[Causes of stillbirths and perinatal death in Poland between 2007-2009].

Introduction: There has been significant improvement in perinatal care in the last two decades. Indicators representing the status of perinatal care are the frequency of stillbirths and deaths in the early postnatal period. In recent years the level of perinatal care of the mother remains stable while the level of perinatal deaths have been slightly decreasing.

[Can implementation of intensified perinatal survey be effective in improving the quality of perinatal care?].

Introduction: Intensive scientific research and rapid technical progress have influenced the rapid fall in term newborn mortality. At the same time new problems have arisen such as saving the lives of infants with low and very low birth weight. Solving these problems needs reorganization of perinatal care, better equipment, especially in reference units and in outpatient clinics, as well as more intensive staff training.

[Perinatal mortality of fetuses and newborns in Poland in the years 1999-2008].

Background: Procreation and perinatal health which includes maternal health, fetal growth and well being of newborns are a challenge for modern medicine. One of the indices of evaluation of perinatal health is perinatal mortality of fetuses and newborns. This has been emphasised in the National Health Programme in Poland for 2007-2015.

[Assessment of three-level selective perinatal care based on the analysis of early perinatal death rates and cesarean sections in Poland in 2008].

Aim: The aim of the following work was to assess three-level selective perinatal care in Polish voivodeships in 2008 on the basis of the following parameters: birth rates as well as perinatal death rates, divided into three classes of neonatal weights, in hospitals on each of the three levels. The goal of selective perinatal care is, among other things, to diagnose threats to the mother and/or fetus and direct women with high-risk pregnancies to higher level obstetrics and neonatology clinics and units. The structure of a regional three-level perinatal care, as well as the rules and procedures governing the process of redirecting patients to different levels of perinatal care have been defined in great detail.

[Four main reasons of maternal death in Poland between 1991-2000].

Maternal death during pregnancy, labour and puerperium constitutes the main problem of prenatal medicine and still a major public health topic. In this work we analyses maternal deaths in Poland between 1991-2000. There were 4,404,641 live births and 462 maternal deaths.

[Stillbirths as problem in perinatology].

Perinatal mortality is identified as one of the key maternal and child health indicators. Death of potentially viable fetuses (> or = 500 g body weight) are one of two elements of perinatal mortality. To reduce the number of these events, tragic for mothers and families, being also important for public health analyses, we must increase awareness among health professionals and the public.

[Analysis of breech deliveries from the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Institute for Mother and Child in a 12 month period].

An analysis of 130 breech deliveries was carried out. The material was divided into two groups: vaginal delivery and delivery by cesarean section. In both groups maternal age, parity, weeks of pregnancy, newborn weight.

Microwave radiation enhances teratogenic effect of cytosine arabinoside in mice.

Impregnated Swiss mice were irradiated 2 h daily on days 1-18 of gestation in nonthermal (1 or 10 mW/cm2) or thermogenic (40 mW/cm2) 2,450-MHz microwave (MW) fields. On the 19th day of pregnancy all dams were killed to check the number of resorptions. Living fetuses were isolated, weighed and checked for the presence of macroscopically visible malformations of skeleton and cleft palate (CP) and/or lip (CLP).

[Are microwaves a co-teratogen? Experimental model concept and its verification].

Microwave radiation does not result in development of congenital malformations in mice until hyperthermia is evoked. However, in the literature it is well established that certain environmental and occupational factors not being teratogenic per se may enhance and/or influence potency of established teratogens. As concerns the microwave radiation there are results suggesting cocarcinogenic properties of this radiation.

[Environmental and occupational factors in the development of congenital malformations].

Teratology has grown from a little known discipline to a discipline embracing a vast accumulation of literature on experimental studies in many animal forms. Emphasis has shifted from preoccupation with descriptions of anatomical defects to concern about subtle and interacting causative factors. The aim of this work is to assemble a source of facts, concepts, methods and references within the broad scope of teratology.

[Clinical value of the fetoplacental ratio].

Scientific interest in the placenta derives not only from its enormous diversity of form and function but also from the unique metabolic, endocrine and immunologic properties. The steady increase in size and weight of the placenta throughout pregnancy has been investigated in the large number of studies. The data obtained from weighing the placenta vary considerably, depending upon how the placenta is prepared.

[Development of murine embryos and fetuses after irradiation with 2450 MHz microwaves].

Microwave radiation has been reported to produce adverse effects in a variety of biological systems. We attempted to estimate the influence of repeated expositions to 2450 MHz microwaves at power densities of 10 or 40 mW/cm2 on murine (Swiss) embryos and fetuses development. Mated females were divided into groups and irradiated in various periods of pregnancy.

[Survival and physical development of progeny of Swiss mice after 2450 Mhz microwave irradiation during pregnancy].

The influence of prenatal repetitive 2450 MHz microwave irradiation of Swiss mice on postnatal survival and development was investigated. The animals were divided after mating into experimental and control groups and irradiated at power densities of 10 or 40 mW/cm2 at various periods of gestation. The pregnant females were allowed to deliver at term and feed their offsprings.

[Effect of 2450 MHz microwaves on the fertility of Swiss female mice].

The effect of repeated expositions to 2450 cm2 microwaves at power densities of 10 or 40 mW/cm2 on fecundity of female Swiss mice was investigated. After microwave irradiations during whole pregnancy mice were allowed to have offsprings. On the day of birth litters were inspected, the number of pups noted.

Effects of microwave exposure in utero on embryonal, fetal and postnatal development of mice.

Pregnant Swiss mice were repetitively exposed during various periods of gestation to 2,450 MHz continuous wave microwave radiation. Irradiations were conducted daily in an anechoic chamber at a power density of 10 (subthermal) or 40 mW/cm2 (thermal) for 2 h/day, 7 sessions/week. Thermal exposures to microwaves resulted in significant inhibition of the embryonal and fetal development in utero, accompanied by an increased incidence of intrafetal bleedings, resorptions and deaths of fetuses.

[Sulfamethoxazole concentration in the homogenate of the human embryo].

The investigations on the extent of placental drug transfer has conventionally been based on determining drug concentration in cord blood at delivery. There is, however, data that levels in cord blood at delivery may provide misleading information on the extent of drug transfer in utero. It is due to the fact that not every drug reaches the fetus in pharmacologically active form.

[Prenatal monitoring of fetal heart activity and the course of labor and the state of the newborn infant].

In the paper practical importance of cardiotocographic interpretation of records carried out during pregnancy is discussed as well as the importance of antepartum monitoring of foetal heart rate. 1944 records of 663 pregnant women were analysed. Observations of basic frequency of foetal heart rate, oscillation and heart rate response to foetal movements and uterine contractions were made.