Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: trends in pregnancy termination rate, and perinatal and 1-year infant mortalities in Korea between 1994 and 2005.

Aim: To determine the pregnancy termination rate, and perinatal and 1-year infant mortality rates following prenatally-detected congenital heart disease (CHD) and trends over an 11-year period.

Methods: Between 1994 and 2005, 1603 gravidas underwent fetal echocardiography in our institution, in which 378 fetuses were diagnosed with CHD. The study period was divided into the following three groups for time-trend analysis: 1994-1997, 1998-2001, and 2002-2005.

Cervicovaginal matrix metalloproteinase-9 and cervical ripening in human term parturition.

Objective: To investigate the changes of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in cervicovaginal fluid during pregnancy and its association with parturition.

Study Design: A prospective study was conducted on nulliparous women between 16 and 42 weeks with normal singleton pregnancies in the following categories: (1) preterm control (n=39); (2) term labor induction without labor or rupture of membranes (n=68); (3) term spontaneous labor with intact membranes (n=42); (4) term premature rupture of membranes (n=24). The MMP-9 concentration in the cervicovaginal fluid was measured by immunoassay.

Antepartum risk factors associated with peripartum cesarean hysterectomy in women with placenta previa.

The objective of this study was to identify antepartum risk factors for peripartum hysterectomy in women with placenta previa. The medical records of women with placenta previa who underwent cesarean section (C/S) were reviewed retrospectively. Data regarding the reproductive history and peripartum outcomes were analyzed.