Probiotic Improves Skin Oxidation, Elasticity, and Structural Properties in Aging Rats.

Skin aging, which affects all living organisms, is associated with oxidative stress. Probiotics exhibit antioxidant properties by producing reactive metabolites that counter oxidative stress. We hypothesized that Limosilactobacillus fermentum USM 4189 (LF 4189) has antioxidative properties and may prevent skin aging. In the present study, we used a D-galactose senescence-induced rat model to evaluate the potential antioxidative capability of LF 4189. The results indicated that rats administered LF 4189 exhibited increased plasma antioxidative activity (P=0.004), lipid peroxidation capacity (P=0.007), and skin elasticity compared with untreated aged rats (P=0.005). LF 4189 prevented telomere length shortening (P<0.05), indicating the potential to prevent senescence. A higher apoptotic activity was observed in old rats compared with young rats, whereas LF 4189 reduced the expression of four antioxidative enzyme genes that function as radical scavengers (all P<0.05), suggesting that the LF 4189 group had a reduced need to scavenge free radicals. Our findings indicate the potential of probiotics, such as LF 4189, as an anti-aging dietary intervention with antioxidant potential to improve skin health.

A 10-Year Review of Methotrexate Treatment for Ectopic Pregnancy in a Malaysian Tertiary Referral Hospital.

Background Ectopic pregnancy was recorded as the fourth principal cause of maternal death in Malaysia in 2019. Early diagnosis and use of methotrexate treatment proved to be safe and effective alternatives to surgical treatment. This study investigates the success rate of methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. Methods This was a retrospective review of 73 patients with ectopic pregnancies treated with methotrexate according to a single-dose protocol from January 2009 until November 2019. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was made using a combination of transvaginal scan and serial serum ß-hCG levels. Their clinical and demographic data were reviewed. Serum ß-hCG levels were measured at pre- and post-treatment to determine the rate of successful resolution. Results The overall success rate was 87.7% (64/73 patients) with methotrexate treatment. Fifty-six patients (76.7%) were successfully treated with a single dose of methotrexate, and eight patients (11.0%) required a second dose of methotrexate. There was no relation between socio-demographic, pre-treatment ß-hCG levels, ectopic mass size, and treatment efficacy. Smaller size of ectopic pregnancy (adjusted OR=29.23; 95% CI: 2.69, 317.90; P=0.006) and absence of free fluid at the pouch of Douglas (POD) (adjusted OR=27.31; 95% CI: 2.84, 262.32; P=0.004) was found to increase the likelihood of overall treatment success. Absence of fetal cardiac activities was found to increase the likelihood of first-dose methotrexate treatment success (OR=10.20; 95% CI: 1.93, 53.79; P=0.006). Conclusions Early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy may reduce morbidity and mortality. In carefully selected cases, methotrexate treatment has been proven to be cost-effective and avoided risks associated with surgery and anaesthesia.

A Review on Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy Potential for Fetal Acidosis Examination.

Fetal acidosis is one of the main concerns during labor. Currently, fetal blood sampling (FBS) has become the most accurate measurement of acidosis detection. However, it is invasive and does not provide a real time measurement due to laboratory procedures. Delays in diagnosis of acidosis have caused serious injury to the fetus, especially for the brain and the heart. This paper reviews the new technique in diagnosis of acidosis non-invasively. Magnetic Induction Spectroscopy (MIS) has been proposed to be a new device for acidosis detection in recent years. This paper explains the basic principle of MIS and outlines the design specifications and design considerations for a MIS pH probe. It is expected that readers will gain a basic understanding of the development of a MIS pH probe from this review.

Müllerian duct anomalies with term pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Müllerian duct anomaly is a rare condition. Many cases remain unidentified, especially if asymptomatic. Thus, it is difficult to determine the actual incidence. Müllerian duct anomaly is associated with a wide range of gynecological and obstetric complications, namely infertility, endometriosis, urinary tract anomalies, and preterm delivery. Furthermore, congenital anomalies in pregnant mothers have a high risk of being genetically transmitted to their offspring. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a patient with unsuspected müllerian duct anomaly in a term pregnancy. A 33-year-old Malay woman with previously uninvestigated involuntary primary infertility for 4 years presented with acute right pyelonephritis in labor at 38 weeks of gestation. She has had multiple congenital anomalies since birth and had undergone numerous surgeries during childhood. Her range of congenital defects included hydrocephalus, for which she was put on a ventriculoperitoneal shunt; imperforated anus; and tracheoesophageal fistula with a history of multiples surgeries. In addition, she had a shorter right lower limb length with limping gait. Her physical examination revealed a transverse scar at the right hypochondrium and multiple scars at the posterior thoracic region, levels T10-T12. Abdominal palpation revealed a term size uterus that was deviated to the left, with a singleton fetus in a nonengaged cephalic presentation. The cervical os was closed, but stricture bands were present on the vagina from the upper third until the fornices posteriorly. She also had multiple rectal prolapses and strictures over the rectum due to previous anorectoplasty. An emergency cesarean delivery was performed in view of the history of anorectoplasty, vaginal stricture, and infertility. Intraoperative findings showed a left unicornuate uterus with a communicating right rudimentary horn. CONCLUSION: Most cases of müllerian duct anomaly remain undiagnosed due to the lack of clinical suspicion and the absence of pathognomonic clinical and radiological characteristics. Because it is associated with a wide range of gynecological and obstetric complications, it is vital for healthcare providers to be aware of its existence and the role of antenatal radiological investigations in its diagnosis. The presence of multiple congenital abnormalities and a history of infertility in a pregnant woman should warrant the exclusion of müllerian duct anomalies from the beginning. Early detection of müllerian duct anomalies can facilitate an appropriate delivery plan and improve the general obstetric outcome.