Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are essential fatty acids for the human body. Seafood and microalgae are the most important sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Supplementation with 200 mg/day of DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding has been suggested for women and infants in countries with low seafood consumption. Maternal concentration of DHA and EPA was associated with concentration in cord blood and breast milk. High concentrations of DHA and EPA were identified at the level of retinal photoreceptors and neuronal cell membranes. It was observed that supplementation with DHA and EPA during pregnancy had beneficial effects on the neurological development of the fetus and infant by improving language, memory, attention, and hand coordination, affecting sleep patterns, and improving visual acuity. Beneficial effects on the development of the infant were also associated with the maternal intake of omega-3 fatty acids during breastfeeding. Supplementation with DHA and EPA may reduce the risk of preterm birth but also of preeclampsia in low-risk pregnancies. Women of childbearing age should have an intake of 250 mg/day of DHA + EPA from their diet or supplements. To reduce the risk of premature birth, pregnant women must additionally receive at least 100–200 mg of DHA every day. It is recommended that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids starts before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Beneficial effects on the mother have been identified, such as the reduction of postpartum depression symptoms, the decrease of cardiovascular risk, and the anti-inflammatory role.

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare entity with a poor prognosis, usually discovered late due to nonspecific symptoms; therefore, over the last years, attention has been focused on identifying the risk factors for developing this malignancy in order to provide an early diagnosis, as well as new prognostic factors in order to modulate the long-term evolution of such cases. The aim of this review is to discuss both major risk factors and prognostic factors in GBC for a better understanding and integration of relevant and currently available information. Methods: A literature search was performed using Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, and Web of Science; studies published after the year of 2000, in English, were reviewed. Results: Over time, risk factors associated with the development of GBC have been identified, which outline the profile of patients with this disease. The most important prognostic factors in GBC remain TNM staging, safety margin, and R0 status, along with perineural invasion and lymphovascular invasion. Both the technique and experience of the surgeons and a pathological examination that ensures final staging are particularly important and increase the chances of survival of the patients. Conclusions: improvements in surgical techniques and pathological analyses might provide better and more consistent guidance for medical staff in the management of patients with GBC.

Information about the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women is still limited and raises challenges, even as publications are increasing rapidly. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on preterm birth pregnancies. We performed a prospective, observational study in a COVID-only hospital, which included 34 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm birth compared with a control group of 48 healthy women with preterm birth. The rate of cesarean delivery was 82% in the study group versus 6% for the control group. We observed a strong correlation between premature birth and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms (cough p = 0.029, fever p = 0.001, and chills p = 0.001). The risk for premature birth is correlated to a lower value of oxygen saturation (p = 0.001) and extensive radiologic pulmonary lesions (p = 0.025). The COVID-19 pregnant women with preterm delivery were older, and experienced an exacerbation of severe respiratory symptoms, decreased saturation of oxygen, increased inflammatory markers, severe pulmonary lesions and decreased lymphocytes.

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder arising de novo or with an autosomal dominant transmission that typically presents either at birth or in early childhood, manifesting through distinctive clinical features such as multiple café-au-lait spots, benign tumors in the skin, bone enlargement, and deformities. This literature review aims to resume the spectrum of maternal and fetal complications encountered in pregnant women with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Thorough research was conducted on databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library. This review includes 48 case reports, original studies, and reviews on NF1 in pregnancy. The research on the interlink between NF1 and fertility and its influence on human-assisted reproduction techniques is limited. Preimplantation testing (by in vitro fertilization) and prenatal diagnosis (by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis) are available to detect affected fetuses. However, genotype–phenotype correlation is difficult to predict. Preconceptional planning and targeted investigations are crucial in understanding the extent of maternal disease. Although in some cases lesions can evolve rapidly during pregnancy, most pregnancies and births in NF1 go well with careful planning. There is a higher incidence of pheochromocytomas and pre-eclampsia, vascular rupture, and cardio-respiratory issues. Anesthesia at birth is a challenge in most cases, and before offering spinal anesthesia, imaging tests should be performed to characterize spinal lesions. General anesthesia may also be challenging when the disease affects the face, neck, upper spine, or airways. Birth-related difficulties may arise because of large neurofibromas located at the level of skin incision or birth canal; uterine atony may be expected if there are uterine lesions. Some complications can develop in postpartum, and affected women should be carefully followed even after pregnancy. Fetal risks include preterm birth (spontaneous or iatrogenic), growth restriction and developmental issues, birth complications, cardiovascular risk, and fetal/neonatal demise. Pregnancies in women with NF1 should be regarded as high-risk and followed in a multidisciplinary fashion. Careful assessment of lesions is of utmost importance before and during pregnancy for anticipating potential maternal risks and before birth to plan anesthesia and delivery.

Introduction: PCNL remains the gold standard for larger kidney stones. Reducing the operating time of PCNL and its complication rate seems to be the next logical step in optimizing this classical technique. To achieve these objectives, some new methods of lithotripsy emerge. We present the data of a single, high-volume, academic center with combined ultrasonic and ballistic lithotripsy in PCNL using the Swiss LithoClast^® Trilogy device. Materials and Methods: We designed a prospective, randomized study including patients who underwent PCNL or miniPerc with lithotripsy using the new EMS Lithoclast Trilogy or EMS Lithoclast Master. The procedure was carried out with all patients in prone position, by the same surgeon. The working channel size was 24 Fr–15.9 Fr. We evaluated the stones’ features, operative time, fragmentation time, complications, stone clearance rate and stone-free rate. Results: Our study included 59 patients, 38 females and 31 males, of an average age of 54.5 years old. The Trilogy group included 28 patients and the comparator included 31 patients. Urine culture was positive in seven cases which required seven days of antibiotics. The mean stone diameter was 35.6 mm with a mean Hounsfield unit (HU) of 710.1. The average number of stones was 2.08 (6 complete staghorn stones and 12 partial staghorn stones). A total of 13 patients presented a JJ stent (46.4%). We found a very significant difference in all the parameters favoring the Trilogy device. The most important result in our opinion is the probe active time, which was almost six times shorter in the Trilogy group. The stone clearance rate was about double in the Trilogy group, leading to shorter overall and intra-renal operating times. The overall complication rate was 17.9% in the Trilogy group and 23% in the Lithoclast Master group. The mean hemoglobin drop was 2.1 g/dL with a mean creatinine rise of 0.26 mg/dL. Conclusions: Swiss LithoClast^® Trilogy, a device combining ultrasonic and ballistic energy, is a safe and efficient method of lithotripsy for PCNL, proving statistically significant benefits over its predecesor. It can achieve the goal of reducing complication rates and operative times for PCNL.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue, that leads to dysmenorrhea, painful intercourse and infertility. The shift in paradigm from the previous belief that endometriosis exclusively impacts women of reproductive age has brought attention to the condition in both premenarchal and postmenopausal women. Currently, 2–4% of postmenopausal women have endometriosis. Many women experience menopausal symptoms during the peri- and postmenopausal periods and require extensive investigations and monitoring in order to avoid the recurrence of endometriosis symptoms or the risk of malignant transformation when treatment with menopausal hormones is elected. Our goal was to compile and present a clear and concise overview of the existing literature on postmenopausal endometriosis, offering an up-to-date and precise summary of the available information.