Outcomes of expectant management after betamethasone for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Objective: Review the latency period after betamethasone (BMZ) for pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).

Study Design: A retrospective chart review of patients that received BMZ for the reduction of preterm morbidity for HDP. Patients were grouped by gestational age of administration of BMZ and type of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy for analysis.

Three-dimensional fast acquisition with sonographically based volume computer-aided analysis for imaging of the fetal heart at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently cardiac images derived from 3-dimensional (3D) volume sets, acquired by fast acquisition and evaluated with sonographically based volume computer-aided analysis (sonoVCAD), were satisfactory for prenatal screening at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation.

Methods: A prospective study of 100 women with singleton pregnancies was undertaken. Three fast acquisition 3D volume sets were obtained from each patient.

Quality of 2- and 3-dimensional fast acquisition fetal cardiac imaging at 18 to 22 weeks: ramifications for screening.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency with which 6 different fetal cardiac views taken during a fetal ultrasound examination at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation can be obtained satisfactorily for cardiac anomaly screening using either a 2-dimensional (2D) static or 3-dimensional (3D) fast acquisition technique.

Methods: A prospective study of 100 low-risk women undergoing an anatomic survey was performed. Standard static 2D and 3D fast acquisition volumes were obtained on all patients.

Contrasting effects of chronic hypoxia and nitric oxide synthase inhibition on circulating angiogenic factors in a rat model of growth restriction.

Objective: We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) inhibition has synergistic effects with chronic hypoxia in altering maternal serum levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF). We tested our hypothesis in a rodent model of intrauterine growth restriction induced by chronic hypoxia and NO inhibition with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).

Study Design: Timed pregnant adult Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the following groups: (1) 20% (oxygen) O2 + saline (n = 7); (2) 20% O2 + L-NAME (n = 8); (3) 14% O2 + saline (n = 5); (4) 14% O2 + L-NAME (n = 5); (5) 10% O2 + saline (n = 6); and (6) 10% O2 + L-NAME (n = 6).

Second-trimester ductus venosus measurement and adverse perinatal outcome in fetuses with congenital heart disease.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Doppler velocimetry of the ductus venosus (DV) predicts adverse perinatal outcome in congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all pregnant women undergoing fetal echocardiography for CHD in a single perinatal center during a 2-year period. We compared outcomes for fetuses having a diagnosis of CHD in the second trimester and abnormal DV Doppler velocimetric findings with those having CHD and normal DV Doppler findings.

Prior cesarean delivery is not associated with an increased risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy: analysis of U.S. perinatal mortality data, 1995-1997.

Objective: An association between cesarean delivery and an increased risk of stillbirth in a subsequent pregnancy has been reported in the United Kingdom. This study investigated the association between prior cesarean delivery and unexplained intrauterine fetal demise at term in the United States.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the U.