RESUMEN
Background The data is sparse on the uptake of preventative vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic in the pregnant population. Our goal was to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic affected the rate of influenza and tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (TDAP) vaccination in a predominantly African American pregnant population. Methods This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study compared the influenza vaccination rates of pregnant women 18 years and older between the pre-COVID influenza season (September 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020) and the COVID influenza season (September 1, 2020 to March 1, 2021). Results The influenza vaccination rate was statistically significant with a rise from 51.9% pre-pandemic to 72.4% post-pandemic (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.437; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.64- 3.62; p=0.001). The TDAP vaccination rates remained consistent from the pre-pandemic rate of 65.6% to the pandemic rate of 68.6% (p=0.435). Conclusion We concluded that the pandemic had a positive impact on influenza vaccination rates in the pregnant population.
RESUMEN
Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are isolated from various adult and perinatal tissues. Although mesenchymal stem cells from multiple sources exhibit similar morphology and cell surface markers, they differ in their properties. In this study, we determined that the expression of integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6) and ITGA6 antisense RNA (ITGA6-AS1) correlates with the proliferation, cell size, and differentiation potential. The expression of ITGA6 was inversely correlated with ITGA6-AS1 in MSCs. The expression of ITGA6 was higher, but ITGA6-AS1 was lower in MSCs from cord placenta junction, cord tissue, and Wharton's jelly. In contrast, ITGA6 expression was lower, while ITGA6-AS1 was higher in MSCs from the placenta. The bioinformatic analysis showed that ITGA6 genomic DNA transcribes ITGA6-AS1 from the reverse strand, overlapping ITGA6 exon-2. Additionally, we identify several putative promoters (P1-P10) of ITGA6. ITGA6-P10 is CG rich and contains CGI. EMBOSS Cpgplot software revealed a CGI length of 180 bp that extends from nucleotide 125 to 304 of the P10 sequence. We suggest that the post-transcriptional regulation of the ITGA6 in mesenchymal stem cells is controlled by the ITGA6-AS1, which could be a critical factor responsible for the heterogeneity in function and cell fate of human MSCs. These results may provide further impetus for investigations to unravel the mechanisms of ITGA6 regulation that could help maintain or improve the properties of mesenchymal stem cells.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Surgical vaginoplasty is a highly successful treatment for congenital absence of the vagina. One key to long-term success is the use of an appropriate vaginal mold in the immediate postoperative period. We present the use of a three-dimensional (3D)-printed vaginal mold, customizable to the anatomy of individual patients. TECHNIQUE: Vaginal molds were designed using a 3D modeling software program. The design included narrowing around the urethra, holes for egress of secretions, and a knob for insertion and removal. Dental resin was 3D-printed into various-sized vaginal molds, and postprocessing was performed. EXPERIENCE: We present the use of the 3D-printed mold for a patient with a history of cloacal exstrophy and a unique pelvic shape. Two prior neovagina surgeries in this patient had been unsuccessful due to ineffective handheld dilator use; the patient experienced success with the 3D-printed intravaginal mold. CONCLUSION: The use of the 3D-printed vaginal mold is an alternative to the limited commercially available models today and allows for customization to user anatomy. With 3D printers becoming more widely accessible, we believe this method could become universally accepted, with hopes of contributing to increased patient satisfaction and decreased complications.
Asunto(s)
Ano Imperforado , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica , Anomalías Urogenitales , Ano Imperforado/cirugía , Femenino , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Ginecológicos/métodos , Humanos , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica/métodos , Anomalías Urogenitales/cirugía , Vagina/anomalías , Vagina/cirugíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no treatment for retinal degenerative diseases (RDD) such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Stem cell-based therapies could provide promising opportunities to repair the damaged retina and restore vision. Thus far, primarily adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies, and the results have not been convincing. We applied a new approach in which primitive (p) MSC-derived retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) were examined to treat retinal degeneration in an rd12 mouse model of RP. METHODS: Well-characterized pMSCs and RPCs labeled with PKH26 were intravitreally injected into rd12 mice. The vision and retinal function of transplanted animals were analyzed using electroretinography. Animals were killed 4 and 8 weeks after cell transplantation for histological, immunological, molecular, and transcriptomic analyses of the retina. RESULTS: Transplanted RPCs significantly improved vision and retinal thickness as well as function in rd12 mice. pMSCs and RPCs homed to distinct retinal layers. pMSCs homed to the retinal pigment epithelium, and RPCs migrated to the neural layers of the retina, where they improved the thickness of the respective layers and expressed cell-specific markers. RPCs induced anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective responses as well as upregulated the expression of genes involved in neurogenesis. The transcriptomic analysis showed that RPCs promoted neurogenesis and functional recovery of the retina through inhibition of BMP and activation of JAK/STAT and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that RPCs countered inflammation, provided retinal protection, and promoted neurogenesis resulting in improved retinal structure and physiological function in rd12 mice.