Combined Thickness Of Uterus Research Articles

Combined thickness of uterus and placenta, foetal heart rate oscillations and progesterone concentration in last week of canine gestation

This study aimed to evaluate the combined thickness of uterus and placenta, foetal heart rate and serum progesterone concentration in prepartum bitches. Eighteen pregnant female dogs in the last week of gestation were subjected to ultrasonographic examination and progesterone assay to evaluate changes prior to impending whelping. No significant difference was found in the combined thickness of uterus and placenta measurements in the last week of gestation. However, foetal heart rate showed oscillations and progesterone declined 12h prior to whelping.

Transrectal ultrasonography of the caudal placental pole and fetal eyeball diameter and associations with the season, duration of gestation, placental weight, sex of the foal, and birthweight in donkeys☆

This study aimed to establish normal ranges and determine variables affecting the duration of gestation, placental and fetal eyeball measurements in donkeys. Jennies (n = 121) were submitted to transrectal ultrasonography at 15-day-intervals from 120 days of gestation until parturition. During each examination, variables assessed included: the combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP), fetal eyeball diameter, amniotic membrane thickness, allantoic and amniotic fluids echogenicity, and chorioallantois edema. Parametric data were analyzed with t-test, linear regression, mixed models, ANOVA, Tukey's as posthoc, and non-parametric data with Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. The mean duration of gestation was 365.4 ± 10.4 days, and there were effects of the season (P < .001), sex of the foal (P = .001), but there was no interaction (P = .89). Spring-bred jennies had 16d longer gestation than summer- and fall-bred (P < .0001), and with no difference between the latter (P = .81). Colts had four days longer gestation than fillies (P = .0001). The proportion of colts (51%) and fillies (49%) were similar (P = .8). The CTUP measurements varied with gestation age (P < .0001), but there were no effects of the season (P = .68), sex of the foal, or interactions (P = .80). The incidence and scores of chorioallantois edema increased from 240 to 300 days (P < .001). Amniotic membrane thickness increased minimally between mid- and late-gestation (P = .02). The fetal eyeball was strongly associated with gestational age (r=0.78) but not with any other variable (P > .05). Allantoic fluid echogenicity did not vary throughout gestation (P = .21); however, the amniotic fluid echogenicity increased from mid-to late-gestation (P = .0001). In conclusion, the season and sex of the foal affected the duration of gestation, but no other variables. The CTUP displayed a sigmoid increase throughout pregnancy, and gestational age was the only variable affecting it. The incidence of chorioallantois edema and scores increased from 240 to 300 days of gestation. Fetal eyeball diameter was strongly associated with gestational age. Amniotic fluid echogenicity increased late in pregnancy, but not the allantoic fluid.

Sonographic characteristics of the placenta, uterine wall, and placentomes during pregnancy in cows.

In human medicine, contrary to bovine medicine, close monitoring of risk pregnancies is an integral part of obstetrics. A prerequisite for this is the knowledge of the normal findings during pregnancy. For this purpose serial transrectal sonographic examination of the placentomes, uterine wall, and fetal membranes were carried out in 24 healthy (mean age 8.1 ± 3.7 years, Brown Swiss [n = 21], Red Holstein [n = 2], Simmental [n = 1]) cows from week 6 to 43 of gestation. An 8-MHz linear transducer was used to assess the thickness and appearance of the endometrium and myometrium, the height and width of placentomes, the thickness of the uterine wall including the adjacent chorion laeve (combined thickness of uterus and placenta, CTUP), and the echogenicity of the fetal fluids. The uterine wall and the placentomes were measured in 4 different zones of both uterine sides including a zone near the cervix, at the corpus near to the bifurcation, at the middle, and near the tip of the uterine horn. Placentome height and width were closely correlated with gestational age (height: r = 0.78; width: r = 0.83; both p < 0.0001). Placentome size increased progressively in all uterine zones until week 27, after which time their growth slowed until week 31 and then plateaued until parturition. Placentomes in the fetus-bearing horn were larger than in the non-fetus-bearing horn (p < 0.01) and were significantly smaller (height and width) near the tip of the horn than in the other 3 zones (p < 0.001 to < 0.01). The mean thickness of endometrium and myometrium, myometrium at the base of the placentome, and the mean CTUP did not change significantly during gestation. The echogenicity of the allantoic fluid did not change, but the amniotic fluid became more echogenic during gestation (p < 0.0001). Sonographic examination of placentomes and amniotic fluid are a promising diagnostic tool for the estimation of the duration of bovine pregnancies and for diagnosing possible complications.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Equine Fetal Growth Throughout Gestation in Normal Mares Using a Convex Transducer

ABSTRACTIt has not been common to perform regular ultrasound examination of the fetus in equine practice, due to the increasing volume of the uterus caused by fetal development. The convex three-dimensional transducer is bulb-shaped and is able to observe wide areas. In addition, its operation is simple, making it easy to create appropriate angles for various indices using a transrectal approach. The aim of this study was to measure Thoroughbred fetal growth indices throughout gestation using a convex transducer and to clarify the detectable period of some indices for clinical use. We demonstrated changes in fetal indices, such as crown rump length (CRL), fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal eye and kidney and the combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP). CTUP increased from 30 weeks of gestation, and FHR peaked at 8 weeks and then decreased to term. CRL could be observed until 13 weeks due to its wide angle, longer than in previous reports. Fetal eye and kidney could be observed from 10 and 28 weeks, respectively, and these increased with pregnancy progress. The present results showed the advantage of transrectal examination using a convex transducer for evaluation of normal fetal development. Although ultrasonographic examination in mid- to late-gestation is not common in equine reproductive practice, our comprehensive results would be a useful basis for equine pregnancy examination.

The combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP) and vulvar conformation of the mare

The combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP) and vulvar conformation of the mare

Acute phase proteins and total leukocyte counts in blood of mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis

Currently ascending placentitis, an important cause of late pregnancy loss, is diagnosed by clinical signs (ie premature mammary gland development and vulvar discharge) and transrectal ultrasonography (ie measurement of the combined thickness of uterus and placenta, placental detachment, fluid accumulation). Acute phase proteins (APP) are produced and secreted by the liver in response to acute inflammatory stimuli, and we hypothesized that APP are elevated in mares with placentitis. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare plasma concentrations of APP and total blood leukocyte counts (WBC) in mares with experimentally induced ascending placentitis and gestationally aged-matched control mares, and (ii) describe SAA (serum amyloid A) and HP (haptoglobin) concentrations in normal pre-foaling mares. In study I, mares with normal pregnancies (260-280d of gestation) were assigned to (1) a control group with (n1⁄47) or without trans-abdominal ultrasound-guided fetal fluid sampling (TAUGFFS; n1⁄48) and (2) a treatment group with experimentally induced ascending placentitis with (n 1⁄47) or without TAUGFFS (n1⁄48). Placentitis was induced via intracervical inoculation of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus. TAUGFFS was performed at 0, 5 and 12 days post inoculation (DPI) or until abortion. Blood samples were obtained at inoculation/initial TAUGFFS (day1⁄40) and then daily until abortion or for 12 DPI. Concentrations of SAA and HP were determined by an immunoturbidimetric assay and by a colorimetric assay, respectively. In study I, a subset of mares (n1⁄417) were examined to determine leukocyte counts and circulating fibrinogen. In study II,