Dynamic characteristics of the middle ear in neonates.

Objective: Early diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders in neonates is highly effective for realization of linguistic competence and intellectual development. To objectively and quickly evaluate the dynamic characteristics of the middle ear, a sweep frequency impedance (SFI) meter was developed, which allowed the diagnosis of middle-ear dysfunctions in adults and children. However, this SFI meter was not applicable to neonates since the size of the measurement probe was too large.

Cervical cytologic examination during physical checkup of pregnant women: cervical cancer screening in women under the age of thirty.

Recently, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare proposed that cervical cancer screening should be conducted for women aged 20 to 29 years old in Japan. However, there are insufficient data available in Japan concerning the screening conducted for women under the age of 30. Therefore, we made a survey of the results of cervical cytologic examination for pregnant women.

In utero allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to induce tolerance.

We studied the efficacy of in utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the ability of such transplantation to induce tolerance in a fetal normal mouse allogeneic model. In 9 of the 162 surviving recipients (5.6%), cells of donor origin were detected after birth.

Diagnostic use of cordocentesis in twin pregnancy.

We performed percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, under ultrasound guidance, in both twins of 11 twin pregnancies in whom twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was suspected. Chorionicity and the presence of placental vascular anastomoses were assessed postnatally. The hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and other biochemical variables in fetal blood were evaluated in both twins.

Paracentric inversion of chromosome 14: a case report.

A new case of familial heterozygous paracentric inversion in the long arm of chromosome 14 [inv(14)(q22q32)] is presented. The rearrangement was first ascertained in a fetus examined due to advanced maternal age, and then detected in the father. The phenotypes of the newborn and the father were completely normal.

Umbilical venous pressure and Doppler flow pattern of inferior vena cava in the fetus.

Umbilical venous blood pressure (UVP) was measured at fetal blood sampling using cordocentesis in 113 fetuses. Among these, both inferior vena cava (IVC) Doppler flow pattern, when the preload index was set as a parameter of reversed flow, and UVP were measured in 50 fetuses. We evaluated whether direct measurement of UVP, representing fetal central venous pressure, could be replaced by an assessment of reversed IVC blood flow.

Funipuncture for evaluation of hematologic and coagulation indices in the surviving twin following co-twin's death.

Objective: To examine the changes in hematologic and coagulation indices in the surviving twin when the co-twin dies because of the twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Methods: Fetal blood was obtained by funipuncture in seven surviving twins upon the death of their co-twins. Five of them were monochorionic.

A family with pericentric inversion of chromosome 12.

A heterozygous pericentric inversion of chromosome 12 (inv(12)) was prenatally diagnosed. The breakpoints were localized to p12.3 and q14, resulting in more than one-third of the total length of the chromosome being inverted.

[Power spectral analysis of spontaneous rhythm in peripheral blood flow in fetal lamb].

Fluctuations in fetal hemodynamic parameters are commonly observed, and we can use the variation in the fetal heart rate as an index in fetal assessment. The purpose of this study was to clarify the spontaneous rhythm in systemic circulation in fetal lambs by means of power spectral analysis. Three pregnant sheep and their fetuses at 125 and 135 days of gestation were surgically instrumented and studied.

Sonographic findings and fetal chromosomal studies undertaken prenatally by fetal blood sampling using cordocentesis.

Prenatal karyotyping was carried out on 206 pregnancies with sonographic abnormalities, including fetal malformations, growth retardation and disorders of the amniotic fluid volume. Overall, chromosomal aberrations were detected in 37 cases (18.0%), but the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was 8.

Prenatal diagnosis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

We report the first prenatal diagnosis of an affected fetus with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). Diagnosis was accomplished via fetal blood sampling at 17 menstrual weeks and was confirmed after birth. Retrospective measurement of the largest acid phosphatase-positive lysosomes in cultured amniotic fluid cells and chorionic villus cells showed that in CHS these lysosomes are significantly larger than those in normal cells.

Relation between fetal blood gas levels and the outcome of babies in severe preeclampsia.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain that fetal blood gas values obtained by cordocentesis could be a clinical standard to decide whether or not we should terminate pregnancy and switch to exutero salvage for avoiding hypoxic damage. Fetal blood sampling was performed 38 times in 36 cases of severe preeclampsia. The relation between fetal blood gas values and the prognosis of the baby was statistically examined.

Change in electrocardiogram T-wave amplitude during umbilical cord compression is predictive of fetal condition in sheep.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of the dynamic change in T/QRS ratio in fetal electrocardiograms in predicting the fetal condition when repetitive variable decelerations are seen in intrapartum cardiotocograms.

