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Silicon-based quantum dots were intraperitoneally injected in Carassius auratus gibelio specimens and, over one week, the effects on renal tissue were investigated by following their distribution and histological effects, as well as antioxidative system modifications. After three and seven days, detached epithelial cells from the basal lamina, dilated tubules and debris in the lumen of tubules were observed. At day 7, nephrogenesis was noticed. The reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased in the first three days and started to rise later on. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased only after one week, whereas catalase (CAT) was up-regulated in a time-dependent manner. The activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidise (GPX) decreased dramatically by approximately 50% compared to control, whereas the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) increased significantly after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Oxidative modifications of proteins and the time-dependent increase of Hsp70 expression were also registered. Our data suggest that silicon-based quantum dots induced oxidative stress followed by structural damages. However, renal tissue is capable of restoring its integrity by nephron development.

Placental development is a complex process which sets the stage for normal fetal development. Any variation/disruption occurring during the initial stages of placental formation leads to placental malfunction causing increased maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. The succenturiate lobe is a structural variation of the placenta that usually appears as a distinct lobe from the main placental mass. Succenturiate lobe is a rare placental anomaly, with high risk of fetal distress, hemorrhage, abruptio placentae and even fetal death because the vessels of this succenturiate lobe are vulnerable to both compression and laceration. Prenatal imaging diagnosis of this pathology improves the fetal prognosis through more careful surveillance and, in case of complications such as abruptio placentae, by shortening the time-to-decision making in favor of cesarean delivery. We present the case of a 27-year-old patient, without risk factors for placental abnormalities, diagnosed antenatally with succenturiate placenta, who presented at 34 weeks of pregnancy for abruptio placentae.

Introduction: This research aims to describe a progressive pattern of ultrasound placental remodeling in patients with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal, cohort study which enrolled 23 pregnant women with a history of former mild SARS-CoV-2 infection during the current pregnancy. Four obstetricians analyzed placental ultrasound images from different gestational ages following COVID infection and identified the presence and degree of remodeling. We assessed the inter-rater agreement and the interclass correlation coefficients. Pathology workup included placental biometry, macroscopic and microscopic examination. Results: Serial ultrasound evaluation of the placental morphology revealed a progressive pattern of placental remodeling starting from 30–32 weeks of gestation towards term, occurring approximately 8–10 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Placental changes—the “starry sky” appearance and the “white line” along the basal plate—were identified in all cases. Most placentas presented normal subchorionic perivillous fibrin depositions and focal stem villi perivillous fibrin deposits. Focal calcifications were described in only 13% of the cases. Conclusions: We identified two ultrasound signs of placental remodeling as potential markers of placental viral shedding following mild SARS-CoV-2. The most likely pathology correspondence for the imaging aspect is perivillous and, respectively, massive subchorionic fibrin deposits identified in most cases.