Impact of passive smoking on uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral artery blood flows.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of passive maternal smoking on blood flow velocities in arteries of the fetal-placental-maternal circulation.

Materials And Methods: A total of 79 pregnant women in their third trimester, including 33 passive smokers, 23 active smokers, and 23 nonsmoking controls, were enrolled in the study. Fetal biophysical indices were evaluated with B-mode scanning, whereas blood flow waveforms of uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral (MCA) arteries were analyzed with Doppler ultrasonography.

Association of breast arterial calcification and carotid intima-media thickness.

Breast arterial calcification (BAC) on mammography has been identified as calcific medial sclerosis of medium-sized breast arteries, and has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular mortality. Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is a well-known surrogate marker of atherosclerosis and predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Consequently, the present study was designed to investigate the association between the presence of BAC on mammography and C-IMT.

Effect of different pharmacologic and chemical agents on the integrity of hydatid cyst membranes.

Objective: We performed an in vitro investigation of the effects of widely used scolicidal and sclerosing agents, as well as some pharmacologic products, on the integrity of the membrane of hydatid cysts.

Materials And Methods: Two milliliters each of 22 agents, 2 mL of clear fluid, and one piece of hydatid cyst membrane were put into bottles. The hydatid cyst membranes were evaluated by visual observation and manual palpation.