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Discusses the 2.0-A resolution crystal structure of the complex between ethyl ester of epoxysuccinyl-ile-pro-OH (CA030) and human cathepsin, a lysosomal cysteine protease. Electron density appearance of CA030; Structure of CA030; Sunstratelike interaction in CA030 sites; Role of residues His 110 and His 111 as receptors of a peptidic substrate C-terminal group.

To examine the relationship between transvaginal ultrasound cervical changes and pregnancy outcome and ultrasound elastography strain measurements of cervical stiffness in women at risk of cervical incompetency and preterm delivery Strain measurements values > 0,90 were associated with cervical incompetency and strain values > 0,98 were associated with preterm delivery. A shortened cervix with decreased thicknes of the anterior wall of lower uterine segment and dilatated endocervical canal together with ultrasound elastography strain measurements of cervical stiffness shows a strong association with cervical incompetency and risk for preterm delivery. [Extracted from the article]

For early amniocentesis we obtained amniotic fluid (3-5ml) by amnio-vacucentesis method using 21-22 G needle, and for TA-CVS using 20 G needle, both with continuous ultrasound guidance. TA-CVS and EA are a safe method of prenatal diagnosis for high-risk couples and does not significantly affect the pregnancy. EA obtained by amnio-vacucentesis method between 12 to 14 weeks is not associated with a greater risk of spontaneous miscarriage, neonatal talipes and fetal anomalies compared to TA-CVS. [Extracted from the article]

This study comprises data from 7055 (45,4%) women allocated to early transabdominal CVS (TA-CVS) and 8500 (54,6%) women allocated to late CVS (placental biopsy). The spontaneous abortion rate was lower among cases allocated to TA-CVS after 11 weeks of gestation. Mosaicisms was found in 87 (1,2%) cases after early CVS and 95 (1,1%) cases after late CVS and there were no significant differences. [Extracted from the article]

The purpose of this article was to evaluate the association between fetal cystic hygroma detected in the first trimester of pregnancy and cytogenetic abnormalities, and the long-term prognosis. We studied the outcome of fetuses in whom cystic hygroma was diagnosed in the first and early second-trimester of pregnancy using transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasonography (3D/4D ultrasonography). 357 consecutive fetuses between 8,0 and 14,0 weeks of gestation diagnosed as having a nuchal hygroma were evaluated ultrasonographically and karyotyped with transabdominal chorionic vilus sampling. [Extracted from the article]

EP04.07: Cell-free DNA testing for common chromosomal aneuploidies: data from a single centre in a routine screening population Non- invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) by analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from maternal blood has shown promise for highly accurate detection of common fetal trisomies. Among 22 (1,9%) high risk results there were 13 Trisomies 21, 2 Trisomies 18, 1 Trisomy 13, 1 45X0, 1 CriDu Chat, 1 Trisomy 5, 1 Trisomy 2 and 1 duplication 9 chr. [Extracted from the article]

An abstract of the article "Early detection (8 + 2 weeks) of sonographic markers that are predictive of fetal Turner syndrome," by P. Podobnik Brleč ić, B. Gebauer Vuković , F. Stipoljev, I. Brlečić, and M. Podobnik is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence: Case report of conservative management and good pregnancy outcome," by P. Podobnik and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Late CVS: Experience with 5800 cases," by M. Podobnik and colleagues, is presented.

Objective: To determine the feasibility of correctly identifying fetal gender from 11 to 13 weeks of gestation. Methods: Fetal gender assessment by ultrasound was prospectively carried out in 425 singleton pregnancies at 11–13 weeks of gestation (confirmed by crown-rump length or biparietal diameter) immediately before chorionic villus sampling for karyo-typing. A total of 425 women underwent a detailed assessment of fetal anatomy at 11–13 weeks of gestation by means of transabdominal and transvaginal sonography. Fetal gender was identified in transverse and sagital planes, and was confirmed by chorionic villus sampling. Results: The accuracy of sex determination increased with gestation from 91.7% at 11 weeks, to 97.2% at 12 weeks and 100% at 13 weeks. Male fetus were wrongly assigned as female in 5.5% of cases in 11 weeks, 2.4% at 12 weeks and 0% at 13 weeks. The accuracy of correctly identifying fetal gender increased with gestational age. Conclusion: Whilst the accuracy of sonographic determination of fetal gender at 11–13 weeks is good, our decision on invasive testing for sex-linked conditions should be undertaken only after 12 weeks of gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to confirm the relationship between the gestational age and quantitative assessment of ultrasonic signs of placental tissue, fetal lungs and liver tissue and to correlate Doppler parameters from main stems of the pulmonary arteries for determining fetal lung maturity in normal pregnancy and pregnancy with pre-eclampsia and diabetes. Methods: The placenta, fetal lungs and fetal liver in 300 normal pregnancies, 100 pre-eclamptic pregnancies and 100 diabetic pregnancy were examined by ultrasound at 30–41 weeks of gestation. The coefficients of variation (the standard deviation divided by the mean value) were used to characterize the tissue in different groups during pregnancy. Doppler velocimetry was performed in the main stems of pulmonary arteries in normal pregnancies and pregnancies with pre-eclampsia and diabetes. Results: The coefficients of variation in mature fetuses were greater than 29% for placentas in vivo, greater than 34% for placentas in vitro, greater than 28% for liver tissue and greater than 30% for lung tissue. Placental, lung and liver tissue of diabetic pregnancy tended to have lower coefficients of variation throughout their pregnancies. We found in mature fetuses mean peak systolic velocity higher than 40 cm/s and PI lower than 3.00. In mature fetuses with pre-eclampsia, we found higher mean peak systolic velocity in compared with normotensive patients. Conclusions: The coefficient of variation values for placentas in vivo and in vitro, and fetal lungs and liver increase during pregnancy in normal and pre-eclamptic patients with increasing gestational age and decrease in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine the relationship between transvaginal ultrasound cervical changes and pregnancy outcome in women at risk of cervical incompetence and preterm delivery. Methods: In 100 pregnancies with clinical and ultrasonic signs of cervical incompetence, the length of the cervix, the thickness of the anterior wall of a lower uterine segment and the width of the endo-cervical canal have been evaluated ultrasonically. These parameters were followed longitudinally from the 10 to 36 week gestation in the healthy pregnancies and pregnancies at risk for cervical incompetence and preterm delivery. Results: In patients from 10 to 14 weeks, the cervix is significantly longer than in the 25–36 week group and the anterior wall of the lower uterine segment in the 10–14 week group is significantly thicker than in the 20–36 week group. In pregnancies at risk for cervical incompetence, cervical lengths and wall thickness, were significantly different from those in comparable controls. Forty-five percent of the patients in the at-risk group, with cervical cerclage, delivered at 37.5 weeks and 8.5% of pregnancies ended in abortion when the amniotic membrane herniated into the cervical canal. The frequency of preterm delivery was 60, 38 and 15% for cervical length of <10, 10–20, and 20–30 mm. Conclusions: A shortened cervix with decreased thickness of the anterior wall of lower uterine segment and dilated endo-cervical canal shows a strong association with cervical incompetence and preterm birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]