Beneficial aspect of oral estriol as hormone replacement therapy: consideration on bone and lipid metabolism.

To improve the quality of life of elderly people in Japanese society where women have the longest life expectancy in the world, osteoporosis, and hyperlipidemia are among the major targets of medical treatment. To differentiate two types of regimens for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), we tried to evaluate the efficacy on lipid and bone metabolism. With informed consent, 34 postmenopausal women of more than 2 years were assigned to receive 1 of 2 types of HRT (the HRT group) for 12 months observation: one with a combination of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) 0.

Evaluation of cardiac function of the fetus by inferior vena cava diameter pulse waveform.

Background: The diameter pulse waveforms (DPWs) are known to reflect the pressure waveforms at the target vessel. Our purpose was to clarify the usefulness of DPWs recorded noninvasively from the fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) for detecting cardiac function.

Methods: A paired ultrasonic phase-locked echo tracking system was used to follow the movement of diametrically opposite points of the IVC.

The relationship between fetal inferior vena cava diameter pulse and flow velocity waveforms in normal and compromised pregnancies.

Background: The circulation is characteristically assessed by pressure and flow.

Objective: To evaluate the hemodynamic significance of fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) flow velocity waveform (FVW) indices in relation to the diameter pulse waveform (DPW).

Study Design: Doppler ultrasound and a phase locked loop echo tracking system were used to measure the FVW and the DPW in the fetal IVC, respectively.

Uteroplacental circulation, preeclampsia, and maternal abdominal aortic stiffness in normal and compromised pregnancies.

A study of 82 normal and 60 compromised pregnant women who were identified by uterine artery Doppler flow waveform systolic/diastolic ratio >95th percentile (increased peripheral resistance) was carried out to examine the elastic properties of the maternal abdominal aorta (AA). An aortic stiffness index (SI) was measured between 18 and 40 weeks at four-weekly intervals with a phase-locked loop ultrasound technique to estimate the aortic systolic and diastolic diameters and their correlation with blood pressure. In the normal group, the aortic systolic and diastolic diameters, as well as the SI, increased with the maternal age.

Normal and abnormal diameter pulse waveforms in the fetal inferior vena cava.

Objectives: To study the diameter pulse waveforms (DPWs) recorded noninvasively from the fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) in human fetuses.

Methods: We studied 90 normal fetuses (20 to 40 weeks), ten fetuses with abnormalities of cardiac structure, and seven fetuses with arrhythmia. A paired ultrasonic phase-locked echo tracking system was used to follow the movement of diametrically opposite points of the IVC.

Inferior vena cava diameter pulse waveforms in the human fetus: relationship with flow velocity waveform.

Our purpose was to evaluate the hemodynamic significance of fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) flow velocity waveform indices during fetal development in relation to the diameter pulse waveform. Doppler ultrasound and a phase locked loop echo tracking system were used to measure flow velocity waveform and diameter pulse waveform, respectively. Twenty-seven normal singleton pregnancies were examined from 20 weeks until term at 4-week intervals.

Stiffness of systemic arteries in appropriate- and small-for-gestational-age newborn infants.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to study the stiffness of systemic arteries in appropriate and small for gestational age newborn infants. The distance between diametrically opposite points of the arterial lumen was measured with a phase locked loop echo tracking system coupled to a B-mode ultrasonic imager.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study of 51 appropriate for gestation age infants including 22 preterm infants was done to obtain normal data.

Characteristic diameter pulse waveform patterns of the inferior vena cava in fetuses with abnormalities of cardiac structure.

Background: Changes in the vessel lumen diameter pulse waveform closely follow changes in the transmural pressure pulse waveform.

Aim: To study diameter pulse waveform recorded noninvasively from the fetal inferior vena cava (IVC) in fetuses with cardiac abnormality.

Study Design: A paired ultrasonic phase-locked echo tracking system with a high sampling frequency (3000 Hz) was used to follow the movement of diametrically opposite points of the IVC.

Abnormal placental cord insertion may induce intrauterine growth restriction in IVF-twin pregnancies.

Background: This study determined whether twins conceived through assisted reproduction technology (ART) have an increased risk of perinatal complications compared with natural twin pregnancies and investigated potential associated major risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 199 twins born between 1994 and 2003. There were four groups according to conception modalities: 97 twins after spontaneous pregnancy, 24 after induced ovulation, 28 after intrauterine insemination (IUI) and 50 after IVF with embryo transfer.

Evaluation of 25 years of Uterine Cervical Cancer Screening at Tokai University Hospital Health Evaluation and Promotion Center.

The total number of persons who underwent uterine cervical cancer screening at the Tokai University Hospital Health Evaluation and Promotion Center during the 25-year period from January 1976 to March 2001 was 30,173 (gross number: 111,181). Since 1995, more than 6,500 females have visited the center annually, and more than 70% were 40-59 years of age. Among these females, 849 exhibited atypical changes higher than class IIIa in the cytological examination (class IIIa: 779, IIIb: 43.

Preservation of tubal function following methotrexate treatment for ectopic pregnancy.

To evaluate methotrexate (MTX) administration as a conservative treatment for ectopic pregnancy, we reviewed the medical records of 248 cases (210 patients) of MTX treatment for tubal pregnancies at our department between December 1985 and December 2003, and compared its pregnancy prognosis with that of laparoscopic salpigotomy (59 patients). With the MTX treatment, 185 patients were successfully treated, and the subsequent pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate were 48.4 % and 18.