Prenatal diagnosis of amniotic band syndrome.

Amniotic band can cause a broad spectrum of anomalies ranging from simple band constrictions to major craniofacial and visceral defects. It can cause significant neonatal morbidity. Accurate diagnosis will help in the management of the present pregnancy and in counseling with regard to future pregnancies. Here we report three cases of amniotic band syndrome detected in the prenatal period.

Prenatal detection of congenital high airway obstruction syndrome with encephalocele.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) causes secondary morphological changes which can be detected on ultrasound. Here we report a case of congenital high airway obstruction with an occipital encephalocele detected at 23 weeks of gestation.

Serum nitrate levels as an index of endothelial function in pre-eclamsia and normal pregnancy.

The study was conducted in St. John's Medical College Hospital and Department of Physiology, with the aim of studying the serum nitrate levels in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. The total number of subjects studied in various groups were 159, control (n = 55), first trimester (n = 13), second trimester normal (n = 42), second trimester pre-eclampsia/PET (n = 5), third trimester normal (n = 32), third trimester pre-eclampsia/PET (n = 12). The serum nitrate was measured by one step enzymatic assay using Nitrate reductase from Aspergillus species. The nitrate levels in the third trimester pre-eclamptic group was found to be significant lower (P = 0.02), as compared to normal subjects, however the renal functions were normal in all the subjects.