PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Bang

Publications and source records attributed to J Bang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Naturally conceived twins with monochorionic placentation have the highest risk of fetal loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the rate of fetal loss in dichorionic (DC) and monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies stratified according to zygosity and method of conception. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter observational study women with a twin pregnancy had an ultrasound scan before 14 + 6 weeks' gestation in order to determine chorionicity. The fetal loss rate, the perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality rates and the frequency of very preterm labor were estimated for the different types of twin. RESULTS: Among the 495 pregnancies (421 DC and 74 MC) 229 (46%) were conceived naturally and 266 (54%) by assisted reproduction (AR). Outcome data for 945 liveborn babies were obtained. The spontaneous miscarriage rate before 24 weeks' gestation was 10.9% (7/64) among naturally conceived MC compared to 3.0% (5/165) for naturally conceived DC twins (P < 0.05). For twins conceived by AR the corresponding figures were 0% (0/10) and 0.4% (1/256). The odds ratio (OR) for very preterm birth-before 28 weeks' gestation-was 4.2 for MC twins compared to DC twins. The relative risk of fetal loss or death among DC twins was 20% of the risk for MC twins. CONCLUSION: The risk of fetal loss, very preterm delivery and neonatal/infant death is significantly higher among twins with MC compared to DC placentation. Twins conceived by AR have a much lower risk of MC placentation. The risk of losing one or both twins seems higher among naturally conceived twins compared to twins conceived by AR, despite the fact that the maternal age was higher among the mothers of the AR twins.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ability of navigated 3D ultrasound to delineate gliomas and metastases--comparison of image interpretations with histopathology.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to test the ability of a 3D ultrasound (US) based intraoperative imaging and navigation system to delineate gliomas and metastases in a clinical setting. The 3D US data is displayed as reformatted 2D image slices. The quality of the displayed 3D data is affected both by the resolution of the acquired data and the reformatting process. In order to investigate whether or not 3D US could be used for reliable guidance in tumour surgery, a study was initiated to compare interpretations of imaged biopsy sites with histopathology. The system also enabled concomitant comparison of navigated preoperative MR with histopathology. METHOD: Eighty-five biopsies were sampled between 2-7 mm from the tumour border visible in the ultrasound images. Biopsies were collected from 28 operations (7 low-grade astrocytomas, 8 anaplastic astrocytomas, 7 glioblastomas and 6 metastases). Corresponding cross-sections of preoperative MR T1, MR T2 and intraoperative US were concomitantly displayed, steered by the biopsy forceps equipped with a positioning sensor. The surgeons' interpretation of the images at the electronically indicated biopsy sites were compared with the histopathology of the samples. FINDINGS: The ultrasound findings were in agreement with histopathology in 74% (n = 31) for low-grade astrocytomas, 83% (n = 18) for anaplastic astrocytomas, 77% (n = 26) for glioblastomas and 100% (n = 10) for metastases. Excluding irradiated patients, the results for glioblastomas improved to 80% concurrence (n = 20). As expected tumour cells were found in biopsies outside the US visible tumour border, especially in low-grade gliomas. Navigated 3D US have a significantly better agreement with histopathology than navigated MR T1 for low-grade astrocytomas. CONCLUSION: Reformatted images from 3D US volumes give a good delineation of metastases and the solid part of gliomas before starting the resection. Navigated 3D US is at least as reliable as navigated 3D MR to delineate gliomas and metastases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Improved first-trimester Down syndrome screening performance by lowering the false-positive rate: a prospective study of 9941 low-risk women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the performance of screening for Down syndrome (DS) and other major chromosomal abnormalities using nuchal translucency (NT), free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in a prospective study of a non-selected population. METHODS: Of 9941 women with an early ultrasound examination, NT was measured in 8622 singleton pregnancies with a gestational age between 10 + 3 and 13 + 6 weeks. beta-hCG and PAPP-A were analyzed in 6441 cases. Detection rates (DR) and false-positive rates (FPR) for the NT screening, the double test (beta-hCG and PAPP-A) and the combined test (NT and the double test) were calculated using a 1 : 250 cut-off. RESULTS: NT could be measured in 97.5% of cases. The DR for DS with NT screening alone was 75% with a FPR of only 1.8%. The double test detected 73% and the combined test 91%, for FPRs of 8.8% and 2.1%, respectively. We detected 80% of fetuses with other major chromosomal abnormalities with a combination of NT screening and other ultrasound findings. Low beta-hCG and PAPP-A values (below 0.4 MoM) were observed in 0.5% of the women including all cases of triploidy and trisomy 18 and 13. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of a screening strategy for DS using a combination of NT and the double test was superior to that using either NT or the double test alone due to a very low FPR and a higher DR.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

