Corticosteroid effect upon intestinal and hepatic interleukin profile in a gastroschisis rat model.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on intestinal and liver interleukin profile in an experimental model of gastroschisis in fetal rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats at 19.5 days of gestation had its fetuses operated for the creation of gastroschisis.

Impact of corticosteroid on intestinal injury in a gastroschisis rat model: morphometric analysis.

Background/purpose: The goal in the treatment of gastroschisis is to prevent intestinal injury. Corticosteroids are known by their effects at the inflammatory response and by the improvement on the intestinal maturity. The authors evaluated the effects of maternal corticosteroid administration on the intestines of rats that underwent fetal gastroschisis.

Arnold-Chiari in a fetal rat model of dysraphism.

Unlabelled: Dysraphism is a defect in neural tube development, leading to dysplastic growth of the spinal cord and meninges. Myelomeningocele (MM) is just one of its forms. Hydrocephalus is among the most important alterations in MM and occurs as a consequence of Arnold-Chiari malformation (AC).

Congenital duodenal obstruction: does prenatal diagnosis improve the outcome?

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital duodenal obstruction (CDO) provides information about associated anomalies; helps plan the delivery, resuscitation, and neonatal surgery; and allows for appropriate family counseling. This report compares the outcomes of two groups of newborns: one with prenatal diagnosis of CDO (group I) and the other without (group II). Charts of the 23 newborns with CDO admitted to the Hospital of UNICAMP between 1993 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed.