Fetal umbilical cord blood erythropoietin, interleukin-6, pH, pO(2), pCO(2), and base excess levels in histologic and/or clinical chorioamnionitis: is the response only inflammatory?

Objective: To determine the correlation of histological chorioamnionitis (CA) with and without clinical CA with umbilical cord blood gases, erythropoietin (EPO), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.

Methods: Umbilical artery blood gas analysis (pH, pO(2), pCO(2), BE) and umbilical vein EPO and IL-6 levels were measured in 202 infants from normal, histological, and no clinical CA and histological plus clinical CA pregnancies.

Results: Umbilical artery blood gas analyses were not different between normal controls and histological and clinical CA groups.

Are placental chorionic capillary nucleated red blood cell counts useful compared to umbilical cord blood tests?

Objective: To compare measurement of fetal nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) counts in paired histologic samples of the placenta and umbilical cord bloods.

Method: Forty-five randomly selected pregnancies had two determinations of the NRBC count. A sample of umbilical venous blood had a NRBC count measured and sections of the placenta were examined for their villous capillary NRBC counts.

Prediction of ABOG written examination performance from the third-year CREOG in-training examination results.

Objective: To study the ability of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) in-training examination score to predict American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) written examination performance.

Study Design: Twenty-six physicians took the CREOG examination during the third year of their residency and the ABOG written examination during their fourth year. These 2 test scores were compared.

The correlation between automated hematology and manually read smears for the determination of nucleated red blood cells in umbilical cord blood.

Objective: To determine the correlation between automated hematology nucleated red blood cell counts and manual counts in umbilical cord blood.

Methods: Umbilical cord venous blood was obtained after cord clamping at the time of delivery. The number of nucleated red blood cells per one hundred white blood cells was measured using an automated hematology analyzer and compared with direct microscopic visualization of prepared slides by experienced hematology technicians.