Neonatal and placental factors in relation to the mode of umbilical cord insertion. Stereological analysis of chorionic villi.

Neonatal and placental factors and compartment volumes of placental parenchyma in relation to variations of cord insertions in normal human placentae were examined. The results of our investigation suggest that the mode of umbilical cord insertion has no significant effect on examined components. Stated differences are probably the effect of biological variations during normal placental and fetal development.

Follow-up of the intracranial supernumerary tooth.

A rare case of an intracranially located supernumerary tooth was described, observed over a period of 14 years, where movement was established laterally in relation to the referent Carthesian coordinate system, down and forward with rotation around the anteroposterior axis. During skull growth, the skull base angle changed by 20 degrees, but this movement only affected the change in tooth position slightly. During the observation period, no further changes in the neurological findings were observed.

Stereological analysis of alpha and beta zones of syncytiotrophoblast in human term placenta.

The investigations were carried out to attempt to define and analyze various quantitative structural parameters of syncytiotrophoblast in human term placenta, especially of its functionally active parts, that is alpha and beta zones. The results demonstrated the following: The arrangement of alpha and beta zones in the placenta as a whole is even and regionally independent. Beta zones prevail quantitatively. Alpha zones make up only 8% of the total volume, 18% of the total surface and 39% of the thickness of beta zones. Sexual dimorphism is shown by a significantly higher volume density (VVa)(P less than 0.002), total volume (Va)(P less than 0.05) and surface density (SVa) (P less than 0.025) of alpha zones in placentas of female newborns. The fetoplacental index is higher in male newborns. During the tenth lunar month the structure of syncytiotrophoblast is changed. Between the 38th and 39th week the volume and surface densities of alpha zones are significantly higher (P less than 0.01), and in the 40th week the volume density and total volume of beta zones prevail significantly (P less than 0.01).

[The surface of the syncytiotrophoblast in the human placenta at term in relation to the sex of the neonate]. / Povrsina sinciciotrofoblasta zrele humane placente u odnosu na spol novorodenceta.

A stereological analysis was performed on 30 human term placentas. Surface density and total surface of the whole syncytiotrophoblast and its specially differentiated parts (alpha and beta zones, syncytial knots) were measured with regard to the sex of the newborn. The values of stereological variables are higher in placentas of female newborn children, but differences are not statistically significant. The placental index was defined by macroscopic measuring of the weight of fetus and placenta. It was considerably higher in male (7.92 +/- 0.27) than in female (7.15 +/- 0.18) newborn children, P less than 0.025.

Congenital ureteric diverticula in children and adults: classification, radiological and clinical features.

To date, about 100 cases of a blind-ending branch of a bifid ureter have been reported. We present 13 clinically, radiologically and histologically evaluated cases of congenital ureteric diverticulum. We believe this anomaly is not as rare as hitherto believed and suggest the term congenital ureteric diverticulum for a blind-ending branch of a bifid ureter.

[Bronchogenic cysts of the upper mediastinum]. / Bronchogene Zyste des oberen Mediastinums.

A case report of a congenital bronchogenic cyst in the upper mediastinum on the level of the thoracic aperture, which very likely communicates with the oesophagus, is presented. The embryogenesis, aetiopathogeny, diagnostics, location and histological structure of this rare case are discussed.

Effect of various sera on cultured rodent embryonic shields.

The modified organ culture of rodent embryonic shields, developed in our laboratory, has been shown to provide favorable conditions for the differentiation of the main tissues in teratoma-like explants. The purpose of the experiment was to discover whether tissue differentiation is modified by different sorts of sera used in the liquid medium. Rat explants showed an increase of the incidence of cartilage when cultured in at least 20% homologous serum in comparison with human and fetal bovine sera. Mouse explants did not grow in mouse serum, whereas rat serum stimulated the development of endoderm-like epithelium, and fetal bovine serum brought about more neural tissue.

[A rare opening of great biliary ducts - esophagobiliary communication (author's transl)]. / Die seltene Einmündungsanomalie der grossen Gallengänge - Osophagobiliäre Kommunikation.

A case report of a congenital esophagobiliary communication with atresia of left ductus hepaticus is presented. The communication of the esophagus with the duct of the left liver lobus was examined by giving Esophotrast into esophagus and by intravenous cholangio-cholecystography and tomography. Atresia of the left ductus hepaticus was detected by intraoperative cholangiography. The case is presented because of its rarity and it has only an embryological explanation.

Quantitative aspects of structural changes in chorioallantoic placenta of the rat during its development.

Volume analysis of chorioallantoic placenta of the rat from day 12 through day 22 of fetal development shows quantitatively the changes in volume density of fetal and maternal parts, and changes of volume fractions of structural components along with the increase of absolute volume of the placenta.

[Endometrial granular cells in fetal membranes (author's transl)]. / Endometriale Körnchenzellen der reifen menschlichen Eihäute.

The authors' aim was to obtain a survey of endometrial granular cells in fetal membranes. In all 30 cases the existance of granular cells was confirmed. The functional significance of these cells for the delivery and for separating of the fetal membranes from the uterus wall was discussed.

Dietary restriction and fetal development.

The effect of deficient nutrition of pregnant Wistar rats on the fetal weight has been studied. It has been established that the fetal weight of the group of rats fed with a restricted amount of stock diet lags behind the fetal weight of the group receiving unrestricted amounts of the same stock diet. The differences in weight between the 2 groups were, on each day of the observation period, significant at the level of p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively.