Late Abortion Research Articles

Clinical outcomes of sildenafil application in patients of poor endometrial development

ObjectiveTo determine whether sildenafil has an effect on pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor endometrial development. MethodsThis study included 472 infertility patients who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmatic sperm injection and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-FET) and subsequently suffered from poor endometrial development during hormone replacement cycle (HRC) from April 2017 to July 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: the sildenafil group (n ​= ​88) and the control group (n ​= ​384). We analyzed endometrial thicknesses and types on endometrial transformation day, as well as pregnancy outcomes after FET (biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, early abortion, late abortion, and live birth rates) between the two groups. ResultsAfter adjusting for confounding factors, we found no significant differences in endometrial thicknesses and types on endometrial transformation day between the sildenafil group and the control group (0.79 ​± ​0.08 vs 0.81 ​± ​0.09, P ​= ​0.144; 79.76% vs83.87%, P ​= ​0.402). There were also no statistically significant differences in biochemical pregnancy rate (75.0% vs 76.8%, P ​= ​0.892), clinical pregnancy rate (59.09% vs 69.53%, P ​= ​0.087), early abortion rate (17.31% vs 14.61%, P ​= ​0.557), late abortion rate (3.85% vs 4.49%, P ​= ​0.859), or live birth rate (45.45% vs 55.47%, P ​= ​0.101) between the two groups. In subgroup analysis, the application of sildenafil was unable to improve endometrial thickness (group one: 0.80 ​± ​0.08 ​cm vs 0.82 ​± ​0.08 ​cm; group two:0.78 ​± ​0.08 ​cm vs 0.80 ​± ​0.10 ​cm; group three:0.75 ​± ​0.11 ​cm vs 0.77 ​± ​0.08 ​cm, p ​> ​0.05) and type endometrium on transformation day (group one: 78.57% vs 86.78%; group two: 80.65% vs 77.78%; group three: 81.82% vs 83.78%, p ​> ​0.05). Moreover, sildenafil use was not closely associated with clinical pregnancy outcomes, clinical pregnancy rate, early abortion rate, late abortion rate, and live birth rate (p ​> ​0.05). ConclusionsSildenafil did not benefit endometrial development and pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor endometrial development during the hormone replacement cycle.

Clarity and consistency in stillbirth reporting in Europe: why is it so hard to get this right?

BackgroundStillbirth is a major public health problem, but measurement remains a challenge even in high-income countries. We compared routine stillbirth statistics in Europe reported by Eurostat with data from the Euro-Peristat research network.MethodsWe used data on stillbirths in 2015 from both sources for 31 European countries. Stillbirth rates per 1000 total births were analyzed by gestational age (GA) and birthweight groups. Information on termination of pregnancy at ≥22 weeks’ GA was analyzed separately.ResultsRoutinely collected stillbirth rates were higher than those reported by the research network. For stillbirths with a birthweight ≥500 g, the difference between the mean rates of the countries for Eurostat and Euro-Peristat data was 22% [4.4/1000, versus 3.5/1000, mean difference 0.9 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8–1.0]. When using a birthweight threshold of 1000 g, this difference was smaller, 12% (2.9/1000, versus 2.5/1000, mean difference 0.4 with 95% CI 0.3–0.5), but substantial differences remained for individual countries. In Euro-Peristat, missing data on birthweight ranged from 0% to 29% (average 5.0%) and were higher than missing data for GA (0–23%, average 1.8%).ConclusionsRoutine stillbirth data for European countries in international databases are not comparable and should not be used for benchmarking or surveillance without careful verification with other sources. Recommendations for improvement include using a cut-off based on GA, excluding late terminations of pregnancy and linking multiple sources to improve the quality of national databases.

Trends in cleft palate incidence in the era of obstetric sonography and early detection