How to identify twins at low risk of spontaneous preterm delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate transvaginal sonographic assessment of cervical length at 23 weeks as a screening test for spontaneous preterm delivery in order to define a cut-off value that could be used to select twin pregnancies at low risk of spontaneous preterm delivery. METHODS: In a prospective multicenter study of 383 twin pregnancies included before 14 + 6 weeks a cervical scan with measurement of the cervical length was performed at 23 weeks' gestation. The results were blinded for the clinicians if the cervical length was > or = 15 mm. The rates of spontaneous delivery at different cut-off levels of cervical length were determined. RESULTS: Eighty-nine percent of the twins had dichorionic placentation and 58% were conceived after assisted reproduction. The rate of spontaneous preterm delivery was 2.3% (1.5% for dichorionic (DC) and 9.1% for (MC) monochorionic twins) before 28 weeks and 18.5% (17.1% for DC and 29.5% for MC twins) before 35 weeks. The screen-positive rate was 5% for a cervical length < or = 20, 7-8% at < or = 25, 16-17% at < or = 30 and 34-48% at < or = 35 mm depending on chorionicity. The false-negative rate (1 - negative predictive value) ranged from 1.2% at 28 weeks to 18.6% at 35 weeks for all twins. Receiver-operating characteristics curves showed that the sensitivity increased with declining gestational age with cut-off levels of highest accuracy at 21 mm for 28 weeks and 29 mm for 33 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical length measurement at 23 weeks of gestation is a good screening test for predicting twins at low risk of preterm and very preterm delivery, especially in DC twins. The present results suggest that a cut-off of 25 mm should be recommended.

Cervical Ripening↗
PubMed2004

Late first-trimester invasive prenatal diagnosis: results of an international randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess, in a randomized trial, the safety and accuracy of amniocentesis and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (CVS) performed at 11-14 weeks of gestation, given that this time frame is increasingly relevant to early trisomy screening. METHODS: We compared amniocentesis with CVS from 77 to 104 days of gestation in a randomized trial in a predominantly advanced maternal age population. Before randomization, the feasibility of both procedures was confirmed by ultrasonography, and experienced operators performed sampling under ultrasound guidance; conventional cytogenetic analysis was employed. The primary outcome measure was a composite of fetal loss plus preterm delivery before 28 weeks of gestation in cytogenetically normal pregnancies. RESULTS: We randomized 3,775 women into 2 groups (1,914 to CVS; 1,861 to amniocentesis), which were comparable at baseline. More than 99.6% had the assigned procedure, and 99.9% were followed through delivery. In contrast to previous thinking, in the cytogenetically normal cohort (n = 3,698), no difference in primary study outcome was observed: 2.1% (95% confidence interval 1.5, 2.8) for CVS and 2.3% (95% confidence interval, 1.7, 3.1) for amniocentesis. However, spontaneous losses before 20 weeks and procedure-related, indicated terminations combined were increased in the amniocentesis group (P =.07, relative risk 1.74). We found a 4-fold increase in the rate of talipes equinovarus after amniocentesis (P =.02) overall and in week 13 (P =.03, relative risk = 4.65), but data were insufficient to determine this risk in week 14. CONCLUSION: Amniocentesis at 13 weeks carries a significantly increased risk of talipes equinovarus compared with CVS and also suggests an increase in early, unintended pregnancy loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2003

Treatment of severe fetal chylothorax associated with pronounced hydrops with intrapleural injection of OK-432.

