Role of acoustic radiation force impulse elastography of placenta in the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Placental dysfunction is one of the main causes of preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective comparative study done on 30 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and another 30 pregnant women as controls. In all these subjects the elasticity of the placenta was measured. RESULTS: The results obtained showed that there was a significant difference in SWV values between the two groups (p value = 0.001). The mean SWV value of normal pregnant women was 0.99 m/ second as opposed to 1.99 m/second in pre-eclamptic pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Sonoelastography is a promising noninvasive tool in the detection of preeclampsia with high diagnostic accuracy. The SWV values measured at the central zones of the placenta with a cut-off value of 1.325 m/s identify the presence of pre-eclampsia with high sensitivity and specificity.

Enhancing shelf life of minimally processed multiplier onion using silicone membrane.

The aim of storage of minimal processed product is to increase the shelf life and thereby extend the period of availability of minimally processed produce. The silicone membrane makes use of the ability of polymer to permit selective passage of gases at different rates according to their physical and chemical properties. Here, the product stored maintains its own atmosphere by the combined effects of respiration process of the commodity and the diffusion rate through the membrane. A study was undertaken to enhance the shelf life of minimally processed multiplier onion with silicone membrane. The respiration activity was recorded at a temperature of 30 ± 2 °C (RH = 60 %) and 5 ± 1 °C (RH = 90 %). The respiration was found to be 23.4, 15.6, 10 mg CO2kg(-1)h(-1) at 5 ± 1 °C and 140, 110, 60 mg CO2kg(-1) h(-1) at 30 ± 2° for the peeled, sliced and diced multiplier onion, respectively. The respiration rate for the fresh multiplier onion was recorded to be 5, 10 mg CO2kg(-1) h(-1) at 5 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 ° C, respectively. Based on the shelf life studies and on the sensory evaluation, it was found that only the peeled multiplier onion could be stored. The sliced and diced multiplier onion did not have the required shelf life. The shelf life of the multiplier onion in the peel form could be increased from 4-5 days to 14 days by using the combined effect of silicone membrane (6 cm(2)/kg) and low temperature (5 ± 1 °C).

A dose response study of inhaled nitric oxide in hypoxic respiratory failure in preterm infants.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used widely in newborn infants with hypoxic respiratory failure, despite the known and theoretical toxicity of iNO, and a relative lack of information about appropriate doses. AIM: To determine whether a dose-response relationship existed for iNO in preterm infants. DESIGN: A four-period, four-dose, cross-over design was used with iNO given for 15 min in a randomised sequence in concentrations of 5, 10, 20 and 40 parts per million (ppm), with a minimum 5 min wash-out period. Data on ventilatory, blood gas and other physiological measurements were recorded before and at the end of each period. The relationship of clinical response with iNO dose and period was analysed using multivariate regression. SUBJECTS: Infants with gestational age < 34 weeks and < 28 days postnatal age with hypoxic respiratory failure were recruited. OUTCOME MEASURE: A clinically significant dose-response was defined as a rise in the post-ductal arterial oxygen tension (PaO(2)) of at least 3 kPa. RESULTS: Thirteen infants were recruited. At trial entry, ten were < 3 days of age; 11 were being treated with high frequency oscillatory ventilation; median (inter-quartile range) gestational age 27 (25-29) weeks; birthweight 983 (765-1120) g; oxygenation index 27.1 (21.8-28.8). Six infants (46%) showed a clinically significant response. After adjusting for period and patient effect, no evidence for an overall dose effect was identified (likelihood ratio test, p=0.34). CONCLUSION: No evidence of a dose-response relationship with iNO was found in this study of very preterm infants with respiratory failure.

Factors affecting the incidence of chronic lung disease of prematurity in 1987, 1992, and 1997.

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in the incidence of chronic lung disease of prematurity between 1987, 1992, and 1997. METHODS: Observational study based on data derived from a geographically defined population: Trent Health Region, United Kingdom. Three time periods were compared: 1 February 1987 to 31 January 1988 (referred to as 1987); 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 (referred to as 1992); 1997. All infants of < or = 32 completed weeks gestation born to Trent resident mothers within the study periods and admitted to a neonatal unit were included. Rates of chronic lung disease were determined using two definitions: (a) infants who remained dependent on active respiratory support or increased oxygen at 28 days of age; (b) infants who remained dependent on active respiratory support or increased oxygen at a corrected age of 36 weeks gestation. RESULTS: Between 1987 and 1992 there was a fall in the birth rate, but a significant increase was noted in the number of babies of < or = 32 weeks gestation admitted to a neonatal unit. There was no significant change in survival when the two groups of infants were directly compared. However, mean gestation and birth weight fell. Adjusting for this change showed a significant improvement in survival (28 day survival: odds ratio (OR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.23 to 2.33. Survival to 36 week corrected gestation: OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.98). These changes were accompanied by a large increase in the incidence of chronic lung disease even after allowing for the change in population characteristics (28 day definition: OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.47 to 3.30. 36 week definition: OR = 3.04; 95% CI = 1.91 to 4.83). Between 1992 and 1997 a different pattern emerged. There was a further increase in the number of babies admitted for neonatal care at