Examining the immune signatures of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and the impact on neurodevelopment: Protocol of the SIGNATURE longitudinal study

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a valuable opportunity to carry out cohort studies that allow us to advance our knowledge on pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases. One of these opportunities is the study of the relationships between inflammation, brain development and an increased risk of suffering neuropsychiatric disorders. Based on the hypothesis that neuroinflammation during early stages of life is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and confers a greater risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, we propose a cohort study of SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant women and their newborns. The main objective of SIGNATURE project is to explore how the presence of prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and other non-infectious stressors generates an abnormal inflammatory activity in the newborn. The cohort of women during the COVID-19 pandemic will be psychological and biological monitored during their pregnancy, delivery, childbirth and postpartum. The biological information of the umbilical cord (foetus blood) and peripheral blood from the mother will be obtained after childbirth. These samples and the clinical characterisation of the cohort of mothers and newborns, are tremendously valuable at this time. This is a protocol report and no analyses have been conducted yet, being currently at, our study is in the recruitment process step. At the time of this publication, we have identified 1,060 SARS-CoV-2 infected mothers and all have already given birth. From the total of identified mothers, we have recruited 537 SARS-COV-2 infected women and all of them have completed the mental health assessment during pregnancy. We have collected biological samples from 119 mothers and babies. Additionally, we have recruited 390 non-infected pregnant women.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with lower urinary tract symptoms and sexual function

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a daily urology practice and to determine its association with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted. Data from all male patients aged ≥40 years who attended our outpatient urology clinic from 2010 to 2011 was collected. Prevalence of MetS was determined, and LUTS and ED were assessed. A logistic model was used to determine possible associations, controlling for confounders and interaction factors.

RESULTS

A total of 616 patients were included. MetS was observed in 43.8% (95% CI 39.6-48.3). The bivariate model showed an association between MetS and LUTS (p<0.01), but not between MetS and ED. The logistic model showed an association between MetS and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), while controlling for other variables. Patients exhibiting moderate LUTS had a greater risk for MetS than patients with mild LUTS (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.14-2.94). After analyzing for individual components of MetS, positive associations were found between diabetes and severe LUTS (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.24-7.1), and between diabetes and ED (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.12-5.8).

CONCLUSION

This study was able to confirm an association between MetS and LUTS, but not for ED. Specific components such as diabetes were associated to both. Geographical differences previously reported in the literature might account for these findings. Given that MetS is frequent among urological patients, it is advisable that urologists actively screen for it.

Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with clinically localised prostate cancer: A prospective observational study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of lymph node involvement in patients with clinically localised prostate adenocarcinoma who had radical prostatectomy and extended pelvic lymphadenectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted on 137 patients with clinically localised prostate cancer of low, intermediate or high risk according to the D'Amico classification. All participants underwent radical prostatectomy plus extended pelvic lymphadenectomy in 3 reference centres in Bogota, Colombia, between 2013 and 2014. The following variables were assessed: age, prostate specific antigen levels, Gleason score of the biopsy, probability of lymph node involvement calculated with Partin tables and the histopathology result of the surgical specimen, with the definitive Gleason pattern and the total number of resected and involved lymph nodes per tumour, according to the territory of the dissection.

RESULTS

A total of 2,876 lymph nodes were extracted (an average of 20.99 lymph nodes per patient). There was lymph node involvement in 14 (10.22%) patients. The high-risk and intermediate-risk group presented lymph node metastases in 28.57% and 5.25%, respectively. There was no lymph node involvement in the low-risk group. Of the patients at risk of lymph node involvement (≥2% according to the Partin tables), 19.40% had lymph node metastases.

CONCLUSION

Lymph node involvement in our population is similar to that reported in the worldwide literature. Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy increased the probability of detecting lymph node metastases in our community.