Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Rump Length (rump + length)
Selected AbstractsFirst-trimester fetal heart rate in mothers with opioid addictionADDICTION, Issue 7 2010Maximilian Schmid ABSTRACT Aim To investigate the difference in fetal heart rate of opioid-dependent mothers compared to non-dependent mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy. Design The data of 74 consecutive singleton pregnancies of mothers enrolled in a maintenance programme for opioid-dependent women was matched to 74 non-exposed singleton pregnancies by maternal age, crown,rump length, smoking status, ethnic background and mode of conception. Measurement Fetal heart rate measured as part of first-trimester screening by Doppler ultrasound between 11+0 and 13+6 gestational weeks was compared retrospectively. Findings The mean fetal heart rate in opioid-dependent mothers was 156.0 beats per minute (standard deviation 7.3) compared to 159.6 (6.5) in controls. The difference in fetal heart rate was significant (P = 0.02). There was a significant difference in mean maternal body mass index (P = 0.01) but not in mean nuchal translucency (P = 0.3), gestational age (0.5), fetal gender (P = 0.3) and parity (P = 0.3) between both groups. Fifty-five per cent (41 of 74) of cases were taking methadone, 30% (22 of 74) buprenorphine and 15% (11 of 74) were taking slow-release morphines throughout the pregnancy. Conclusions In fetuses of opioid-dependent mothers a decreased fetal heart rate can already be observed between 11+0 and 13+6 gestational weeks. The effect of opioid intake needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting fetal heart rate in opioid-dependent mothers at first-trimester screening. [source] Morphometric and immunohistochemical study of the abomasum of red deer during prenatal developmentJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 3 2007A. J. Masot Abstract The red deer is well suited to scientific study, given its economic importance as an animal to be hunted, and because it has a rich genetic heritage. However, there has been little research into the prenatal development of the stomach of ruminants in general, and none for the red deer. For this reason, we undertook histological evaluation of the ontogenesis of the abomasum in red deer. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out on 50 embryos and fetuses from the initial stages of prenatal life until birth. The animals were divided for test purposes into five experimental groups: group I [1.4,3.6 cm crown,rump length (CRL); 30,60 days, 1,25% of gestation]; group II (4.5,7.2 cm CRL; 67,90 days, 25,35% of gestation); group III (8,19 cm CRL; 97,135 days, 35,50% of gestation); group IV (21,33 cm CRL; 142,191 days, 50,70% of gestation) group V (36,40 cm CRL; 205,235 days, 75,100% of gestation). In the organogenesis of the primitive gastric tube of red deer, differentiation of the abomasum took place at 67 days, forming a three-layered structure: the epithelial layer (pseudostratified), pluripotential blastemic tissue and serosa. The abomasal wall displayed the primitive folds of the abomasum and by 97 days abomasal peak areas were observed on the fold surface. At 135 days the abomasal surface showed a single mucous cylindrical epithelium, and gastric pits were observed in the spaces between abomasal areas. At the bottom of these pits the first outlines of glands could be observed. The histodifferentiation of the lamina propria-submucosa, tunica muscularis and serosa showed patterns similar to those described for the forestomach of red deer. The abomasum of red deer during prenatal life, especially from 67 days of gestation, was shown to be an active structure with full secretory capacity. Its histological development, its secretory capacity (as revealed by the presence of neutral mucopolysaccharides) and its neuroendocrine nature (as revealed by the presence of positive non-neuronal enolase cells and the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y) were in line with the development of the rumen, reticulum and omasum. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells first appeared in the abomasum at 142 days, and the number of positive cells increased during development. As for the number of gastrin cells, plasma gastrin concentrations increased throughout prenatal life. However, its prenatal development was later than that of the abomasum in sheep, goat and cow. [source] Morphogenesis of the human excretory lacrimal systemJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 2 2006C. De La Cuadra-Blanco Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the principal developmental stages in the formation of the excretory lacrimal system in humans and to establish its morphogenetic period. The study was performed using light microscopy on serial sections of 51 human specimens: 33 embryos and 18 fetuses ranging from 8 to 137 mm crown,rump length (CR; 5,16 weeks of development). Three stages were identified in the morphogenesis of the excretory lacrimal system: (1) the formative stage of the lacrimal lamina (Carnegie stages 16,18); (2) the formative stage of the lacrimal cord (Carnegie stages 