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Keloids are slow growing neoplasms characterized by benign proliferation of fibroblasts that is due, at least in part, to altered cytokine profiles. Stem cells were claimed to play a role in skin tumor development. However, their role in keloid formation is unclear. The current study investigated the immunoreactivity of CD34 and c-KIT antibodies in 30 cases with keloid lesions together with normal skin biopsies of 30, sex and age-matched subjects representing the control group. Examined keloid sections showed positive dermal stromal immunoreactivity for CD34 in 76.7% of cases. CD34 expression intensity and H score were upregulated in keloid tissue relative to normal skin (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0002, respectively) and in perilesional relative to lesional tissue (p = 0.03, p < 0.001, respectively). c-KIT showed positive dermal stromal expression in all cases. Dermal c-KIT expression intensity and H score were upregulated in keloid tissue relative to normal skin (p < 0.008, p < 0.001, respectively) and in perilesional relative to lesional tissue (p < 0.0001, p < 0.001, respectively). Lesional skin showed more staining of basal keratinocytes when compared to perilesional tissue (p < 0.0001). Hematopoietic stem cells may share in keloid pathogenesis. Further studies are warranted to gain firmer conclusion about the exact role played by these cells and the significance of their perilesional accumulation. The future therapy of keloid scars may have to target this stem cell population in order to deprive these tumors of their regenerative cell pools.

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Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcome in relation to gestational age.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between May 2020 and July 2021. Sixty-five women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and hospitalized at a quarantine hospital were included. Thirty-four women received prenatal care at the hospital until delivery, while 31 dropped out from the study due to COVID-19 recovery and discharge before delivery.Results: COVID-19 was found in 83% of the pregnant women after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The most common symptoms were cough and fever. Medical complications included severe pneumonia and thrombosis. The maternal mortality rate was 9.2%. Premature rupture of membranes and severe hypertension during labor affected nearly 9% of the pregnant women who completed prenatal care until delivery at the hospital. Preterm labor occurred at a rate of 38.2%. There were seven (20.8%) stillbirths and two cases of infant mortality. Conclusion:Hospitalized pregnant women who have coronavirus infection, lymphopenia, and a high C-reactive protein level were at a higher risk of developing severe illness, which can lead to maternal and neonatal complications.