Months Of Fetal Development Research Articles

Dermal ridge patterns of palms of children with congenital heart diseases in comparison to normal children: A case control study

The dermatoglyphic patterns of dermal ridges that constitute human fingerprint are formed during the early intra‑uterine life, between 7th and 21st week of gestation and mature at about seventh month of fetal development. Dermatoglyphics, once matured, remain unchanged throughout the life of an individual and are not influenced either by environmental or by age‑related factors. The heart and cardiovascular system develop between 4th weeks to 4th month of intrauterine life. So, any defect in heart development by any reason may affect development of dermal ridges.To study and compare the quantitative parameters of palmar dermatoglyphics of normal children with those of congenital heart diseases. It was a case control study conducted at Basaveshwara Hospital, Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, Bangalore. Children having congenital heart diseases (cyanotic and acyanotic) proven by echo-cardiography. Children with doubtful congenital heart diseases, Children with acquired heart diseases, Children with deformities of the hand. It is a Case-control study consisting 100 congenital heart disease patients and 100 controls. The atd angle in right and left hand, a-b ridge count in right and left hand of congenital heart disease children were significantly increased when compared to the normal children with p-value < 0.001. Distribution of Simian crease and Sydney line is statistically similar in two groups of children with p=1.000 Dermatoglyphics can be used as a predictive indicator about congenital cardiac diseases in population studies, easy to carry out with minimum time and expenses.

CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF SMALL BONES OF THE FACIAL DIVISION OF THE SKULL

The development of the cranial vault bone system is ensured by the sequential development and displacement of various rudiments, which merge, spread and take an indirect part in the formation of the face. The analysis of modern scientifi c literature allows us to come to the conclusion that, despite a number of scientifi c works in human anatomy, the morphogenesis of small bones of the facial skull remains an actual direction of modern medicine. As you know, the small bones of the facial skull include the lacrimal, nasal, zygomatic, palatine bones, the lower nasal concha, which are paired, and the unpaired – the scapula and hyoid bone. Primary ossifi cation of the lacrimal bone appears in the third month of fetal development. Among the anomalies of the nasal conchas, pneumatization, agenesis, and their doubling are quite often detected. The ossifi cation of the ploughshare develops from two connective tissue plates, which fuse together in the process of ossifi cation (beginning in the third month of embryogenesis). Ossifi cation of the nasal bone is determined from one point of ossifi cation, which appears in the third month of embryogenesis. The zygomatic bone undergoes the connective tissue and bone stages of development, the ossifi cation of the nucleus appears in the 8th week of intrauterine development. For a long time, the hyoid bone has been the object of anatomical discussions regarding the peculiarities of its embryonic origin, variants of its structure, position and function. Conclusion. On the basis of the conducted research, it can be stated that in the scientifi c literature there are isolated data on the development and formation of the small bones structure in the perinatal period of ontogenesis of the facial skull. Currently there are no comprehensive studies on the density of bone tissue, morphometric characteristics and correlative relationships of the small bones of the facial skull with the parameters of the face and skull as a whole during the fetal and early neonatal periods of ontogenesis. Last is the basis for determining the morphological prerequisites for the appearance of variants of the facial structure and its congenital defects and determine the need for further anatomical study.

Онтологія уроджених вад кульшової кістки

Deepening and generalization of already existing knowledge about rare diseases and congenital anomalies are becoming relevant in modern medicine. Congenital malformations are often combined with other abnormalities, including the genitourinary tract. It is assumed that there is a rare model of associated anomalies limited to a specific area of the body. The purpose of the study was the analysis and generalization of information from the sources of scientific literature on сongenital malformations of the hip bone, their classification and interpretation in alphabetical order. This study is a continuation of our previous research on сongenital malformations of the lower extremities. Results and discussion. Congenital malformations of the pelvic girdle, in particular hip dysplasia and congenital hip dislocation, are the most common. Hip dysplasia occurs with a frequency of 5 to 16%. To understand the morphological background of congenital anomalies of the pelvic bone and their surgical treatment, it is necessary to have an idea of prenatal development not only of each of the three pelvic girdle bones but also the genitourinary system, rectum, and vagina. Among the three parts of the pelvic bone, the process of ossification of the pubic bone is the latest and begins between 5 and 6 months of fetal development. The primary center of ossification is located in the upper part of the future bone in front of the acetabulum and in the immediate vicinity of the sciatic and femoral nerves. Based on the analysis of literature sources, an attempt was made to summarize the existing information on the congenital malformations of the pelvic girdle bones and propose their classification and interpretation according to the alphabet. Conclusion. Pelvic congenital malformations can be both generalized and isolated. Generalized congenital malformations of the pelvic bones lead to a change in the configuration of the whole pelvis, and isolated – involve one bone or part of it. Generalized pelvic congenital malformations include the anatomically narrow pelvis, hypoplastic pelvis, infantile pelvis, uniformly narrowed pelvis, oblique pelvis, funnel-shaped pelvis, flat pelvis, flat narrowed pelvis, transversely narrowed pelvis, scoliotic pelvis, spondylosis. Isolated pelvic bone defects include pubic bone aplasia, hip aplasia, achondrogenesis, achondroplasia, hip hypoplasia, deep acetabulum, hip dysplasia, cleidocranial dysplasia, limbus, neolimbus, retroversion of the acetabulum, and stenosis of the acetabulum