19,23); and (3) the maturative stage of the excretory lacrimal system, from the 9th week of development onward. A three-dimensional reconstruction of the excretory lacrimal system was performed from serial sections of an embryo at the end of the embryonic period (27 mm CR). [source] Optimal crown,rump length for measuring the nuchal translucencyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 6 2007Joseph R. Wax MD Abstract Purpose. To determine the optimal crown,rump length (CRL) for obtaining nuchal translucency (NT) measurements. Methods. Women undergoing NT measurements by NT-certified sonographers within a combined screening program over an 18-month period were included in the study if they had a living fetus with a CRL of 45,84 mm. NT measurement success and screen-positive rates, transvaginal sonography (TVUS) use, and reasons for failed NT measurements were compared in 3 groups by CRL corresponding to 11-0/7 to 11-6/7 weeks (45,54 mm), 12-0/7 to 12-6/7 weeks (55,66 mm), and 13-0/7 to 13-6/7 weeks (67,84 mm). Results. Eight hundred thirty-seven women aged 34.9 ± 4.9 years underwent 1 to 3 NT measurements at a mean CRL of 59.8 ± 25.0 mm. NT measurements were more successful at 11 and 12 weeks (81.8% and 84.4%) than at 13 weeks (66.9%) (p < 0.001). Screen-positive and TVUS rates, and reasons for failed NT measurements did not vary by CRL. Conclusion. NT measurements are most successful at CRL 45,66 mm corresponding to sonographically determined gestational ages of 11-0/7 to 12-6/7 weeks. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007 [source] Sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity following administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 6 2006Ofer Markovitch MD Abstract Purpose. To describe the sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity in women after administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancy. Methods. Thirty-six women treated with mifepristone 600 mg followed by misoprostol 400 ,g 2 days later for termination of pregnancy were the subjects of the study. Gestational age as calculated from the last menstrual period was ,49 days. Pretreatment sonographic parameters, including gestational sac size and crown,rump length, were measured. The sonographic appearance of the uterine cavity was recorded and documented 6 hours (T-1) and 14 days (T-2) after administration of misoprostol. Results. The mean menstrual age of the patients was 42 days (range 31,49 days). The mean gestational age according to crown,rump length was 43 days (range 40,48 days). Sonographic examination performed atT-1 revealed 23 patients (62.9%) with a well-defined echogenic mass located in the uterine cavity, 2 patients (5.5%) with an intrauterine sac containing a nonviable embryo, and 11 patients (30.5%) with an endometrium thickness of 7,14 mm with no evidence of intrauterine contents. Doppler flow signals were detected in 15 of the 23 patients (65.2%) with an echogenic intrauterine mass. Sonographic examination performed at T-2 revealed 19 patients (52.8%) with a persistent echogenic intrauterine mass; Doppler flow could be detected in 15 of these patients (78.9%). Dilatation and curettage was required in 2 patients (5.6%) due to failure of treatment; all others regained normal menses. Conclusions. An intrauterine echogenic mass with well-defined borders, with or without Doppler flow signals, can be detected 2 weeks after administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancy. Because most of the women in our study regained normal menses without further surgical intervention, this finding could indicate remnants of trophoblastic tissue evacuated spontaneously from the uterine cavity. Therefore, dilatation and curettage should be avoided in these cases, unless clinical symptoms or signs necessitate surgical intervention. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 34:278,282, 2006 [source] Maternal Oral Intake Mouse Model for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Ocular Defects as a Measure of EffectALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2006Scott E. Parnell Background: This work was conducted in an effort to establish an oral intake model system in which the effects of ethanol insult that occur during early stages of embryogenesis can be easily examined and in which agents that may modulate ethanol's teratogenicity can be readily tested in vivo. The model system described utilizes the alcohol deprivation effect to obtain teratogenic levels of maternal ethanol intake on days 7 and 8 of pregnancy in C57Bl/6J mice. Ocular defects including microphthalmia and uveal coloboma, which have previously been shown to result from ethanol administered by gavage or via intraperitoneal injection on these days, served as the developmental end point for this study. The ocular defects are readily identifiable and their degree of severity is expected to correlate with concurrently developing defects of the central nervous system (CNS). Methods: Female C57Bl/6J mice were maintained on an ethanol-containing (4.8% v/v) liquid diet for 14 days and then mated during a subsequent abstinence period. Mice were then reexposed to