Undetectable viral RNA in oocytes from SARS-CoV-2 positive women.

A central concern for the safe provision of ART during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the possibility of vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection through gametes and preimplantation embryos. Unfortunately, data on SARS-CoV-2 viral presence in oocytes of infected individuals are not available to date. We describe the case of two women who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation and tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 infection by PCR on the day of oocyte collection. The viral RNA for gene N was undetectable in all the oocytes analyzed from the two women.

Daily effects of air pollutants and pollen types on asthma and COPD hospital emergency visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena

Background: Associations found in time-series studies on hospital emergency room (ER) visits due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with single air pollutants show some lack of consistency. The respiratory effects of aeroallergens in the air pollution mix are not well established. Non-linear relationships of different airborne pollen types with certain respiratory diseases have also been described. We aim to study the short-term effects of major air pollutants and aeroallergen pollen on asthma and COPD hospital ER visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena during1995-1998. Methods: The association of asthma and COPD to ER visits with mean levels of sulphur and nitrogen dioxides (SO2 and NO2), total suspended particles (TSP), ozone (O3), and the main allergenic airborne pollen types were analysed using Poisson regression with Generalised Additive Models, taking into account delayed effects and adjusting for long-term trends, seasonality, weather conditions, holidays and flu notifications. Results: Multipollutant models showed a similar relative risk (RR) increase (in %), of around 5% in asthma and COPD ER visits per 10 microg/m3 SO2 increments. The risk of an ER visit for the sameNO2 increment was 2.6% for asthma and 3.3% for COPD. Visits to the ER due to asthma showed a positive increase with both Urticaceae and Poaceae levels, but did not substantially modify the previous percentages(AU)

Daily effects of air pollutants and pollen types on asthma and COPD hospital emergency visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena.

BACKGROUND: Associations found in time-series studies on hospital emergency room (ER) visits due to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with single air pollutants show some lack of consistency. The respiratory effects of aeroallergens in the air pollution mix are not well established. Non-linear relationships of different airborne pollen types with certain respiratory diseases have also been described. We aim to study the short-term effects of major air pollutants and aeroallergen pollen on asthma and COPD hospital ER visits in the industrial and Mediterranean Spanish city of Cartagena during 1995-1998. METHODS: The association of asthma and COPD to ER visits with mean levels of sulphur and nitrogen dioxides (SO(2) and NO(2)), total suspended particles (TSP), ozone (O(3)), and the main allergenic airborne pollen types were analysed using Poisson regression with Generalised Additive Models, taking into account delayed effects and adjusting for long-term trends, seasonality, weather conditions, holidays and flu notifications. RESULTS: Multipollutant models showed a similar relative risk (RR) increase (in %), of around 5% in asthma and COPD ER visits per 10 µg/m(3) SO(2) increments. The risk of an ER visit for the same NO(2) increment was 2.6% for asthma and 3.3% for COPD. Visits to the ER due to asthma showed a positive increase with both Urticaceae and Poaceae levels, but did not substantially modify the previous percentages. CONCLUSIONS: Air levels of SO(2) and NO(2) were associated with a substantial increased risk in ER visits due to asthma and COPD. The inclusion of Poaceae and Urticaceae pollen did not alter that association.

Comparison between a GnRH antagonist and a GnRH agonist flare-up protocol in oocyte donors: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the outcome of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using GnRH antagonist in oocyte donation cycles especially in comparison with the short GnRH agonist protocol. This study was aimed at comparing the two stimulation protocols in oocyte donation (OD) cycles. METHODS: A total of 113 donors randomly received COH using either GnRH antagonist or GnRH agonist. The primary endpoint was the mean number of mature oocytes retrieved per started donor cycle. Secondary endpoints were the mean number of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) retrieved, the mean proportion of mature oocytes, pregnancy and implantation rates in recipients. RESULTS: Oocytes were distributed to 166 recipients. The mean number (+/- SD) of COC (11.6 +/- 5.8 versus 12.1 +/- 6.7), mature oocytes (8.4 +/- 4.4 versus 8.9 +/- 5.3) and the proportion of mature oocytes (70.8 versus 75.7%) retrieved per started donor cycle were similar in the antagonist and agonist groups, respectively. The implantation rate (26.1 versus 30.1%), clinical (40.2 versus 45.6%) and ongoing pregnancy rate per recipient cycle (32.2 versus 37.9%) were comparable in antagonist and agonist protocols, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Similar mean number of mature oocytes and comparable pregnancy rates are achieved after OD in which donors received COH using GnRH antagonist or short GnRH agonist protocols.

