Static and dynamic postural control of postpartum women of different delivery methods

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in postural control between nulligravida women and women who have given birth by vaginal or cesarean section.MethodsWomen who had only vaginal delivery in the previous 1–3 years were included in the vaginal delivery group (n = 27), those who had only cesarean delivery in the previous 1–3 years were included in the cesarean section group (n = 28), and those who had never given birth were included in the control group (n = 32). Evaluations were administered 6–8 days after the ovulation phase. Postural control of the participants was evaluated with the computerized dynamic posturography device.ResultsA total of 87 women with a mean age of 29.4 ± 4 years and a mean body mass index of 24.1 ± 3.1 kg/m² were included in the study. Antero-posterior somatosensory organization test values of the vaginal delivery group were lower than the control group (p = 0.0016). The cesarean delivery group had statistically lower antero-posterior somatosensory (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0013) and medio-lateral somatosensory (p = 0.002 and p = 0.017, respectively) test scores compared to the control group and the vaginal delivery group.ConclusionsIt was observed that women who birthed with vaginal or cesarean delivery had impaired somatosensory postural control. There is definitely a need for further studies with a long-term follow-up examining the effects of postural control during pregnancy and the postpartum period.     

腹部超声联合阴道灌注0.9%氯化钠诊断幼女阴道异物的临床价值

目的 分析腹部超声联合阴道灌注0.9%氯化钠对幼女阴道异物的诊断价值。方法 回顾性分析2018年1月—2021年12月就诊于赣州市妇幼保健院妇科的102例疑似阴道异物幼女临床资料。患儿均接受经腹部超声、阴道灌注0.9%氯化钠检查。以宫腔镜诊治结果作为金标准，分析经腹部超声单独检测或腹部超声联合阴道灌注0.9%氯化钠诊断阴道异物的准确性、有效性。结果 宫腔镜结果显示，患儿中阴道炎有21例（20.59%），阴道异物有81例（79.42%），其中棉絮状物、谷物、头发丝等线状物最为常见；单独诊断、联合诊断出阴道异物分别有69例和79例，与宫腔镜诊断结果的K值分别为0.689和0.897。将宫腔镜诊断结果作为金标准，单独诊断、联合诊断阴道异物的敏感性分别为0.765（95% CI：0.594，0.816）、0.951（95% CI：0.826，0.995），特异性分别为0.667（95% CI：0.563，0.786）、0.905（95% CI：0.795，0.972），准确度分别为0.745（95% CI：0.586，0.813）、0.941（95% CI：0.817，0.984），单独诊断、联合诊断的敏感性、特异性、准确度可信区间无重叠，说明有统计学意义。结论 阴道灌注0.9%氯化钠可增强幼女阴道异物在超声下的显影，提升诊断准确性、有效性，且操作简单、损伤小，起到清洁阴道作用。     

Synthesis and characterization of photosensitive gelatin-based hydrogels for photodynamic therapy in HeLa-CCL2 cell line

BackgroundHydrogel systems are increasingly gaining visibility involving biomedicine, tissue engineering, environmental treatments, and drug delivery systems. These systems have a three-dimensional network composition and high-water absorption capacity, are biocompatible, allowing them to become an option as photosensitizer carriers (PS) for applications in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) protocols.MethodsA nanohydrogel system (NAHI), encapsulated with chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) was synthesized for drug delivery.. NAHI was synthesized using gelatin as based polymer by the chemical cross-linking technique. The drug was encapsulated by immersing the hydrogel in a 1.0 mg.mL⁻¹ ClAlPc solution. The external morphology of NAHI was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The degree of swelling of the synthesized system was evaluated to determine the water absorption potential. The produced nanohydrogel system was characterized by photochemical, photophysical and photobiologial studies.ResultsThe images from the SEM analysis showed the presence of three-dimensional networks in the formulation. The swelling test demonstrated that the nanohydrogel freeze-drying process increases its water holding capacity. All spectroscopic results showed excellent photophysical parameters of the drug studied when served in the NAHI system. The incorporation efficiency was 70%. The results of trypan blue exclusion test have shown significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the cell viability for all groups treated with PDT, in all concentrations tested. In HeLa cells, PDT mediated by 0,5 mg.mL⁻¹ ClAlPc encapsulated in NAHI showed a decrease in survival close to 95%. In the internalization cell study was possible to observe the internalization of phthalocyanine after one hour of incubation, at 37 °C, with the the accumulation of PS in the cytoplasm and inside the nucleus at both concentrations tested.ConclusionsGiven the peculiar performance of the selected system, the resulting nanohydrogel is a versatile platform and display potential applications as controlled delivery systems of photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy application.     

