-născuţii care au deja greutate mare la naştere, pentru dezvoltarea obezităţii în perioada de sugar si copil mic

The Behaviour of Protein Carbonyls in Newborns with Birth Respiratory Distress and Asphyxia

Objective: A prospective study was carried out in premature newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and asphyxia at birth in order to identify and analyze the effects of RDS on proteins. Material and Methods: Protein peroxidation was studied using the Reznick spectrophotometric method. The study group included 14 premature newborns with respiratory distress and asphyxia at birth. The control group included 13 newborns that were born on term, eutrophic and healthy. The determinations were carried out using venous blood. Statistical data analyses were performed using Statistica software. The comparisons between groups (study and controls) were performed by applying parametric and non-parametric tests according with the type of distribution. Results: Statistically significant correlations were found between the value of protein carbonyls (PC) and the weight of premature newborns in the case group (p < 0.05), as well as between the PC value and the presence of respiratory distress due to surfactant deficiency in the study group. The average PC value in the study group was higher in the third day as compared with the first day. The PC value was significantly higher in the control group as compared with study group. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the respiratory distress in the premature newborn and oxygen therapy stimulate the peroxidation of proteins

Association of Parental Factors and Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 Polymorphism with Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is known to play a role in cell development. Only the paternal IGF2 copy is active, while the copy inherited from the mother is inactive. This study aimed to explore whether maternal and paternal factors influence IGF2 polymorphism in newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA). A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from June 2014 to November 2015 at the Neonatology, Gynecology 1 Clinic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The ApaI IGF2 genotypes and allele frequencies were similar in the IUGR and AGA groups (p-value &gt; 0.10). The IUGR babies with a protective IGF2 genetic profile had significantly younger parents (a difference in the median age of 8 years for mothers and 9 years for fathers; p-value &lt; 0.009). The IUGR babies had parents with lower birth weights than AGA babies (mothers&rsquo; medians: 2800 g vs. 3100 g; fathers&rsquo; medians: 3000 g vs. 3400 g; p-value &lt; 0.02). In univariable regression analysis, the mother&rsquo;s and father&rsquo;s birth weight proved to be associated with IUGR. The father&rsquo;s birth weight proved to be the only factor significantly associated with IUGR, independent of the mother&rsquo;s birth weight or the presence of a protective IGF2 genetic profile (odd ratio = 0.998 [0.996 to 1.000], p-value = 0.032)

First isolation and genetic characterization of a Toxoplasma gondii strain from a symptomatic human case of congenital toxoplasmosis in Romania.

International audienceVery limited data exists on the genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii from Eastern Europe. We present the first Romanian case of symptomatic congenital toxoplasmosis in which the T. gondii strain was isolated after inoculation in mice of a cerebrospinal fluid sample from a living neonate. The T. gondii strain was genotyped with 15 microsatellite markers distributed on 10 of the 14 chromosomes of T. gondii. The strain had a type II genotype

Fetal Ovarian Cyst&mdash;A Scoping Review of the Data from the Last 10 Years

Abdominal cystic masses are diagnosed during the intrauterine period and have a relatively low incidence. Fetal ovarian cysts are the most common form diagnosed prenatally or immediately after birth. The pathophysiology of the development of these types of tumors is not fully elucidated, with ovarian hyperstimulation caused by maternal and placental hormones being the most accepted hypothesis. During intrauterine development, the diagnosis of fetal ovarian cysts is most often made accidentally during usual check-up ultrasounds corresponding to the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. We conducted a scoping review with the aim to map the current knowledge regarding the treatment of fetal ovarian cysts diagnosed in the intrauterine period. Focusing on the articles published in the last 10 years in the specialized literature, we tried to identify a conceptualization regarding the surveillance and treatment of these anomalies

Fetal Ovarian Cyst—A Scoping Review of the Data from the Last 10 Years

Abdominal cystic masses are diagnosed during the intrauterine period and have a relatively low incidence. Fetal ovarian cysts are the most common form diagnosed prenatally or immediately after birth. The pathophysiology of the development of these types of tumors is not fully elucidated, with ovarian hyperstimulation caused by maternal and placental hormones being the most accepted hypothesis. During intrauterine development, the diagnosis of fetal ovarian cysts is most often made accidentally during usual check-up ultrasounds corresponding to the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. We conducted a scoping review with the aim to map the current knowledge regarding the treatment of fetal ovarian cysts diagnosed in the intrauterine period. Focusing on the articles published in the last 10 years in the specialized literature, we tried to identify a conceptualization regarding the surveillance and treatment of these anomalies

Novel Mutation in GALT Gene in Galactosemia Patient with Group B Streptococcus Meningitis and Acute Liver Failure

Classic galactosemia is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) involved in galactose metabolism. Bacterial infections are a known cause of early morbidity and mortality in children with classic galactosemia. The most common agent is Escherichia coli, but in rare situations, other bacteria are incriminated. We report a case of a three-week-old female patient with galactosemia, who presented with Group B Streptococcus (GBS) meningitis/sepsis. She received treatment with antibiotics, supportive therapy, and erythrocyte transfusion, but after a short period of improvement, she presented acute liver failure with suspicion of an inborn error of metabolism. Rapid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy from urine showed highly elevated values of galactose and galactitol. Under intensive treatment for acute liver failure and with a lactose-free diet, her clinical features and laboratory parameters improved considerably. Genetic testing confirmed compound heterozygous status for GALT mutations: c.563 A&gt;G [p.Q188R] and c. 910 C&gt;T, the last mutation being a novel mutation in GALT gene. In countries without an extensive newborn screening program, a high index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment of galactosemia

Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with delivery techniques for impacted fetal head at cesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives Late first-stage or second-stage cesarean section is commonly associated with fetal head impaction, leading to maternal and neonatal complications. This situation requires safe delivery techniques, but the optimal management remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with delivery techniques via cesarean section. Methods An electronic search of three databases, from inception to June 2021, was conducted. Cohort and randomised comparative studies on maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with techniques to deliver an impacted fetal head during cesarean section were included. The methodological quality of the primary studies was assessed. Review Manager 5.4 was used for statistical analyses. Results Nineteen articles, including 2,345 women were analyzed. Three fetal extraction techniques were identified. Meta-analyses showed that the “pull” technique carries lower risks as compared to the “push” technique and the “Patwardhan” technique is safer compared to the “push” or the “push and pull” technique. Conclusions In the absence of robust evidence to support the use of a specific technique, the choice of the obstetrician should be based on best available evidence. Our study suggests that the “pull”, as well as the “Patwardhan” technique represent safe options to deliver an impacted fetal head