The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges in symptomology identification, diagnosis, management and follow-up in common respiratory diseases, and in particular asthma. Research is rapidly ongoing to try and understand how the SARS-CoV-2 virus affects individuals with asthma, as well as, how underlying asthma affects Covid-19 risk, symptomology and prognosis. In light of this unique medical challenge, clinicians are faced with case-by-case based decisions to implement or continue current asthma therapy. This review will discuss the current literature regarding asthma and COVID-19 based on best available evidence at this time (See box 1).

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as important in human embryo implantation, and we present here a review of the literature from a clinical perspective. Implantation involves complex interactions between the blastocyst and endometrium. miRNAs have been shown to be differentially expressed in implanted compared with non-implanted blastocysts and euploid compared with aneuploid blastocysts. Further, miRNAs are differentially expressed in proliferative compared with decidualized endometrium, and in receptive compared with pre-receptive endometrium. miRNAs are also differentially expressed in endometrium of women who failed implantation, and in endometrium of women with recurrent implantation failure. Due to the complexity of miRNA signaling, studies have suffered from inconsistency in reproducibility of results. However, miRNAs show potential as biomarkers in the pursuit of more reliable prediction of embryo implantation.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are commonly abused by adolescents with reported past year (2013) use in high school students between 3 and 10%. Standard adolescent postmortem toxicology does not include routine SC analysis, and thus, the true burden of fatalities related to SCs is unknown. A retrospective case review of two cases included scene investigation, interviews, autopsy, and toxicology. SCs were confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Review of the eight adolescent SC-associated fatalities in the literature revealed five of eight cases had no other discernible cause of death on autopsy. Compounds detected included PB-22 (1.1 ng/mL), JWH-210 (12 ng/mL), XLR-11 (1.3 ng/mL), JWH-122, AB-CHMINACA (8.2 ng/mL), UR-144 (12.3 ng/mL), and JWH-022 (3 ng/mL). With synthetic drug use on the rise, forensic experts should have a high index of suspicion for the possibility of SC intoxication in adolescent fatalities with no other discernible cause of death.

In this study, we discuss vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and assess various maternal and neonatal outcomes based on the current evidence available. This systematic review using PRISMA guidelines revealed a total of 47 eligible studies describing 1188 SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women and 985 neonates for review. Utilizing the ‘Shah’s Classification System for Maternal-Fetal-Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Intrauterine Infections’ by Shah et al., we found vertical transmission confirmed in 0.3% ( n = 3), probable in 0.5% ( n = 5), possible in 1.8% ( n = 17), unlikely in 80.3% (724) and not infected in 17% ( n = 153).

Background To assess knowledge and attitudes regarding elective oocyte cryopreservation among female undergraduate students (UG) and medical students (MS) in Eastern Virginia. Methods An anonymous cross-sectional study surveying female UG at a local university and MS at our academic medical center in May of 2017. The survey contained questions on demographic information, interest in fertility preservation, and knowledge about age related changes in fertility. Results There were 74 of 102 female UG and 95 of 117 female MS who responded, for a response rate of 73 and 81% respectively. UG were significantly younger than MS (21.4 vs 26.8, p < 0.001). Further, UG generally planned on conceiving at a younger age than MS (age 26–30 vs 31–35), and favored younger ages to consider oocyte cryopreservation (age 26–30 vs 31–35). Only a minority of both UG and MS were willing to undergo egg freezing at the current price of approximately $10,000 (15% vs 26% respectively, p = 0.044). Moreover, 73% of students overall responded that they would be more likely to freeze oocytes if their employer paid. Notably, both UG and MS underestimated age of fertility decline. Conclusion Both UG and MS revealed a need for education on age-related changes in fertility. Most UG and MS would not undergo elective oocyte cryopreservation at the present cost but would consider it at a lower cost. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40738-019-0057-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The CDC estimates that 12–25% of all hospitalized patients receive a urinary catheter during their hospital stay. Foley catheter failure is uncommon and Foley catheter failure associated with iatrogenic urinary bladder rupture (IUBR) is extremely rare. Symptoms are often nonspecific and thus misdiagnosis and delayed treatment is common. In this case report, we present a case of IUBR in a woman from Foley catheter failure, which ultimately led to her demise. This case adds to the literature the importance of suspicion for IUBR in patients with indwelling Foley catheters presenting with lower abdominal pain, hematuria, and decreased urine output.

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Methadone-related fatalities occur rarely in infants under 1 year, with five confirmed cases in the literature. The interpretation of pediatric postmortem toxicology relies on adult data; however, infants have crucial physiological differences that may impact interpretation of results. Retrospective case review included scene investigation, interviews, autopsy, and NIH/CDC Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation Reporting Form. Methadone levels were confirmed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The fatal blood methadone levels in this case series ranged from 69 to 700 ng/mL. This review of the literature adds toxicological findings of three methadone-related infant fatalities and reviews the current literature on methadone-related death in infants under 1 year. With opioid use on the rise in today's society, forensic experts should have a high index of suspicion for the possibility of intentional or unintentional poisoning in infants.