A national survey on current practice of ultrasound in labor ward.

Objectives: Use of ultrasonography has been suggested as an accurate adjunct to clinical evaluation of fetal position and station during labor. There are no available reports concerning its actual use in delivery wards. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the current practice regarding the use of ultrasonography during labor.

Prediction of fetal macrosomia using two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasound.

Objective: The estimation of the fetal weight by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound (US) with fractional thigh volume (TVol) has been suggested to be more accurate than two-dimensional (2D) US particularly within the context of fetuses at risk of macrosomia. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of 2D US and 3D US with two different methods of projection for the identification of fetal macrosomia at term.

Study Design: Prospective study which included women at risk for fetal macrosomia referred for fetal biometry between 34-36 weeks.

The Effect of Chorionicity on Maternal Cardiac Adaptation to Uncomplicated Twin Pregnancy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to longitudinally evaluate maternal echocardiographic findings in uncomplicated twin gestations according to chorionicity.

Methods: Healthy women with twin pregnancy were assessed with transthoracic echocardiography across the first, second, and third trimesters. Cardiac findings were compared within each group and between monochorionic (MC) and dicho-rionic (DC) pregnancies.

Correlation between Subpubic Arch Angle and Mode of Delivery in Large-for-Gestational-Age Fetuses.

Objectives: A narrow subpubic arch angle (SPA) has been associated with a higher risk of operative delivery and prolonged labor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between SPA and labor outcome in a cohort of women delivering a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) fetus.

Methods: An observational study involving two Italian tertiary centers (Parma and Rome) was carried out.

Three-dimensional assessment of umbilical vein deviation angle for prediction of liver herniation in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objectives: To introduce a new sonographic marker of intrathoracic liver herniation in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: In a consecutive series of fetuses with isolated CDH, an ultrasound volume of the fetal abdomen was acquired. On this volume, offline calculation of the angle formed by the midline of the abdomen (joining the center of the vertebral body to the abdominal insertion of the umbilical cord) and a second line joining the center of the vertebral body to the intra-abdominal convexity of the umbilical vein was carried out to give the umbilical vein deviation angle (UVDA).

The code of conduct of the volunteer.

Voluntary service has experienced a considerable expansion and a substantial change over the last two decades. The role of the volunteer has gradually come to interact with activities undertaken by other professionals, but without interfering. Since the role of the volunteer naturally involves autonomy and discretion on his/her behalf, the associations concerned increasingly feel the need to refer to standards defining a voluntary service ethic.