Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with aortic dilatation and dissection, but the underlying process is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the elastic properties and composition of the aortic wall in women with TS.

 In this cross-sectional study, 52 women with TS aged 35 ± 13 years (50% monosomy, 12 with bicuspid aortic valve [BAV] and 4 with coarctation) were investigated using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CF-PWV) by echocardiography and ascending aortic distensibility (AAD) and aortic arch pulse wave velocity (AA-PWV) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As control group, 13 women with BAV without TS and 48 healthy patients were included.

 Women with TS showed a higher AA-PWV (β = 1.08, confidence interval [CI] 0.54-1.62) after correcting for age and comorbidities compared with controls. We found no significant difference in AAD and CF-PWV. In women with TS, the presence of BAV, coarctation of the aorta, or monosomy (45, X) was not associated with aortic stiffness. In addition, aortic tissue samples were investigated with routine and immunohistochemical stains in five additional women with TS who were operated. The tissue showed more compact smooth muscle cell layers with abnormal deposition and structure of elastin and diminished or absent expression of contractile proteins desmin, actin, and caldesmon, as well as the progesterone receptor.

 Both aortic arch stiffness measurements on MRI and histomorphological changes point toward an inherent abnormal thoracic aortic wall in women with TS.

 Both aortic arch stiffness measurements on MRI and histomorphological changes point toward an inherent abnormal thoracic aortic wall in women with TS.

 We compare maternal morbidity and clinical care metrics before and after the electronic implementation of a maternal early warning trigger (MEWT) tool.

 This is a study of maternal morbidity and clinical care within three linked hospitals comparing 1 year before and after electronic MEWT implementation. We compare severe maternal morbidity overall as well as within the subcategories of hemorrhage, hypertension, cardiopulmonary, and sepsis in addition to relevant process metrics in each category. We describe the MEWT trigger rate in addition to MEWT sensitivity and specificity for morbidity overall and by morbidity type.

 The morbidity rate ratio increased from 1.6 per 100 deliveries in the pre-MEWT period to 2.06 per 100 deliveries in the post-MEWT period (incidence rate ratio = 1.28,

 = 0.018); however, in cases of septic morbidity, time to appropriate antibiotics decreased (pre-MEWT 1.87 hours [1.11-2.63] vs. post-MEWT 0.75 hours [0.31-1.19],

 = 0.036) and in cases of hypertensive morbidity, the as markers of MEWT efficacy.

· MEWT was not associated with a decrease in maternal morbidity.. · MEWT was associated with improvements in some clinical care metrics.. · MEWT is more sensitive in detecting septic, hypertensive, and cardiopulmonary morbidities than hemorrhage morbidity..

· MEWT was not associated with a decrease in maternal morbidity.. · MEWT was associated with improvements in some clinical care metrics.. · MEWT is more sensitive in detecting septic, hypertensive, and cardiopulmonary morbidities than hemorrhage morbidity..

 The study aimed to assess the feasibility of creating and transplanting human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell sheets applied to a rat model of hysterotomy, and additionally to determine benefits of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell sheet transplantation in reducing uterine fibrosis and scarring.

 Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell sheets are generated by culturing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on thermo-responsive cell culture plates. The temperature-sensitive property of these culture dishes facilitates normal cell culture in a thin contiguous layer and allows for reliable recovery of intact stem cell sheets without use of destructive proteolytic enzymes.We developed a rat hysterotomy model using nude rats. The rat uterus has two distinct horns one horn provided a control/untreated scarring site, while the second horn was the cell sheet transplantation site.On day 14 following surgery, complete uteri were harvested and subjected to histologic evaluations of all hysterling, potentially mitigating risks of uterine scar formation.

· Stem cell sheet transplanted to hysterotomy promotes myometrial regeneration and reduced fibrotic tissue formation.. · This study demonstrates the feasibility of using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell sheets..

· Stem cell sheet transplanted to hysterotomy promotes myometrial regeneration and reduced fibrotic tissue formation.. · This study demonstrates the feasibility of using human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell sheets..

A global cross-sectional survey (CRASH) was designed to provide information about the experiences of people with diabetes (PWD) and their caregivers in relation to severe hypoglycaemic events.

Adults with type 1 diabetes or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes who had experienced one or more severe hypoglycaemic events within the past 3 years, and adult caregivers for such people, were recruited from medical research panels using purposive sampling. We present here results from Germany.

