Estimation of fetal weight before and after amniotomy in the laboring gravid woman.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to search for differences between fetal weights estimated both ultrasonographically and clinically before and after amniotomy in laboring gravid women. STUDY DESIGN: Estimates of fetal weight (ultrasonographic and clinical) were obtained for laboring gravid women before and after amniotomy. These estimates were compared with actual birth weights determined post partum. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two patients completed the study protocol. Comparisons made with unpaired Student t test analyses demonstrated a difference (P <.001) between ultrasonographically estimated fetal weights before and after amniotomy. Simple regression analysis showed a correlation between both ultrasonographic and clinical estimates of fetal weight and actual birth weights before and after amniotomy, with postamniotomy clinical estimates having the strongest correlation (ultrasonographic preamniotomy estimate, R = 0.717; ultrasonographic postamniotomy estimate, R = 0.630; clinical preamniotomy estimate, R = 0.742; and clinical postamniotomy estimate, R = 0.788). Of all ultrasonographic parameters measured, preamniotomy abdominal circumference correlated best with actual birth weight (R = 0.730). CONCLUSION: Clinical estimates of fetal weight after amniotomy correlated well with actual birth weights. Preamniotomy abdominal circumference was the ultrasonographic parameter best for prediction of actual birth weight. Maternal weight affected clinical but not ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight in this study. However, clinical estimates of fetal weight were actually superior to ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weight in this study.

Effects of immunization with B. macacae on induced periodontitis--preliminary findings.

This preliminary study examined the effects of immunization with Bacteroides macacae, the monkey equivalent of the human species of B. gingivalis on ligature-induced periodontitis. During a 12 week immunization period, 8 out of the 12 Macacae fasicularis monkeys were immunized weekly with B. macacae washed cells and 4 were sham-immunized with saline. At the same time, all were scaled and pumiced weekly to establish gingival health. Following this period, the mandibular first molars were ligated in 8 out of the 12 monkeys to induce periodontitis. The immunized, ligated experimental group, the ligated, sham-immunized control group, and the immunized, non-ligated control group were then followed for a 6 months ligation period while plaque was allowed to accumulate. Gingival indices, attachment levels, pocket depths, plaque indices, radiographs, serum and crevicular fluid antibodies and subgingival bacteria were assessed. Immunization led to elevated antibody levels to B. macacae while ligation increased plaque, gingival inflammation, and bone loss. Following the 6 month ligation period, B. macacae comprised 1.7% of the cultivable flora in the immunized, non-ligated monkeys, 2.1% in the immunized, ligated monkeys, and 5.6% in the sham-immunized, ligated monkeys. Similar differences between the immunized, ligated and and the sham-immunized, ligated groups were not seen for B. intermedius, nor B. melaninogenicus. These results suggest a heightened humoral response to B. gingivalis reduces subgingival re-colonization by this organism and modulates the course of ligature-induced periodontitis.