Doppler ultrasound method for detecting human fetal breathing in utero

An audible Doppler ultrasound method for detecting human fetal breathing movements in utero has been developed. The frequencies synchronous with fetal breathing movements probably originate from the lung rather than the chest wall. This method is much cheaper and simpler than the ultrasound A-scan method and is suitable for screening large numbers of people.     

A two-channel radiotelemetry system for clinical fetal monitoring

A radiotelemetry system for monitoring fetal heart rate and uterine contractions during labor has been developed and evaluated. The two-channel transmitter utilizes a miniature intrauterine pressure sensor which frequency modulates a subcarrier. The fetal electrocardiogram picked up by a scalp electrode is summed with the subcarrier and this direct frequency modulates the RF carrier. The transmitter has been constructed in a miniature package using conventional electronic components. A receiver system which obtains the original signals and feeds them to a conventional fetal monitor has been developed for use with this transmitter. Clinical evaluation has shown the telemetry system to provide efficacious signals.     

Clinical laboratory determination of phosphatidylglycerol: one- and two-dimensional chromatography compared

Reportedly, determination of several phospholipids in amniotic fluid, including phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, in addition to lecithin and sphingomyelin improves prediction of neonatal pulmonary function. In this study, we evaluated a two-dimensional technique for separating and measuring these phospholipids and compared it with a simpler one-dimensional procedure. The two-dimensional technique was adapted to readily available commercial plates, and a preheating step was introduced to avoid shattering of the plates during charring. The Rf values, reproducibility of each technique, and the correlation between them were examined. Even though the one-dimensional technique is faster and less expensive, we recommend the two-dimensional method for clinical use because of better precision (CV for phosphatidylglycerol 15% vs 21%) and clearer results when relatively little phosphatidylglycerol is present. The one-dimensional procedure is unreliable when blood or meconium are present. In addition, interfering compounds co-migrate with phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine in the one-dimensional technique. Before any one-dimensional lipid separation is adopted for clinical use, it should be critically compared to the two-dimensional procedure.     

Micropreparative one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis: improvement with new photopolymerization systems

To improve the efficiency of one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis for micropreparative purposes, the use of gels polymerized with other initiators than the standard N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED)/persulfate systems for sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis has been investigated. We show here that the recently described photoinitiator system, composed of methylene blue, toluene sulfinate and diphenyliodonium chloride, leads to a decreased resolution. Resolution can be restored if methylene blue is replaced by riboflavin. Two-dimensional electrophoresis with mg loadings of proteins has also been evaluated with these systems. Independently of the polymerization system, resolution for the first dimension is low with rod gels, increases with gel strips and is further improved when immobilized pH gradients are used. Here too, only the riboflavin/sulfinate/iodonium system results in a resolution that matches the one obtained with the standard TEMED/persulfate system. Gels polymerized with the riboflavin/sulfinate/iodonium system yield better results upon N-terminal microsequencing after blotting than gels polymerized with the standard TEMED/persulfate system.     

A central fetal monitoring system in the labor room

Report about central obstetrical monitoring system (Biomonitor Kombinat VEB Messger?tewerk Zw?nitz). The following bed-side monitors have been used: BMT-504 (Kombinat V-B Messger?tewerk Zw?nitz), HP 8020 A (Hewlett Packard), FM-3 (Kranzbühler). The FECG and CTG or other fetal, maternal and neonatal functions from six single obstetrical rooms have been registrated in a central work room by means of a 6-channel-recorder (6-NEK-4) and a 6-channel-scope (USG-101). The mother and newborn can be supervised by means of television. This central fetal monitoring system gives the following advantages. There is no disturbance of the patient because the recording and warning events takes place in a central work room. The service of the recorders and scopes is simplified. The room-saving arrangement of bed-side monitors on instrument brackets. Recorders and instrument trolleys have been spared. Preparation of CTG computer analysis. The continuous cardiotocography of all labors (2000/year) by means of the central fetal monitoring has been realized with two midwifes and one physician around the clock. The installation of a fetal central monitoring system is for reconstruction or construction of obstetrical departments to take in consideration.     

Cerebral dominance and asynchrony between bimanual two-dimensional movements.

The asynchrony of bimanual movements was investigated. Right- and left-handers traced simple geometrical patterns (ellipses) continuously with both hands. All combinations of the direction of rotation in each hand were executed at different rhythms. Geometrically, performances were largely independent of manual dominance. However, by comparing the passage times at homologous positions, the authors found that the dominant hand led the nondominant one by about 25 msec. The asynchrony was affected by neither movement type nor rhythm. The variability of the asynchrony varied along the trajectory, with well-defined maxima and minima. The variability profiles for movements that engaged homologous muscles differed markedly from those that engaged nonhomologous muscles. The authors discuss the hypotheses that bimanual periodic movements are timed by a lateralized functional module and that asynchrony is due to the necessity of transmitting time-keeping information to the other hemisphere. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fetomaternal macrotransfusion--a cause for decreased fetal movements. 2 cases

Two cases of fetomaternal macrotransfusion in otherwise normal pregnancies are reported. In both cases the main symptoms observed by the patients were decreasing fetal movements. Cardiotocography revealed a highly pathologic pattern an immediate cesarean section was performed. The cause of massive fetomaternal hemorrhage (390 and 635 ml fetal blood) remains unclear. Delayed treatment leads to severe anemia followed by hypovolemic shock and ultimately to stillbirth. Pregnancies complicated by fetomaternal hemorrhage develop normally until signs of fetal decompensation begin to appear. Decreasing fetal movements in the most common symptom reported by the patients. In addition to a contraction-stress-test, blood from the pregnant women should be looked at for fetal erythrocytes, a test that can be performed very quickly and easily. If the fetus is viable, immediate delivery should be performed and blood transfusions to the newborn should be administered. In preterm pregnancies cordocentesis and intrauterine blood transfusion may be considered.     

The effect of limb movements on the regulation of depth and rate of breathing

The mature annelid cuticle contains orthogonally oriented collagen in a matrix capped superficially by a dense epicuticle with external corpuscles. The underlying epidermis is a simple columnar epithelium with two major cell types, mucous-secreting cells which secrete through channels in the cuticle to the exterior of the worm, and "supportive" cells which presumably produce and increase the cuticle by secreting into it. The structures of supportive cells, previously interpreted as specialized for establishing interfibrillar collagen order, are revealed by glutaraldehyde fixation as common cellular components without the qualities deemed useful to align collagen. Cell processes which penetrate and sometimes pass completely through the cuticle are not stable, not in geometric order, and lack cilia-like structure. Cilia, unlike the ubiquitous cellular processes, are highly restricted to regions of the epidermis with specialized functions. Cellular control, or other control, of collagen fibrillogenesis remains unestablished.