[Incidence of macroscopic changes in the placenta in intrauterine growth retardation in neonates]. / Výskyt makroskopických zmien placent u intrauterinne rastovo retardovaných novorodencov.

Advances in noninvasive imaging techniques allow to visualize the placenta and changes of its structure in the course of gestation. Macroscopic examination of the placenta in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation reveals changes responsible for reduced placental functions. These can then be diagnosed in utero, e.g. by ultrasonographic examination. The most serious defects include reduced weight an insertion area of the placenta and infarcts covering more than 6% of the placental area. Extrachorial placentas also have adverse effects. Other macroscopic changes do not appear to be causally associated with intrauterine growth retardation and have been recorded to a comparable extent also in placentas of eutrophic newborns.

[Evaluation of fetal status in risk pregnancy using the biophysical profile]. / Hodnotenie stavu plodu pocas rizikovej gravidity pomocou biofyzikálneho profilu.

Experiences with using the biophysical profile according to Manning et al. in diagnosing the danger to the fetus in at risk pregnancy are presented. Examinations were carried out in 143 pregnant women. In 33 of them the following parameters were evaluated with respect to the values of the biophysical profile: placental maturity, urinary estriol, term and mode of termination of pregnancy, body weight, body length, and Apgar score of newborns. The authors recommend to extend this diagnostic method so that in interpreting the results it yields not only the overall clinical state of the pregnant woman should be considered but also biological rhythms of physiologic functions of the fetus as well the administration of drugs to the woman in pregnancy.

[Phospholipids in the human myometrium in various stages of contraction before and during labor]. / Fosfolipidy humánneho myometria pri rôznych stavoch kontrakcnej cinnosti pred termínom a v termíne pôrodu.

A detailed analysis of the myometrium showed that the physical state of phospholipids--fluidity--depends on the ratio of their individual components and changes in relation to the state of contractile activity. The results indicate that before term of labor changes in the fluidity of myometrial phospholipids as well as increased availability of arachidonic acid for prostaglandin synthesis can induce preterm onset of contractile activity. Possibilities of affecting these mechanisms, which belong to the many potential factors inducing preterm labor, are discussed.

[Lipid composition of the myometrium during labor]. / Lipidické zlozky myometria pocas pôrodnej cinnosti.

Lipids represent one of the basic components of each cellular and subcellular membrane of the myometrium and their fluidity has a strong influence upon membrane function. Human myometrium was obtained at cesarean sections. Lipids were separated by one-dimensional thin layer chromatography. The chromatoplates were determined on the densitometer Shimadzu CS 930. Lipid profile of the myometrium was studied before the 37th week of pregnancy, at term without contractile activity, further during at term labor with normal contractile activity and at failure of myometrial contractility. Analysis of the obtained data showed changes in lipid fluidity, namely a decrease before the 37th week of pregnancy and at failure of myometrial contractions during at term labor. The decrease of fluidity was caused by a higher content of total cholesterol and a lower content of total phospholipids in the myometrium.