Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the placental barrier; the protective umbrella of the fetus during pregnancy.

AIMS: Ultrasonography is the preferred technique to evaluate the status of maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. Non-obstetric acute or chronic conditions occurring during pregnancy must be diagnosed as early as possible to permit timely and necessary treatment for the sake of maternal and fetal health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 14 pregnant women requiring pregnancy termination and six healthy pregnant women. The 14 pregnant women requiring pregnancy termination underwent CEUS prior to surgery to investigate the pattern of contrast agent diffusion. The six healthy pregnant women did not undergo CEUS. The structure of placentae with and without contrast agent injection were also compared by light microscopy. RESULTS: CEUS analysis failed to identify any signs of contrast agents in the umbilical cord blood and fetus. There were no obvious changes in the morphology of placentae with and without contrast agent injection under light microscope. CEUS identified the need for early treatment in one pregnant woman with an ovarian tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the protective effect of the placental barrier on the fetus, CEUS during pregnancy may represent a safe form of imaging technology that can provide valuable information for the diagnosis of non-obstetric acute or chronic disorders and to guide thefuture treatment of pregnant women.

Factors Influencing the Mental Health of Firefighters in Shantou City, China.

BACKGROUND: Firefighters are routinely exposed to occupational stress and are therefore vulnerable to psychological problems. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms and potential contributing factors in a sample of firefighters in Shantou city, in the Guangdong Province of China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 335 firefighters, including 329 male and 6 female firefighters. We used a questionnaire which assessed anxiety and depression, as indicated by the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), as well as other mental health symptoms, using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Basic information and potential-related factors were also collected. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 27.38 (SD ± 6.11) years. Assessed by the indexed score of different scales, SAS and SDS positive screening rates were 6.86% and 22.68%, respectively. SCL-90 scores indicated that 6.86% of participants had mental health symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that educational level, firefighter rank, and birth order were associated with mental health outcomes. Firefighters in Shantou were also shown to have better mental health outcomes than the Chinese military, but worse than the national population of firefighters. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated the mental health of firefighters is not good. It is necessary to explore effective approaches to help preventing and treating mental disorder in firefighters.