External iliac artery Doppler assessment in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of the mean external iliac artery pulsatility index (EIA-PI) as a predictor of adverse obstetric outcomes such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and small for gestational age (SGA). METHODS: In women attending for first trimester screening at 11 + 0-13 + 6 weeks of gestation, we recorded maternal characteristics and measured EIA mean PI and uterine artery mean PI. We compared EIA mean PI in those that developed preeclampsia (n = 84), gestational hypertension (n = 50) or small for gestational age (n = 444) with those unaffected (n = 3736). Regression analysis was used to first determine which of the factors among the maternal variables were significant predictors of EIA mean PI in the unaffected group and, second, to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: In the unaffected group, EIA mean PI increased with maternal age and decreased with mean blood pressure. Additionally, EIA mean PI was lower in cigarette smokers. Compared with the unaffected group, EIA mean PI was significantly lower in women who develop gestational hypertension or SGA below third centile. CONCLUSION: EIA mean PI in the first trimester is decreased in women who develop gestational hypertension and in those complicated by SGA below third centile. More studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Reliability of examining the external iliac artery with Doppler ultrasound in the first trimester and its relationship with maternal blood pressure and uterine artery blood flow.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reliability of examining the external iliac artery (EIA) at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation with Doppler ultrasound and its relationship with maternal characteristics and uterine artery blood flow. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 451 pregnant women undergoing an ultrasound scan in the first trimester. Mean pulsatility index (PI) of both EIAs was correlated to maternal characteristics (maternal age, parity, body mass index and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)) and ultrasound parameters (crown-rump length (CRL) and mean uterine artery PI). Mean EIA-PI was logarithmically transformed to perform multiple linear regression analysis. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibilities of EIA-PI were examined. RESULTS: Satisfactory flow velocity waveforms were obtained from both EIA in all patients. There is a significant negative correlation between mean EIA pulsatility index and maternal blood pressure. Multiple linear regression analysis showed an independent contribution of MAP to log EIA-PI (mean) (standardized regression coefficient = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.005 to -0.002). The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88-0.97) and 0.87 (0.76-0.94) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Examining blood flow in the external iliac artery using Doppler ultrasound in the first trimester is feasible and reproducible. There is a negative correlation between mean EIA-PI and maternal blood pressure.

Indigestible starch associated to dietary fiber residues from cooked legume seeds consumed in Venezuela

El residuo fibroso de las semillas cocidas de once variedades de leguminosas comestibles fue preparado empleando el procedimiento enzimático de la AOAC. Una vez sometidos a un tratamiento de dispersión alcalina, dichos residuos fueron evaluados para determinar su contenido de almidón, que corresponde a fracciones de almodón resistente retrogradado (AR). Todas las leguminosas presentaron cantidades apreciadas de AR, cuyos valores variaron entre 3,0 por ciento (g por 100 g de semilla cocida en base seca), encontrado para el fr¡jol caupí, y 7,2 por ciento para las arvejas verdes. El tenor de AR difirió muy poco entre las cuatro variedades de fr¡jol común (Phaseolus vulgaris) analizadas ( 5,1-6,7 por ciento). El garbanzo también presentó valores considerables de AR (6,7 por ciento). Los tenores de AR se utilizaron para calcular el contenido de fibra insoluble descritos previamente para estas leguminosas. Dichos contenidos corregidos resultaron 11 a 38 por ciento menores que los valores originales.