Study Design: We investigated the relationship, using linear regression and Wilcoxon's test, between T/QRS and blood gas values, catecholamine concentrations, and blood pressure during repetitive cord compression in five chronically instrumented lamb fetuses.

Results: T/QRS during cord compression correlated significantly (p less than 0.

Femoral artery blood flow monitoring has distinct advantages for examining redistribution of blood flow in fetal acidosis.

Changes of blood flow in umbilical artery, carotid artery and femoral artery were examined during the progression of acidemia in fetal sheep by means of indwelling transit-time ultrasonic blood flow meters. Moreover, catecholamines in fetal blood were measured and its interrelation to the alteration in blood flow was examined. Gradually progressing fetal acidemia was induced by repeated cord compression.

Biophysical profile and its relation to fetal blood gas level obtained by cordocentesis.

Biophysical profile (BPP) score was assessed immediately before fetal blood sampling by cordocentesis in 150 fetuses referred to our hospital, 95 after and 55 before 30 weeks of gestation. In 95 fetuses after 30 weeks of gestation, 39 fetuses were evaluated with BPP scores of 12, 35 were from 8 to 11 and 21 were less than 7. In 55 fetuses before 30 weeks of gestation, 8 fetuses were evaluated with BPP scores of 12, 27 were from 8 to 11 and 20 were less than 7.

Hematologic evaluation of growth retarded fetus by cordocentesis.

Fetal blood sampling by ultrasound-guided cordocentesis was performed in 22 IUGR fetuses in order to evaluate the fetal condition. All patients were referred to our hospital for further examination and management. In addition to hematological assessment we measured the velocity profiles of the umbilical artery with pulse-gated Doppler equipment.

Catecholamine levels and their correlation to blood gases in umbilical venous blood obtained by cordocentesis.

The plasma catecholamine concentration was evaluated in umbilical venous blood obtained by cordocentesis performed in 77 fetuses for indications including: nonimmune hydrops; Rh incompatibility; intrauterine growth retardation; polyhydramnios; anomalies; immunological disorders, and possible viral infection. The pH as well as pO2 of the umbilical venous blood showed a notably significant negative correlation with the norepinephrine concentration (r = -0.5607, r = 0.

Biochemical evaluation of fetus with hypoxia caused by severe preeclampsia using cordocentesis.

Biochemical evaluation of the fetus using cordocentesis was performed in sixteen pregnant women with severe preeclampsia. In addition, FHR monitoring and Doppler flow velocimetry of the umbilical artery were examined in these cases before the cordocentesis. Other than blood gas and routine hematologic and biochemical examinations, catecholamine and hypoxanthine concentrations were also evaluated in some cases.

[Influence of pregnancy and steroid hormones on interferon production of lymphocytes].

A study was done to investigate the involvement of interferon (IFN) in immunological acceptance of fetal allograft. IFN was induced by stimulating OK-432 from lymphocyte of pregnant and nonpregnant women as well as men. There was no difference in the IFN titer in these groups.

Alteration of FHR pattern and cerebral metabolic rate of glucose of the fetus measured by positron emission tomography during progress of acidemia. The significance of overshoot acceleration in FHR.

In order to investigate the significance of overshoot acceleration in FHR with acidosis induced by serial cord compression, cerebral glucose metabolic rate (CMRglc) was measured in four chronically instrumented fetuses before cord compression and immediately after appearance of the overshoot acceleration in FHR. The investigation of CMRglc was carried out using positron emission tomography to assess accumulation of cyclotron-produced F18-FDG in the fetal brain. CMRglc in the fetal brain in the nonacidemic condition was 1.

Reevaluation of nonstress test by umbilical venous blood profile using cordocentesis.

Fetal blood sampling by cordocentesis was performed in 85 cases of fetuses with either nonimmune hydrops fetalis, anomalies, intrauterine growth retardation, maternal immunological disorders, Rh incompatibility, hydronephrosis, polyhydramnios, maternal preeclampsia or fetal tumor. Fetal heart rate monitoring was also recorded before cordocentesis. We evaluated the usefulness of the nonstress test (NST) with regard to fetal hematologic gas profiles including pH, pO2 and pCO2.

The slope of fetal heart rate deceleration is predictive of fetal condition during repeated umbilical cord compression in sheep.

The relationship between components of fetal heart rate deceleration and fetal arterial blood gas values or plasma catecholamine concentrations was investigated by repeated complete umbilical cord compression in chronically instrumented fetal lamb. Fetal arterial pH and bicarbonate levels decreased, while plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations increased more than tenfold. The slope of the descending limb of the fetal heart rate deceleration curve decreased and correlated strongly with fetal arterial pH, bicarbonate, and logarithmic plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations.