Confirming vertical fetal infection with coronavirus disease 2019: Neonatal and pathology criteria for early onset and transplacental transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 from infected pregnant mothers

Increasing numbers of pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 are being reported around the world. The majority of neonates delivered to pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been negative for the virus, but a small number have tested positive for infection. It is important to determine whether vertical transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 occurs and the mechanisms for its development. Based on a number of clinical and laboratory findings, it has been suggested that transplacental transmission may be occurring, but a method to confirm this is necessary. This communication analyzes and evaluates the covariables that have been discussed as potential indicators of vertical and, specifically, intrauterine transmission, including the timing of onset of neonatal illness, neonatal viral test positivity, neonatal antibody testing for immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM, and viral analysis of swabs of whole specimens of placental tissue. None of these methods can provide confirmatory evidence that infection developed prior to labor and delivery, or that transplacental transmission occurred. This commentary proposes that diagnosis of early-onset neonatal coronavirus disease 2019 infection should be limited to neonates with positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 within the initial 72 hours of life. It also proposes that the occurrence of intrauterine transplacental severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 among infected mother-infant dyads be based upon identification of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in chorionic villus cells using immunohistochemistry or nucleic acid methods such as in situ hybridization. Evaluating placentas from neonates with coronavirus disease 2019 using these methods will be instrumental in determining the potential role and prevalence of transplacental transmission of the coronavirus. © 2020 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved

New insights into perinatal testicular torsion

Perinatal testicular torsion is a relatively rare event that remains unrecognized in many patients or is suspected and treated accordingly only after an avoidable loss of time. The authors report their own experience with several patients, some of them quite atypical but instructive. Missed bilateral torsion is an issue, as are partial torsion, possible antenatal signs, and late presentation. These data are discussed together with the existing literature and may help shed new light on the natural course of testicular torsion and its treatment. The most important conclusion is that a much higher index of suspicion based on clinical findings is needed for timely detection of perinatal torsion. It is the authors’ opinion that immediate surgery is mandatory not only in suspected bilateral torsions but also in cases of possible unilateral torsions. There is no place for a more fatalistic “wait-and-see” approach. Whenever possible, even necrotic testes should not be removed during surgery because some endocrine function may be retained

Chronic neurological complications in hemolytic uremic syndrome in children

Introduction. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is the most common extrarenal involvement in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). There are limited reports on clinical cause of chronic neurologic problems in HUS. We evaluated residual neurologic involvement in children with HUS. Materials and Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 58 patients with a diagnosis of HUS referred to 2 tertiary pediatric centers. Neurological examinations was performed on all of the patients and they were followed up between 2001 and 2015. Data including demographic variables, type of HUS, neurological symptoms, and other complications were recorded. Neurological involvements that occurred after 6 months from the acute phase of HUS were considered as chronic neurological involvement. Results. Among 58 patients who were included in the study, 31 (53.4) had neurological manifestations (31 with acute and 19 with chronic complications). There was no significant difference in acute neurological manifestations between typical and atypical HUS, while chronic neurological manifestations were more frequents in patients with atypical HUS (P =.05). The most common presentations were seizure and decreased level of consciousness. Chronic neurologic problems were found in follow-up visits of 11 patients with acute and 8 without acute involvement. Hypertension was associated with chronic manifestations (P =.01). Conclusions. According to our results, residual neurological problems were not infrequent in HUS and they were more related with atypical form of disease. Evidence of hypertension is a significant variable for persistence of neurologic problems. © 2019, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in children with steroid-and cyclosporine-resistant and steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome

Introduction. There is evidence of the effectiveness of rituximab in treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children. The present study aimed to assess safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of rituximab in steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant pediatric nephrotic syndrome. Materials and Methods. Forty-three children with steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant or steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent noncongenital nephrotic syndrome were included in the study to receive intravenous rituximab, 375 mg/m2/wk, for 4 weeks. The children were followed up for 2 years. Effectiveness was defined as remission of proteinuria in response to rituximab. Side effects of rituximab were monitored. Results. Overall, 23 (57.1) of the children had steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 8 (34.8) revealed complete response and 3 (13) revealed partial response. Seven children (16.7) had late-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 6 (85.7) revealed complete response and none revealed partial response. Ten children (26.2) had steroid- and cyclosporine-dependence all of whom revealed complete response to rituximab. Complete response rate was significantly higher in those with drug-dependent pattern than the other groups (P = .002). There was no association between response to rituximab and pathological basis of disease. Side effects were found in 4 patients as leukopenia in 2, alopecia in 1, and eosinophilia in 1. Conclusions. Rituximab is effective for children with nephrotic syndrome with high efficacy and well tolerability, especially in those with steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome. © 2018, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Efficacy and safety of rituximab in children with steroid-and cyclosporine-resistant and steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome

Introduction. There is evidence of the effectiveness of rituximab in treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children. The present study aimed to assess safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of rituximab in steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant pediatric nephrotic syndrome. Materials and Methods. Forty-three children with steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant or steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent noncongenital nephrotic syndrome were included in the study to receive intravenous rituximab, 375 mg/m2/wk, for 4 weeks. The children were followed up for 2 years. Effectiveness was defined as remission of proteinuria in response to rituximab. Side effects of rituximab were monitored. Results. Overall, 23 (57.1) of the children had steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 8 (34.8) revealed complete response and 3 (13) revealed partial response. Seven children (16.7) had late-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 6 (85.7) revealed complete response and none revealed partial response. Ten children (26.2) had steroid- and cyclosporine-dependence all of whom revealed complete response to rituximab. Complete response rate was significantly higher in those with drug-dependent pattern than the other groups (P = .002). There was no association between response to rituximab and pathological basis of disease. Side effects were found in 4 patients as leukopenia in 2, alopecia in 1, and eosinophilia in 1. Conclusions. Rituximab is effective for children with nephrotic syndrome with high efficacy and well tolerability, especially in those with steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome. © 2018, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved

Escroto agudo

Este artigo pretende fazer uma revisão geral do tema, com ênfase em conceitos atuais e/ou controversos no manejo das situações clínicas em questão, em especial conceitos ainda polêmicos quanto à fisiopatologia e ao manejo diagnóstico. Também é feita uma revisão extensa quanto aos aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos da torção de testículo neonatal e quanto aos aspectos de diagnóstico diferencial na síndrome do escroto agudo. São citadas informações estatísticas derivadas dos principais estudos clínicos publicados nos últimos 20 anos em literatura médica ocidental