Management of some technical artifacts of ultrasound in cases of incompetent cervix during pregnancy

The ultrasonographic finding of an incompetent cervix in pregnancy may be changed with increasing amount of fluid in urinary bladder closes the cervix and alters the configuration of lower uterine segment, while, angulation of transducer and manual pressure thereon distort sonographic findings. A total 10 cases presenting with cervical incompetence at 16 - 24 weeks of gestation the incompetence was diagnosed by obstetric history suggestive of cervical incompetence, i.e. previous second trimester abortions, and on vaginal examination the cervical dilation ranged between 1.5 - 3 cm., and effacement of 25 to 50% of cervical length was estimated in 10 cases, these women were sonographically evaluated with increasing the amount of fluid in urinary bladder from 250 to 750 ml saline at 750 ml of saline the cervical dilation decreased from [2 to 1/2 cm]., two cases show the close internal cervical or with change of angulation of transducer and by manual pressure thereon by hand of examiner. It is concluded that the sonography can not reliable method to demonstrate changes in cervical compliance during pregnancy, vaginal examination remains the ultimate diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of in competent cervix, while sonography may be used as adjunct only

Effects of endogenous sex hormones on serum lipids, lipoproteins in women during reproductive age

Forty women of reproductive age were included in this study with aim of establishing the variation in serum lipids and lipoprotein are influenced by endogenous hormonal changes. Total cholesterol, triglycerides and phosholipids were determined in whole serum and in following lipoprotein fractions: very low density lipoproteins [VLDL] low density lipoproteins [LDL] and high density lipoproteins [HDL] obtained by ultracentrifugation. A significant decrease was found in total cholesterol [P < 0.01] and phospholipids [P < 0.01] during the late luteal phase. The LDL cholesterol decrease during the luteal phase and VLDL cholesterol decrease during the luteal phase and VLDL cholesterol increased in early and mild luteal phases. The LDL phospho-lipids and VLDL triglycerides also showed a significant decrease during the luteal phase [P < 0.01]