Background The effect of improvement in prenatal identification of cleft lip or palate (CL/P) on termination of pregnancy (TOP) worldwide is scarcely reported. Our aim was to assess changes in the prevalence of cleft palate attributed to the high access and availability of prenatal advanced screening and pregnancy termination in Israel. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on CL/P patients which were treated in our institute and born between January 2000 and December 2018. Clinical and demographic data were extracted from medical records. Data on TOP were collected based on accessible information from the Ministry of Health. Cleft palate severity was evaluated using the Veau Classification. Results The study was conducted on 258 patients. Higher incidence of Veau II and III was evident throughout the examined period (2000–2018). However, when evaluating the incidence per year, we found that the incidence of severe cases (Veau III and IV) decreased every year showing a major decline of 60% in the last decade, whereas mild cases (Veau type I and II) demonstrated a marked increase of 90%. Regarding the incidence of abortions in Israel, a decrease of 30% was observed in the last two decades, meanwhile a substantial increase was detected in the rate of abortions related to physical malformations of the fetus. Additionally, the number of late terminations due to physical malformations significantly increased in the last decade. Conclusions Significant decrease was observed in the incidence of severe cleft palate cases in the last decade. Concurrently, we found a substantial increase in percentage of abortions performed due to physical malformations. We suggest that these changes might be attributed to the accessibility of advanced prenatal screening and pregnancy termination in Israel under the social healthcare system.

Low-temperature thermochronology of active arc-arc collision zone, South Fossa Magna region, central Japan

The South Fossa Magna region, central Japan, has been an active collision zone between the Honshu Arc and the Izu-Bonin Arc since the middle Miocene and provides an excellent setting for reconstructing the earliest stages of continent formation. Multi-system geo-thermochronometry was applied to different domains of the South Fossa Magna region, together with some previously published data, to reveal mountain formation processes, i.e., vertical crustal movements. Nine granitic samples yielded zircon U–Pb ages of 10.2–5.8 Ma (n = 2), apatite (U–Th)/He (AHe) ages of 42.8–2.6 Ma (n = 7), and apatite fission-track (AFT) ages of 44.1–3.0 Ma (n = 9). Thermal history inversion modeling based on the AHe and AFT data suggests rapid cooling events confined within the study region at ~6–2 Ma. The Kanto Mountains may have undergone a domal uplift in association with their collision with the Tanzawa Block at ~5 Ma. However, this uplift may have slowed down following the southward migration of the plate boundary and late Pliocene termination of the Tanzawa collision against Honshu Island. The Minobu Mountains and adjacent mountains may have been uplifted when motion of the Philippine Sea plate changed from northward to northwestward at ~3 Ma. Therefore, mountain formation in the South Fossa Magna region was mainly controlled by collisions of the Tanzawa and Izu Blocks and motional change of the Philippine Sea plate. Earlier collisions of the Kushigatayama Block at ~13 Ma and Misaka Block at ~10 Ma appear to have had little effect on mountain formation. Together with a clockwise rotation of the Kanto Mountains at 12–6 Ma, these observations suggest that horizontal deformation predominated during the earlier stage of arc-arc collision, and vertical movements due to buoyancy of the accreted crust resulting from crustal shortening and thickening developed at a later stage.

Green bridge crops to manage corn nitrogen nutrition in the Southeastern Argentinean Pampas

An ecological intensification of agriculture through the use of green bridge crops (GBC) between cash crops is a way to improve resource use efficiency. This study aimed to assess vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) (Ve), oat (Avena sativa L.) (Oa), Oa+Ve as GBC, and a control without GBC, with different termination dates (early and late), tillage systems (conventional tillage and no-tillage), and nitrogen (N)-fertilization to corn (Zea mays L.) (NF: 0 and 120 kg N ha−1) on soil N availability, and corn N uptake and yield. Three field experiments were carried out at the Southeastern Argentinean Pampas in 2012–2013, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015 on an Argiudoll. Corn and GBC aboveground dry matter and N accumulation and corn grain yield were determined. Soil nitrate-N at corn planting and V6 and anaerobically mineralizable N (AN) at corn planting were also determined. Water availability at corn planting was not limiting, whereas along corn cycle differed among years. The GBC terminated late accumulated more dry matter and N than those terminated early and Ve and Oa+Ve more N than Oa. Both early termination date and Ve tended to show higher nitrate-N at planting and at V6 stage. In general, NF improved corn behavior but response was different among GBC, being lower after Ve and Oa+Ve, and with late termination date. A simple model was fitted to predict corn relative yield based on nitrate-N at V6 stage, AN, GBC dry matter accumulation and C:N ratio. The model fitted allowed predicting relative corn grain yield and could be used as a tool to help N fertilization recommendation.

