The antigenic binding sites of autoantibodies to factor XII in patients with recurrent pregnancy losses.

Recently, numerous studies have suggested an association between factor XII (FXII) deficiency and recurrent pregnancy losses, and between autoantibodies to FXII and recurrent pregnancy losses. Autoantibodies to FXII rather than FXII deficiency may be a risk factor for recurrent pregnancy losses. To know the pathogenesis of autoantibodies to FXII, epitope mapping study was done.

Normal and abnormal diameter pulse waveforms in the fetal inferior vena cava.

Objectives: To study the diameter pulse waveforms (DPWs) recorded noninvasively from the fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) in human fetuses.

Methods: We studied 90 normal fetuses (20 to 40 weeks), ten fetuses with abnormalities of cardiac structure, and seven fetuses with arrhythmia. A paired ultrasonic phase-locked echo tracking system was used to follow the movement of diametrically opposite points of the IVC.

Inferior vena cava diameter pulse waveforms in the human fetus: relationship with flow velocity waveform.

Our purpose was to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) flow velocity waveform indices during fetal development in relation to the diameter pulse waveform. Doppler ultrasound and a phase locked loop echo tracking system were used to measure flow velocity waveform and diameter pulse waveform, respectively. Twenty-seven normal singleton pregnancies were examined from 20 weeks until term at 4-week intervals.

Stiffness of systemic arteries in appropriate- and small-for-gestational-age newborn infants.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to study the stiffness of systemic arteries in appropriate and small for gestational age newborn infants. The distance between diametrically opposite points of the arterial lumen was measured with a phase locked loop echo tracking system coupled to a B-mode ultrasonic imager.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 51 appropriate for gestation age infants including 22 preterm infants was done to obtain normal data.

Characteristic diameter pulse waveform patterns of the inferior vena cava in fetuses with abnormalities of cardiac structure.

Background: Changes in the vessel lumen diameter pulse waveform closely follow changes in the transmural pressure pulse waveform.

Aim: To study diameter pulse waveform recorded noninvasively from the fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) in fetuses with cardiac abnormality.

Study Design: A paired ultrasonic phase-locked echo tracking system with a high sampling frequency (3000 Hz) was used to follow the movement of diametrically opposite points of the IVC.

Case of uterine cervical carcinosarcoma.

Carcinosarcoma (CS) is a rare neoplasm that is called a mixed epithelial and mesenchymal malignancy. CS of the uterine cervix is much less common than its counterparts in the uterine corpus. A 61-year-old, gravida 2, para 2 woman, who had undergone menopause 16 years prior to the presentation, was diagnosed with CS of the uterine cervix.

Antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies in recurrent early pregnancy loss and mid-to-late pregnancy loss.

Aim: Associations have been reported between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), mainly anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and/or the lupus anticoagulant, and recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). However, relatively few studies describing antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) have been reported. We describe the prevalence of aPL to both cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine in patients with RPL.