Fetal cerebrovascular response to chronic hypoxia--implications for the prevention of brain damage.

Fetal hypoxia is one of the leading causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. One of the most severe sequels of fetal hypoxic insult is the development of perinatal brain lesions resulting in a spectrum of neurological disabilities, from minor cerebral disorders to cerebral palsy. One of the most important fetal adaptive responses to hypoxia is redistribution of blood flow towards the fetal brain, known as the 'brain sparing effect'.

Comparison of glycosylation patterns of placental proteins between normal pregnancy and missed abortion.

Contemporary understanding of missed abortion, as the case of spontaneous abortion where embryo is retained in uterus for four-weeks or more after its death, is very poor. Aiming to improve the level of knowledge about this process, we have compared glycosylation patterns of placental proteins in normal pregnancy and missed abortion. Oligosaccharide branches were detected by Western-blot using SNA, DBA and PHA-E lectins.

The influence of smoking and parity on serum markers for Down's syndrome screening.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of smoking and number of previous births on maternal serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein and free beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (free beta-hCG).

Methods: The study included 3,252 completed unaffected singleton pregnancies that proceeded beyond 37 weeks' gestation and resulted with a birth of healthy child. Smoking status of mothers and data concerning gravidity and parity were collected at the sampling date.

Correlation of confined placental mosaicism with fetal intrauterine growth retardation. A case control study of placentas at delivery.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine if the frequency of confined placental mosaicism in newborns with unexplained intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was higher compared with infants with appropriate growth in utero and the outcome of these pregnancies.

Study Design: A total of 20 cases with unexplained IUGR and 20 cases with appropriate growth for gestational age has been studied. Amnion, chorion and villi biopsy specimens were obtained from growth-retarded cases and controls at delivery.

Ultrasonic markers of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Objective: The aim of this brief investigation was to correlate the most common sonographically detectable markers with certain type of chromosomal disorder diagnosed by available karyotyping procedures.

Study Design: During the 3 year study period fetal karyotyping was performed in 1055 patients for a variety of clinical indication. Twenty one percent (21%; 222/1055) of procedures were done because of sonographically detectable structural disorders related to phenotype expression of chromosomopathies.