Making Meaning of Women Who Have Late-Term Abortions from the Perspective of Mothers Who Terminated Wanted Pregnancies

ABSTRACT Women who have late-term abortions not only have to cope with losing a child but also the stigma associated with termination. Understanding the ways stigmatizing ideologies are resisted by alternatives has the potential to disrupt meanings that disenfranchise populations. Interested in ideological resistance, we framed this study in relational dialectics theory, which highlights how marginalized discourses resist dominant ones to make meaning of a semantic object. We used RDT’s corresponding method, contrapuntal analysis, which revealed two discourses that competed to illuminate the meanings of women who terminate wanted pregnancies due to health complications (WTHC): the Discourse of Independent Murder (DIM) and the Discourse of Collective Sacrifice (DCS). These discourses interplayed through contractive practices (i.e., disqualification, naturalization, ideal violation), synchronic interplay (i.e., entertaining, countering, negating), and dialogic transformation (i.e., hybridization and aesthetic moment) illustrating a struggle that both reified and resisted the DIM. Theoretical implications and practical applications are discussed.

Health of adolescent girls with late term abortions

Health of adolescent girls with late term abortions

Health of adolescent girls with late term abortions

Health of adolescent girls with late term abortions

Experiences of Late First Trimester Abortion in Irish Hospitals: Suggestions for Change

Experiences of Late First Trimester Abortion in Irish Hospitals: Suggestions for Change

Effects of the relationship between adenomyotic lesions and embryo implantation site on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant patients with adenomyosis

Objective: To investigate the relationship between embryo implantation site and adenomyotic lesions in pregnant patients with adenomyosis and its effects on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Between January 2018 and December 2020, the clinical data of 95 pregnant patients with adenomyosis who were hospitalized in the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, which could identify the implantation site of embryo or placenta (≥11 weeks of pregnancy) through the nuchal translucency test under ultrasonography were analyzed retrospectively. According to the relationship between embryo implantation site and adenomyotic lesions, 95 patients were divided into two groups:short-distance group (n=59, the embryo or placenta implantation was very close to or over the adenomyotic lesion), and long-distance group (n=36, the implantation site of embryo or placenta was far away from the lesion, or the implantation site and the adenomyotic lesion were on different sides of the uterus). Next, taking 28 weeks of pregnancy as cut-off value, 95 patients were divided into <28 weeks of pregnancy group (pregnancy was terminated because of adverse pregnancy outcome before 28 weeks) and ≥28 weeks of pregnancy group (pregnancy lasted to 28 weeks and later), the differences of pregnancy outcomes between the two groups in different gestation times were analyzed. Results: (1) The age of 95 pregnant patients with adenomyosis was (34.8±3.5) years. There were no significant differences with regard to age, uterine size before pregnancy, the proportions of primipara, assisted reproductive technology conception, endometriosis, history of estrogen and progesterone treatment, diffuse adenomyotic lesions between the short-distance group and the long-distance group (all P>0.05). (2) Among the 95 patients, 12 patients (13%, 12/95) had adverse pregnancy outcomes before 28 weeks of pregnancy (i.e. pregnancy <28 weeks), including 11 cases (19%, 11/59) in the short-distance group and 1 case (3%, 1/36) in the long-distance group, there was significant difference between the two groups (χ²=5.100, P=0.027). Among the 11 patients with adverse pregnancy outcomes at <28 weeks of gestation in the short-distance group, 1 case had threatened rupture of uterus before delivery of twin pregnancy at 26 weeks of gestation, 5 cases had intra uterine fetal death in the second trimester of pregnancy, 4 cases had late inevitable abortion, and 1 case had live birth of singleton at 26 weeks of gestation. In the long-distance group, one patient with adverse pregnancy outcome less than 28 weeks of pregnancy was late inevitable abortion. (3) Of the 95 patients, 83 cases were pregnant for ≥28 weeks (48 cases in the short-distance group and 35 cases in the long-distance group), and their final pregnancy outcome was all live birth. Compared with the long-distance group, the incidence of placental abnormalities (60% vs 14%), fetal distress (27% vs 6%), preterm delivery (67% vs 23%) and intrapartum bleeding [median 350 ml (range: 100-1 500 ml) vs 300 ml (range: 100-800 ml)] in the short-distance group were significantly higher (all P<0.05). While the gestational weeks in the short-distance group [median 37 weeks (range: 30-41 weeks) vs 38 weeks (range: 28-41 weeks)] and neonatal birth weight [median 2 790 g (range: 1 170-4 040 g) vs 3 010 g (range: 980-4 320 g)] decreased significantly (all P<0.05), compared with those in the long-distance group. Conclusion: Patients with pregnancy complicated with adenomyosis are prone to adverse pregnancy outcomes if the embryo implantation is located on or very close to adenomyotic lesions, so close monitoring and early intervention should be carried out to improve pregnancy outcomes.

