Short umbilical cord length: reflective of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

A short umbilical cord is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, there is no universally accepted definition of a short cord. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the umbilical cord length showing the highest correlation with adverse pregnancy outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of women who attempted vaginal birth in the present institution. Umbilical cord lengths were categorized into three groups: less than the first percentile, from the first percentile to less than the tenth percentile, and others. Maternal and neonatal characteristics previously suggested to affect cord length were evaluated. The main outcome was the rate of cesarean delivery. The authors also evaluated the frequency of operative vaginal delivery, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, umbilical artery pH < 7.1, and abnormal bleeding during delivery. RESULTS: Cord lengths of 35 and 45 cm corresponded to the first and tenth percentiles, respectively. A short cord was an indi- cator of unplanned cesarean delivery and small-for-gestational-age births. CONCLUSION: An umbilical cord length of ≤ 45 cm is a clinically useful indicator of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

BRCAness is beneficial for indicating triple negative breast cancer patients resistant to taxane.

AIM: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease and is associated with the cancer stem cell (CSC), basal-like, and BRCA1 function deficient (BRCAness) subtypes. We examined these 3 subtypes in TNBC and compared their chemosensitivity against anthracycline or taxane with a special attention to BRCAness. METHODS: Sixty-six TNBC cases were obtained from a randomized phase II trial comparing TCx6 (TC6) with FEC-Docetaxel (FEC-D) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The core needle specimens before chemotherapy were used for subtyping. The basal-like and CSC subtypes were identified by immunohistochemistry; CK5/6 and EGFR staining for the basal-like subtype and ALDH1 staining for the CSC subtype. The BRCAness subtype was examined by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). Correlations between subgroups and pCR rates according to each regimen and subtype were examined. RESULTS: The basal-like and BRCAness subtypes were significantly associated (p = 0.010) with the other subtypes, but not the CSC subtype. The pCR rates were higher with FEC-D than with TC6 in the basal-like (54.5% vs 14.3%, p = 0.081) and BRCAness (56.2% vs 16.7%, p = 0.030) subtypes. Both were not effective in the CSC subtype (18.2% vs 11.8%, p = 1.00). CONCLUSION: BRCAness identified by MLPA was practically useful for treatment selection for avoiding taxane. ALDH1 may be considered as a marker for the CSC subtype requiring novel agents.

[Critical test of the activity of tetramisole phosphate on gastrointestinal helminths of sheep]. / Teste crítco da atividade do fosfato de tetramisol contra os helmintos gastro-intestinais de ovinos.

The phosphate sale of tetramizol assayed in naturally infested sheep by subcutaneous infection at the dosis of 8,66 mg/kg revealed very high efficiency against strongylid gastro-intestinal nematodes; its efficiency was comparable that found by several authors for the hydrochloride and cyclamate salts of the same drug, also by subcutaneious injection, at the dosis of 10 mg/kg. In what concerns helminths belonging to the genera Strongyloides and Capillaria our results were not conclusive enough.

[Occurence of Ornithoros talaje Guérin et Méneville, in the township of Santo Inácio, Bahia (author's transl)]. / Ocorrência de Ornithodoros talaje Guérin et Méneville, 1849, (ixodides: Argasidae), na localidade de Santo Inácio, Bahia, Brasil.

It is reported in the paper, the ocurrence of Ornithodoros talaje in the township of Santo Inácio, near Xique-Xique, situated in a special region called "Caatinga Nordestina", in the State of Bahia, Brazil. Some informations about the geological composition of the region and of the tick's ecologycal behaviour, are also presented.

[The occurrence of Chorioptes bovis in bovines in the region of São Carlos, State of São Paulo (author's transl)]. / Occorência de Chorioptes bovis Gerlach, 1857 (Acari: Psoroptoidea, psoroptidae) em bovinos no município de São Carlos, São Paulo.

The finding of Chorioptes bovis, the agent of corioptic mange in bovines in the region of São Carlos, State of São Paulo. A description of clinical aspects and treatments is given.