Detection rate of the cervical gland area during pregnancy by transvaginal sonography in the assessment of cervical maturation.

OBJECTIVES: To detect the cervical gland area during normal pregnancy, and to determine its detection rate and relationship with cervical maturation. DESIGN: This was a mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional sonographic study involving a total of 514 transvaginal scans performed for detection of cervical gland area and measurement of cervical length in 260 normal singleton pregnancies at 16-41 weeks of gestation. The conventional cervical maturation index was measured simultaneously by digital examination. RESULTS: The detection rate of cervical gland area remained practically constant until the 31st week of pregnancy, but significantly decreased thereafter. Highly significant correlations were noted between the detection rate of cervical gland area and cervical length, cervical gland area and cervical maturation index, and cervical length and cervical maturation index. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed for the first time that cervical gland area can be detected sonographically and that its absence might be a predictor of preterm labor.

Intrahepatic lymphocyte analyses and assessment of the effects of levamisole in murine hepatic metastasis model.

We used hepatic metastasis models to determine the mechanism and effect of levamisole. BALB/c mice and Colon 26 cells were used. Group I was injected with tumor cells through the portal vein. Group II was primed with tumor cells before tumor cells injecting. Group III was same as Group II, but treated with levamisole. Surface antigens of intrahepatic lymphocytes and spleen cells were determined by FACScan with Anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD45, anti-NK1.1 and anti-F4/80. Nodules on the liver were greatest in Group I and fewest in Group III. Concerning intrahepatic lymphocytes, Group II, when compared with Group I, had increases of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and decreases of CD45+ and NK1.1+ cells. Group III when compared with Group II, showed increased CD8+ cells and decreased of NK1.1+ cells. Levamisole is considered to be effective in the prevention of liver metastasis and is suggeste to enhanced CD8+ cells.