ethanol on days 7 and 8 of pregnancy only. Control as well as ethanol-exposed dams were killed on their 14th day of pregnancy. Fetuses were then weighed, measured for crown rump length, photographed, and analyzed for ocular abnormalities. Globe size, palpebral fissure length, and pupil size and shape were noted for both the right and left eyes of all fetuses and informative comparisons were made. Results: This exposure paradigm resulted in peak maternal blood alcohol concentrations that ranged from 170 to 220 mg/dL on gestational day (GD) 8. Compared with the GD 14 fetuses from the normal control group, the pair-fed, acquisition controls, as well as the ethanol-exposed fetuses, were developmentally delayed and had reduced weights. Confirming previous studies, comparison of similarly staged control and treated GD 8 embryos illustrated reductions in the size of the forebrain in the latter. Subsequent ocular malformations were noted in 33% of the right eyes and 25% of the left eyes of the 103 GD 14 ethanol-exposed fetuses examined. This incidence of defects is twice that observed in the control groups. Additionally, it was found that the palpebral fissure length is directly correlated with globe size. Conclusions: The high incidence of readily identifiable ocular malformations produced by oral ethanol intake in this model and their relevance to human fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) makes this an excellent system for utilization in experiments involving factors administered to the embryo that might alter ethanol's teratogenic effects. Additionally, the fact that early ethanol insult yields ocular and forebrain abnormalities that are developmentally associated allows efficient specimen selection for subsequent detailed analyses of CNS effects in this in vivo mammalian FASD model. [source] Free fetal DNA in maternal circulation: a potential prognostic marker for chromosomal abnormalities?PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 2 2007Ageliki Gerovassili Abstract Objectives Previous studies on the association of fetal cell-free (cf)DNA levels in maternal circulation have produced conflicting results but the sample sizes were small and based on archived material. We aimed to quantify the levels of fetal and total cfDNA on prospectively collected samples, to understand their correlation with other variables and to clarify their diagnostic value. Methods DNA from pre-CVS maternal plasma was extracted from 264 controls, 72 trisomy 21, 24 trisomy 18, 12 trisomy 13, 16 Turner's syndrome and 8 triploidy first-trimester pregnancies and quantified using real-time PCR. ,-globin was used to determine total cfDNA levels and DYS14 and SRY assays to determine fetal cfDNA levels. Results Fetal cfDNA levels (DYS14) showed correlation with crown rump length (CRL) (p = 0.004), BMI (p = 0.01) and storage time (p = 0.007) while there was an inverse correlation of total cfDNA levels with nuchal translucency (NT) (p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed between the levels of fetal cfDNA in controls and aneuploidy cases. Conclusion Quantification of fetal and total cfDNA in maternal circulation showed inverse correlation between NT and total cfDNA levels. Our results also suggest that fetal cfDNA is not an ideal prognostic marker for chromosomal abnormalities in first-trimester pregnancies. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The first trimester ,combined test' for the detection of Down syndrome pregnancies in 4939 unselected pregnanciesPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 3 2002K. Schuchter Abstract The high detection rate (DR) for Down syndrome (DS) pregnancies which can be achieved by measuring fetal nuchal translucency (NT) early in pregnancy can be improved by combining it with placental hormones [pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free ,-human chorionic gonadotrophin (f,-hCG)] and maternal age (,combined test'). In this study we wanted to assess the DR using the ,combined test' in an unselected population of self-referred pregnant women at a false-positive rate (FPR) of about 5%. NT, PAPP-A, f,-hCG and maternal age were measured in all women with singleton pregnancies who booked for delivery in our hospital from 1 December 1997 to 31 April 2000 and who were between 10 and 13 completed weeks of gestation [crown,rump length (CRL) 35,70,mm]. The specific DS risk was calculated using the computer program Alpha Version 5aa (Logical Medical Systems, London, UK). A total of 4939 women were tested. Out of 14 DS pregnancies that occurred during this period of time, 12 were detected with the test. A total of 246 women had a false-positive test result in a non-DS pregnancy (FPR 5.0%). This makes the ,combined test' by far the best test for the detection of DS pregnancies in a low-risk population. The constant increase in maternal age at the time of delivery can also lead to an improved DR if a simple age-dependant protocol for DS detection is used, but only at the price of a much higher number of amniocenteses and subsequent abortions. The DR for DS can be increased much more markedly using the ,combined test' with a FPR that still remains at the level as it was in the early 1970s. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Milk composition varies in relation to the presence and abundance of Balantidium coli in the mother in captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Katherine Hinde Abstract Primate infants require extensive maternal investment, and lactation is the most expensive aspect of this investment. However, the relationship between maternal condition and milk composition has been largely uninvestigated in primates. To better understand this relationship, I collected mid-lactation milk samples from 46 captive multiparous rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at the Caribbean Primate Research Center, Sabana Seca Field Station, Puerto Rico. The maternal variables assessed were age, weight, weight for crown,rump length (CRL), and presence of parasites. Additionally the analysis included infant age, weight, and sex. Protein concentration in milk showed little interindividual variation, whereas fat had a high variance. Mothers without the lower intestinal parasite Balantidium coli had a significantly higher fat concentration in milk than mothers with B. coli, but other parasite species (Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides fulleborni) were not associated with milk fat concentration. Females with younger infants had a higher fat concentration in their milk than mothers with older infants; however, the association between B. coli and milk fat remained significant after controlling for infant age. These results, obtained from a well fed captive population, indicate that even small differences among mothers are associated with milk composition. Am. J. Primatol. 69:625,634, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Liss, Inc. [source] Development of the Mesonephros in Camel (Camelus dromedarius)ANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 1 2007K. H. Aly Summary The study of the development of the mesonephros in the camel (Camelus dromedarius) was carried out on 16 embryos ranging from 0.9 to 8.6 cm crown vertebral rump length (CVRL). At 0.9 cm CVRL, the mesonephros is represented by a narrow strip along the roof of the thoracolumbar part of the vertebral column. At 1.4 cm CVRL, some of the mesonephric tubules are canalized but others are still solid. The mesonephric corpuscles are well developed at 1.9 cm CVRL and occupy almost the entire abdominal cavity in between the liver and the gut. Histologically, the glomeruli occupy the ventromedial aspect of the mesonephros while the mesonephric tubules become numerous, larger and more coiled. At 3 cm CVRL, the metanephros is invaginated in the caudal pole of the mesonephros, and the mesonephric tubules in some areas are differentiated into secretory and collecting tubules. At 3.5 cm CVRL the mesonephros is related dorsally to the postcardinal vein and ventrally to the subcardinal vein. At 4.7 cm CVRL continuous regression of the mesonephros from cranialwards to caudalwards is observed. At 5.3,5.5 cm CVRL, the cranial part of the mesonephros is divided into medial and lateral regions, and later the medial region completely disappears and is replaced by the primordium of the adrenal gland. At 8.6 cm CVRL, the caudal part of the mesonephros completely disappears. [source] Changes in nuchal translucency thickness in normal and abnormal karyotype fetusesBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 6 2003Maria A. Zoppi Objective To investigate the dynamic trend of the nuchal translucency thickness between fetuses with normal and abnormal karyotype. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Ospedale Microcitemico, Cagliari, Italy. Population A cohort of 305 first trimester fetuses. Methods Fetuses with a nuchal translucency greater than or equal to the 95th centile were invited for a second nuchal translucency measurement. The finding of an ,increased or unchanged' or ,diminished' thickness was compared in fetuses with normal and abnormal karyotype. Main outcome measures Nuchal translucency and karyotype. Results Median maternal age was 35 years (min 17, max 44) and median crown,rump length at first visit was 50 mm (min 38, max 80). A second nuchal translucency measurement was carried out in 292 fetuses, resulting in increased or unchanged values in 95 cases and decreased nuchal translucency in 197 cases. Two hundred and twenty-six (77.4%) fetuses had normal karyotype and 66 (22.6%) had abnormal karyotype (44 trisomies 21, 10 trisomies 18, 5 trisomies 13, 4 cases of 45 X0, 1 case of 47,XXY, 1 case of 47,XXX and 1 translocation). In the 66 chromosomally abnormal fetuses, the second nuchal translucency measurement was enlarged or unchanged in 37 (56%), and diminished in 29 (44%), while in the 226 normal fetuses the second nuchal translucency measurement was enlarged or unchanged in 58 cases (25%) and diminished in 168 (75%) (relative risk 2.6, 95% confidence interval 1.7,4.0). Conclusion In fetuses with abnormal karyotype, the second nuchal translucency measurement tends to be increased or unchanged, while in normal cases the size of nuchal translucency is generally reduced. [source] | |||||||||||||