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Plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol distribution were measured in 60 normal pregnancies studied longitudinally at 12, 20, 28, and 36 weeks of gestation and 3 and 40 days postpartum. Total cholesterol, unesterified cholesterol, phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol in low- and very-low-density lipoproteins rose progressively during pregnancy. Maximal values were reached at 36 weeks for total cholesterol, unesterified cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and at partum for triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and phospholipids. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was hardly affected by pregnancy. During the second half of pregnancy and postpartum period, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was consistently and negatively correlated with triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In each period studied total cholesterol showed very high positive correlation with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol but a weak correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of rectal ozone (O 3) in COVID-19 patients with severe pneumonia admitted at Hospital Universitario Santa Cristina, Madrid. In a before-and-after study, four patients admitted with severe bilateral pneumonia due to COVID-19 were treated with rectal ozone and confirmed with (+) RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated afterwards. The analyzed outcome variables were as follows: (a) clinical improvement (O 2 saturation and O 2 supply); (b) biochemical improvement (fibrinogen, D-dimer, urea, ferritin, LDH, IL-6, and CRP); (c) radiological improvement. The treatment protocol consisted of 5 sessions (1 session/day) of intra-rectal ozone, applied in a volume of 100 mL and a concentration of 35 μg/mL. The Protocol was previously approved by the Hospital's Health Care Ethics Committee (CEAS) (Report 15/4/2020) for compassionate use in the face of this exceptional pandemic situation, and prior informed consent was obtained from the patient/legal representative. The patients improved oxygen saturation, as observed by the lower number of desaturations and the lower supply of O 2. Biomarkers of inflammation decreased (fibrinogen, D-dimer, urea, ferritin, LDH, IL-6, and CRP). Finally, the radiological signs of bilateral viral pneumonitis improved between 1 and 2 grades based on Taylor's radiological scale. Rectal ozone decreases O 2 supply and improves O 2 saturation, decreases inflammation biomarkers, and improves Taylor's radiological grade in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Rectal ozone is a safe, effective, cheap, and simple alternative capable of acting on the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and it is presented as an adjunctive therapeutic option to consider in the management of severe bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia.

The authors report the successful total removal of a rare intracranial tumor in the right lateral ventricle of a 15-year-old girl with epileptic seizures. Histopathological examination showed a benign tumor formed by mature cartilage and choroid plexus papilloma. From our review of the literature, a mixed tumor with these histological features has not been reported previously in this location. The diagnosis, surgical approach, etiology, and prognosis of this lesion are discussed.

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