Calcium levels in the maxillae of human foetuses / Niveles de calcio en los maxilares de fetos humanos

Calcium along with phosphorus and carbonate imparts hardness and strength to skeletal system. Most of the human studies in this context are based on informations in postnatal life. There are different theories to explain the manner in which the matrix of bone becomes impregnated with the two inorganic salts, calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. In our study, 29 human foetuses were obtained from the museum section of Department of Anatomy, J .N. Medical College, Aligarh, and divided into five groups. Maxillae were cleaned by separating the soft tissue and dissolved in concentrated nitric acid to determine calcium. Results were analysed by using Student's 't' test. The most striking feature of our findings was a reduction in aforementioned relative calcium in subsequent groups of foetuses. This decrease was highly significant in foetuses of last three groups i.e. III, IV and V. On the other hand, when total amount of calcium in foetal maxillae of adjacent groups were compared, a steady rise in concentration of calcium was noticed but no definite pattern was observed. Sexual dimorphism could be considered only in groups IV and V foetuses due to lack of female foetuses in first three groups. Some scientists did consider the human foetal bones but their interests were confined to parietal bone, femur and teeth. None of the earlier studies considered calcium concentration in maxillae of human foetuses. Therefore, our study aimed at measuring the level of calcium in maxillae of developing human foetuses in different age groups to find pattern, if any, during development for medicolegal purposes.

El calcio junto con el fósforo y el carbonato otorgan la dureza y la fuerza al sistema esquelético. La mayoría de los estudios en seres humanos se basan en la información de la vida postnatal. Existen diferentes teorías para explicar la manera en que la matriz del hueso se impregna con las de sales inorgánicas, fosfato de calcio y carbonato de calcio. Fueron utilizados 29 fetos humanos del Museo del Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad J. N. Medical, Aligarh, divididos en cinco grupos. Los maxilares fueron limpiados separando los tejidos blandos, luego se disolvieron en ácido nítrico concentrado para determinar el nivel de calcio. Los resultados se analizaron a través de la prueba t de Student. La característica más notable fue la reducción de calcio en los grupos subsecuentes de los fetos. Esta disminución fue muy significativa en los fetos de los tres últimos grupos es decir, III, IV y V. Por otro lado, cuando se comparó la cantidad total de calcio en maxilares fetales de los grupos adyacentes, se observó un aumento constante en la concentración de calcio, sin ningún patrón definido. El dimorfismo sexual pudo ser considerado sólo en los grupos IV y V de los fetos, ya que la falta de fetos femeninos en los primeros tres grupos impidió su comparación. Algunos científicos han examinado los huesos del feto humano, pero sus intereses se limitan a los huesos parietales, al fémur y los dientes. Ningún de los primeros estudios considera la concentración de calcio en los maxilares de los fetos humanos. Así el objetivo de este estudio fue medir el nivel de calcio durante desarrollo de fetos humanos en maxilares de fetos de diferentes edades para determinar algún patrón, si los hubiera, con fines médico-legales.

Estudo estrutural do pênis de fetos humanos normais e anencéfalos no segundo trimestre de gestação / Structural study of the penis of normal and anencephalic human fetuses in the second trimester of pregnancy

A anecencefalia é o Defeito do Tubo Neural (DTN) mais severo em fetos humanos. Há uma demanda crescente para reposição tissular em doenças crônicas e cirurgias reconstrutoras. Tecidos fetais têm sido utilizados como substitutos para órgãos sólidos. Comparar a estrutura e morfologia do corpo cavernoso e corpo esponjoso de pênis de fetos humanos anencéfalos e de controle a fim de propor um novo modelo para estudos biológicos e transplantes teciduais. Foram estudados 11 pênis de fetos de controle de 14 a 23 Semanas Pós Concepção (SPC), e cinco pênis de fetos anencéfalos de 18 a 22 SPC. Os órgãos foram removidos e processados pelas técnicas histo e imunohistoquímicas rotineiras. A análise do tecido conjuntivo, células musculares lisas e fibras elásticas foram realizadas em lâminas dos espécimes. Os dados foram expressos em Densidade de àrea (Da) utilizando-se um software de processamento digital. As médias foram comparadas utilizando-se o Teste - T não pareado e quando aplicável, a regressão linear simples foi utilizada. Foi considerada significância estatística se p<0,05. O septo intercavernoso encontrava-se presente em todas as amostras. Não foram observadas diferenças da Da do tecido colágeno e musculatura lisa dos pênis de fetos anencéfalos quando comparados aos normais. A regressão linear simples sugere que durante o desenvolvimento humano há um aumen2to gradual do tecido colágeno (R2=0,45) e uma diminuição da musculatura lisa (R =0,62) no corpo cavernoso de ambos os grupos. A elastina encontrava-se presente apenas em fetos a partir da 20ª SPC. Não houve diferença na estrutura da genitália entre fetos normais e enencéfalos. Apresença da elastina em fetos a partir da 20ª SPC é um dado objetivo da manutenção da capacidade de ereção nestes grupos. A histo e imunohistoquímica sugerem que o desenvolvimento do pênis destes fetos encontra-se inalterado. Futuros estudos deverão ser realizados com o objetivo de avaliar fetos anencéfalos como um potencial ...

