Changes in Amniotic Fluid Index after Maternal Oral Hydration in Pregnancies with Fetal Gastroschisis: Initial Observations

Objective: To evaluate the effect of maternal oral hydration on amniotic fluid index (AFI) in pregnancies with fetal gastroschisis. Methods: AFI was evaluated at 24-hour intervals, during 4 consecutive days, under a continuous maternal oral water hydration regimen, in singleton pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis. Results: Nine pregnancies were examined at a mean gestational age of 31.6 weeks (+/-1.4) and mean maternal daily oral water intake was 3,437 (+/-810) ml. Mean AFI on days 0-3 were 13.2 (+/-2.9), 14.8 (+/-3.3), 14.5 (+/-3.1) and 14.8 (+/-2.6), respectively. AFI on day 0 was significantly lower compared to all the other 3 days (p = 0.01 and 0.02). Significant correlation was found in relative difference in AFI between day 0 and day 1 and gestational age (r = -0.67, p = 0.05) and the amount of water intake in the previous 24 h (r = 0.76, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Maternal oral water hydration significantly increases AFI in pregnancies with isolated fetal gastroschisis. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

Observations on the Female Internal Reproductive Organs of the Brown Howler Monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans)

Alouatta guariba clamitans (brown howler monkey) is an endemic primate from the southeastern Brazil tropical forests, classified as near threatened by the IUCN Red List 2007. The genus Aloualta is one of the most difficult New World monkeys to breed and rear in captivity. In this study we examined the macroscopic and histological aspects of the female genital tract of wild brown howler monkeys to provide baseline information for future reproduction research. The anatomical relationship between the vagina, uterus, broad ligament, oviducts and ovaries are those of a typical primate reproductive tract. The fundic portion of the uterus is globoid, the cervix is well developed, which confers to the uterus an elongated shape, and the vagina is a long flattened channel. Histological analysis conducted in females in the follicular phase revealed large quantities of interstitial luteinized tissue in the ovaries, a stratified nonkeratinized vaginal epithelium, lack of glands in the vaginal mucosa and simple tubular endometrial glands. The observed anatomical features should be considered in the adaptation and application of assisted reproductive techniques aimed at improving captive reproduction for species conservation. Am. J. Primatol. 71:145-152, 2009. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

3.0-T MRI evaluation of patients with chronic liver diseases: initial observations

Purpose: To describe the use of 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of chronic liver diseases. Materials and Methods: Two groups of patients who had chronic liver diseases and underwent 3.0-T MRI for evaluation of the liver were included in the study. The first group of patients included 66 consecutive patients (33 male, 33 female; mean age +/- standard deviation, 56 +/- 11). The second group of patients included 30 consecutive patients (18 males, 12 females; mean age +/- standard deviation, 53 +/- 10) in whom Variable-Rate Selective Excitation (VERSE) pulses and improved adjustments procedure were used during the acquisitions. Imaging findings of chronic liver diseases, predetermined artifacts and image quality of all individual sequences in the first group and predetermined artifacts and image quality of T2-weighted sequences in the second group were reviewed retrospectively and independently by two reviewers. chi-Square tests were used to compare the findings between two groups of patients and individual sequences. Kappa statistics were used to determine the extent of agreement between the reviewers. Results: Fifteen dysplastic nodules in 6 of 66 (9%) patients and 12 hepatocellular carcinomas in 11 of 66 (17%) patients were detected. Excluding motion artifacts, three-dimensional (313) T1-weighted gradient-echo (GE) sequence was the least affected sequence by the artifacts. Image quality of T1-weighted 3D-GE sequences was excellent in 43 of 66 (65%) patients. In-phase and out-of-phase T1-weighted spoiled GE (SGE) images were fair in 62 of 66 (94%) and 61 of 66 (92%) patients, respectively. The image quality of short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) sequences were fair in 31 of 66 (47%) and 53 of 66 (80%) patients. STIR and half-Fourier RARE sequences in the second group demonstrated significantly better image quality (P=.03 and P<.0001). Conclusion: 3.0-T MRI allows the acquisition of very high quality postgadolinium 3D-GE sequence, which permitted the detection and characterization of lesions in the setting of chronic liver diseases. The use of VERSE pulses and improved adjustments procedure improved the image quality of T2-weighted sequences. In-phase/out-of-phase SGE sequences are at present of fair quality. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Clinical observations of cattle and buffalos with experimentally induced chronic copper poisoning

The susceptibility of cattle and buffalos to chronic copper poisoning (CCP) was compared by using cattle (n = 10) and buffalo (n = 10) steers distributed into two copper supplemented (n = 6) and two control (n = 4) groups. Supplemented animals received 2 mg copper (Cu)/kg body weight daily for one week, with an additional 2 mg weekly until the end of the experiment (day 105). Three liver biopsies (day 0, 45, and 105) were obtained for mineral analyses; clinical examinations and blood samples were obtained every 15 days. Three supplemented cattle and two buffalos with typical manifestations of CCP died. There were no differences in the frequency of mortality between cattle and buffalos; hepatic copper concentration was higher in cattle than buffalos. These findings suggest that buffalos and cattle might be equally susceptible to CCP. However, buffalos accumulate less liver copper than cattle and have a lower threshold of hepatic Cu accumulation, which leads to clinical manifestation of CCP. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.