What can we learn from systematic segmental analysis of fetal heart by postmortem micro-CT: Is it time to change approach?

BackgroundPostmortem analysis of fetal heart is crucial but challenging. Alternative techniques to autopsy have been studied. We investigate micro-CT diagnostic accuracy in the analysis of fetal heart coming from early and late termination of pregnancy. MethodsMicro-CT and autopsy analyzed human fetal heart using twenty-six indices of cardiac anatomy derived from segmental approach. Sub-analysis of smaller specimens was performed. Primary outcome is the agreement between techniques. Secondary outcomes are sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value. Indices are defined “visible” or “non-visible” (primary end point) and “normal”, “abnormal” or “non-diagnostic” (secondary end point). ResultsFifty-five cases were included. Agreement was 74.5% and 65.2% for primary end point and 93.3% and 91.8% for secondary end point in general population and in the group of smaller specimens, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were 92.8%, 51.8%, 67.1%, 87.2% in the general population and 92.8%, 47.8%, 54.3%, 90.9% in the subgroup of smaller specimens for primary end point. They were 97.3%, 68.3%, 95.1%, 80.0% in the general population and 95.7%, 75.6%, 94.2%, 81.0% in the subgroup of smaller specimens for secondary end point. 86.1% and 91.5% of indices defined as “non-diagnostic” at autopsy would be visible by micro-CT in the two studied populations. ConclusionMicro-CT represents a valid alternative to autopsy for postmortem evaluation of human fetal heart. We proposed to use micro-CT for initial analysis of fetal heart and to perform autopsy only in unsolved cases or if histological analysis is needed.

The Pitfalls of the Ethical Continuum and its Application to Medical Aid in Dying

The Pitfalls of the Ethical Continuum and its Application to Medical Aid in Dying

Profile of abortion seekers in the tertiary center of northern hills with review of medical termination of pregnancy act in India

The aim of the present study was to investigate the socio-demographic and obstetric profile of pregnant women, seeking medical termination of pregnancy in accordance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and the reasons for undergoing termination of pregnancy in the tertiary care center of the hilly region of Northern India and to further review the amendments in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971 along with its future implications in legalizing abortions in India.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A registry-based retrospective study was carried out among pregnant women, attending the gynecologic outpatient department for termination of pregnancy at the tertiary care teaching hospital and the referral center for Himalayan foothills in Northern India. The records of women, seeking termination of pregnancy during a 1-year period between October 2020 and September 2021, were reviewed and information on their demographic and obstetric profile, reason for undergoing termination of pregnancy, and acceptance of contraception, following termination of pregnancy was recorded in the data sheet. The information obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM, Chicago, USA) for descriptive statistics.&#x0D; Results: A total of 400 pregnant women underwent Medical Termination of Pregnancy between October 2020 and September 2021. 30.5 % (122/400) women between 26–30 years of age underwent termination of pregnancy, followed by 27.3 % women aged between 31–35 years. Social reasons for termination of pregnancy were more evident in women aged 26 years and above. 84.09 % pregnancies were terminated in the second trimester (&gt;12 weeks) on eugenic ground, while 65.01 % pregnancies were terminated in the first trimester (6–12 weeks) on social grounds. Only 7.75 % (31/400) women opted for sterilization or family planning after MTP, out of which the majority opted for temporary methods of contraception.&#x0D; Conclusion: We conclude from the results of the present study that women in the peak reproductive age (26–30 years) are more likely to seek pregnancy termination and this group of women needs to be the focus of contraceptive counseling and family planning services. Timely ultrasound scans by an expert sonologist may be a step forward towards lowering the rates of late pregnancy termination. There is a need to educate women to avail and use contraceptive methods in an effective manner and to make them aware of utilizing sterilization services, once they complete their families to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

Development and Use of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to Determine Temporal Exposure Patterns to Putative Agents of Nocardioform Placentitis