Морфометрична характеристика стегнових кісток у плодів людини

Defining quantitative growth parameters of individual skeletal bones, namely the right and left femurs, is practically important for determining the age of the fetus. Lack of data on changes in the length of the femur in 4-10 months’ fetuses, as well as the dependence of its morphometric parameters on the length of the lower limb and the age of the fetus, prompted us to conduct this study. The purpose of the study was to determine the morphometric parameters of the length of the right and left femurs during the fetal period of human ontogenesis, which could form the base of normal indicators. Materials and methods. Morphometric study was performed on the lower extremities specimens of 40 human fetuses of an 81.0-375.0 mm parietal-coccygeal length. Results and discussion. As a result of the study, the dynamics of changes in the length of the right and left femurs and lower extremities in 4-10 months’ human fetuses was established. Direct correlations were found in the studied fetal groups, and only in 5-month-old fetuses a direct medium-strength reliable correlation between the lengths of the right and left femurs was found. A weak correlation between the length of the left lower limb and the length of the left femur was found in 7-month-old fetuses. In other cases, direct significant strong correlations were found between the analyzed indicators. The results obtained regarding the change in the length of the right and left femurs, as well as the Pearson correlation coefficient between the morphometric parameters of the length of the right and left femurs and the length of the lower extremities and parietal-coccygeal length of human fetuses 4-10 months are important both theoretically and practically for fetal anatomy. Conclusion. During the fetal period of human ontogenesis, where there is a relatively uniform increase in the length of the right and left femurs, no significant differences in their length were detected. Between the 4th and the 10th month of fetal development, the length of the right femur increases by 5.59 times (from 13.18 ± 2.56 mm to 73.66 ± 2.19 mm), and the length of the left femur increases by 5.44 times: from 13.54 ± 2.35 mm to 73.73 ± 2.12 mm, respectively. In the fetal period the right and left lower extremities also grow equally, no significant differences in their length have been established

Morphometric characteristics of skull and face parameters in fetuses and newborns

Modern science has a significant number of diagnostic methods: craniological, anatomical, ultrasound, radiological. The development of new research methods, such as ultrasound and X-ray methods (magnetic resonance imaging), forms the concept of ultrasound and X-ray norms at different stages of human development. Now it is important to study the anatomical variability of people, morphometric characteristics, relationships of organs, anatomical structures, their parts at all stages of human development. The purpose of the work is to establish normative morphometric parameters of the skull and face in fetuses and newborns, followed by construction of mathematical models. The study was performed on 57 preparations of human fetuses 4-10 months and 7 newborns using adequate anatomical methods: macropreparation, topographic anatomical sections, computed tomography, craniometry. The main parameters of the facial and cerebral skull were measured with the help of a centimeter tape, a thick, sliding compass and a caliper. Statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed using a licensed program RStudio. It is established that according to the graphs of the average values of the parameters of the skull and face, there are two periods of accelerated and two periods of slow development. For transverse skull length, face width and skull height, two periods of accelerated development from the 6th to the 8th month of fetal development and from the 9th month of fetal development to the neonatal period and two periods of delayed development from the 5th to the 6th months and from the 8th to the 9th month of fetal development were revealed. For the total height of the face – periods of accelerated development – from the 4th to the 6th month of fetal development and from the 7th to the 9th month of fetal development, periods of delayed development – from the 6th to the 7th month of fetal development and from the 9th month of fetal development to the neonatal period. On the basis of arithmetic mean data of transverse skull length, face width, skull height, total face height, models for predicting normative morphometric parameters in fetuses and newborns are constructed. The constructed models will serve as a norm for the subsequent determination of certain morphometric deviations to establish variants of the structure and malformations of the skull and face. Thus, our systematized data on the features of spatio-temporal transformations of morphometric parameters of transverse skull length, face width, skull height, total face height with subsequent construction of mathematical models will contribute to the individualization of the norm, improvement of early diagnosis methods and development of new methods for surgical correction of congenital defects of the skull and face.

