Although ectopic breast tissue is rare in the general population, it is important to consider when investigating an axillary or vulvar mass. Ectopic breast tissue most commonly occurs postpartum but is not exclusive to that period. We report the case of a 29-year-old woman with ectopic breast tissue in multiple sites, including the axilla and vulva. The patient initially presented with a painless right axillary mass; it was excised and diagnosed as a fibroadenoma. She was then diagnosed with fibroadenoma of the vulva four years later. While ectopic breast tissue is most commonly found in the postpartum period it can occur outside of pregnancy. Therefore it should be included in the differential diagnoses for axillary or vulvar masses. Additionally, it is important to monitor women with ectopic breast tissue, particularly in the vulva, for recurrence.

Maternal supplementation with antioxidants and n-3 PUFAs may be a promising strategy to reduce the risk of intrauterine growth restriction and preterm delivery, which may diminish the appearance of low-birth-neonates. A previous studies showed beneficial outcomes of the combination of hydroxytyrosol and linoleic acid, but there is no data of its prenatal effects. The present study aimed to determine the possible prenatal implications of such maternal supplementation at prenatal stages in swine, a model of IUGR pregnancies. Results showed effects on litter size, with treated sows having larger litters and, therefore, smaller fetuses. However, the brain/head weight ratio showed a positive effect of the treatment in development, as well as in some other major organs like lungs, spleen, or kidneys. On the other hand, treated piglets showed better glycemic and lipidemic profiles, which could explain postnatal effects. However, further research on the implications of the treatment on litter size and prenatal and postnatal development must be done before practical recommendation can be given.

Polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is a well-studied RNA binding protein that serves as an important model for understanding molecular mechanisms underlying alternative splicing regulation. PTBP1 has four RNA binding domains (RBDs) connected via linker regions. Additionally, PTBP1 has an N-terminal unstructured region that contains nuclear import and export sequences. Each RBD can bind to pyrimidine rich elements with high affinity to mediate splicing activity. Studies support a variety of models for how PTBP1 can mediate splicing regulation on target exons. Obtaining a detailed atomic view hinges on determining a crystal structure of PTBP1 bound to a target RNA transcript. Here, we created a minimal functional PTBP1 with deletions in both linker 1 and linker 2 regions and assayed for activity on certain regulated exons, including the c-Src N1 exon. We show that for a subset of PTBP1-regulated exons the linker regions are not necessary for splicing repression activity. Gel mobility shift assays reveal the linker deletion mutant binds with 12-fold higher affinity to a target RNA sequence compared to wild-type PTBP1. A minimal PTBP1 that also contains an N-terminal region deletion binds to a target RNA with an affinity higher than that of wild-type PTBP1. Moreover, this minimal protein oligomerizes readily to form a distinct higher-order complex previously shown to be required for mediating splicing repression. This minimal functional PTBP1 protein can serve as a candidate for future structure studies to understand the mechanism of splicing repression for certain regulated exons.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease caused by mutations in hematopoietic stem cells leading to pancytopenia and a predisposition for thromboembolic events. In pregnancy, these manifestations can be amplified, leading to increased neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Although data are limited, eculizumab has emerged as a potential treatment of PNH in pregnancy. This report describes a case of a woman with PNH successfully treated with eculizumab during two pregnancies. Although during both pregnancies she experienced breakthrough hemolysis requiring intermittent blood transfusions, she had no thromboembolic events and had term vaginal births. Granted more research is needed, eculizumab may be an acceptable therapy for PNH in pregnancy.