The changes in Doppler indices of fetal ductus venosus and umbilical artery after amnioinfusion for women with preterm premature rupture of membranes before 26 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in Doppler indices of the fetal ductus venosus (DV) and umbilical artery (UMA) after amnioinfusion in pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM). Pregnancies with pPROM and severe oligohydramnios cause sequelae in newborns and mothers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a group of 25 patients with pPROM before 26 weeks' gestation. Color Doppler imaging was used to measure the impedance index and quantitative blood flow in the DV and systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D) of the UMA before and 30 minutes after the end of amnioinfusion. The following velocity parameters were measured: (1) DV peak systolic velocity; (2) DV time-averaged velocity; (3) DV maximum forward velocity during atrial contraction; (4) DV S/D; (5) DV pulsatility index (PI); (6) DV Pourcelots resistance index (RI); (7) fetal heart rate; and (8) UMA S/D. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the 25 patients underwent a total of 27 amnioinfusions. The mean PI and RI of the DV, and S/D of the DV and UMA decreased significantly after amnioinfusion (PI, 0.75 +/- 0.24 vs. 0.60 +/- 0.18, p = 0.009; RI, 0.60 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.13; DV S/D, 3.07 +/- 1.81 vs. 2.13 +/- 0.66, p = 0.008; UMA S/D, 3.58 +/- 0.87 vs. 2.88 +/- 0.62, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Amnioinfusion increases the space for the fetuses and reduces the impedance of the fetoplacental circulation. Improvements in DV and UMA flow may benefit fetuses suffering severe oligohydramnios in mid-pregnancy.

The influences of weather on patients with different ovarian responses in the treatment of assisted reproductive technology.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of tropical weather on patients with different ovarian responses in the treatment of assisted reproductive technology. METHODS: Six-hundred fourty-seven women underwent their first treatment cycles were retrospectively analyzed. Patients received embryo transfer either 3 days or 5 days after oocyte retrieval, depending on the number and quality of embryos on day-2. RESULTS: Significant correlations were demonstrated in the top quality embryo rates of day-3 and day-5 embryo transfers with temperature, humidity, and atmosphere pressure. The cumulative light hours negatively correlated with the implantation and pregnancy rates of day-3 embryo transfer (-.282 and -.282, respectively), while they positively correlated with those of day-5 embryo transfer (.225 and .224, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly suggest that weather may exert influences on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology. Patients with different ovarian responses or blastocyst culture and transfer may modify weather influences.