A rapid visual test for predicting fetal lung maturity.

A rapid bedside test has been devised that enables an untrained observer to predict (p less than 0.001) when amniotic fluid will be greater than or equal to 0.15 at an optical density of 650 nm, lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio will be greater than or equal to 2.

Antimicrobial activity of amniotic fluid against Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Amniotic fluids obtained by amniocentesis at 16 weeks to term were examined for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Of 140 fluids tested, none harbored chlamydiae, and only one harbored mycoplasma, M. hominis.

Effect of bacterial growth on the bursting pressure of fetal membranes in vitro.

By mounting a layer of chorioamniotic membrane on a specially designed reaction vessel, we studied the effect of Escherichia coli and/or group B streptococcus growing on the decidual surface of the membranes in tissue culture or bacteriologic medium. The organisms grew equally well in either medium. When growing in tissue culture medium, either organism significantly weakened the membranes as compared with controls (membranes incubated in the absence of either organism).

Serial amniocenteses in the treatment of twin to twin transfusion complicated with acute polyhydramnios.

Twin to twin transfusion, complicated by acute polyhydramnios in a monozygous twin pregnancy, is a difficult clinical problem. A precipitous course usually results in termination of the pregnancy within a few days and often is associated with a high perinatal mortality rate. Two cases are presented that were treated with repeated amniocenteses for the relief of extreme abdominal discomfort and to prevent imminent premature labor.

Positive correlation between mature amniotic fluid optical density readings and the absence of neonatal hyaline membrane disease.

Fetal pulmonary maturity is generally determined by analyzing amniotic fluid for surfactants. This task is accomplished by lipid extraction of the fluid and resolution, identification and quantitation of the isolated lipids with thin-layer chromatography. These methods are lengthy, cumbersome and often not available on demand.