Accuracy in Estimation of Gestational Age in Third Trimester by Fetal Kidney Length in Indian Women.

Introduction: Accuracy in estimation of gestational age (GA) has become more demanding as technology used in sonography has become more advanced. Patient’s expectations have also increased and they expect exact estimations to plan their pregnancies. Fetal kidney length (FKL) alone or in combination with other biometric indices can be used in estimating GA more precisely. Objective: The study aimed in measuring FKL and calculating GA using it as a single parameter and comparing the accuracy when combined with other biometric parameters used in estimation of GA on ultrasonography in third trimester in Indian women. Material and methods: Healthy pregnant women in third trimester with single live fetus with no maternal or fetal complications were selected for the study. FKL along with other biometric parameters were measured. The results were analyzed for finding if FKL could be used as a single parameter in estimation of GA and if the accuracy improved if combined with other indices. Results: GA was estimated in 715 cases by all four parameters in the women who came in the third trimester for ultrasonography. FKL was also measured simultaneously in these women. It was observed that average FKL increased linearly from 30.7 mm at 27 weeks to 39.4 mm at 38 weeks. Mean left kidney length was slightly but significantly more than the right kidney. GA was estimated by FKL alone and it gave results with SE ± 10.45 days and when combined with other indices accuracy improved to SE ± 5.45 days. Conclusion: FKL can be a single lone parameter in estimation of GA to give an accuracy of SE ± 10.45 days, but when used in combination with other four indices the accuracy increased to SE ± 5.5 days.

Fetal Femur Length in Assessment of Gestational Age in Third Trimester in Women of Northern India (Lucknow, UP) and a Comparative Study with Western and Other Asian Countries.

Introduction: Gestational age (GA) estimation is the most important part of obstetric practice and ultrasonic study plays an important role in its accurate estimation. Fetal femur length (FL) is one of the parameters used for estimation of GA along with biparietal diameter, head circumference and abdominal circumference (AC). Objective: This study is an attempt to correlate fetal FL with GA and to ascertain if fetal FL can be used as a parameter to calculate the GA in third trimester of pregnancy in Indian women with moderate accuracy. Findings have been compared with the work of sonologists from other countries. Material and methods: Pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy with single live fetus and having no other complication either in mother or fetus, were selected for the study, fetal FL along with other parameters was measured. The results were analyzed for accuracy in estimation of GA by FL and were compared with findings of other workers. Result: GA estimated from FL in 512 cases between 27-39 weeks of gestation showed that quadratic model has a good fit to the data and r2 = 0.785 with standard error + 8 days. There was a significant difference with Iranians and Bangladesh women in comparison to our findings. The paired t-test between Indian and Bangladesh, women was significant, (p < 0.001). The findings in our study were similar to the results of Western fetal FLs. Conclusion: The data can be useful in estimation of GA by FL. Our error was + 8 days. A bigger study involving same number of cases in each week of gestation in third trimester is necessary to get an accurate formula for assessment of GA by FL.

Biomonitoring of metal deposition by using moss transplant method through Hypnum cupressiforme (Hedw.) in Mussoorie.

Metals Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were surveyed at 14 sampling sites by using moss Hypnum cupressiforme through active monitoring technique. Samples were transplanted in all four directions of Mussoorie city and were harvested after exposure of four months (representing each season) to analyze metal precipitation and its trend at different sites during 2005. Bioaccumulation ability for metals was evaluated seasonally exhibiting maximum in summer followed by winter and minimum in rainy season. However, at some places Cu shows highly significant values in rainy season in comparison to winter. In case of Zn and Pb significantly different (p < or = 0.05) values were observed between summerand rainy season. Baseline concentration of Cu, Pb and Zn was significantly different at 5% in comparison to other transplant sites. Result indicates Dhanaulti as most polluted location might be due to higher tourist activity and vehicular load, whereas, same was found low at Chamba might be due to place was free from pollution sources or away from in proximity to road and have low human interference. The present study allows us to determine the extent of the area affected by metal precipitation load in different rural and urban areas and abundance of metals in order of Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd.

Internet: a major resource for toxicologists.

Use of the Internet in developing countries is now growing faster. Internet has created a new conduit not only for communication but also in the access, sharing and exchange of information among scientists. The Internet is now viewed as the world's biggest library where retrieval of scientific literature and other information resources are possible within seconds. Large volumes of toxicological information resources are available on the Internet. This review outlines some sites that may be of great importance and useful to the toxicologist.

Effect of hexachlorocyclohexane on hsp26 expression in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) at different concentrations (0.5 to 5.0 ng/ml) mixed with food was fed to third instar larvae of hsp26-lacZ transgenic Drosophila for 2 hr and hsp26 gene expression was examined by beta-galactosidase staining. Puffing in salivary gland polytene chromosomes was also studied. Brain and midgut of larvae showed dark blue staining at 2.0 and 5.0 ng/ml of HCH. Absence of induced puffing at 67B and 84D in the salivary gland polytene chromosomes indicated that these glands are not affected. The study suggests presence of the vulnerable sites in larvae to the higher concentrations of HCH.