Features of organometric parameters of the palm in the perinatal period of ontogenesis

Selective single data on the organometric parameters of the palm in the perinatal period of ontogenesis determines the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study is to establish the organometric parameters of the palm during the fetal and early neonatal periods of human ontogenesis. The study of the palm was performed on 51 preparations of fetal corpses (from 4 to 10 months) and 10 newborns using adequate anatomical methods: macropreparation, radiography, topographic and anatomical sections, morphometry, statistical analysis. It was found that the right hand in the perinatal period of ontogenesis is characterized by its elbow shape (54 %), for the left hand – radial (71 %). The parameters of the length of the right palm are greater than the parameters of the length of the left palm in the second trimester of fetal development and in the neonatal period; in the third trimester of fetal development the length of the left palm is greater than the length of the right. The parameters of the width of the right palm exceed these parameters of the left palm during the entire perinatal period of ontogenesis. During the perinatal period of ontogenesis the organometric parameters of the palm are characterized by two periods of accelerated development and a period of relatively slow development. For the length and width of the right and left palms, periods of accelerated development from the 4th to the 5th month of fetal development and from the 7th month to the neonatal period; from the 5th to the 7th month of fetal development – a period of relatively slow development. Models for predicting the normative values of organometric parameters of the palm during the perinatal period of ontogenesis are: palm length = β0 + 0.042 x crown-heel length of the fetus, where β0: 3.587, if the age period = 4 months; 5.562 = 5 months; 4.071 = 6 months; 4.840 = 7 months; 6.881 = 8 months; 5.624 = 9 months; 5.448 = 10 months; 5.765 = newborns; palm width = β0 + 0.038 x crown-heel length of the fetus, where β0: 2.887, if age period = 4 months; 4.341 = 5 months; 2.638 = 6 months; 3.324 = 7 months; 3.548 = 8 months; 1.714 = 9 months; 1.814 = 10 months; 3.231 = newborns.

Rare variant of pancreaticobiliary maljunction associated with pancreas divisum in a child diagnosed and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A case report

BACKGROUNDPancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system, defined as a union of the pancreatic and biliary ducts located outside the duodenal wall. According to the Komi classification of PBM, the common bile duct (CBD) directly fuses with the ventral pancreatic duct in all types. Pancreas divisum (PD) occurs when the ventral and dorsal ducts of the embryonic pancreas fail to fuse during the second month of fetal development. The coexistence of PBM and PD is an infrequent condition. Here, we report an unusual variant of PBM associated with PD in a pediatric patient, in whom an anomalous communication existed between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.CASE SUMMARYA boy aged 4 years and 2 mo was hospitalized for abdominal pain with nausea and jaundice for 5 d. Abdominal ultrasound showed cholecystitis with cholestasis in the gallbladder, dilated middle-upper CBD, and a strong echo in the lower CBD, indicating biliary stones. The diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by biliary stones, which is an indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). ERCP was performed to remove biliary stones. During the ERCP, we found a rare communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct. After clearing the CBD with a balloon, an 8.5 Fr 4-cm pigtail plastic pancreatic stent was placed in the biliary duct through the major papilla. Six months later, his biliary stent was removed after he had no symptoms and normal laboratory tests. In the following 4-year period, the child grew up normally with no more attacks of abdominal pain.CONCLUSIONWe consider that ERCP is effective and safe in pediatric patients with PBM combined with PD, and can be the initial therapy to manage such cases, especially when it is combined with aberrant communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.

Spectrum of clinical heterogeneity of β-tubulin TUBB5 gene mutations

Microcephaly is a rare condition in which the occipitofrontal circumference in a child is more than two standard deviations below the mean of children of the same age and gender. It is mainly caused by genetic abnormalities that interfere with the growth of the cerebral cortex during early months of fetal development. We present a case of a 12 years old patient with microcephaly. To identify a possible genetic origin of the phenotype, we performed array CGH and exome sequencing in the patient. Exome sequencing revealed the presence of a de novo missense mutation in the TUBB5 gene (E401K). Mutations in the TUBB5 are mainly responsible for microcephaly but the clinical spectrum is wide, from patients with severe developmental delay, and the presence of different brain malformations, to patients with only slightly cognitive impairment and normal motor development. Our patient shows a milder phenotype than other patients carrying the same mutation. These differences in the clinical features suggest that other factors, presumably genetic or epigenetic, could be modulating clinical expressivity of TUBB5. It is therefore evident that more functional studies are needed to understand the pathology that underlies the clinical spectrum of tubulin associated disease states.