Approximately 100 individuals in each of the four participant groups completed a 30-minute online survey. Survey results indicated that the most recent severe hypoglycaemic event made many participants feel scared (80.4%), unprepared (70.4%), and/or helpless (66.5%). Severe hypoglycaemia was discussed by healthcare professionals at every visit with only 20.2% of participants who had ever had this conversation, and 53.5% of participants indicated that their insulin regimen had not changed following their most recent event. 37.abetes and their caregivers, potential improvements include ensuring availability of glucagon at all times. Changes in these areas could lead not only to improved patient wellbeing but also to reduced use of emergency services/hospitalisation and, consequently, lower healthcare costs.

There has been no consensus on whether and how long add-on drugs for augmentation therapy should be continued in the treatment of depression.

Double-blind randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of discontinuation of drugs used for augmentation on treatment outcomes in patients with depression were identified. Meta-analyses were performed to compare rates of study withdrawal due to any reason, study-defined relapse, and adverse events between patients who continued augmentation therapy and those who discontinued it.

Seven studies were included (n=841 for continuing augmentation therapy; n=831 for discontinuing augmentation therapy). The rate of study withdrawal due to any reason was not significantly different between the 2 groups (risk ratio [RR]=0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.69-1.08, p=0.20). Study withdrawal due to relapse was less frequent in the continuation group than in the discontinuation group (RR=0.61, 95% CI=0.40-0.92, p=0.02); however, this statistical significance disappeared when one study using esketamine as augmentation was excluded. Analysis of the data from 5 studies that included a stabilization period before randomization found less frequent relapse in the continuation group than in the discontinuation group (RR=0.47, 95% CI=0.36-0.60, p<0.01). This finding was repeated when the esketamine study was excluded.

No firm conclusions could be drawn in light of the small number of studies included. Currently available evidence suggests that add-on drugs, other than esketamine, used for augmentation therapy for depression may be discontinued. This may not be the case for patients who are maintained with augmentation therapy after remission.

No firm conclusions could be drawn in light of the small number of studies included. Currently available evidence suggests that add-on drugs, other than esketamine, used for augmentation therapy for depression may be discontinued. This may not be the case for patients who are maintained with augmentation therapy after remission.The dependence of development and homeostasis in animals on the interaction of hundreds of extracellular regulatory proteins with the peri- and extracellular glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS) is exploited by many microbial pathogens as a means of adherence and invasion. Heparin, a widely used anticoagulant drug, is structurally similar to HS and is a common experimental proxy. Exogenous heparin prevents infection by a range of viruses, including S-associated coronavirus isolate HSR1. Here, we show that heparin inhibits severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion of Vero cells by up to 80% at doses achievable through prophylaxis and, particularly relevant, within the range deliverable by nebulisation. Surface plasmon resonance and circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrate that heparin and enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin which is a clinical anticoagulant, bind and induce a conformational change in the spike (S1) protein receptor-binding domain (S1 RBD) of SARS-CoV-2. A library of heparin derivatives and size-defined fragments were used to probe the structural basis of this interaction. Binding to the RBD is more strongly dependent on the presence of 2-O or 6-O sulfate groups than on N-sulfation and a hexasaccharide is the minimum size required for secondary structural changes to be induced in the RBD. It is likely that inhibition of viral infection arises from an overlap between the binding sites of heparin/HS on S1 RBD and that of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. The results suggest a route for the rapid development of a first-line therapeutic by repurposing heparin and its derivatives as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 and other members of the Coronaviridae.COVID-19 was first described in late 2019 and has since developed into a pandemic affecting more than 21 million people worldwide. Of particular relevance for acute care is the occurrence of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy (CAC), which is characterised by hypercoagulability, immunothrombosis and venous thromboembolism, and contributes to hypoxia in a significant proportion of patients. This review describes diagnosis and treatment of CAC in the emergency department and in intensive care. We summarise the pathological mechanisms and common complications of CAC such as pulmonary thrombosis and venous thromboembolic events and discuss current strategies for thromboprophylaxis and therapeutic anti-coagulation in the acute care setting.

 To assess whether there is a difference in operative outcome for esophageal atresia (EA) depending on a surgeon’s seniority as defined by years in consultant practice or number of cases performed. In addition a Clavien-Dindo score was used to sequentially analyze the outcome of each surgeon’s EA procedure.

 All repairs performed over 22 years in an English regional center were analyzed. Outcomes were death, anastomotic leak, need for dilatation, need for more than three dilatations, need for fundoplication, and a Clavien-Dindo adverse outcome of ≥3b. Possible explanatory variables were number of prior repairs by the surgeon, surgeon’s years of consultant experience. We also examined the effect of variables intrinsic to the infant as possible confounding variables and as independent predictors of outcome.

 A total of 190 repairs were performed or supervised by 12 consultants. There was no significant association between consultant experience and any objective outcome. However, sequential analysis suggests there is variation between surgeons in the incidence of Clavien-Dindo events of ≥3b.