We describe a case of a 25-week fetus with severe bilateral pleural effusion, marked ascites, skin edema, an anterior thick (hydropic) placenta and polyhydramnios in which the most probable diagnosis was congenital chylothorax. Treatment with a pleuroamniotic shunt was planned, however the location of the fetus just below the anterior placenta made the placement of the shunt too dangerous. We therefore decided to use intrapleural injection of OK-432. From week 29, the lungs looked normal, the pleural effusion had resolved and the thoracic circumference was within normal limits. The severe ascites persisted throughout the pregnancy and a total volume of 3680 mL was removed on several occasions. A Cesarean section was performed at 38 weeks and a normal male was delivered. Continuous positive airway pressure was needed on the first 4 days but after a week the situation was stable. On day 8, an X-ray showed normally developed lungs. OK-432 appears to have prevented pulmonary hypoplasia in our patient.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

zeta-, epsilon-, and gamma-Globin mRNA in blood samples and CD71(+) cell fractions from fetuses and from pregnant and nonpregnant women, with special attention to identification of fetal erythroblasts.

BACKGROUND: Information about the appearance of gamma-, epsilon-, and zeta-globin mRNAs in fetal erythroblasts during gestation and about the presence and amounts of these mRNAs in pregnant and nonpregnant women is important from the perspective of using these molecules as a marker of fetal erythroblasts. A specific marker is necessary for isolation and identification of fetal nucleated red blood cells from maternal blood samples for use in antenatal diagnosis of fetal genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. METHODS: We used a very sensitive reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) method, coamplification analysis of gamma- and epsilon-globin cDNA, and quantitative analysis of gamma-globin mRNA based on competitive RT-PCR to investigate these aspects. RESULTS: All adult whole-blood samples were negative for epsilon- and zeta-globin mRNA. Analyses of CD71(+) cell fractions showed that specimens from 19 of 20 nonpregnant and 10 of 14 pregnant women (at 9-13 weeks of gestation) were positive for gamma-globin mRNA (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.13), and those from 3 of 20 nonpregnant and 5 of 14 pregnant women were positive for zeta-globin mRNA (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.23). No epsilon-globin mRNA was detected in CD71(+) cell fractions from 1-mL blood samples from adults. CD71(+) cell fractions from eight fetal blood samples (at 17-20 weeks of gestation) were positive for all three globin mRNAs. We found no statistically significant difference between the amounts of gamma-globin mRNA in pregnant and nonpregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that epsilon-globin mRNA might function as a marker for fetal CD71(+) cells early in pregnancy. Although gamma-globin mRNA can be detected in CD71(+) cell fractions from most adults, these transcripts also may be of use because of a marked difference between adult and fetal values.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Sex differences in response to red and blue light in human primary visual cortex: a bold fMRI study.

Studies using a variety of investigative methods, including functional brain imaging and electroencephalography (EEG), have suggested that changes in central nervous system (CNS) dopamine function result in altered visual system processing. The discovery of abnormal retinal blue cone, but not red cone, electroretinogram in association with cocaine withdrawal and Parkinson's disease suggests that visual system response to blue light might be a marker for CNS dopamine tone. As there are numerous sex-related differences in central nervous system dopamine function, we predicted that blue and red light stimulation would produce sex-specific patterns of response in primary visual cortex when studied using the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. We analyzed the BOLD response to red and blue light in male and female human volunteers (N=20). Red and blue light responses in primary visual cortex (V1) to stepped intensities of red and blue light were compared by sex for threshold to detectable BOLD signal increase and for stimulus intensity vs. BOLD signal response. Near threshold, males and females showed similar BOLD signal change to red light, but males showed a threefold greater increase (0.52%) to blue light stimulation when compared to females (0.14%). Log-linear regression modeling revealed that the slope coefficients for the red light stimulus intensity vs. signal change curve were not significantly different for males and females (z=0.995, P=0.320), whereas the slope coefficients for the blue light stimulus intensity vs. signal change curve were significantly larger in males (z=2.251, P=0.024). These findings support a sex and color-dependent differential pattern of primary visual cortical response to photic stimulation and suggest a method for assessing the influence of specific dopamine agonist/antagonist medications on visual function.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Selective foeticidium using YAG laser].

