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Biomedical subjects

M K Shyu

Publications and source records attributed to M K Shyu.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Agenesis of the ductus venosus in a case of monochorionic twins which mimics twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

We describe a pair of monochorionic twins with clinical manifestation of twin-twin transfusion syndrome, including discordant fetal growth, hydrops of the larger twin, and the 'stuck twin' phenomenon of the smaller twin. In the hydropic twin, we found agenesis of the ductus venosus and an abnormal umbilical vein draining directly into the inferior vena cava. There was also marked enlargement of the right atrium, representing the volume overload on it. We believe that the agenesis of the ductus venosus in the larger twin may have contributed to the 'unbalanced shunting' between the monochorionic twins. This then led to a clinical picture mimicking that seen in the authentic twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Adult

Concordant body stalk anomaly in monozygotic twinning--early embryo cleavage disorder.

We describe a case of concordant body stalk anomaly in monozygotic twins that manifested with umbilical cord agenesis, evisceration of abdominal contents, and multiple gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and skeletal anomalies. Body stalk anomaly in twin gestation is extremely rare and poses an embryological interest. We suggest that the hypothesis of 'incomplete twinning' might contribute to the pathogenesis of this syndrome complex.

Abdominal Muscles

Prenatal detection of limb defects after chorionic villus sampling.

Prenatal sonographic diagnoses of two cases of severe limb defects after first-trimester chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are presented. Pathological examination after elective termination correlated well with the prenatal sonographic findings. Although the relationship between CVS and limb defects remains controversial, careful ultrasound examination for possible limb defects in cases receiving CVS is recommended.

Adult

Limb defects after chorionic villus sampling.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the association between limb defects and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 165 major obstetric units in Taiwan to survey the incidence of limb defects with and without CVS exposure during 1991. Limb defects with CVS exposure from September 1990 to June 1992 were also surveyed. The spectrum of limb defects in CVS-exposed and general populations were compared by the Poisson test. RESULTS: The incidence of limb defects in the surveyed general population in 1991 was 0.032% and that with CVS exposure was 0.294%, a statistically significant difference (P < .001). The incidence of severe limb defects in the general population was 0.0026% and that with CVS exposure was 0.22%, also statistically significant (P < .001). Twenty-nine cases of limb defects after CVS were reported from September 1990 until June 1992: 19 cases with transverse limb reduction, two with mid-palm reduction, seven with adactyly or hypodactyly, and one with syndactyly. Four cases also had oromandibular-limb hypogenesis syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of limb defects, especially the severe types, was increased after CVS. The spectrum of limb defects with CVS exposure was more severe than the limb defects seen in the general population and showed a specific pattern ranging from hypodactyly, adactyly, and transverse limb reduction, to oromandibular-limb hypogenesis. A correlation between the severity of limb defects and the timing of CVS was suggested.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Extrauterine twin-twin transfusion syndrome after birth in conjoined twins.

Cross-circulation of conjoined twins in utero has been demonstrated and the extent of its severity has varied. Significant 'extrauterine' twin-twin transfusion syndrome after birth, however, caused by an unbalanced shunting within the circulation has not been reported. In a case of omphalopagus conjoined twins complicated by hypovolemia in one twin and hypervolemia in the other, we demonstrated by color Doppler imaging an aberrant vessel from the hepatic artery of one twin to the hepatic vein of the other. Unbalanced shunting through this aberrant vessel was suspected and urgent separation of the conjoined twins was undertaken. Circulatory changes after birth leading to 'extrauterine twin-twin transfusion syndrome' are discussed. A possible explanation of the pathophysiology of intrauterine twin-twin transfusion syndrome is also given.

Adult

Incremental angiogenesis assessed by color Doppler ultrasound in the tumorigenesis of ovarian neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: The crucial role of angiogenesis in tumor behaviour has been studied extensively in vitro. The authors assessed the in vivo angiogenesis in ovarian neoplasms by color Doppler ultrasound and waveform analysis. METHODS: The intratumor artery resistance index (RI) of 222 ovarian neoplasms referred for color Doppler ultrasound evaluation was measured, and the corresponding histopathologic diagnosis was recorded. RESULTS: Satisfactory intratumor artery waveforms were obtained at an average of 1.12 sites in 44.7% (68 of 152) of benign tumors and at 6.28 sites in 97.1% (68 of 70) of the malignant group. Great heterogeneity in RI values existed. The RI of the intratumor artery in the benign group during the follicular phase (mean, 0.678) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of the luteal phase (mean, 0.414), epithelial ovarian carcinoma (n = 34; mean, 0.402), malignant germ cell tumor (n = 6; mean, 0.413), malignancy metastasized to the ovary (n = 18; mean, 0.357), and other rare malignancies (n = 4; mean, 0.435). The RI of primary ovarian malignancy (n = 41; mean, 0.411) was significantly higher than that of malignancy metastasized to the ovary (P < 0.05). The RI values of epithelium-originated neoplasms showed a significant incremental decrease from benign tumors (n = 48; mean, 0.695) toward borderline malignancy (n = 6; mean, 0.535; P < 0.01), early-stage ovarian carcinoma (n = 10; mean, 0.485; P < 0.01), and, finally, to advanced-stage ovarian malignancies (n = 29; mean, 0.398; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenesis is a common phenomenon in malignant ovarian neoplasms, but the intensity of neovascularization may depend on individual tumor characteristics. The authors documented the incremental decrease of the resistance index in ovarian neoplasms, which may reflect the increase in angiogenesis intensity as an indication of malignant potential.

