Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of anal sphincter defect: clinical evaluation versus 3D-transperineal ultrasound.

Background: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) are common and an important factor in the etiology of anal incontinence. The objective of this study was to evaluate, classify and compare the agreement of clinically diagnosed third-degree sphincter tears with 3D-transperineal ultrasound (3D-TPUS) realized within 3-7 days post-delivery.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study were 119 patients with third-degree obstetric anal sphincter tears were diagnosed and treated, 85 of those underwent a 3D-TPUS examination 3-7 days postpartum.

Comparison of Current Swiss Fetal Biometry Reference Charts with Reference Charts from 1999. Are Fetuses Getting Bigger?

Purpose:  To create current fetal biometry reference ranges and to compare them with references published in 1999, from the same local area in order to generate data for secular trend in fetal size.

Materials And Methods:  Applying the same methodology as previously published, we calculated reference ranges for biparietal diameter (BPD), occipitofrontal diameter (OFD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) in 7863 patients examined at the obstetric clinics in a cross-sectional, prospective study in a university setting from January 2008 to December 2014. In order to compare the new reference ranges with our previously published data, we used Z-Scores and displayed the pick-up of fetal biometry data below the 5 and above the 95 percentile using the previously published reference charts.

Prenatal Megacystis - Is Prediction of Outcome and Renal Function Possible?

Objective:  To assess prenatal prognostic criteria for fetuses with megacystis in order to counsel parents.

Methods:  In a retrospective observational study at a single tertiary referral center, we assessed the clinical course of 53 fetuses with megacystis cared for at the Department of Obstetrics of the University Hospital Zurich between 1995 and 2008 and followed them up for 2 to 12 years. We determined fetal karyotype, amniotic fluid volume and fetal urinary biochemistry as prenatal prognostic factors.

Prognostic Features and Long-Term Outcome in Patients with Isolated Fetal Ventriculomegaly.

Objective: In order to provide aid for prenatal counseling in fetal isolated ventriculomegaly (IVM) on ultrasound, we recorded the latest long-term clinical and imaging outcomes of children with a mean age of 7.2 years (range 2.1-14.

Pregnancy outcomes regarding maternal serum AFP value in second trimester screening.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of α-fetoprotein in maternal serum (MS-AFP) as a marker for diverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: The study was based on pregnancy and delivery data from 5520 women between 1999 and 2014 at University Hospital of Zurich (UHZ).

Inclusion Criteria: both MS-AFP and pregnancy outcome were known for the same pregnancy.

Noninvasive prenatal testing: more caution in counseling is needed in high risk pregnancies with ultrasound abnormalities.

Objective: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is increasingly being used in prenatal aneuploidy screening. The objective of this study was to assess the positive predictive value in our cohort of 68 cases with positive NIPT result. In addition, we wondered if the use of NIPT in cases with ultrasound abnormalities is appropriate, given the limited number of chromosomes investigated.

Outcome after prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.

Unlabelled: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract are common findings on fetal ultrasound. The aim of this prospective observational study was to describe outcome and risk factors in 115 patients born 1995-2001. All prenatally diagnosed children were stratified into low- and high-risk group and followed postnatally clinically and by imaging at defined endpoints.

In utero and postnatal imaging findings of parasitic conjoined twins (ischiopagus parasiticus tetrapus).

Conjoined twins are a rare developmental anomaly with a reported prevalence of 1.47 per 100,000 births. We present an uncommon case of a parasitic ischiopagus tetrapus with a parasitic ischiopagus partial twin joined to the complete fetus at the level of the ischium diagnosed in utero by fetal MRI.

High-resolution chromosomal microarrays in prenatal diagnosis significantly increase diagnostic power.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine for the first time the reliability and the diagnostic power of high-resolution microarray testing in routine prenatal diagnostics.

Methods: We applied high-resolution chromosomal microarray testing in 464 cytogenetically normal prenatal samples with any indication for invasive testing.

Results: High-resolution testing revealed a diagnostic yield of 6.

Risks of pregnancy and birth in obese primiparous women: an analysis of German perinatal statistics.

Purpose: To compare risks of pregnancy and birth in obese (body mass index, BMI ≥ 30) and normal weight women (BMI 18.5-24.99) giving birth to their first child.

Vitamin D receptor genotype BB is associated with higher serum osteocalcin in first pregnancy.

Aim: Serum osteocalcin was shown in a previous study on first trimester pregnant women to correlate with bone density and to distinguish between fast and slow bone losers. The objective of the present study is to examine whether serum osteocalcin is related to vitamin D receptor (VDR) BsmI polymorphism in pregnant women.

