Professionally responsible counseling when a fetal anomaly is diagnosed by ultrasound

© The Author(s). 2020. Ethics plays an essential role in the clinical management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies diagnosed by ultrasound. Utilizing the prima facie ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy, this paper first explicates the ethical concept of the fetus as a patient. This ethical concept provides the basis for a comprehensive approach to counseling pregnant women about the management of pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies. Practical, ethically justified guidance is given for counseling about decisions both before and after viabilities

CROATIAN PERINATOLOGY Past, today and future

SAŽETAK. Prikazana je prošlost, sadašnje stanje i gledanje na budućnost hrvatske perinatologije. Pod prošlošću su spomenuti zabilježeni podatci o primaljstvu, zatim od početka 20. stoljeća specijalizacija iz ginekologije i opstetricije. Suvremena perinatologija, kao zbir znanstvene i stručne djelatnosti materno-fetalne medicine i neonatologije, potpomognutih drugim strukama medicine, započinje šezdesetih godina 20. stoljeća, formalno 1968. prvim Njemačkim kongresom, te 1969. godine u Berlinu prvim Europskim kongresom perinatalne medicine, od kada su začetci Europske udruge perinatalne medicine. U Hrvatskoj je Sekcija za perinatalnu medicinu Hrvatskoga liječničkog zbora utemeljena 1972. godine (od 1992. godine Društvo). Znanstvena i stručna djelatnost započeta je i poticana u Centru (kasnije Zavodu) za perinatalnu medicinu Klinike za ženske bolesti i porode KBC-a u Zagrebu, što je ubrzo prošireno na ostale klinike u zemlji te veća rodilišta. Perinatološka djelatnost se očitovala u brojnim domaćim (Perinatalni dani, Savjetovanja o perinatalnom mortalitetu) i međunarodnim u nas organiziranim skupovima (Alpe-Adria meetings, Organization Gestosis meetings, Ian Donald Inter-University School of Medical Ultrasound, Erich Saling School of Perinatal Medicine, European School of Perinatal Medicine & Recent Advances in Perinatal Medicine). Spomenuti su postdiplomski studiji: Perinatologija i neonatologija, Ultrazvuk u kliničkoj medicini, Zaštita majke i djeteta; tečajevi usavršavanja: iz ginekologije i perinatologije, iz neonatologije, iz ultrazvučne dijagnostike. Prikazan je osnutak i razvojni put časopisa »Gynaecologia et Perinatologia«. Glede budućnosti date su neposredno potrebne mjere te sugerirane mogućnosti razvojne biologije u dijagnostici i liječenju patoloških stanja trudnoće, koje bi mogle biti prevencija kasnijih bolesti u čovjeka

The combined effect of branch position, temperature, and VPD on gas exchange and water-use efficiency of Norway spruce

The impact of climate change on the physiological processes of Norway spruce in Central Europe is a significant concern. The increased temperature and evaporative demand associated with climate change may negatively affect its photosynthesis and carbon-water balance. This study tests the combined effect of branch position, temperature (T) and water vapour pressure deficit (VPD) on net photosynthetic rate (P$_N$), water vapour stomatal conductance (g$_s$), and intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE$_i$) of Norway spruce. More than 11 000 gas-exchange measurements during the summer of 2018 revealed that branch position significantly affects gas exchange and WUE$_i$ of juvenile Norway spruce trees. Northern branches showed on average 21% increased P$_N$, 35% higher g$_s$, and 8% lower WUE$_i$ compared to the southern branches (across T and VPD conditions). The P$_N$ and g$_s$ differences between the branches were temperature- and VPD-dependent. We observed the negative impact of raising temperature on gas exchange and WUE$_i$ for both treatments, with a 40°C threshold causing a rapid decline in WUE$_i$. Variability of the southern branches\u27 WUE$_i$ at 42°C was abruptly increased due to the decoupling of P$_N$ and g$_s$ (low P$_N$, high g$_s$). Surprisingly, raising VPD showed no significant impact on WUE$_i$ of Norway spruce. The results of this study provide necessary information for upscaling and process-based modelling of whole-crown gas exchange. Moreover, experimental studies of gas exchange should take into consideration the branch position effect to prevent possible bias errors

Measurement of reflection coefficients of organic and non-organic media and materials in UV spectrum

Measurements of the diffuse reflection coefficients of organic and inorganic materials and media in solid, granular and liquid forms were made in the UV field of 230–400 nm. A single channel spectrometer with an integrating sphere was used. Relation between diffuse reflection coefficients and the structure and composition of the samples is discussed. These data allow us to estimate the prospect of machine vision systems application for the UV range in such areas as biology, geology, remote control of materials and media

Ultrasound investigation of the fetal cerebral ventricles

Peer Reviewe

Nomograms of Iranian fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler waveforms and uniformity of their pattern with other populations' nomograms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis of fetal vessels is one of the main methods for evaluating fetus health before labor. Doppler waves of middle cerebral artery (MCA) can predict most of the at risk fetuses in high risk pregnancies. In this study, we tried to obtain normal values and their nomograms during pregnancy for Doppler flow velocity indices of MCA in 20 – 40 weeks of normal pregnancies in Iranian population and compare their pattern with other countries' nomograms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During present descriptive cross-sectional study, 1037 normal pregnant women with 20^th–40^thweek gestational age were underwent MCA Doppler study. All cases were studied by gray scale ultrasonography initially and Doppler of MCA afterward. Resistive Index (RI), Pulsative Index (PI), Systolic/Diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), and Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) values of MCA were determined for all of the subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results of present study showed that RI, PI, S/D ratio values of MCA decreased with parabolic pattern and PSV value increased with simple pattern, as gestational age progressed. These changes were statistically significant (P = 0.000 for all of indices) and more characteristic during late weeks of pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Values of RI, PI and S/D ratio indices reduced toward the end of pregnancy, but PSV increased. Despite the trivial difference, nomograms of various Doppler indices in present study have similar pattern with other studies.</p