Adolescent

Intrauterine intervention in a case of recurrent meconium peritonitis.

We present a case of recurrent meconium peritonitis detected in the second trimester and treated by intrauterine intervention. Antenatal ultrasound findings included fetal ascites and intra-abdominal calcification. Aspiration of fetal ascites under ultrasound guidance and determination of the bilirubin concentration established the diagnosis of meconium peritonitis. Paracentesis was repeated to remove irritating intestinal contents and to decrease pressure on the fetal thorax. Although the exact cause of the meconium peritonitis remains unknown, the recurrence of the condition suggests a genetic basis. A possibility of cystic fibrosis was not considered because the clinical picture did not suggest it. Intrauterine intervention helped to establish the diagnosis of meconium peritonitis and may have contributed to the good outcome.

Adult

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital rubella infection from maternal rubella in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of intrauterine rubella infection in Taiwan. METHODS: One hundred three pregnant women with evidence of rubella infection were enrolled. Congenital rubella infection was diagnosed by testing specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M in fetal cord serum obtained from funipuncture or amniotic fluid culture. The fetal outcomes were evaluated by ultrasonic examination, specific antibody detection in cord blood at birth, and complete physical examination during early childhood. RESULTS: Prenatal diagnosis was possible in 95 of 103 fetuses, 93 by funipuncture and two by amniocentesis. Five intrauterine rubella infections were detected prenatally, and another one was diagnosed after birth. The intrauterine infection rates were 10.0, 11.8, 2.9, and 6.5% after maternal infection at 1-10, 11-14, 15-19, and 20-29 gestational weeks, respectively. Among the six fetuses with serologic evidence of congenital infection, one had congenital rubella syndrome with sensorineural deafness, two were terminated during the second trimester, two others were normal, and one was lost to follow-up. With the exception of the infant with clinical congenital rubella syndrome, no evidence of rubella defects was found in the other 81 children who received follow-up to 2-4 years old. CONCLUSION: The risk of congenital rubella infection in seropositive pregnant women is relatively low in Taiwan.

Adult

Methotrexate treatment for cervical pregnancy: experience of four cases.

Although cervical pregnancies account for a very small number of the ectopic pregnancies, they sometimes result in a tragic outcome due to the difficulty of surgical treatment and subsequent intractable hemorrhage. We report our experience with four cases of cervical pregnancy which were treated successfully with methotrexate. All four patients had a history of a previous abortion and two had previously had a cesarean section. High-resolution transabdominal and transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound was used for diagnosis, and the serial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels were checked to monitor the therapeutic effect. Hysterectomy was avoided, and the reproductive capability of these patients was preserved. Chemotherapy was well tolerated except for mild stomatitis in one case and a transient elevation of liver enzymes in another case. One patient delivered a healthy female infant two years after treatment. In conclusion, previous curettage and a low segment cesarean section may contribute to the development of a cervical pregnancy. Fortunately, methotrexate therapy offers an effective nonsurgical treatment for this potentially catastrophic condition.

Adolescent

Clinical study of 381 postmenopausal bleeding patients.

In order to evaluate the etiology, incidence of malignancy, clinical risk factors and the interval between menopause and the onset of abnormal vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women, 381 cases with a complete medical history and available histologic findings were enrolled in this study at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1989 to 1991. The results showed that 212 (55.6%) of these women had normal histologic findings and 83 (21.9%) had benign pathologic findings, whereas 14 (3.6%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 42 (11%) had endometrial hyperplasia, 19 (5%) had cervical cancer and 11 (2.9%) had endometrial cancer. Twenty-nine (7.6%) of the cases suffered from either CIN III or cervical cancer; this number was twice as high as those with endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrial cancer (n = 13, 3.4%). In addition, various risk factors, especially obesity, were found to be significantly correlated with malignancy. Fractional curettage should be performed for postmenopausal bleeding patients to ensure accurate diagnosis and correct management.

Endometrial Hyperplasia

Fibronectin levels in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

Vascular endothelial damage is reported to be the prime cause of preeclampsia, and elevated levels of fibronectin have been found before clinical signs of preeclampsia were manifested. The total plasma fibronectin concentrations in 212 blood samples from 173 normotensive healthy pregnant women at various gestational ages were measured. Fibronectin levels were also determined for 20 blood samples from 20 preeclamptic patients obtained at the time of clinical manifestation of preeclampsia. Blood samples from 46 non pregnant women of reproductive age were used as controls. The results showed that the total plasma fibronectin concentration during reproductive age was independent of age and the average level during pregnancy decreased with gestational age. Preeclamptic patients had a significantly elevated level of total fibronectin compared with healthy pregnant women. The total fibronectin concentration is a promising biochemical marker for preeclampsia, but a more specific endothelial method of measurement is needed before it is put to clinical use.

Adult