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Biomedical subjects

J F Oury

Publications and source records attributed to J F Oury.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Hyperechogenic fetal bowel: an ultrasonographic marker for adverse fetal and neonatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal hyperchogenic bowel is associated with a variety of conditions, the incidence of which has yet to be studied. STUDY DESIGN: The outcomes of 182 cases of fetal hyperechogenic bowel were reviewed. Screening for maternal toxoplasmosis, fetal karyotyping, and amniotic fluid digestive enzyme assays were performed in all cases. Eight mutations associated with cystic fibrosis were analyzed in 116 cases. RESULTS: Of 135 newborns, 121 were normal, but nine underwent surgery for gastrointestinal obstruction, three had cytomegalovirus or parvovirus infection, one had a triple X chromosome, and one died from sudden infant death syndrome. In utero fetal death was observed in 24 cases. Elective termination of pregnancy was performed in 23 cases for associated anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperechogenic fetal bowel was associated with increased risk for adverse outcome. Prenatal management should include ultrasonographic surveillance, fetal karyotyping, amniotic digestive enzyme assays, and screening for cystic fibrosis and infectious disease.

Amniocentesis

Effects of neuromuscular blockade on fetal heart rate variability: a power spectrum analysis.

Spectral analysis of fetal heart rate variability allows quantitative determination of the main components that affect this variability. The physiological significance of these components is unclear; however, movements appear to contribute to variability. We studied six fetuses in which immobility required for in utero magnetic resonance or invasive fetal procedures was achieved by fetal intravascular injection of curare between 32 and 36 amenorrhea weeks. For each fetus, we compared spectral density parameters of heart rate variability. After curare administration, mean spectrum power was halved. We did not observe a larger significant decrease in any (very low, low, or high) frequency band. The other parameters of spectral analysis of variability were unaltered. Fetal movements accounted for a significant proportion of human fetal heart rate variability but did not constitute a unique frequency component.

Curare

Evaluation of X, Y, 18, and 13/21 alpha satellite DNA probes for interphase cytogenetic analysis of uncultured amniocytes by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The major aneuploidies diagnosed prenatally involve the autosomes 13, 18, and 21, and sex chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) allows rapid analysis of chromosome copy number in interphase cells. This prospective study evaluated the use of four commercially available centromeric DNA probes (DXZ1, DYZ1, D18Z1, and D13Z1/D21Z1) for direct analysis of uncultured amniocytes. One hundred and sixteen amniotic fluid samples were analysed by FISH and standard cytogenetics. This evaluation demonstrated that FISH with X, Y, and 18 alpha satellite DNA probes could accurately and rapidly detect aneuploidies involving these chromosomes and could be used in any prenatal clinical laboratory. In contrast, the 13/21 alpha satellite DNA probe hybridizing both chromosomes 13 and 21 was unreliable for prenatal diagnosis in uncultured amniocytes.

Amniotic Fluid

Do racial differences exist in second-trimester maternal hCG levels? A study of 23,369 patients.

In Down syndrome screening by maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) determination at 15, 16, 17, and 18 weeks of gestation, we prospectively examined 23,369 sera from white (21,549), North African (970), black African (525), and Asian (325) patients. When expressed as multiples of the median (MOM), no difference was observed between white, North African, and black African patients. However, higher serum hCG concentrations were noted in Asians, for whom we therefore recommend correction of hCG values before calculation of the risk of Down syndrome.

Asian People

Quantification of the fetal heart rate variability by spectral analysis of fetal well-being and fetal distress.

Our objectives were to increase the discrimination between fetal distress and fetal well-being, using fetal heart rate spectral analysis. Monitoring of the heart rate from 259 fetuses was done between 26 and 42 weeks, interpreted with classical criteria, and analysed with the spectral analysis method we developed. The fetal heart rate spectrum analysis performed on these recordings allow discrimination of fetal distress from the normal state using the energy value and frequency of the maximal energy in the high frequency band. We can conclude that the spectral analysis produces two significant parameters which could contribute to a multivariate approach to assessments of the physiological mechanisms of heart rate variability.

Female

[Has the use of indomethacin during pregnancy consequences in newborn infants? Prospective study of 83 pregnant women and 115 newborn infants].

BACKGROUND: Prolonged exposure of pregnant women to indomethacin for tocolysis may have significant effects on the fetus or neonate, but their incidence is still debated. POPULATION AND METHODS: From January 1990 to July 1991, 83 pregnant women were prospectively given indomethacin for treatment of premature labor, after ineffective course of salbutamol. The initial dose of indomethacin was 100 mg, then the daily dose was 50 mg while salbutamol was continued. Indomethacin was discontinued beyond the 33rd week of gestational age. Efficacy of indomethacin was judged upon the disappearance of uterine contractions and the increased duration of pregnancy from the onset of treatment until delivery. Adverse effects of treatment were evaluated in the neonates. RESULTS: The mean duration of indomethacin administration was 16 days (range: 1-62 days); the mean total dose was 900 mg (range: 100-4500 mg). The reason for discontinuation of the treatment was its efficacy (41 patients), a gestational age of 33 weeks (12 patients), oligoamnios (21 patients), demonstration of fetal abnormalities (two patients). The mean interval between discontinuation of treatment and delivery was 5 weeks. Fourty three of the 58 patients who were given indomethacin before the 30rd week were delivered after the 33rd week. There was no adverse effect in the women and babies; all oligoamnios were spontaneously reversible. One hundred and fifteen babies were born including 12 who died during the first post-natal days. The rate of admission in an intensive care unit was similar to that of untreated pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Indomethacin can be safely used for treatment of premature labor provided that its administration is carefully monitored.

Female

[Embryo reduction in multiple pregnancies. A French multicenter study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of multifetal pregnancy embryo reductions (MFPR) in France. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective questionnaire multicenter survey was conducted in 11 French centers. 262 consecutive MFPR were collected. Miscarriage and prematurity rates were analyzed as a function of the starting number of embryos, the finishing number after MFPR, and the technique of MFPR. RESULTS: There were 41 pregnancy losses before 24 weeks (16%), and 221 deliveries at 25 menstrual weeks or later (84%). Prematurity was significantly correlated to the finishing number of embryos following MFPR. However, even when a single embryo was left, there were 30% of premature deliveries. CONCLUSION: MFPR decreases the risk of prematurity in multifetal pregnancies of high order, and this is best achieved when a single embryo is left.

Abortion, Induced

Complications of diagnostic ultrasound-guided percutaneous umbilical blood sampling: analysis of a series of 341 cases and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To study the complications of percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) conducted for purely diagnostic purposes, in a retrospective study of 341 personal cases and an analysis of 4922 cases from literature. SUBJECT: Analysis of the sampling procedure and complications seen in 341 punctures, including 12 failures. INTERVENTIONS: Freehand echo-guided percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. PARAMETERS STUDIED: Conditions in which the blood samples were taken (gestational age, indications, placental location, technique--including number of punctures, duration); total number of fetal deaths and number of fetal deaths related to the procedure; other complications (bradycardia, hematoma of the umbilical cord, hemorrhage, premature births). RESULTS: 20 fetal deaths (FDs) were recorded in 341 cases (5.87%) (figures for the literature: 189/4922 = 3.84%); 3 FDs appeared to be directly related to the procedure (0.88) (figures for the literature: 48/4922 = 0.98%). There were 32 cases of bradycardia (9.38%); this complication was seen more frequently after repeated and prolonged punctures. Hematomas of the cord (1.47%) were seen when punctures were attempted in a free loop of the cord. There was a marked increase in the number of complications (8.96% FDs and 20.73% of bradycardias) when the procedure lasted more than 10 min and/or when more than 3 punctures were attempted (33.33% FDs). These two occurrences are closely related to the gestational age at which the PUBS was conducted, the placental location, the experience of the operators and the condition for which the sample was being taken. Pathological pregnancies (fetal malformation, disease or hypotrophy of the fetus, diseases of the amniotic fluid) had a mortality rate of 11.24% (19/169), whereas fetuses that were presumed to be healthy had a lower risk of 0.58% (1/172). CONCLUSIONS: The overall mortality (including all fetal and neonatal deaths) appears to be around 5.0% (between 3.84 and 5.87%), but the mortality rate directly related to the procedure seems to be around 1% (between 0.88 and 0.98%). It seems that the fetal mortality rate is closely related to: (a) The state of the fetus and thus to the indication of the procedure. The higher overall mortality rate observed is related to the natural history of the conditions for which the procedure was conducted and the time taken to conduct the procedure and the number of punctures. This depends on the experience of the teams, on the observation of the rule that the attempt should not be prolonged beyond 10 min and no more than 2 punctures should be attempted in any one session.