Online Patient Information for Hysterectomies: A Systematic Environmental Scan of Quality and Readability

ObjectiveHysterectomy is a common gynaecological procedure, and therefore online information is highly valuable to patients. Our objective was to evaluate the quality, readability, and comprehensiveness of online patient information on hysterectomy.MethodsThe first 25 patient-directed websites on hysterectomy, identified using 5 online search engines (Google, Yahoo, AOL, Bing, Ask.com) as well as clinical professional societies, were assessed using validated tools for quality (DISCERN, JAMA benchmark), readability (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level [FKGL], Gunning Fog, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook [SMOG], Flesch Reading Ease Score [FRES]), and completeness of information.ResultsWe identified 50 websites for inclusion. Overall, websites were of good quality (median DISCERN score 53/80 [interquartile range {IQR} 47–61]; median JAMA score 3/4 [IQR 1–4]). Most websites described surgical risks (39, 78%), benefits (45, 90%), and types of hysterectomy (48, 96%). Content readability corresponded to grade 11 using FKGL (median 11.1 [IQR 10.2–13.0]) and SMOG (median 10.9 [IQR 10.2–12.4]), or 15 years education using Gunning Fog (median 14.7 [IQR 13.8–16.4]). Websites were assessed as difficult to read using FRES (median 45.6/100 [IQR 37.9–50.9]). No differences were observed in readability scores when we compared websites from clinical professional societies, government, health care, or academic organizations with other websites (P > 0.05).ConclusionOnline patient information on hysterectomy is of good quality and comprehensive. However, the content is above the American Medical Association’s recommended grade 6 reading level. Website authors should consider readability to make their content more accessible to patients.     

CRISPR-Cas系统在动物及植物中不同的递送方式研究进展*

CRISPR-Cas 系统的发现彻底改变了基因编辑技术领域，在多方面都有着广阔的前景。该系统主要有Cas 蛋白和单链向导RNA 组成，其功能的发挥高度依赖于各组分的有效递送。本篇综述对目前动植物中该系统组分 的常用递送方式进行详细总结，并分析其目前仍存在的问题。     

Impact of Planned Delivery on the Perinatal Outcome of Term Fetuses with Isolated Heart Defects

ObjectivePregnancies complicated by fetal heart defects often undergo a planned delivery prior to term by either induction of labour or cesarean delivery to ensure optimal availability of neonatal care. We aimed to assess whether such planned deliveries achieve their goal of better perinatal care.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective case-control study of pregnancies complicated by isolated fetal cardiac defects, without other fetal comorbidities, managed at a single fetal medicine unit over a 10-year period. Only pregnancies delivered past 37 weeks gestation were included. Patients undergoing elective delivery for care planning reasons only were compared with patients in whom planned delivery was clinically indicated and patients who laboured spontaneously. Obstetric and perinatal outcomes were recorded.ResultsOf the 180 pregnancies included in the study, 59 (32.8%) were in the elective group, 49 (27.2%), in the indicated group, and 72 (40%), in the spontaneous group. Mean gestational age at delivery was 39.0 ± 1.1 weeks overall and did not differ between the groups. For the elective group, only 35.6% of deliveries occurred during office hours, which was similar to the 2 other groups. The rate of adverse obstetric or postnatal outcomes was not statistically significantly different between groups.ConclusionTimed delivery at term does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of poor perinatal outcomes. It may improve perinatal care by providing proximity to a neonatal intensive care unit and convenience for patients and providers.     

Repurposing of parenterally administered active substances used to treat pain both systemically and locally

Pain is a constant in our lives. The efficacy of drug therapy administered by the parenteral route is often limited either by the physicochemical characteristics of the drug itself or its adsorption–distribution–metabolism–excretion (ADME) mechanisms. One promising alternative is the design of innovative drug delivery systems that can improve the pharmacokinetics |(PK) and/or reduce the toxicity of traditionally used drugs. In this review, we discuss several products that have been approved by the main regulatory agencies (i.e., nano- and microsystems, implants, and oil-based solutions), highlighting the newest technologies that govern both locally and systemically the delivery of drugs. Finally, we also discuss the risk assessment of the scale-up process required, given the impact that this approach could have on drug manufacturing.Teaser: The management of pain by way of the parenteral route can be improved using complex drug delivery systems (e.g., micro- and nanosystems) which require high-level assessment and shorten the regulatory pathway.