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We present a case of a pregnant woman with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency and deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity managed by perinatal unfractionated heparin injection with antithrombin III replacement as well as by intrapartum placement of a temporary inferior vena cava filter. A massive thrombus of the right common iliac vein occurred during the intrapartum period despite antithrombin III replacement. An inserted filter could prevent fatal pulmonary embolism in this patient. Hereditary antithrombin III deficiency increases risk of thrombosis during pregnancy. However, discussion on intrapartum management, when anticoagulants are contraindicated due to possible hemorrhage, is minimal. Our experience suggests that thrombosis can occur and develop during the intrapartum period in an antithrombin III deficient woman despite antithrombin III replacement. It may be advisable to manage deliveries with temporary inferior vena cava filters to prevent fatal pulmonary embolism.

Although fetal hydrothorax is uncommon, perinatal mortality from it is high. The clinical course of fetal hydrothorax is highly variable. Despite some cases of spontaneous resolution, fetal hydrothorax progresses to nonimmune hydrops because of impaired venous return and congestive cardiac failure due to compression in many cases. Although the effect of thoracoamniotic shunting is established, the procedure is invasive and involves some risks.Two cases of fetal hydrothorax completely resolved after a single thoracentesis. In the first case, thoracentesis was performed in a fetus with bilateral isolated pleural effusion at the gestational age of 20 weeks. Fetal hydrothorax achieved complete resolution after a single thoracentesis was performed, and the perinatal outcome was good. In the second case, we performed thoracentesis in a fetus with a unilateral pleural effusion and skin edema at the gestational age of 17 weeks. Complete resolution was achieved after a single thoracentesis, and the outcome was uneventful.Thoracentesis is a comparatively simple procedure for mothers and fetuses and should be the first choice for treating fetal hydrothorax.

however, a hiatal hernia is usually diagnosedafter symptoms present during infancy or childhood. To our knowledge, prenatalsonographic detection of a hiatal hernia in a fetus with asplenia syndrome has notbeen reported previously. Here we present our experience and describe the prenataldiagnosis of a congenital hiatal hernia in a fetus with asplenia syndrome.

Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (NCVM) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy with a poor prognosis, and it is characterized by prominent trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses. This disease is speculated to occur because of arrest of the normal myocardial development process during early embryogenesis. In symptomatic infants, cardiac transplantation may be the only current curative option. Although NCVM is a congenital disorder, there are only a few previous reports on its status during fetal life. Here we report a case of nonimmune hydrops fetalis caused by this rare disease; in this case, digoxin administration to the mother could improve the fetal hemodynamics, and evaluation of the circulatory state of the fetus by using the preload index of the inferior vena cava (PLI) was proven to be sensitive and useful.

Aims To review the course of monochorionic (MC) twin gestations in which one or both fetuses were diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to identify clinical characteristics regarding the related intrauterine environmental factors particularly associated with non-twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Methods This study is a review of a two-center experience of MC twin pregnancies with CHD born between 2000 and 2006. Results There were 87 MC twin pregnancies of which 11 were associated with fetal heart disease. We found concordance of CHD in 2 of the 11 twin sets. Among all of the discordant cases, the size of the affected twin was smaller. TTTS was observed in one case associated with CHD; in this case the donor twin had a coarctation of the aorta. Abnormal cord insertion was observed in 9 (69%) out of the 13 affected infants, and a significant relation was found between the presence of CHD and abnormal cord insertion. Conclusions Of the MC twins, the smaller seemed more likely to be affected by primary structural cardiac anomalies. CHD in MC twins is possibly related to an abnormal cord insertion. Further studies are warranted to determine whether a causal relationship exists.

Objective. The purpose of this report is to describe the in utero sonographic appearance of megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) and examine the role of vesicocentesis. Methods. Two cases of the sonographic appearance of MMIHS were reviewed. We performed vesicocentesis in 2 fetuses with MMIHS and performed vesicoamniotic shunting in 1 of them. The sonographic findings after these procedures were compared with those before puncture. Results. In both cases, ultrasound examination showed a massively enlarged fetal bladder and bilateral hydroureteronephrosis with a normal amount of amniotic fluid. Fetal urinary sodium and chloride concentrations were within normal limits in both cases; this suggested normal fetal renal function. Generally, it is difficult to detect the dilated fetal bowel in MMIHS, probably because of the disturbance caused by a large bladder. In our cases, however, the ultrasound examination clearly showed fetal bowel dilatation after these procedures; this made the antenatal diagnosis of MMIHS more definite. Conclusions. The sonographic features after vesicocentesis may be helpful in confirming the antenatal diagnosis of MMIHS. Key words: fetal urinalysis; megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome; sonographic appearance; vesicocentesis.

Recently, magnetic composites consisting of magnetic particles dispersed in a polymer matrix have been widely discussed for miniaturizing high-frequency electronic components such as antennae. Previously, we investigated the influence of the manufacturing process on the homogeneous dispersion of magnetic particles in the polymer and on the magnetic properties of the magnetic composites. In order to miniaturize electronic components, it is crucial to be able to independently control the permeability and permittivity in magnetic composites. This paper investigates the anisotropy and frequency dependence of the dielectric properties of magnetic composites fabricated from 20 vol% Zn(5)Ni(75)Fe(20) flaked particles. The permittivity of magnetic composites fabricated from Zn(5)Ni(75)Fe(20) flaked particles is anisotropic: at 1 GHz, the relative permittivities parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the specimens are 27.2 and 16.9, respectively. The permittivity varied little between frequencies of 50 MHz and 10 GHz.