Detection of Zika virus in paired urine and amniotic fluid samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic women and their babies during a disease outbreak: association with neurological symptoms in newborns

Paired maternal and newborn urine and amniotic fluid from 138 subjects collected during a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak was analyzed for ZIKV by gene amplification (RT-qPCR), and the findings were correlated with clinical symptoms and neurological anomalies in the babies. ZIKV was detected in 1 of 9 symptomatic women (11.1%) and in 19 of 129 asymptomatic women (14.7%). Neurological manifestations were present in 19 babies (13.7%), 10 of 20 (50%) positive and 9 of 119 (7.6%) negative (p < 0.001) for ZIKV. Twelve (8.6%) urines collected during gestation were ZIKV-positive; only 2 remained positive for ZIKV postpartum. Six (4.1%) newborn urines collected within 1 day of delivery were ZIKV-positive cases. In 3 of these cases, ZIKV was detected in mother’s urine pre- and postpartum and in both mother’s urine and babies’ urine. Four of the amniotic fluid samples (2.9%) were ZIKV-positive. Among ZIKV-negative babies with neurological sequel, 87.5% were female; in contrast, 72.7% ZIKV-positive babies with neurological abnormalities were male (p = 0.019). We conclude that during a ZIKV outbreak, clinical symptoms and ZIKV detection in biological fluids are poor predictors of infection and adverse neurologic sequel in newborns.     

Right single coronary artery as an incidental finding in Takotsubo syndrome and acute heart failure: Case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Single coronary artery (SCA) with no associated congenital heart disease is a rare congenital anomaly. Most cases are asymptomatic and incidental findings, but SCA can cause ischemia, congestive heart failure, and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

In vivo performance of a sol-gel glass-coated collagen

Synthetic bioactive materials offer possibilities to repair large tissue defects. It is well known that bioactivity, angiogenesis, and inflammation are key events in implant incorporation. Using glass-coated and glass-free collagen as potential bone graft substitutes, we carried out in vitro bioactivity and an in vivo angiogenesis and inflammation studies. The in vitro study showed bioactivity when the glass-coated samples were left in SBF for 5 days. This was confirmed by FTIR results, which presented P--O vibration bands characteristic of hydroxyapatite close to 1060 cm(-1) and 600 cm(-1). The in vivo response was evaluated following subcutaneous implantation of the biomaterial in the mouse dorsa. Angiogenesis, as determined by hemoglobin content extracted from implants 7 and 14 days after implantation, increased progressively in both glass-coated and glass-free collagen implants. However, vascularization was higher in the glass-coated collagen implants 14 days after implantation (mug Hb per mg wet tissue 6.0 +/- 0.3) compared with the glass-free group (1.6 +/- 0.1). The inflammatory process, determined by the levels of myeloperoxidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase, was similar for both implants. This study shows that glass-coated collagen implants hold osteogenic and angiogenic potential and may be used in clinical conditions requiring improvement of these biological processes.     

Comparison of pronator tenotomy and pronator rerouting in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Forty-one patients with cerebral palsy and pronation contracture of the forearm were treated with pronator teres rerouting compared with 16 patients who were treated with pronator teres tenotomy. The mean age of patients with pronator tenotomy was 4 years 3 months compared with 7 years 3 months for patients with rerouting. Follow-up averaged 94 months for tenotomy and 21 months for rerouting. Average gain in supination was 78 degrees for rerouting and 54 degrees for tenotomy. No patient lost active range of motion during follow-up. Although pronator teres tenotomy increased active supination of the forearm, greater active supination of the forearm was afforded patients treated with pronator teres rerouting.     

Biochemical and Metabolical Pathways Associated with Microbiota-Derived Butyrate in Colorectal Cancer and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Implications: A Narrative Review

Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research progress on the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the biochemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate. Omega-3 PUFAs have been proposed as a treatment to prevent gut microbiota dysregulation and lower the risk or progression of CRC.