Air pollution and cardiovascular admissions association in Spain: results within the EMECAS project.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short term effect of air pollution on cardiovascular admissions in 14 Spanish cities METHODS: The period under study was from 1995 to 1999. Daily emergency admissions for all cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and heart diseases (HD) were obtained from hospital records, and the corresponding daily levels of particulates, SO2, NO2, CO, and ozone were recorded. The magnitude of association was estimated using Poisson generalised additive models controlling for confounding and overdispersion. For each cause, lagged effects, up to three days, of each pollutant were examined and combined estimates were obtained. For ozone the analyses were restricted to the warm period. One and two pollutant models were performed. RESULTS: Associations were more consistent in lag 0 (concurrent day) and 1 (lag 0-1), except in the case of ozone where there was a more delayed relation (lag 2-3). For combined estimates an increase of 10 microg/m3 in the PM10 levels in lag 0-1 was associated with an increase of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.4 to 1.5%) in the number of hospital admissions for CVD, and 1.6% (0.8 to 2.3%) for HD. For ozone the corresponding estimates for lag 2-3 were 0.7% (0.3 to 1.0) for CVD, and 0.7% (0.1 to 1.2) for HD. An increase of 1 mg/m3 in CO levels was associated with an increase of 2.1% (0.7 to 3.5%) in CVD admissions, and 4.2% (1.3 to 7.1%) in HD admissions. SO2 and NO2 estimates were more sensitive in two pollutant models CONCLUSIONS: A short term association between increases in daily levels of air pollutants and the number of daily admissions for cardiovascular diseases, with specificity for heart diseases, has been described in Spanish cities.

Oocyte donation in patients with Turner's syndrome: a successful technique but with an accompanying high risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Few data are available on pregnancy rate and obstetrical outcome after oocyte donation in Turner's syndrome patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis on the outcome of this subgroup. METHODS: Thirty oocyte donation cycles with fresh embryo transfer were performed in 21 patients between 2001 and 2004. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) age of the recipients was 33.1+/-1.8 years. The median (range) number of transferred embryos per cycle was two (1-4). Seventeen pregnancies were obtained (57%), of which 12 were clinical (40%). The implantation rate and the ongoing pregnancy rate were 22% (15 out of 68) and 30% (nine out of 30), respectively. Premature delivery was observed in 50% (four out of eight) of the pregnancies and intrauterine growth retardation in 55.5% (five out of nine) of the fetuses. Hypertensive disorders occurred in five out of eight pregnancies (three pre-eclampsias). CONCLUSIONS: Turner's syndrome patients achieve acceptable pregnancy rates after oocyte donation. A high rate of pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders was observed which have led to a high rate of prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction. Although the number of cases in this study is limited, these results call for the need for intensive surveillance of such pregnancies. In order to reduce the risk of hypertensive disorders induced by multiple pregnancies, single embryo transfer should be proposed.

A large outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis associated with consumption of fresh pasteurised milk cheese.

A large outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis occurred in Murcia Region (Southeast Spain) in the winter of 1995-1996. More than 200 people were affected. Epidemiological investigations implicated a regionally manufactured fresh pasteurised milk cheese as the vehicle of infection. A case-control study showed a statistically significant association between the illness and consumption of the suspect cheese. The dispersed sale of the cheese resulted in a regional dissemination of the organism and people were affected in eight townships. Research suggested that an infected foodhandler at the cheese factory might have been the source of contamination and that the processing method might have allowed cross-contamination to occur. This study emphasises the importance of increasing the control of strict hygiene during the processing of fresh cheese, since legislation does not forbid direct contact by hand that could result in contamination of cheese even when the milk pasteurisation process was correctly performed.