Anencephaly is the most severe neural tube defect (NTD) in human fetuses. There is an increasing need for tissue replacement in chronic diseases and reconstructive surgeries. Fetal tissues have been used as a substitute for native organs. Compare the structure and morphology of the corpora cavernosa and spongiosum of penises from anencephalic and normal human fetuses to propose a new model for biological studies and tissue transplantation. We studied 11 penises from normal human fetuses, aged 14 to 23 weeks post-conception (WPC), and 5 penises from anencephalic fetuses, aged 18 to 22 WPC. The organs were removed and processed by routine histological and immunolabeling techniques. Analysis of connective tissue (Cot), smooth muscle (SMC) and elastic fibers (EF) were performed in sections. Data were expressed as area density (Ad) using digital processing and software. Means were statistically compared using the unpaired t test and linear regression was performed. Statistical significance was considered if p < 0.05. The Intracavernosal septum was present in all samples. We did not observe differences in the Ad of Cot and SMC in the penises of anencephalic fetuses when compared to normal ones. The simple linear regression suggested that during human development there is a gradual increase in Cot (R2= +0.45) and a decrease of SMC (R2=- 0.62) in the corpora cavernosa in both groups studied. Elastin was observed only in fetuses from 20th WPC. There was no difference in the structure of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum of anencephalic fetuses compared to normal ones. Elastin was documented from 20th WPC, which suggests the maintenance of erectile function. Histochemistry and immunolabeling suggested that penile shaft development is maintained and unaltered in anencephalic fetuses. Further studies should be performed to analyze anencephalic fetuses as a potential tissue donating group and a model for biological studies

Consideraciones científicas y éticas en las perspectivas diagnósticas y terapéuticas en medicina fetal / Scientific and ethical perspectives of perinatal and fetal medicine

This review emphasizes the importance of recent developments and knowledge on cell biology and human genetics than have integrated, through a basic-clinical concept to an emerging branch of medicine, called Perinatal and Fetal Medicine. We discuss the possible role of fetal cells and DNA in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the intrauterine environment. The associated bioethical issues associated to these medical actions are discussed, considering the imminent use ofthese agents in the human species.

Pasado, Presente y futuro de la cirugía fetal / Fetal surgery: Past, present and future

La mayor disponibilidad y calidad de la ecografía prenatal ha llevado a un incremento en el diagnóstico in útero de malformaciones congénitas, siendo, además del tratamiento estandarizado postnatal o de la terminación del embarazo, varias las consecuencias terapéuticas: modificación del lugar del parto (centro de cuidado terciario), modo del parto (sección cesárea) y duración de la gestación (parto prematuro). Casos muy seleccionados, en los que el progreso de la gestación causa deterioro progresivo de los órganos afectados, llevando a daòos irreversibles e incompatibles con la vida extrauterina, se consideran como candidatos potenciales para cirugía fetal. Ejemplo de ellos son la uropatía obstructiva bilateral extrema, el teratoma sacrococcígeo gigante, la malformación adenomatoidea quística congénita pulmonar y la hernia diafragmática congénita. En la presente revisión se discute la fisiopatología de estas malformaciones y las estrategias terapéuticas fetales, al igual que los resultados obtenidos y las perspectivas futuras.

Diagnóstico matemático de la monitoría fetal aplicando la Ley de Zipf-Mandelbrot / Zipf-Mandelbrot law and mathematical approach in fetal cardiac monitoring diagnosis

El actual diagnóstico clínico de la monitoría fetal presenta problemas de objetividad y reproducibilidad, sin embargo el análisis físico y matemático del trazado lleva a caracterizaciones objetivas y reproducibles de la dinámica cardíaca fetal. Desarrollar una nueva metodología diagnóstica de la monitoría fetal aplicando las concepciones de la teoría de sistemas dinámicos y la ley de Zipf-Mandelbrot para evaluar la complejidad del trazado a partir de la aparición de Componentes Dinámicos del Sistema (CDS)

Change of blood gas and hemodynamics in the fetal goat undergoing ECMO through umbilical artery and vein / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to establish animal model of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system that uses membreane type oxygenator and circulation circuit of umbilical artery and vein. Blood gas and hemodynamic changes in the fetal goat undergoing ECMO were also evaluated. METHODS: Total 15 pregnant goat had been used to perform extrauterine fetal incubation using ECMO through umbilical artery and vein. Cesarean-section was performed to pregnant goat (35 kg) of 120-130 days of gestation to insert catheters (8 Fr) into the umbilical artery and vein. The tip of inserted catheter's the other end was connected with the circuit system including membrane type oxygenator (Polystan) and roller pump. A total of 300 ml of blood was drawn from donor nonpregnant goat and primed into circuit on the day of surgery. The goat fetus was immersed in a chamber filled with artificial amniotic fluid to monitor blood flow dynamics and blood gas was analyzed. RESULTS: The ECMO system using umbilical cord in the extrauterine incubation of fetal goat was developed and maximum survival of goat fetus was 34.5 hrs (mean survival was 856.6+/-688 min). Oxygen tension (PO2) in umbilical artery and vein were 20.53+/-2.54 mmHg, 31.03+/-13.03 mmHg and oxygen saturation (SO2) in umbilical artery and vein were 46.61+/-18.14 mmHg, 71.56+/-15.39 mmHg. Mean blood flow was 176+/-62 ml/min/kg. CONCLUSION: We suggest that our experimental model as an extrauterine fetal research could be a reasonable method in future advanced studies. However, longterm survival of extrauterine fetus needs more suitable hemodynamic and blood gas condition supported by further researches.