Talking about assisted reproductive techniques and thromboembolic risk: everything we always wanted to know

The last report on Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) showed a steady increase in the annual number of treatment cycles worldwide. The most common techniques of autologous ART - in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) - require the use of exogenous gonadotropins with possible adverse effects [...]

Obstetric outcomes in pregnant COVID-19 women: the imbalance of von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 axis

Background: Thrombotic microangiopathy has been invoked as one of the most important mechanisms of damage in COVID-19 patients. Protease ADAMTS13 is a marker of microangiopathy responsible for controlling von Willebrand multimers size. Von Willebrand factor/ADAMTS13 ratio has been found impaired in COVID-19 patients outside pregnancy. Methods: We prospectively investigated 90 pregnant women admitted to two tertiary academic hospitals in Italy with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Demographic, clinical information and routine laboratory data were collected at the hospital admission and until discharge. We investigated whether vonWillebrand /ADAMTS13 axis imbalance is a predictor of adverse outcomes. Logistic regression analysis, which controlled for potential confounders, was performed to evaluate the association between laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes. Results: Most women (55.6%) were parae, with median gestational age at admission of 39 weeks. At hospital admission, 63.3% were asymptomatic for COVID-19 and 24.4% showed more than one sign or symptom of infection. Nulliparae with group O showed Willebrand / ADA MTS-13 ratios significantly lower than non-O, whereas in multiparae this difference was not observed. Logistic regression showed that ratio von Willebrand to ADAMTS13 was significantly and independently associated with preterm delivery (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.1–3.5). Conclusion: This study shows an imbalance of vonWillebrand /ADAMTS13 axis in pregnant women with COVID-19, leading to a significantly higher and independent risk of preterm delivery. Monitoring these biomarkers might support decision making process to manage and follow-up pregnancies in this setting

Deiminated proteins and extracellular vesicles - novel serum biomarkers in whales and Orca

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of phylogenetically conserved calcium-dependent enzymes which cause post-translational protein deimination. This can result in neoepitope generation, affect gene regulation and allow for protein moonlighting via functional and structural changes in target proteins. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry cargo proteins and genetic material and are released from cells as part of cellular communication. EVs are found in most body fluids where they can be useful biomarkers for assessment of health status. Here, serum-derived EVs were profiled, and post-translationally deiminated proteins and EV-related microRNAs are described in 5 ceataceans: minke whale, fin whale, humpback whale, Cuvier's beaked whale and orca. EV-serum profiles were assessed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. EV profiles varied between the 5 species and were identified to contain deiminated proteins and selected key inflammatory and metabolic microRNAs. A range of proteins, critical for immune responses and metabolism were identified to be deiminated in cetacean sera, with some shared KEGG pathways of deiminated proteins relating to immunity and physiology, while some KEGG pathways were species-specific. This is the first study to characterise and profile EVs and to report deiminated proteins and putative effects of protein-protein interaction networks via such post-translationald deimination in cetaceans, revealing key immune and metabolic factors to undergo this post-translational modification. Deiminated proteins and EVs profiles may possibly be developed as new biomarkers for assessing health status of sea mammals

Human Fibrinogen: Molecular and Genetic Aspects of Congenital Disorders

Congenital fibrinogen disorders can be quantitative (afibrinogenemia, hypofibrinogenemia) or functional (dysfibrinognemia). To date, several genetic variants have been identified in individuals with fibrinogen disorders. The complexity of the fibrinogen molecules, formed by three non-identical chains and with a trinodal organization, renders the identification of molecular causes and of clinical and biochemical phenotypes very challenging. However, the acknowledgement of the type of molecular defect is crucial for a safer therapy, which is going to improve the clinical management of these patients. In this review, some aspects concerning molecular and clinical findings available on congenital fibrinogen disorders will be discussed

Perancangan Graphic Diary Sentuhan Ibu Pada Enam Bulan Masa Penting Asi

Kehamilan merupakan suatu hal yang melengkapi kebahagiaan pasangan muda yang baru menikah. Sering kali masa kehamilan pertama akan menimbulkan rasa khawatir, resah, bahkan takut dalam menghadapi persalinan serta pemberian ASI eksklusif. Oleh sebab itu, dibutuhkan pemahaman dan pengetahuan yang cukup agar ibu muda lebih tenang selama proses kehamilan, melahirkan sampai dengan pemberian ASI. Salah satu caranya adalah dengan mengabadikannya dalam sebuah media berupa graphic diary atau buku harian yang digrafiskan. Perancangan graphic diary ini dimaksudkan untuk merancang media penyampaian informasi berupa cerita perjuangan seorang ibu serta cara-cara mengatasi gangguan selama proses kehamilan, persalinan dan menyusui dengan judul “Dekapan Kasih Sang Ibu”. Gaya desain atau gaya tampilan visual ilustrasi yang digunakan dalam perancangan graphic diary sentuhan ibu pada enam bulan masa penting ASI ini adalah Cartoon vector. Penggambaran ilustrasi karakter menggunakan jenis ilustrasi cartoon dekoratif. Proses pembuatan graphic diary ini menggunakan program pendukung desain yaitu Corel Draw X4 dan Adobe Photoshop. Font Handwriting dipilih karena mengandung nuansa feminim sebagai bentuk ungkapan emosi perempuan dan seorang ibu. Media tambahan sebagai pendukung diantaranya kalender, bollpoin, notebook, appron ibu menyusui, stiker botol asi perah bertema ibu menyusui. Penyajian yang berformat desain grafis akan mampu menyampaikan pesan dengan lebih komunikatif, efektif dan menarik, sehingga memudahkan target audience dalam memahami esensi pesan yang terkandung dalam setiap pengalaman yang disajikan. Karya graphic diary ini berisi lima cerita tentang pengalaman saat hamil,melahirkan, dan periode menyususi enam bulan pertama, serta berbagai tips-tips, dan bincang-bincang bermanfaat selama hamil dan menyusui. Naskah yang ada di dalam graphic diary sesuai pengalaman yang dialami oleh penulis dan beberapa ibu menyusui sehingga diharapkan ada respon positif agar mewujudkan kesadaran para ibu untuk memberikan ASI eksklusif pada bayi