Characteristics and outcome of 102 fetuses with fetal cerebral ventriculomegaly: experience of a university hospital in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of associated structural anomalies and the outcome of fetuses with ventriculomegaly. We retrospectively collected 102 cases of antenatally diagnosed ventriculomegaly examined between 2000 and 2008. Ventricular width measurements were 10-12 mm, 12.

The incidence of placental abnormalities, maternal and cord plasma malondialdehyde and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and nondiabetic controls.

Background/aims: To evaluate the incidence of placental abnormalities, cord plasma erythropoietin (EPO) levels and nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) counts, maternal and cord plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and nondiabetic controls.

Methods: Twenty-two women with GDM, diagnosed according to the current criteria of the American Diabetes Association, were compared with 22 controls. Maternal and cord blood and placental samples were obtained from all pregnant women.

Prediction of preeclampsia with maternal mid-trimester placental growth factor, activin A, fibronectin and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry.

Objective: To assess whether alterations in the serum levels of placental growth factor, activin A and fibronectin could be detected in patients before they become preeclamptic. And to evaluate and compare the clinical utility of these markers and uterine artery Doppler velocimetry in predicting preeclampsia.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-two normotensive women were prospectively included in the study.

Doppler dynamics: their clinical significance and relationship with fetal blood gases and pH measurements.

The aim of the study is to demonstrate the ability of abnormal Doppler indices to predict the acid-base status of the fetus. A pulsed Doppler study of umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and thoracic aorta were assessed on 30 intrauterine growth restricted and 27 appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses immediately before cordocentesis. All the fetuses with absent end diastolic velocity in the umbilical artery were found to be acidemic by cordocentesis.

Early first trimester ultrasound examination. Is it really efficient in the clinical management of the pregnancy?

Objective: This is a retrospective study accomplished to determine the efficiency of the first trimester ultrasound examination especially when performed on elective conditions.

Materials And Method: The records of patients who had undergone early first trimester transvaginal ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University between from January 1999 to December 2000 were reviewed. The records of 426 patients were eligible for the analysis.

Prognosis of patients with positive screening but negative diagnostic test for gestational diabetes.

Objective: This is a retrospective study that is designed to investigate the prognosis of the patients with abnormal diabetes screening test and a negative 100 g oral glucose tolerance test that is accepted as the diagnostic test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Materials And Method: The records of 281 pregnant patients were reviewed. The data of the patients divided into groups with normal diabetes screening (1 h/50 g oral glucose tolerance test) and abnormal diabetes screening.

Prenatal diagnosis of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita with increased nuchal translucency but without any underlying fetal neurogenic or myogenic pathology.

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita is a general term for congenital multiple joint contractures, the aetiology of which is variable. Prenatal diagnosis is usually based on the detection of diminished fetal movements and joint contractures on ultrasound. There are also reports of early diagnosis of arthrogryposis in the first and early second trimester by detection of subcutaneous oedema.

A case of prenatally diagnosed fetal neurenteric cyst.

The combination of a thoracic cystic mass with vertebral anomalies on prenatal ultrasound suggests a neurenteric cyst. The outcome of such cysts mostly depends on the extent of the displacement and functional impairment of the adjacent organs and of the associated central nervous system defects. We present a case of a neurenteric cyst diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound at 34 weeks of gestation which was treated successfully in the early neonatal period.

Doppler assessment of umbilical artery, thoracic aorta and middle cerebral artery in the management of pregnancies with growth restriction.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the best use of information obtained from Doppler studies of umbilical artery, thoracic aorta and middle cerebral artery in the management of pregnancies with growth restriction.

Methods: The study group consisted of 100 pregnant women with intrauterine growth restricted fetuses. Doppler flow velocity waveforms were obtained from the umbilical artery, middle cerebral artery and thoracic aorta.

Detailed ultrasonographic findings in Greenberg dysplasia.

A case of Greenberg dysplasia [hydrops fetalis, ectopic calcifications, "moth-eaten" skeletal dysplasia (HEM)] is presented. Fetal ultrasonography at 20 weeks' gestation showed hydrops fetalis, severe micromelia, irregular hyperechogenic foci in the ribs and vertebral bodies, irregular hypo- and hyperechogenic areas and abnormal contour within the long bones, and flattened and "T"-shaped appearance of the vertebrae. Findings on postmortem histological and radiographic examination were consistent with Greenberg dysplasia.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in preeclampsia.

Objective: To determine the changes in plasma levels of lipid peroxide, vitamin E and vitamin C in women with preeclampsia and to investigate their relationship with diastolic blood pressure.

Study Design: Cross sectional study consisting of 22 preeclamptic and 21 healthy pregnant women. Fasting venous blood samples were collected during the antepartum period and plasma levels of malondialdehyde, alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid were measured.

Antenatal diagnosis of lethal osteopetrosis.

We describe a case of the lethal form of osteopetrosis diagnosed prenatally by ultrasonography. Anomalies detected on ultrasound examination at 18 weeks' gestation included skeletal hyperdensity, communicating hydrocephalus and short long bones. At 21 weeks' gestation, cordocentesis was performed to measure the levels of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase.

The value of antithrombin-III and fibronectin in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

In this study we evaluated fibronectin as a marker of endothelial cell injury and antithrombin III as a marker of chronic activation of intravascular coagulation. The aim of the study was to establish to normal trends of plasma antithrombin III and fibronectin in general obstetric population and to determine the value of both in predicting, distinguishing and understanding the pathophysiology of pregnancy induced hypertension. The all cases consisted of 173 pregnant, 19 of them were chronic hypertensive, 45 were pregnancy induced hypertensive and 119 were normotensive at blood sampling.

FHR monitoring and perinatal mortality in high-risk pregnancies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the introduction of fetal heart rate monitoring on perinatal mortality rates in high-risk pregnancies. Results were compared with the perinatal mortality rates published previously from our clinics. The study group consisted of 2165 high-risk pregnant patients.

The predictive value of fetal heart rate monitoring: a retrospective analysis of 2165 high-risk pregnancies.

The predictive value of fetal heart-rate monitoring on fetal well-being was studied in 2165 high-risk pregnancies. 1883 reactive nonstress test (NST) patterns and 278 nonreactive NST patterns and 4 cases of sinusoidal pattern were obtained. Oxytocin challenge test (OCT) was applied to 263 nonreactive cases.