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Biomedical subjects

L B Curet

Publications and source records attributed to L B Curet.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Diagnosis of cervical change in pregnancy by means of transvaginal ultrasonography.

There are no absolute objective diagnostic criteria for cervical incompetence. Abdominal and endovaginal ultrasonographic assessment of endocervical length, both of which have been associated with technical problems, have been used to establish the diagnosis. Cervical cerclage may be useful in preventing silent cervical dilatation; however, no prospective trials with and without cerclage have been performed when endocervical shortening has been demonstrated by ultrasonography.

Cervix Uteri

Short-acting beta-adrenergic blockade and the fetus. A case report.

An infant was born to a woman who received intravenous esmolol for intrapartum supraventricular tachyarrhythmia. Despite the very short acting and cardio-selective beta-1 adrenergic blockade induced by that agent, neonatal effects can occur up to 48 hours after delivery.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Does closure of Camper fascia reduce the incidence of post-cesarean superficial wound disruption?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether closure of Camper fascia prevents the development of superficial wound disruption after cesarean delivery. METHODS: During a 1-year period, 438 women undergoing cesarean delivery were randomized into groups with and without approximation of Camper fascia with absorbable suture during closure of the abdominal incision. All women received routine postoperative care following our departmental guidelines. We reviewed charts after the puerperium to identify women with postoperative superficial wound disruption and to obtain demographic and delivery information for analysis. RESULTS: We found a significantly higher incidence of wound disruption in the group without the suture than in those in whom the tissue was approximated (P = .03). Four or more vaginal examinations and higher body mass index were also associated with a higher incidence of wound disruption (P = .05 and P = .04, respectively). Logistic regression correction for covariables that might influence the results of our main analysis revealed no effect of maternal age, parity, indications for cesarean delivery, duration of labor, duration of ruptured membranes, duration of surgery, use of internal monitoring, type of incision, use of antibiotic prophylaxis, surgeon's level of training, or maternal diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension. CONCLUSION: Approximation of Camper fascia with absorbable suture at closure of the abdominal incision during cesarean delivery appears to protect against postoperative superficial wound disruption and is therefore recommended.

Abdomen

Effect of diabetes mellitus on amniotic fluid lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and respiratory distress syndrome.

Ninety-eight insulin-dependent diabetic patients were cared for during 108 pregnancies following an ambulatory program aimed at close control of blood sugar levels. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in these patients was not different from that in nondiabetic patients. Fetal pulmonary maturity seemed to progress at a normal rate as evidenced by an equal incidence of mature lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratios at various stages of gestation in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. There was no evidence that Class B and C diabetic patients have delayed fetal lung maturation or that Class E, F, and R patients have accelerated maturation. It is concluded that careful metabolic control of the pregnant diabetic patient results in a normal process of fetal pulmonary maturation without increased risk of RDS.

Amniotic Fluid

Evaluation of a program of bed rest in the treatment of chronic hypertension in pregnancy.

Sixty-six patients with chronic hypertension were cared for during a total of 72 pregnancies. Patients were treated at home primarily by greater than or equal to 4 hours of bed rest daily in the left recumbent position. Only patients whose diastolic blood pressures remained greater than 110 mmHg were treated with hydralazine (Apresoline, Ciba). With this plan of treatment there were only 3 perinatal deaths for an uncorrected perinatal mortality of 4.1% (1.4% corrected). Twenty-nine percent of the patients had babies that were small for gestational age, 13.8% had positive oxytocin challenge tests, and 36.8% developed superimposed preeclampsia. When compared with the outcome of previous pregnancies, the program of bed rest lowered perinatal mortality from 16.8 to 8.8%. Thus, it is suggested that bed rest together with the avoidance of diuretics and the judicious use of hydralazine results in the most favorable fetal outcome.

Bed Rest

The effect of internal fetal monitoring on cesarean section morbidity.

A retrospective review was made of 179 patients who underwent primary cesarean section after laboring with ruptured membranes. Patients with internal fetal monitoring (IFM) were more likely to have endometritis. Of the patients who had ruptured membranes for more than 12 hours, those with IFM were more likely to have febrile morbidity than those without IFM.

Adult

Smooth muscle within ovarian decidual nodules: a link to leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata?

Evidence is presented for the coexistence of smooth muscle and decidual cells in nodules on and within the ovarian tunica albuginea at term. Routine histologic techniques and electron microscopy have been employed in characterizing the morphology of the nodules. Recent literature concerning the frequency of ovarian decidualization during pregnancy is discussed with respect to the possible relationship of such decidualization to the histogenesis of leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD). The hypothesis that LPD may represent "disseminated fibrosing decidua" is discussed in light of finding collagen fibrils, secretory decidual cells, and smooth muscle cells in these nodules. It is concluded that the present case does not represent "fibrosing decidua." The authors agree with others who have proposed that the smooth muscle in ovarian decidua and LPD result from proliferation of stem cells which may reside in the subperitoneal stroma in association with ectopic endometrial stroma and which may respond to the hormones of pregnancy.

Decidua

Screening for fetal and neonatal risk in the postdate pregnancy.

One hundred four postdate pregnancies were managed according to a well-defined protocol calling for weekly oxytocin challenge tests and urinary estriols three times per week. Although the perinatal mortality rate in these patients was not increased there was a significant increase in the incidence of neonatal morbidity and complications. The clinical syndrome of dysmaturity was seen in 20 per cent of the neonates. When meconium was present in the amniotic fluid the incidence of neonatal and fetal complications was higher. The cesarean section rate was twice the normal rate, with nonprogression of labor being the commonest indication. It is recommended that: (1) pregnancies carried beyond 42 weeks do not require termination simply because they are post dates; (2) all postdate patients should be monitored during labor; (3) trained personnel to initiate neonatal resuscitation should be present at each postdate delivery.

Amniocentesis

Decidual cells in the human ovary at term. I. Incidence, gross anatomy and ultrastructural features of merocrine secretion.

Decidual tissue occurring within the human ovarian cortex was examined by light and electron microscopy. Of 21 ovarian specimens obtained at term (36-42 weeks of gestation), decidual cells were confirmed in each. Decidual cells were found within the tunica albuginea as single cells, in nodules, in polyps or in confluent sheets. Decidual cells exhibited several characteristics of cells engaged in secretory activity: abundant rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, numerous profiles of the Golgi complex and a large, euchromatic nucleus devoid of heterochromatin and displaying a prominent fibrous lamina. Peduncular protrusions at the periphery of the cell contained numerous dense bodies 0.4-0.9 micron in diameter. These dense bodies were bounded by a single membrane and contained granular subunits 30-60 nm in diameter. These granular subunits were observed in the process of apparent exocytosis, as well as free in the extracellular space. Secretory bodies and their granular content also were observed both in the region of the Golgi complex and partially extruded into peduncular processes. By far the greatest number of secretory bodies occurred within peduncular processes where they may be stored prior to release. Migration of a secretory body into a peduncular process and exocytosis from such a process appears to be an unusual mode of meocrine secretion, perhaps unique to decidual cells.

Decidua

Fetal activity determinations and oxytoxin challenge tests for assessment of fetal well-being.

Fetal activity determinations followed by oxytocin challenge tests were performed in 101 patients. When fetal heart accelerations occurred following fetal movement, the oxytocin stress test was negative in 99.5% of the cases. An abnormal fetal activity determination was followed by a positive oxytocin challenge test in 12% of the cases. It is suggested that a normal fetal activity determination is indicative of good fetal reserve and therefore reduces the need for oxytocin challenge test. An abnormal fetal activity determination, however, is unreliable and requires that an oxytocin challenge test be performed.

Female