Tratamiento quirúrgico del teratoma quístico benigno / Surgical treatment of benign cystic teratoma

Introducción: La laparoscopia es el tratamiento habitual de las tumoraciones anexiales, aunque en el teratoma quístico maduro todavía se utiliza en demasiadas ocasiones la vía laparotómica. Material y métodos: Se analizan retrospectivamente 118 casos de teratomas quísticos maduros intervenidos en el Hospital Universitari de 'Sant Joan de Déu' desde enero de 1992 a octubre de 1998. En el abordaje laparoscópico se realiza una inspección minuciosa del ovario, pelvis y abdomen, aspirándose líquido peritoneal. La extracción del quiste o del anejo se realiza mediante la ayuda de una bolsa, y posteriormente se realizan abundantes lavados peritoneales. Resultados: El tamaño medio del quiste fue de 7,3 cm (rango 1-15). El tratamiento laparoscópico fue exitoso en un 72,3 por 100 de los casos. Conclusiones: Los resultados están en concordancia con la literatura revisada. La ooforectomía y quistectomía laparoscópicas son una buena opción para el tratamiento quirúrgico del teratoma quístico benigno, siendo una alternativa segura y recomendable a la laparotomía (AU)

[Study of the accumulation of lead in the primary teeth]. / Estudio de la acumulación de plomo en dientes primarios.

The purpose of the study was to determine the accumulation of lead in deciduous teeth in children living in the area of Pamplona (Spain). In this manner, we tried to make a relationship between the quantity of lead accumulated in the tooth against certain factors of exposure that were documented on a questionnaire carried out at the time that the tooth was presented. We analysed 457 deciduous teeth using a technique of microwave digestion follow by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), to determine the concentration of lead in the sample. The mean lead concentration was 2.60+/-1.36 microg/g (range 0.25-10.71 microg/g). The lead concentration in our study is inferior to those observed in other European studies.

The relative importance of socio-economic status, parental smoking and air pollution (SO2) on asthma symptoms, spirometry and bronchodilator response in 11-year-old children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of several risk factors to the prevalence of allergic respiratory symptoms, and the positivity of the bronchodilator test with fenoterol, and to establish the relative importance of these factors on the variability of FVC, FEV1, PEF, MEF25, MEF50 and MEF75. A total of 340 11-year-old children attending school in polluted and non-polluted areas of the city of Cartagena, Spain, were studied. The polluted area had had an annual mean of 75 microg/m3 of SO2 over the last 10 years and the non-polluted area had < 20 microg/m3 during this period. A questionnaire about allergic respiratory symptoms was completed by the parents. Specific questions about parental smoking habits and socio-economic level were included. Each child's performance in spirometry before and after administration of 0.2 mg of inhaled fenoterol was evaluated. The only significant predictive variables in the logistic regression (for suffering any symptom or a positive bronchodilator response) were male sex for nasal symptoms (RR 1.37; p = 0.04) and housing near heavy traffic for eye symptoms (RR 1.45; p = 0.01). Living in the polluted area reduced the risk of a positive bronchodilator response (RR 0.61; p = 0.004). Maternal smoking, even though not statistically significant, tended to increased the risk of suffering any symptom (RR 1.26; p = 0.07) or of having a positive bronchodilator response (RR 1.23; p = 0.1). None of the risk factors studied was of significant importance in explaining the variability of spirometry results. Although none of the risk factors were specifically determinant to the symptom questions, bronchodilator test or spirometric measurements, having a mother who smokes seems more important than living in a polluted area if statistically non-significant trends are considered.

Reproducibility of skin prick test results in epidemiologic studies: a comparison of two devices.

The reproducibility of skin prick tests under field conditions is essential for comparing prevalences between centers in epidemiologic multicenter studies. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the reproducibility of two widely used skin prick test devices: the Multi-Test and the ALK lancet. The subjects were 28 children, aged 6-14 years, with known sensitivities to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pter.). Both devices were applied to each subject on two occasions, 1 week apart, by different, randomly assigned fieldworkers, using histamine, negative control, and the D. pter. allergen extract. For all three tested solutions, mean wheal sizes were larger for the Multi-Test than for the ALK lancet. The coefficient of variation for histamine was 21.8% for the Multi-Test and 17.3% for the ALK lancet. The coefficients of variation for the allergen D. pter. amounted to 47.4% for the Multi-Test and to 24.6% for the ALK lancet. The percentage of concordant test results was 92.6% for the Multi-Test and 100.0% for the ALK lancet for a cutoff point of wheal size equal to or greater than 1 mm. The results of this study suggest that the single ALK lancet performs slightly better than the Multi-Test device with respect to reproducibility under conditions of epidemiologic field studies.