ABSTRACT
OBJECT: The nonstress test(NST) and complete biophysical profile(BPP) were compared with the rapid biophysical profile(BPP) in order to evaluate the efficacy of the rapid BPP, namely, the combination of amniotic fluid index(AFI) and sound-provoked fetal movement(SPFM) detected by ultrasound, in predicting intrapartum fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: From JAN 9th 2000, through JAN 5th 2001, the prospective study of diagnostic tests was conducted on a total of 91 high-risk singleton pregnancies, undergoing antepartum assessment both the standard NST and the new rapid BPP(including other indices of complete BPP). The diagnostic indices of the NST, rapid BPP and complete BPP were calculated in term of predicting intrapartum fetal distress. RESULT: The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of NST were 50.00, 94.81, 96.05, and 42.86% respectively, and those of rapid BPP were 75.00, 98.53, 98.53, and 75.00%, and those of complete BPP were 83.33, 98.72, 98.72, and 83.33%, as well. In addition, the efficiency of NST, rapid BPP, and complete BPP were 91.57%, 97.22% and 97.62% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid BPP is an effective and reliable predictor of intrapartum fetal distress with high-risk pregnancies. Moreover, it may be inexpensive and less time-consuming method.
Subject(s)
Female , Pregnancy , Amniotic Fluid , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , Fetal Distress , Pregnancy, High-Risk , Prospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated changes of voice and hearing in premenopausal and postmenopausal woman METHODS: We studied forty postmenopausal and forty premenopausal women. Each women was asked to describe their subjective vocal symptoms and phonate a vowel /a/ sound for 3 seconds. The phonated sound in each case was recorded and analysed by the computerized speech lab (LSL 4300B, KAY Elemetrics Corp. USA). we also conducted audiometric pure-tone threshold testing on the same group. Statistical analysis of voice and hearing parameters was done by paired T test RESULTS: Jitter in menopausal group was significantly increased compared with premenopausal group, but other voice parameters showed no significant differences. There were no significant changes of vocal parameters between menopausal patients with or without vocal symptoms. And there were no significant changes of hearing parameters, either CONCLUSION: The change of voice parameters was objectively identified in menopausal women, and so therapist of menopausal symptoms must take the voice changes into consideration.