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was found by ultrasound in monochorionic diamniotic twins in week 20. The donor had hydrocephalus and the recipient was normal. Selective foeticide was performed by coagulating the vessels of the umbilical cord of the donor with a YAG-laser. The pregnancy continued without complications and a healthy girl was born in week 34. The birth weight was 2935 g. Psychomotor development was normal at the age of six months.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

MULTISCAN--a Scandinavian multicenter second trimester obstetric ultrasound and serum screening study.

AIM: To study the detection rates of second trimester ultrasound screening for neural tube defects (NTD), abdominal wall defects (AWD) and Down's syndrome (DS) in low risk populations at tertiary centers, and to compare the ultrasound screening detection rates with those that were obtainable by biochemical serum screening (double test: alpha-fetoprotein/human chorion gonadotrophin/age test). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective multicenter study with a three year inclusion period: 1/1/1989-31/12/1991. SUBJECTS: 27,844 low-risk women at 18-34 years of age who had a second trimester ultrasound screening examination. Of these, 10,264 also had a serum test. METHODS: An ultrasound malformation scan and a serum test were carried out at 17-19 weeks of gestation. Risk calculations regarding DS were based on alpha-fetoprotein, human chorion gonadotrophin and maternal age; performed retrospectively for the first two years. RESULTS: In total 73 cases were identified in the study population: NTD (n=34), AWD (n=7) and DS (n=32). The detection rates, (%, with 95% confidence interval) for ultrasound screening were: NTD: 79.4 (62.1-91.3); AWD: 85.7 (42.1-99.6); DS: 6.3 (0.8-20.8). In the subgroup of women who had both tests, the detection rates for ultrasound screening vs double test were: NTD: 62.5 (24.5-91.5) vs 75.0 (34.9-96.8); AWD: 66.7 (9.4-99.2) vs 100 (29.2-100.0); DS: 7.7 (0.2-36.0) vs 46.2 (19.2-74.9). The false positive rates (%) for ultrasound screening vs double test were: NTD: 0.01/3.3; AWD: 0.01/3.3; DS: 0.1/4.0. CONCLUSION: Second trimester ultrasound screening in a low risk population gave a low detection rate for fetal DS (6.3%) and an acceptable detection rate for NTD (79.4%) and AWD (85.7%). In the subgroup of women who had both tests, serum screening performed better than ultrasound as applied in the present study, especially regarding DS.

Abdominal Muscles↗
PubMed1997

Randomised study of risk of fetal loss related to early amniocentesis versus chorionic villus sampling.

BACKGROUND: Several cohort studies have shown the feasibility of early amniocentesis (between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation) as an alternative to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) for karyotyping, but the only completed randomised study of fetal safety showed a significant fetal-loss risk related to first-trimester amniocentesis. We assessed fetal safety in early amniocentesis and CVS. METHODS: We assessed early amniocentesis at 11-13 weeks gestational age compared with the fetal risk associated with CVS at 10-12 weeks. 1160 pregnant women were randomly assigned one procedure (581 early amniocentesis, 579 CVS) after a baseline ultrasound examination at 10 weeks' gestation and were followed up until birth. Total fetal loss and neonatal morbidity were the primary outcome measures. Sampling success and pregnancy complications were secondary outcomes. We used a filter to increase the cell yield in the early amniotic-fluid samples. CVS was transabdominal. FINDINGS: We found a significantly increased occurrence of talipes equinovarus in the early amniocentesis group (p < 0.01), the risk of which was associated with sampling at the earliest gestational ages and with temporary leakage of amniotic fluid after sampling. Therefore, the trial was stopped early, which reduced the power of the safety study. 4.8% (27) of fetuses in the CVS group and 5.4% (30) in the early amniocentesis group were lost after randomisation (p = 0.66). More detailed survival analysis did not show any significant differences in fetal loss rates. Leakage of amniotic fluid after sampling occurred significantly more frequently after early amniocentesis than after CVS (p < 0.001), but we found no other major differences in pregnancy complications. Significantly more CVS than early amniocentesis procedures were repeated or failed to produce a karyotype (p < 0.01). INTERPRETATION: Even though the numbers were small, we found an association between early amniocentesis and talipes equinovarus. We believe this association to be true, since it supports a trend in a similar randomised study. Our results show that early amniocentesis, when done with the filter technique, is associated with an abortion risk similar to CVS, although the limited size of our study population reduced the strength of this conclusion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1997

Bilateral stress-fracture of the calcaneal tubercle.

A case of bilateral stress fracture of the calcaneal tubercle (beak-fractures) in a 67-year-old woman is presented. The pathogenesis and treatment are discussed, followed by some general considerations on stress fractures.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Prenatal detection of chromosome aneuploidies in uncultured chorionic villus samples by FISH.

We developed a 1-d FISH assay for detection of numerical chromosome abnormalities in uncultured chorionic villus samples (CVS). Probes specific for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y were used to determine ploidy by analysis of signal number in hybridized nuclei. Aneuploidy detection using this assay was directly compared with the results obtained by conventional cytogenetic analysis in a consecutive, clinical study of 2,709 CVS and placental samples. The FISH assay yielded discrete differences in the signal profiles between cytogenetically normal and abnormal samples. On the basis of these results, we generated FISH-assay cutoff values that discriminated between karyotypically normal and aneuploid samples. Samples with mosaicism and a single sample with possible heritable small chromosome X probe target were exceptions and showed poor agreement between FISH results and conventional cytogenetics. We conclude that the FISH assay may act as a more accurate and less labor-demanding alternative to "direct" CVS analysis.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed1995

Experience with early amniocentesis.

Literature concerning early genetic amniocentesis, obtained before 14-15 weeks of gestation, has been examined and compared. Key figures of post-procedural spontaneous fetal losses have been compared as well as cytogenetic data from the published series. Cytogenetically more samples fail to grow in the early weeks, but the diagnostic accuracy seems to be comparable with that of amniocentesis obtained in the later weeks. A sampling method, improving the cell yield by means of filtration, has been developed in order to lower the risk of culture failure and reduce the reporting time in the gestational weeks 11 to 13. The filter technique is under evaluation in a randomized trial. Detection of neural tube defects with early amniotic fluid sampling is possible, but whether the detection rate is comparable to that of standard amniocentesis remains to be seen. Although the safety of early amniocentesis has not yet been evaluated in a randomised study, data from almost 5,000 cases suggest that the procedure related loss rate is approximately 1%, and thus the same as for standard amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1995

Early sonographically guided amniocenteses with filtration technique: follow-up on 249 procedures.

Fetal and neonatal outcome is reported for 249 consecutive low-risk pregnancies in which early amniocentesis was carried out with filter technique, at a mean gestational age of 12.5 weeks, to improve the yield in cell cultures. Three pregnancies (1.2%) were terminated because of abnormal test results, four stillbirths (1.6%) occurred between weeks 33 and 38, and five pregnancies were lost spontaneously after sampling, corresponding to 2% of unintended fetal losses before 28 weeks of gestation. Of the live-born infants, 2.9% were delivered prematurely, all between weeks 32 and 37. Malformations and orthopedic postural deformities were not associated with leakage after amniocentesis and were found at expected rates. None of the cases was lost to follow-up. The increase in abortion rate caused by early amniocentesis with filter technique is likely to be within the same range as that seen after routine amniocentesis and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling, although the sample is too small for a proper risk evaluation.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1994

Early prenatal direct gene diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in a twin pregnancy and subsequent selective termination.

We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) in one twin at 11-12 weeks of gestation. The parents had previously had two children, one of whom is alive and healthy and one who died of CF at the age of 2 1/2 months. The parents were both known to be carriers of the delta F508 mutation. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed and direct gene analysis showed that one fetus was homozygous for the delta F508 mutation, while the other fetus did not have the mutation at all. Both fetuses had normal karyotypes. Selective termination was subsequently performed. The pregnancy continued without complications except for mild pre-eclampsia at term. The woman had a Caesarean section. The genetic diagnosis was confirmed after birth.

Abortion, Induced↗