2D echocardiographic assessment of the fetal heart size in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy.

We report simple methods for assessing the fetal heart size by calculating the ratio of the area of the four chambers to the chest area when viewed in the same plane. The average value for this ratio in normal 99 fetal hearts was 0.30 +/- 0.05 and in 16 cases of fetal cardiomegaly it was 0.42 +/- 0.05. The difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). A second method is presented which involves measurements of the AP diameter of the heart in the longitudinal plane of the fetal trunk divided by the AP diameter of the chest just above the liver. The average value of this ratio in the normal group was 0.49 +/- 0.06. In a group with cardiomegaly, the average value was 0.62 +/- 0.04 and the difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). These methods to calculate heart size use only screen data, and are a simple tool to evaluate fetal heart cardiomegaly.

Echocardiographic evaluation of fetal arrhythmias.

When during routine prenatal care, the auscultation++ of the fetal heart beat reveals an abnormal rate or rhythm, two things are needed: 1) the accurate diagnosis of the arrhythmia, and 2) the hemodynamic impact of the rhythm disturbance on the fetus. In Poland, external cardiotocography is the most widely Supported in part by the American Heart Association, Delaware Affiliate, Grant = 41161 available diagnostic system used by obstetricians, but it records only the mean heart rate or the instantaneous heart rate. Cardiotocography is therefore useful only in identifying tachycardia or bradycardia. The most frequent tape of fetal arrhythmia is an irregular rhythm, especially premature contractions (1, 15, 18). We believe that any disturbance in fetal cardiac condition should be evaluated more fully by fetal echocardiography.

[Ultrasonic evaluation of the position of intrauterine contraceptive devices]. / Ultrasonograficzna ocena umiejscowienia wewnatrzmacicznych srodków antykoncepcyjnych.

PIP: The position of intrauterine devices (IUDs) was determined by means of ultrasonography in 68 women using Combison 200 Compound Soan ultrasonography 2 to 3 days after insertion of the IUD, after the next menstruation, and during examinations after 3 to 24 months. Pain, prolonged menstruation, and spotting between menstruation occurred most often in patients in whom ultrasonography demonstrated abnormal IUD position. The normal IUD position within the uterus was established on the ultrasonogram measuring the distance between the IUD and the fundus, which should not exceed 4/3 of the mean thickness of the anterior and posterior uterine walls.^ieng

Histologic observations of the lenses of psoralen + UVA treated albino rats and a theory as to the underlying mechanism.

Histologic studies of the lenses of 8-methoxy-psoralen and UVA treated rats revealed that morphologic damage appears first in the epithelium weeks before the onset of any slitlamp observable opacities. The bow region of the lens subsequently shows abnormal morphology, including rounded rather than elongating cells and a dramatic reduction in the number of nucleated fibres. With time, more and more of the cortex becomes involved, in the worst cases progressing to total liquifaction of the outermost cortex. The deeper cortex maintains an ordered pattern. Protected by the upper lid from UVA radiation, the upper lens is never as severely involved as the inferior lens. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the basis of the psoralen cataract is genetic damage to lens epithelial cells with subsequent formation of anomalous cortical fibres.