The development of the visual system is the most studied of the sensory systems. The advances in technology have made it possible to study the neuroprocesses at the cellular and circuit level. The physical structure of the eye develops early in fetal life, whereas the neurocomponents and connections develop in later fetal and early neonatal life. The development of the visual system involves ge...

BACKGROUND Maternal perception of reduced fetal movement (RFM) is associated with increased risk of stillbirth and fetal growth restriction (FGR). DFM is thought to represent fetal compensation to conserve energy due to insufficient oxygen and nutrient transfer resulting from placental insufficiency. To date there have been no studies of placental structure in cases of DFM. OBJECTIVE To deter...

OBJECTIVE In most recent studies, fetal respiratory movements have been measured with real-time and Doppler echography. We describe an alternative approach using photogrammetry that provides more objective measurements. METHODS Respiratory movements were studied in 28 women with uncomplicated pregnancies of 30-38 weeks' gestation. Fetal echographic images were recorded on videotape and digiti...

The behavioral state of active or rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) is dominant during fetal life and may play an important role in brain development. One marker of this state in fetal sheep is neck nuchal muscle atonia (NA). We observed burst within burst NA patterns suggestive of recurrent fractal organization in continuous 13 day in utero recordings of NA during the third trimester. Consistent...

The main principle of present-day perinatology is to ensure successful childbirth. Antepartum biophysical monitoring is usually performed by means of cardiotocography (CTG). In an attempt to minimize subjectivity and poor reproducibility of visual evaluation of CTG traces, computerized systems for automated analysis of cardiotocographic signals are commonly used. They perform several tasks wher...

This study established the emergence of stable individual differences in neurobehavioral functioning prior to birth and examined their relation to subsequent infant temperament. Fetal heart rate and movement were recorded longitudinally for 31 fetuses at 6 gestational ages beginning at 20 weeks' gestation. Maternally reported temperament data were collected at 3 and 6 months. Moderate stability...

Intrauterine extremity gangrene in combination with cerebral infarction is a serious and rare event. We present a case with a healthy mother who gave birth to a child with this condition. At term, the mother presented at the antenatal clinic with decreased fetal movements. Cardiotocography (CTG) showed signs of fetal distress and a caesarean section was performed. The left arm of the newborn wa...