Blood Specimen Collection

Clinical and pharmacologic study of fetal supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of maternal digoxin administration in 16 cases of fetal supraventricular tachyarrhythmia diagnosed by fetal echocardiography; cardiac anatomy was normal in all cases. The retrospective analysis included nine mothers who received digoxin orally in most cases, with control of the arrhythmia in two fetuses. The addition of amiodarone (five cases) and propranolol (two cases) yielded two successes with amiodarone. The therapeutic regimen of digoxin was then modified on the basis of poor response to orally administered digoxin. In the prospective study, digoxin was administered intravenously to seven mothers according to a standard protocol; high doses (1 to 2 mg intravenously) were prescribed for the first 24 hours and intravenous digoxin therapy was maintained for at least 5 days, depending on the fetal response. Digoxin pharmacokinetic studies of four mothers showed an increased plasma clearance and reduced elimination half-life. Digoxin controlled the five supraventricular tachycardias (with hydrops in four cases). Maternal flecainide therapy restored sinus rhythm in two cases of atrial flutter. Our prospective study emphasizes the efficacy and safety for the fetus and the mother of intravenously administered digoxin as a first-choice drug in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Flecainide may be a promising second-choice drug but requires further clinical investigation. Amiodarone and propranolol seem to be ineffective.

Digoxin

Comparison of T cell functional changes during childhood with the ontogeny of CDw29 and CD45RA expression on CD4+ T cells.

The ontogeny of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells' responsiveness to various activators during childhood was studied and compared to the expression of CDw29 and CD45RA molecules at the surface of CD4+ T cells. The results show that newborn peripheral blood mononuclear cells are characterized by a responsiveness to mitogens that is higher than that observed in adults, at least shortly after stimulation. This contrasts with a clear decreased response to CD2 and CD3 MAb at any time after stimulation. These functional characteristics correlate with a low density of CDw29 antigen on virtually all CD4+ T cells and a high density of CD45RA antigen on most CD4+ T cells at birth. These patterns of reactivity and phenotype are similar to those found among naive adult T cells. When ageing, the response to mitogens becomes rapidly similar to the adult's values, whereas the responses to CD2 or CD3 MAb are more gradually acquired. This slow rate of functional changes grossly parallels the increase of CDw29+ CD4+ and the decrease of CD45RA+ CD4+ T cell subsets. These changes finally lead to the immunophenotypic and functional characteristics that are typical of adult memory T cells. These results suggest that iterative antigenic stimulations both induce memory T cells and create the conditions to improve the overall immune competence.

Adolescent

First-trimester diagnosis of hypophosphatasia. Importance of gestational age and purity of CV samples.

Prenatal diagnosis of hypophosphatasia was made by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay on a chorionic villous sample taken in the first trimester. Very low activities of the LBK isoenzymes indicated an affected fetus. Diagnosis was confirmed at 12 weeks of gestation by measurement of LBK isoenzyme activities in fetal bone tissue. In control chorionic villous samples an inverse relation was observed between LBK and placental ALP percentage during gestational age. High LBK ALP activities are observed in decidual tissue. Chorionic villous tissue must not be sampled after 12 weeks of gestation and decidual tissue must be excluded from the sample.

