Background and objectives: HIV infection in pregnant women can be responsible for a number of consequences during pregnancy, such as: maternal anaemia, miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm birth. The objectives of this study were to determine the maternal–foetal transmission rate of HIV among pregnant women living with HIV from Craiova Regional Centre in order to assess the risk factors for mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to identify the characteristics of newborns perinatally exposed to HIV. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2020, including children born to HIV-positive mothers. Results: The studied group included 138 newborns and was divided into two subgroups: group A, which included 10 HIV-infected infants; and group B, which included 128 uninfected infants. The mother-to-child transmission rate was 3.5% for women to whom all prophylaxis standards were applied. We found a statistically significant correlation between the level of maternal HIV viremia and perinatal HIV transmission (p = 0.01). Preterm birth and low birth weight were associated with perinatal transmission of the infection. Conclusions: Perinatal transmission of HIV infection during our study was associated with inconsistent application of screening for HIV infection among pregnant women, lack of antiretroviral therapy, poor adherence to treatment, and detectable HIV viral load during pregnancy.
Dosage of gaseous inflammatory markers is a promising method of evaluating various types of pediatric pathologies and not only. The fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) can be quantified by electrochemical detection using a portable analyzer that delivers fast, reproducible, and widely available results. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the accessibility of the pediatric dosing method and the utility of FeNO for the diagnosis of atopic pathology in hospitalized children. We conducted a retrospective study that included children aged over 6 years admitted to the Pediatric Department of the Municipal Hospital Filantropia in Craiova who were evaluated according to the type of training performed for the determination of FeNO and according to the diagnosis of admission. Results. Using a human model was more effective in obtaining a valid result compared to the use of the demo provided by the manufacturer, especially at younger age (p = 0.05 and respectively, 0.04 - Student t test). Among the various allergic pathologies studied, children with asthma were the ones who recorded the highest levels of nitric oxide, even when compared to the rest of atopic children (p = 0.01 - t test). Moreover, the proportion of cases with positive values was increased in asthmatic children compared to the rest of the type of allergic pathology, but these values were at the limit of statistical significance (p = 0.08 - chi square and Mid-P exact test). The conclusion of our study was that it is possible to improve compliance with FeNO assessment especially at younger age, and the utility of the method is still limited, especially in asthma cases.
therapy. Significant difference in FEV1% was found in these two groups. In our study, steroid naive children with asthma and normal FEV1% had eosinophilic inflammation in airways.
Introduction: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant condition characterized by cutaneous, cerebral, and other multiorgan involvement. Aneurysms due to TSC pathogenic mechanism are rarely present, mainly aortic, renal, or intracranial and very few associated with peripheral circulation. A TSC patient, aged 31 years, who developed brachial and subclavian arteries aneurysms is presented. The question of a random association of the aneurysms with TSC versus aneurysms within pathogenic released mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway effect was raised. Case presentation: Patient's file, available from the age of six months, was analyzed for demonstration of the TSC diagnosis. Patient was examined, and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was repeated. Surgery and angiographic reports and images were reviewed. Pathology of the aneurysmal wall available from surgery was reexamined and special stainings and immunohistochemistry markers were applied. Genetic characterization of the patient was performed. Definite TSC was diagnosed based on major criteria [ungual fibromas, shagreen patch, cortical tubers, subependymal nodules (SENs), subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA)], minor criteria (confetti skin lesions, dental enamel pits, gingival fibromas), genetic result showing heterozygous variant in exon 8 of TSC1 gene (c.733C>T-p.Arg245*). Pathology analysis revealed markedly thickened aneurysmal wall due to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) proliferation in media and neoformation vessels with similar characteristics in the aneurysmal wall. Discussions and Conclusions: This is a rare case with aneurysms related to TSC, with an exceptional peripheral localization. Pathology exam is the key investigation in demonstrating the TSC-related pathogenic mechanism. A literature review showed 73 TSC cases presenting aneurysms published until now.
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