Cases of nocardioform placentitis are characterized by focal, mucoid placentitis resulting in late-term abortion, premature birth, or small, full-term foals, occur sporadically, and are most commonly associated with Crossiella equi and Amycolatopsis spp. infection. The goal of this project was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantifying antibodies against Crossiella equi and Amycolatopsis spp. and utilize the ELISA to determine when exposure occurs. Serum samples collected during the 2020 foaling season from Crossiella equi (n = 8) and Amycolatopsis spp. (n = 32) infected mares, as well as nonaffected mares (n = 51 mares), were used to develop and optimize bacteria-specific ELISAs. Following development of the ELISAs, banked serum samples from a single, central Kentucky Thoroughbred farm collected during 2012 to 2013 (n = 104 mares) and 2013-14 (n = 82 mares) were analyzed. Differences in various groups were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Crossiella equi-infected mares had significantly higher ELISA unit (EU) values on the Crossiella equi ELISA near parturition when compared to the other two groups (P < .001). Using the Amycolatopsis spp. ELISA, EU values were not significantly different between Amycolatopsis spp. infected and non-affected mares, suggesting this ELISA is not specific for Amycolatopsis spp. During 2013 to 2014, there were significant increases in EU values between June and late September for the Crossiella equi ELISA, suggesting exposure in the summer and early fall months. Data from the Crossiella equi ELISA may help provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of nocardioform placentitis, guide the development of a successful experimental challenge model, and allow for further refinement of these ELISAs.

Use of Remifentanil Associated with Lidocaine for Feticides in Late Terminations of Pregnancy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: In France, performance of a termination of pregnancy is legally possible without any gestational age limit. After 22 weeks of gestation, a feticide is ethically performed using usually sufentanil and lidocaine. The aim of this study was to compare the use of remifentanil, a fast-acting morphine-derivating product, instead of sufentanil. Methods: This 2-center randomized, controlled, single-blinded phase-III treatment trial had 2 parallel arms: an experimental group using remifentanil with lidocaine versus a control group receiving sufentanil associated with lidocaine. This trial took place over a 40-month period. The primary outcome was time to fetal asystole after lidocaine injection. The secondary outcome measures were the procedure’s success rate, the rate of serious maternal side effects, and the presence of cellular or tissue modifications. Results: The study included 66 women, randomized into 2 groups of similar size and characteristics. Time to fetal asystole did not differ significantly between the groups, with a delay of 4 min (Q1−Q3, 2–11) in the sufentanil group and 4 min (Q1−Q3, 1–10) in the remifentanil group (p = 0.84). Similarly, the success rate of the procedure did not differ significantly. Fetal asystole was procured in <2 min and persisted >1 min for 16 (25.8%) women in our total population: 7 (22.5%) in the sufentanil group and 9 (29.0%) in the remifentanil group, p = 0.77. No severe maternal side effects were observed. Among the 49 fetopathological examinations performed, the few tissue and cell modifications observed did not cause any interpretation difficulties in either group. Discussion/Conclusion: Use of remifentanil instead of sufentanil for feticide procedure did not improve time to fetal asystole. No harmful effect was observed for either maternal tolerance or interpretation of the histologic slides.

Psychological analysis of women’s experiences of late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly

AIM: The aim of this study was to conduct a psychological analysis and summarize information on womens experiences of late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 105 patients aged 19 to 43 years who experienced late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly after 22 weeks of gestation and who received psychological support during their stay in the maternity hospital. The method of data collection involved structured clinical interview with subsequent analysis and summarizing the information received. The data obtained were compared with the literature, thus leading to a conclusion about long-term psychological consequences after late pregnancy termination. RESULTS: The general psychological patterns of womens experiencing of several consequential steps of late pregnancy termination were revealed: during the primary diagnosis, in the decision-making process, during the feticide procedure, during delivery, and in the postpartum period. The tasks of psychological support were formulated; the types of reasons for termination decision were described; the key influence of the psychological status of the fetus on the subjective character of experience was determined. The analysis of foreign issues was made and faraway traumatic consequences of late pregnancy termination for the woman and her family were depicted. CONCLUSIONS: Late pregnancy termination is a traumatic choice for a woman and her family and it has medical, psychological, ethical and legal contexts. Psychological maintenance can optimize the patients contact with the medical staff during her stay in the maternity hospital. Psychologically conceived experience ensure a constructive attitude towards the future pregnancy and its positive conditions.