Alkaline Phosphatase

Prenatal diagnosis of mucolipidosis type II on first-trimester amniotic fluid.

We investigated the possibility of prenatal diagnosis of mucolipidosis type II (ML II) by lysosomal enzyme determination on amniotic fluid obtained at 11 weeks of gestation in three pregnancies at risk. Diagnosis of ML II was made in one case on the basis of increased levels of five lysosomal enzymes tested. The diagnosis was confirmed on cultured chorionic cells, their cultured medium, 17-week amniotic fluid, and fetal plasma obtained for confirmation prior to the termination of pregnancy.

Adult

Induction of labor with mifepristone (RU 486) in intrauterine fetal death.

In a double-blind controlled multicentric study involving 94 patients with an intrauterine fetal death, we investigated the efficacy and tolerance of mifepristone (RU 486), a steroid compound that antagonizes progesterone action at the receptor level. Success of treatment was defined as the occurrence of fetal expulsion within 72 hours after the first drug intake. Mifepristone treatment (600 mg per day for 2 days) was considered to be effective in 29 of 46 patients (63%). There were only eight successes in 48 patients (17.4%) in the placebo group (p = 0.001, chi 2 test). Tolerance was good in the mifepristone group. In the placebo group, disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred in one woman for whom the investigator waited several weeks for spontaneous expulsion. This large double-blind controlled study provides evidence that mifepristone is of interest in the management of intrauterine fetal death. It could provide a pharmacologic alternative to the use of prostaglandins in this indication.

Adult

First-trimester amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase electrophoresis.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis was performed on normal amniotic fluids obtained at 4-15 weeks of pregnancy. Until 8 weeks, all the fluids were AChE-positive; the percentage of positive specimens decreased from 9 until 11 weeks and no positive specimen was found after 12 weeks. This method may allow early prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects after the 12th week.

Acetylcholinesterase

Early prenatal diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency using amniotic fluid 17-hydroxyprogesterone determination and DNA probes.

The results of early prenatal diagnoses of congenital adrenal hyperplasia are reported. The determination of 17-hydroxyprogesterone values in amniotic fluid taken transabdominally at 11 weeks of gestation enabled prenatal diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) deficiency. There is a clear-cut difference between normal and pathological values at that time of pregnancy. This method of diagnosis can be combined with genotyping of the fetus by HLA-DNA probes on chorionic villus sampling or can be used alone. Prenatal diagnosis with a 21-OH probe is possible when a preliminary study has demonstrated that the index case is homozygous for the deletion.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone

[Antenatal echographic measurement of the fetal cerebellum. Significance in the evaluation of fetal development].

The authors present a study based on ultrasound measurements for the growth of the fetal cerebellum from the 17th-39th week of amenorrhoea (710 measurements carried out on 293 fetuses). Regular growth of the cerebellum seems to be independent of other biometric parameters and also of the population studied. This has been demonstrated by comparing it with curves that have been made by other teams. It should give an extra feature in investigating fetal growth. Studying the cerebellum in 12 cases of severe intra-uterine growth retardation (below the third centile at birth) which were discovered and followed up in our department shows that cerebellum growth is not altered by intra-uterine growth retardation even in severe cases. Because of this it can be a reliable sign of whether the pregnancy has gone to term.

Anthropometry

Prenatal diagnosis of propionic acidemia in chorionic villi by direct assay of propionyl CoA carboxylase.

Prenatal diagnosis of propionic acidemia was achieved by the direct assay of propionyl CoA carboxylase in chorionic villi. The diagnosis was confirmed by determination of methylcitrate in amniotic fluid and measurement of propionyl CoA carboxylase in the liver from the abortion. Discrepancy between [14C]-propionate incorporation into protein of chorionic villi or cultured chorionic cells and propionyl CoA carboxylase activity is reported.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors