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Biomedical subjects

Y Vial

Publications and source records attributed to Y Vial.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Blood smears and prenatal diagnosis.

Fetal blood sampling is a widely used technique for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. However, despite the fact that examination of blood smears is a critical step in the study of a large variety of disorders, the place of fetal blood smears analysis has been overshadowed by more sophisticated diagnostic tools such as those offered by molecular biology. Nevertheless, as highlighted by four cases presented in this paper, the role of fetal blood smears examination must be re-emphasized. The recognition of abnormal cytological findings limits the number of possible aetiologies, thus elegantly contributing to the diagnosis without multiplying unnecessary test techniques.

Fetal Blood↗
PubMed1995

Differential nitric oxide synthase activity in human platelets during normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.

1. Nitric oxide released from endothelial cells is a potent vasodilator that might play an important role in cardiovascular regulation during pregnancy. Platelets, like endothelial cells, contain a constitutive form of nitric oxide synthase. 2. The present study aimed to measure the activity of this nitric oxide-forming enzyme in normotensive pregnant and non-pregnant women, as well as in women who had developed pre-eclampsia. Nitric oxide synthase activity was measured in the platelets of 21 normotensive pregnant women, 16 non-pregnant women and seven pregnant women who had developed pre-eclampsia. 3. The nitric oxide synthase activity was significantly higher in normotensive pregnant women [36.8 +/- 2.7 pmol h-1 mg-1 of protein (mean +/- SEM), P < 0.001] than in non-pregnant control subjects (16.8 +/- 1.4 pmol h-1 mg-1 of protein) and in women with pre-eclampsia (24.5 +/- 2.1 pmol h-1 mg-1 of protein, P < 0.01). 4. These data suggest that nitric oxide synthesis is increased during normal pregnancy, possibly contributing to the vasodilatation associated with this condition. Nitric oxide generation, however, may be inappropriately low in pregnant women developing pre-eclampsia, thus leading to an enhanced vasoconstriction.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Cardiac rhabdomyomatosis and Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis in the fetus. Apropos of 2 cases].

Two cases of cardiac rhabdomyoma discovered fortuitously at foetal ultrasonography gave rise to no obstructive cardiac signs or arrhythmias either in the antenatal or postnatal periods. These multiple tumours often observed in Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis orientated the clinical investigations to the diagnosis of this disease from the outset. MRI demonstrated cortical tubers and subependymal nodules in both cases. A retinal hamartoma was present in one case. No renal involvement could be detected by ultrasonic examination. No neurological or cardiovascular symptoms appeared during follow-up (20 and 4 months after birth). Investigations in the parents were negative, these two cases being sporadic forms of Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis. The functional prognosis is related to the neurological outcome. Doppler echocardiography would appear to be the best method of following up cardiac rhabdomyomas, and enabled the demonstration of partial regression of the largest tumour in one of these two cases. Cardiac MRI is also an excellent diagnostic tool. As it is usually performed at the same time as cerebral MRI, essential in the follow-up of Bourneville's tuberous sclerosis, it does not represent additional discomfort to the patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Cytomegalovirus fetal infection: prenatal diagnosis.

We report the results of prenatal diagnosis in 15 cases of primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy. Sixteen fetuses (one twin pregnancy) were examined by ultrasonography, amniocentesis, and fetal blood sampling. Prenatal diagnosis was positive in eight cases as evidenced by positive amniotic fluid cultures in eight, positive immunoglobulin M (IgM) in six, and abnormal ultrasound in two. Among infected fetuses, abnormal laboratory findings included anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated liver function tests. Three pregnancies were terminated because of ultrasound abnormality or abnormal laboratory indices. In cases of fetal infection with normal ultrasound and normal laboratory findings, the pregnancies were allowed to proceed, leading to the birth of four infants (three with subclinical infections, one with bilateral hearing loss). The relation between anemia, thrombocytopenia, altered liver function tests, and subsequent handicap remains unknown, but the abnormalities observed in utero correspond to those described at birth in cases of cytomegalic inclusion disease. Amniocentesis alone allowed the diagnosis of infection in all cases, but fetal blood sampling provided additional information about the fetal condition.

Cytomegalovirus Infections↗