Study Design: We determined osteocalcin serum levels and VDR BsmI genotype in 97 healthy first trimester pregnant women consecutively recruited during six months.

Osteogenesis imperfecta type II: fetal magnetic resonance imaging findings.

We describe the prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a 25-week-old fetus with proven osteogenesis imperfecta type II. Fetal MRI findings are correlated with prenatal ultrasonography, conventional x-ray fetography and postpartal findings. Fetal MRI proves to be superior to conventional fetography in the evaluation of the skeletal findings.

Monochorionic-diamniotic twins discordant in gender from a naturally conceived pregnancy through postzygotic sex chromosome loss in a 47,XXY zygote.

Objective: It is generally believed that monochorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies result from one fertilized oocyte with both siblings having the same genotype and phenotype. In rare instances, due to somatic mutations or chromosome aberrations, the karyotypes and phenotypes of the two twins can differ.

Method: We report cytogenetic, molecular genetic and clinical examinations in monochorionic-diamniotic twins discordant in gender.

Pre- and postnatal findings in trisomy 17 mosaicism.

Trisomy 17 mosaicism is one of the rarest autosomal trisomies in humans. Thus far, only 23 cases have been described, most of them detected prenatally. In only five instances has mosaicism been demonstrated in lymphocytes and/or fibroblasts postnatally, and only in these have multiple congenital anomalies (MCA), facial dysmorphisms, and mental retardation been reported.

Postzygotic isochromosome formation as a cause for false-negative results from chorionic villus chromosome examinations.

Objective: To investigate the origin and mechanisms of formation of isochromosomes 13q and 21q in instances where prenatal chromosome examination revealed a normal karyotype while postnatal chromosome examination from blood showed translocation trisomy 13 and 21.

Methods: G and/or Q-banded chromosome examinations from CVS cultures and lymphocyte chromosome examinations from two newborns. Microsatellite marker analysis of DNA from the probands and their parents.

Rigid overlay of volume sonography and MR image data of the female pelvic floor using a fiducial based alignment--feasibility due to a case series.

The visual combination of different medical image acquisition techniques (modalities) can lead to new modalities with enhanced informative content. In this paper, we present an overlay technique of magnetic resonance (MR) and 3D US image data sets of the female anal canal (internal and external sphincter) as a base for a new diagnostic modality. It is a new field of the application of the overlay technique.

Non-rigid registration of a 3D ultrasound and a MR image data set of the female pelvic floor using a biomechanical model.

Background: The visual combination of different modalities is essential for many medical imaging applications in the field of Computer-Assisted medical Diagnosis (CAD) to enhance the clinical information content. Clinically, incontinence is a diagnosis with high clinical prevalence and morbidity rate. The search for a method to identify risk patients and to control the success of operations is still a challenging task.

Changes in bone density and metabolism in pregnancy.

Objective: The impact of pregnancy on maternal bone density remains unclear. As a prerequisite to investigate the pathophysiology of gestational bone metabolism, we sought to document the changes in bone metabolism biochemistry in conjunction with those in selective trabecular/cortical osteodensitometry between early and late pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective, controlled study in a university hospital was conducted with 43 healthy women, 34 of them during uneventful pregnancy.

Maternal mortality in Bavaria between 1983 and 2000.

Objective: This study was undertaken to identify the main causes of maternal mortality within a developed country to refocus and enhance the delivery of obstetric services.

Study Design: From January 1, 1983, to December 31, 2000, 309 maternal deaths occurring in Bavaria were documented and classified in a prospective observational study. The data sources were the civil registry, confidential reports by members of the Bavarian Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and public information.

Ultrasonographic fetal weight estimation: accuracy of formulas and accuracy of examiners by birth weight from 500 to 5000 g.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of birth weight in different birth weight (BW) groups using widely accepted formulas for fetal weight estimation (EFW). The secondary purpose was to estimate the role of examiners on the accuracy of EFW.

Methods: The cross-sectional data were obtained from 5612 pregnant women.

MR assessment of fetal lung development using lung volumes and signal intensities.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the monitoring and diagnostic potential of MRI in fetal lung development and disease using lung volume and signal intensity changes through gestation. Thirty-five healthy fetuses (22-42 weeks) were examined on a 1.5- T MR system using sagittal T2w single-shot fast spin-echo imaging (TR indefinite, TE 90 ms, slice thickness/gap 3-5/0 mm, FOV 26-40 cm, NEX 0.