The new epidemic of Zika virus infection raises grave concerns, especially with the increasingly-recognized link between emerging cases of microcephaly and this infectious disease. Besides small cranial dimensions, there are striking morphologic anomalies in the fetal brain. Key anomalies include cortical developmental malformations and a peculiar distribution of pathologic calcifications. These potentially indicate a new pattern of congenital central nervous system infection. Methods: Eight women underwent fetal MRI. Four infants also underwent postnatal CT. Five of the women underwent amniocentesis. Results: All neonates were born with microcephaly. On fetal MRI, ventriculomegaly, marked reduction of white matter thickness, severe sylvian fissure simplification, abnormal sulcation, and diffuse volumetric loss of cerebellar hemispheres were consistently seen. On postnatal CT, diffuse subcortical and basal ganglia calcifications were observed. The Zika virus was detected in two amniocenteses by polymerase chain reaction assays. Conclusion: We hope to assist the medical community in recognizing the spectrum of encephalic changes related to congenital Zika virus infection.Keywords:Zika virus; microcephaly; tomography, X-ray computed; magnetic resonance imaging.
RESUMOOs novos casos epidêmicos de infecção pelo vírus Zika suscitam grande preocupação, sobretudo com o crescente reconhecimento da ligação entre casos emergentes de microcefalia e esta doença infecciosa. Além da cabeça de pequenas dimensões, existem profundas alterações morfológicas no encéfalo fetal. Anomalias mais típicas incluem malformações do desenvolvimento cortical e uma distribuição peculiar de calcificações patológicas. Estes dados potencialmente indicam um novo padrão de infecção congênita do sistema nervoso central. Métodos: Oito mulheres foram submetidas a RM fetal. Quatro crianças também realizaram TC pós-natal. Cinco mulheres foram submetidas a amniocentese. Resultados: Todos os neonatos nasceram com microcefalia. Na RM fetal, ventriculomegalia, acentuada redução da espessura da substância branca, acentuada simplificação da fissura sylviana, sulcação anormal e redução volumétrica difusa dos hemisférios cerebelares foram constantes. Na TC pós-natal, calcificações difusas subcorticais e nos núcleos da base foram observadas. O vírus Zika foi detectado por PCR em duas amniocenteses. Conclusão: Esperamos dar suporte à comunidade médica em reconhecer este padrão de imagem potencialmente específico.Palavras-chave: Zika vírus; microcefalia; tomografia computadorizada por raios X; imagem por ressonância magnética.
Objective To assess and compare the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of placenta accreta in patients with placenta previa.
Methods This retrospective cohort study included 37 women, and was conducted between January 2013 and October 2015; 16 out of the 37 women suffered from placenta accreta. Histopathology was considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of placenta accreta; in its absence, a description of the intraoperative findings was used. The associations among the variables were investigated using the Pearson chi-squared test and the Mann-Whitney U-test.
Results The mean age of the patients was 31.8 ± 7.3 years, the mean number of pregnancies was 2.8 ± 1.1, the mean number of births was 1.4 ± 0.7, and the mean number of previous cesarean sections was 1.2 ± 0.8. Patients with placenta accreta had a higher frequency of history of cesarean section than those without it (63.6% versus 36.4% respectively; p < 0.001). The mean gestational age at birth among women diagnosed with placenta previa accreta was 35.4 ± 1.1 weeks. The mean birth weight was 2,635.9 ± 374.1 g. The sensitivity of the ultrasound was 87.5%, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 65.1%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 75.0%. The sensitivity of the magnetic resonance imaging was 92.9%, with a PPV of 76.5%, and a NPV of 75.0%. The kappa coefficient of agreement between the 2 tests was 0.69 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: (0.26–1.00).
Conclusion The ultrasound and the magnetic resonance imaging showed similar sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of placenta accreta.
This work aimed a sensory characteristics of structured guava elaborated with hydrocolloids agar and combinations of LA and HA gellan. The methods used were Optimized Descriptive Profile (ODP), CATA and Sensory Acceptance Tests. For the ODP, 18 semi-trained judges selected 12 sensory attributes and evaluated the samples using 9 cm unstructured scales. Sensory acceptance and CATA tests were performed by 100 untrained panelists. Sensory tests expressed medium acceptability indexes and similar results for all samples. The highest frequency CATA attributes were Homogeneous, Brightness, Pinkish red color, Guava aroma and Sour taste. The characteristics from ODP were Brightness, Sweet taste, Sour taste, Guava flavor, Firm and Sandy texture. Comparing the three methods, in the CATA and sensory acceptance, tasters did not identify differences between the samples in relation to the type of hydrocolloid, but with the ODP method they could achieve this.
Congenital goiter is considered a rare occurrence, and may be related to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or euthyroidism. In this report, we describe a case of fetal goiter identified in the 34th gestational week in a 41-year-old secundigravida with normal thyroid functions. A conservative approach was followed; the fetal goiter was monitored via ultrasound, which suggested this was a case of hyperthyroidism. After the birth, tests indicated that the newborn was euthyroidic. Consequently, a more detailed study using non-invasive procedures was deemed necessary to discover the precise cause of the fetal goiter during the gestational period.
This study aimed to develop an acerola smoothie using gellan gum (GG) as a texture modifier. Samples were developed with three concentrations of GG (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% w/v) and a control sample (without GG). Physicochemical, rheological, and sensory properties were evaluated. The smoothie samples showed increased color intensity than the control, with a tendency to yellow and red colors. However, the hydrocolloid concentration did not affect the samples' pH values (4.13 to 4.17). GG presence favored an increase in the samples' viscosity, classified as pseudoplastic fluid. There was a reduction in vitamin C in samples with GG (422.18 to 430.49 mg/100 g), however, the values remained close to the control (448.89 mg/100 g). There was greater sensory acceptance by the sample with intermediate texture (0.2% GG), which obtained a higher frequency for the attributes "homogeneous" and "acerola flavor".
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.