Preeclampsia is accompanied by an extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix of umbilical cord. It is associated with an increase in collagen content in the umbilical cord artery. Furthermore, preeclampsia distinctly reduces proteolytic and gelatinolytic activity, especially after activation with various agents.We decided to develop a method for separation and determination of fatty acids...

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to evaluate the relation between maternal placental Doppler velocimetry, levels of the maternal glucose, and clinical signs of vasculopathy in pregnancy complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS AND RESULTS A retrospective study of 155 pregestational diabetic women between the 22nd and 40th weeks of pregnancy, categorized in White classificat...

The Hyrtl anastomosis is a common connection between the umbilical arteries near the cord insertion in most human placentas. It has been speculated that it equalizes the blood pressure between the territories supplied by the umbilical arteries. However, its functional role in the regulation and distribution of fetal blood flow to the placenta has not yet been explored. A computational model has...

Human umbilical arteries are unique vessels in that they close quickly and completely at birth. It has been suggested that cyclic uanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in relaxation. This hypothesis has been evaluated in term gestational human umbilical artery segments incubated at 37 degrees C and in room air. (a) The basal cGMP content (1 pmol/mg protein) of artery segments incubated in room ai...

Experiments on perfused segments or isolated rings of human umbilical artery showed that the magnitude of their contraction in response to bradykinin, epinephrine, or serotonin depended on the P02 of the perfusing or bathing solution. Constriction to bradykinin varied directly with the O2 tension and was greatest when the Po2 was approximately that of umbilical arterial blood during the transit...

We report a rare case of an umbilical cord hemangioma. The umbilical cord consisted of Capillaries and cavernous blood vessels and the hemangioma stressed umbilical arteries and vein. At 40 weeks of gestation, it resulted in intrauterine death of the fetus. Microscopically, there were lots of vessels with various thicknesses in the umbilical cord. Autopsy shows evidences of smothering. These fi...

The extracellular matrix components are differentially distributed among various structures of the umbilical cord. Wharton's jelly is especially rich in collagens and growth factors. Cathepsin B is a major cysteine protease involved in collagen degradation, as well as in the activation of precursor forms of other collagenolytic enzymes and growth factors. We assessed the activity and expression...

AIM To assess the relationship between discordant umbilical arterial size and resultant blood flow parameters and determine the impact of discordance on fetal outcome. METHODS This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 200 patients with a singleton gestation, who underwent a fetal anatomy survey between 18 to 23 weeks of gestation, with documented umbilical cord morphological patterns an...

OBJECTIVE To compare umbilical and uterine artery Doppler in predicting outcome of pregnancies suspected of fetal growth restriction (FGR). DESIGN A prospective study included 353 singleton pregnancies complicated by an FGR fetus. SETTING University Hospital setting. SAMPLE Pregnancies suspected of FGR diagnosed by ultrasound fetal biometry during a 5-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE P...