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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women represent a common bacteriological finding, with negligible recent and consistent research on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the female population. We designed a retrospective study to observe the incidence of frequent uropathogens and their resistance rates to common antibiotics. We elaborated multicenter research in three different teaching hospitals in Romania, analyzing 13,081 urine samples, of which 1588 met the criteria of inclusion. Escherichia coli (58.37%) was the most frequent Gram-negative uropathogen, presenting high resistance rates to levofloxacin (R = 29.66%), amoxicillin–clavulanic ac. (R = 14.13%), and ceftazidime (R = 6.68%). We found good sensitivity to imipenem and meropenem (both 98.16%), amikacin (S = 96.0%), and fosfomycin (S = 90.39%). The second most prevalent uropathogen was Klebsiella (16.93%), with the highest resistance quota to amoxicillin–clavulanic ac. (R = 28.62%), levofloxacin and nitrofurantoin (both R = 15.61%), and ceftazidime (R = 15.24%), and good sensitivity to imipenem (S = 93.93%), meropenem (S = 91.91%), and amikacin (S = 88.47%). Enterococcus (13.35%) was the most encountered Gram-positive pathogen. It proved the highest resistance to levofloxacin (R = 32.07%), penicillin (R = 32.07%), and ampicillin (R = 14.62%) and good sensitivity to vancomycin (S = 91.98%), fosfomycin (S = 94.4%), and nitrofurantoin (S = 89.15%). Considering the lack of recent and consistent data on this topic, we find our survey a valuable starting research study in this area with high significance for an accurate clinical approach.

Even though the results are not always statistically significant, they demonstrate that placentation parameters improve with higher doses of aspirin started before 11 weeks.

Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of menarche before 9 years of age, or the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before 8 years of age. It is associated with many psychosocial disturbances and adverse health outcomes such as: cardiovascular disease, shorter adult stature, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and breast cancer. There is a general tendency to a progressive decrease in age of reaching puberty, specifically the onset of thelarche and menarche, girls being 10 times more affected than boys. This actual tendency can be explained by the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and also by increasing environmental exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals in household and personal care products.Phenols, phthalates, parabens and other compounds, such as polybrominated biphenyls and diethylstilbestrol are associated with precocious onset of puberty in girls, in case of in-utero or peripubertal exposure. These chemicals are frequently found in toothpaste, cosmetics, soups, shampoos, perfumes and other personal care products, interfering with sex hormones and puberty timing. This is why pregnant women should be more aware and avoid products based on these chemicals.

With the increasing number of births by Caesarean section a new pathology has made its presence felt, linked to the scarring of the low uterine transverse incision. It was found that after the birth by caesarean section some patients presented postmenstrual prolonged bleeding, spotting, pelvic pain and infertility. First described in 1995, the isthmocele is a healing defect in the anterior wall of the lower uterine segment at the caesarean hysterotomy site. This faulty scarring could be attributed to physiological peculiarities of the patient, to the suturing technique or ascribed to tissue reaction specifically to the type of suture material used. We found that it may be a correlation between the suture materials used and the appearance of the isthmocele. There are no large studies that asses the long-term outcome of C-section scar on prolonged menstrual bleeding, spotting and infertility and no comparison on the rate of appearance of this pathology by account of the suture material.

Posterior fossa ultrasound appearance may offer clues for brain anomalies as early as the first trimester. The purpose of the study was to find an easy, reproducible method to examine the posterior fossa. From January 2017 to March 2018, 132 consecutive pregnancies presenting for first-trimester screening, were selected at 11-14 weeks' gestation. An oblique axial view of the fetal head was routinely achieved with visualization of the posterior fossa, wherein the cisterna magna (CM) and the fourth ventricle (V4) anteroposterior diameter was measured. Moreover, 81 patients had a follow-up scan at 19-24 weeks, and the CM and transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD) were measured. Normal ranges were established at 11-14 weeks for CM and V4 according to crown-rump length (CRL). The 50th centile for CM ranges from 1.2 mm to 2.3 mm at a CRL between 45 and 85 mm. The V4 50th centile ranges from 1.8 to 2.4 mm. A positive correlation was found between the first-trimester and second-trimester CM diameter and between the first-trimester V4 and second-trimester TCD. There is an inverse correlation between the first-trimester CM and second-trimester TCD. The measurements of different components of the posterior fossa in the first trimester cannot predict the size of CM and TCD in the second trimester. The presence of the three hypoechoic structures (cerebral peduncles, V4, and CM) separated by two hyperechoic lines is easy to see and measure.

α-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural molecule that is inconsistently synthesized by the human body and must be provided from exogenous sources, such as food and dietary supplements. Once absorbed, the oxidized form of ALA is transformed into its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). ALA/DHLA exert direct and indirect antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and fine immunomodulatory effects. ALA/DHLA reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17), while increasing the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10). They also inhibit cyclooxygenase 2, thereby decreasing the secretion of prostaglandin E2 and nitrogen oxide, and reducing the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy. In patients at risk of abortion, administration of ALA from the first trimester has shown efficacy by accelerating subchorionic hematoma resorption, with a significant decrease in the accompanying abdominal pain. ALA has been proven to be efficient in maintaining the length of the cervix and keeping it closed following one episode of premature labor. Preeclampsia is a dysfunction caused by abnormal placentation and an excessive maternal inflammatory response, leading to extreme hypoxia in the placental bed and exaggerated oxidative stress, with release of oxygen free radicals. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The hypothesis of antioxidant supplementation may play an essential part in disease prevention and fetal neuroprotection. Contents1. Introduction 2. ALA/DHLA action 3. ALA impact on high-risk pregnancies 4. Conclusions

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