Estimating the effect of gestational age on test performance of combined first-trimester screening for Down syndrome: a preliminary study.

Objective: To establish how different methods of estimating gestational age (GA) affect reliability of first-trimester screening for Down syndrome.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study of 100 women with a viable singleton pregnancy, who had first-trimester screening. We calculated multiples of the median (MoM) for maternal-serum free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG) and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), derived from either last menstrual period (LMP) or ultrasound-dating scans.

Embryonic delay in growth and development related to confined placental trisomy 16 mosaicism, diagnosed by I-Space Virtual Reality.

Objective: To demonstrate the use of a novel three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) system in the visualization of first trimester growth and development in a case of confined placental trisomy 16 mosaicism (CPM+16).

Design: Case report.

Setting: Prospective study on first trimester growth using a 3D VR system.

Jugular lymphatic sacs in the first trimester of pregnancy: the prevalence and the potential value in screening for chromosomal abnormalities.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of detectable jugular lymphatic sacs in a setting for first trimester screening for Down syndrome, and to evaluate the influence of jugular lymphatic sacs on the screening performance for chromosomal abnormalities.

Methods: A prospective single center study (Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands) over a period of one year (January 2003-February 2004). First trimester nuchal translucency measurement was performed in a study population of 415 fetuses.

Combined first trimester screening for trisomy 21: lack of agreement between risk calculation methods.

Objective: To call attention to differences in first trimester risk estimates for trisomy 21, as calculated by two different software packages.

Methods: A total of ninety-four pregnant women who had a first trimester risk assessment for trisomy 21 that was based on maternal age, biochemical analysis and a nuchal translucency (NT) measurement. Two commonly used software packages were used for the estimation of individual risks (i.

Dutch community midwives' views on preconception care.

Objective: to explore the opinions of midwives on the desirability of preconception care for all couples contemplating pregnancy, their willingness to introduce preconception care to midwifery practice and, if it were to be implemented, the necessary conditions, including knowledge, postgraduate education and referral possibilities for successful implementation in the community.

Participants: all community midwives (n = 129) working in 49 midwifery practices that refer their high-risk clients to the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam (the Netherlands).

Setting: Rotterdam and its immediate surrounding communities.