Psychological analysis of women’s experiencing of late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly

Goals. Psychological analysis and summarizing of information of womens experiencing of late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly.&#x0D; Participants and methods. 105 participants from 19 to 43 years old, experienced late pregnancy termination for fetal anomaly after 22 gestation weeks, which needed the psychological support during being in maternal hospital. Method of data collection is structured clinical interview with following analysis and summarizing information that had been received. It was also performed many other authors data analysis. This led us for the conclusion about psychological prophylactics long-term consequences after late pregnancy termination.&#x0D; Results. It was revealed general psychological mechanisms of womens experiencing of several consequential steps of process of pregnancy termination: primary diagnosis, process of decision- making, during the feticide procedure, delivery and postpartum period. Tasks of psychological support formulated; types of reasons for termination decision were described, influence of psychological status of fetus for character of experience. The analysis of foreign issues was made and the result was description of faraway traumatic consequences of late pregnancy termination for woman and her family.&#x0D; Conclusions. Late pregnancy termination is traumatic choice for woman and her family and it has medical, psychological, ethical and legal context. Psychological maintenance can optimize patients contact with medical stuff in period she stays in maternity hospital. Psychologically conceived experience ensure constructive attitude to the future pregnancy and its positive conditions.

Prenatal exome sequencing: A useful tool for the fetal neurologist.

Prenatal exome sequencing (pES) is a promising tool for diagnosing genetic disorders when structural anomalies are detected on prenatal ultrasound. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic yield and clinical impact of pES as an additional modality for fetal neurologists who counsel parents in case of congenital anomalies of the central nervous system (CNS). We assessed 20 pregnancies of 19 couples who were consecutively referred to the fetal neurologist for CNS anomalies. pES had a diagnostic yield of 53% (10/19) with most diagnosed pregnancies having agenesis or hypoplasia of the corpus callosum (7/10). Overall clinical impact was 63% (12/19), of which the pES result aided parental decision making in 55% of cases (6/11), guided perinatal management in 75% of cases (3/4), and was helpful in approving a late termination of pregnancy request in 75% of cases (3/4). Our data suggest that pES had a high diagnostic yield when CNS anomalies are present, although this study is limited by its small sample size. Moreover, pES had substantial clinical impact, which warrants implementation of pES in the routine care of the fetal neurologist in close collaboration with gynecologists and clinical geneticists.

Postmortem Micro-CT of Human Fetal Heart-A Systematic Literature Review.

Micro-computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive alternative to conventional macroscopic dissection for the evaluation of human fetal cardiac anatomy. This paper aims to systematically review the literature regarding the use of micro-CT to examine human fetal hearts, to illustrate its educational and research implications and to explain its possible directions for the future. A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA statement to identify publications concerning micro-CT applications for the isolated human fetal heart. The search strategy identified nine eligible studies. Micro-CT is technically feasible for postmortem examination of the human fetal heart coming from early and late termination of pregnancy. It reaches high diagnostic accuracy, and it seems to perform better than autopsy in small samples or in the case of early termination of pregnancy. Applications derived from micro-CT allow multiple off-time evaluations and interdisciplinary comparisons for educational purposes and research perspectives in biological and bioengineering domains.

Cover crop species can increase or decrease the fertilizer‐nitrogen requirement in maize

AbstractCover crop species and termination date could affect fertilizer‐nitrogen (N) management and N diagnostic methods traditionally used in bare fallow‐maize (Zea mays L.) systems. Our objectives were to (a) assess the effect of cover crop termination date on maize yield and response to fertilizer‐N, (b) determine maize yield at varying N rates following different cover crop species and mixtures, and (c) evaluate the chlorophyll meter reading (CMR), grain N concentration (Nc), and grain N nutrition index (NNI) as N diagnostic methods. Experiments were conducted at four sites in the southeastern Argentinean Pampas with maize planted after cover crops. Factors investigated were cover crops with vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), vetch–oat (Avena sativa L.) mixture, or bare fallow; early termination of cover crops or ∼3 wk later; and maize fertilizer‐N at 0, 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha–1. The minimum N rate that maximized grain yield was higher in vetch–oat mixture (100 kg N ha–1) than in vetch (50 kg N ha–1). Maize yield was not affected by cover crops with 200 kg N ha–1. Late termination dates of vetch–oat mixture reduced maize yield by 15% compared with early termination dates, while there was no effect of vetch termination date. Cover crop termination date did not affect yield response to fertilizer‐N. Relative CMR at silking, grain Nc, and especially grain NNI at maturity were useful tools to diagnose maize N status and cover crop effect. Cover crop management should be considered to adjust the fertilizer N rate and optimize maize productivity.