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Objective: To assess the value of humerus length shortening for prenatal detection of Down syndrome in a Thai population., Methods: A prospective study was performed on 3053 women undergoing second-trimester amniocentesis, between 16 and 24 weeks gestation, for the indications of advanced maternal age and a past history of chromosomal abnormality. Biparietal diameter (BPD) and humerus length measurements were obtained before the procedures. Regression equations relating BPD to humerus length were used to calculate observed humerus length/expected humerus length ratio in chromosomally normal and Down syndrome fetuses. Sensitivity, specificity, false-positive rate and likelihood ratio of a positive test result at various observed humerus length/expected humerus length ratios for detection of Down syndrome were calculated. A receiver-operator characteristic curve was used to determine the threshold screening ratio., Results: There were 3003 chromosomally normal pregnancies and 24 fetuses with Down syndrome. The relationship between humerus length and BPD was: expected humerus length = 0.7403BPD - 5.1057, R2= 0.77, P < 0.001. Humerus length in Down syndrome fetuses was significantly shorter than in normal fetuses (P < 0.001). A ratio of 0.91 for observed humerus length/expected humerus length yielded a sensitivity of 41.7%, specificity of 88.3%, a false-positive rate of 11.7% and likelihood ratio of a positive test result of 3.63 (95% confidence interval 2.24-5.88) for detection of Down syndrome., Conclusions: Humerus length shortening in the second trimester appears to be a useful adjunctive screening parameter for fetal Down syndrome in a Thai population.

Objective: To establish reference intervals for first trimester embryonic/fetal heart rate in a Thai population., Methods: A prospective descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on normal pregnant women registered at the antenatal clinic in their first trimester. All had a good menstrual history and the calculated gestational age using crown-rump length (CRL) in the first trimester ultrasound was in agreement. Crown-rump length and embryonic/fetal heart rate measurements were obtained by a 5 MHz vaginal probe combined with a duplex color Doppler machine. All of the newborns were proved to be normal at birth. We constructed and compared embryonic/fetal heart rate expressed as beats/min relating to gestational age (GA) (days) and CRL. The data was analyzed and the best fit mathematical model was derived using the SPSS computer program., Results: 547 cases were enrolled into the study. The median embryonic/fetal heart rate increased from 124 beats/min at GA of 40-44 days to 177 beats/min at GA 60-64 days, thereafter, embryonic/fetal heart rate gradually decreased to 159 beats/min at GA 95-99 days. The best fit regression equation was: embryonic/fetal heart rate (beats/min) = -21.666 + 5.4796 GA (day) - 0.0383 GA (day)2, R = 0.5, p < 0.0001). In addition, embryonic/fetal heart rate also correlated with CRL. The median embryonic/fetal heart rate increased from 131 beats/min at CRL of 5-9 mm to 177 beats/min at CRL 20-34 mm, thereafter, embryonic/fetal heart rate gradually decreased to 155 beats/min at CRL 75-79 mm. The best fit regression equation was: embryonic/fetal heart rate (beats/min) = 127.361 + 3.4939 CRL (mm) - 0.0749 CRL (mm)2 + 0.0004 CRL (mm)3, R = 0.58, p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: Reference intervals for first trimester embryonic/fetal heart rate in a Thai population were established. Our reference intervals may be useful for further studies, such as the prediction of spontaneous abortion or chromosomal disorders after ultrasound-proven viability in the first trimester.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a common tropical disease in Thailand that nowadays has an increasing incidence during adulthood. We managed three cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever during pregnancy which developed during the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum periods. We diagnosed dengue hemorrhagic fever during pregnancy with clinical pictures of fever, hemoconcentration and thrombocytopenia with serological proof in all cases. All cases were treated conservatively except for the second one, in which cesarean delivery was inevitable due to severe preeclampsia with unfavorable cervix. All patients and their babies were in good condition before discharge. With increasing incidence during adulthood, more cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in pregnancy can be found. Conservative treatment should be conducted in all cases. We believe that this is the first case report of intrapartum dengue hemorrhagic fever during pregnancy.

With an improvement in cardiac imaging during the past 20 years, fetal echocardiography has progressively altered the practice of obstetricians and become a principle armamentarium for the diagnosis of fetal heart diseases. We presented a case of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum diagnosed prenatally using fetal echocardiography.