Isosorbide mononitrate vaginal gel versus misoprostol vaginal gel versus Dilapan-S for cervical ripening before first trimester curettage.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of vaginal applications of three different principles of cervical priming prior to first trimester curettage, isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN), misoprostol and Dilapan-S, a hygroscopical cervical dilator.

Study Design: Pregnant women with missed abortion between 6 and 12 gestational weeks were included and randomly assigned to receive either 80 mg ISMN vaginal gel (group 1) or 200 microg of misoprostol vaginal gel (group 2) or Dilapan-S, a hygroscopical cervical dilator (group 3), for cervical ripening before curettage. Outcome parameters were cervical dilation at the time of operation and maximum dilation reached with Hegar's dilator and the degree of difficulty in mechanical dilation as well as safety and side effects of the preparations.

Mid-facial anthropometry in second-trimester fetuses with trisomy 21: a three-dimensional ultrasound study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether fetuses with trisomy 21 and detectable nasal bones have a distinct facial anthropometry that can be objectively defined using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of 40 fetuses in the second trimester, 17 with trisomy 21 and 23 controls, was performed. The 3D volume datasets of each case were evaluated for documentation of the nasal bones using the multiplanar and the maximum mode.