Peculiarities of organometric parameters of the hard palate in the second and third trimester of the intrauterine development and newborns

Finding anatomical variability of organs, structures and their parts at all the stages of human development is rather topical. Determination of organometric parameters of the hard palate in fetuses and newborns is an essential part for perinatal diagnostics and understanding real parameters of the norm and pathology. Purpose of the study is to find organometric parameters of the palatine maxillary process and horizontal lamina of the palatine bone during fetal and early neonatal periods of human ontogenesis. By means of adequate anatomical methods of examination the study was conducted on 53 specimens of dead fetuses from 4 to 10 months of fetal development (from 165.0 mm to 500.0 mm of the parietal-calcaneal length (PCL)) and 9 specimens of dead neonates. The length of the palatine maxillary process during the perinatal period was found to be characterized by the two periods of accelerated development (5-7 and 8-10 months), and the period of relatively slow development (7-8 months). Its width was found to be characterized by the two period of accelerated development (5-7 and 9-10 months), and relatively slow development (7-8 months). The length of the horizontal lamina of the palatine bone is characterized by the period of accelerated development from 8 to 10 months, and the period of relatively slow development from 7 to 8 months. Meanwhile 5-8 and 9-10 months were the periods of accelerated development for its width, and 8-9 months – the period of relatively slow development for it. During fetal and early neonatal periods of human ontogenesis the value of all the paired correlation coefficients between organometric parameters of the palatine maxillary process (hard palate) and horizontal lamina of the palatine bone are positive and rather close to 1 (>0.84), which is indicative of a close positive correlation between all the organometric parameters. Very strong relation is found between the length of the hard palate and its width in the right and left (r=0.92), between the length of the hard palate and palatine bone (r=0.97), between the length of the palatine bone and the width of the hard palate in the right (r=0.91) and in the left (r=0.90). Therefore, by means of adequate anatomical methods of examination new scientifically substantiated data are obtained concerning organometric characteristics of anatomical structures of the hard palate at all the stages of perinatal period.

GROWTH OF THE GASTRIC ARTERIES IN FETUSES AGED 4-6 MONTHS OF THE PRENATAL PERIOD OF HUMAN ONTOGENESIS

Methods of vascular injection followed by the X-ray examination, macro-microscopic dissection, microscopic examination of histological sections series and graphic reconstruction were used to study the development of the gastric arteries vessels in 27 fetuses during the early gestational period (4 - 6 months of fetal development). We have found the branching sites and the topography of the main vessels supplying the stomach, the features of their branching in the gastric membranes. The development of anastomoses between the branches of the II-IV orders and features of the growth of the vascular plexuses of the stomach wall were traced

ЗАКОНОМІРНОСТІ ІНДИВІДУАЛЬНОЇ АНАТОМІЧНОЇ МІНЛИВОСТІ НОСОВОЇ ДІЛЯНКИ У ПЛОДІВ ЛЮДИНИ

Досліджено 117 плодів людини віком від 5 до 10 місяців внутрішньоутробного розвитку (85,0–500,0 мм ТПД) обох статей із використанням комплексу методів морфологічного дослідження (антропометрія, морфометрія, комп’ютерна томографія, тривимірне комп’ютерне реконструювання, статистичний аналіз). Статистичний аналіз морфометричних параметрів структур носової ділянки плодів обох статей упродовж плодового періоду пренатального онтогенезу людини дозволив з’ясувати та визначити особливості конституційної та статево-вікової анатомії, встановити математичні закономірності змін морфометричних показників досліджених структур, що може бути морфологічним підґрунтям для розробки діагностичних алгоритмів та вирішення питань про ступінь зрілості плода. Періодами нерівномірного росту морфометричних показників носової ділянки є 5 та 8 місяці внутрішньоутробного розвитку, під час яких спостерігається прискорене зростання її розмірів у обох стетей, а також 7 місяць, під час якого уповільнюються темпи її росту. Cтатевовікова особливість змін висоти носової апертури характеризується схожістю часової динаміки у плодів брахіморфного типу чоловічої статі та мезоморфного типу жіночої статі. Довжина носової порожнини інтенсивніше зростає у плодів чоловічої статі з доліхоморфним конституційним типом та в плодів жіночої статі з доліхо- та брахіморфним типами. Мезоморфні плоди обох статей та брахіморфні плоди чоловічої статі характеризуються більш високими значеннями довжини носової порожнини на початку плодового періоду та повільним її зростанням упродовж розвитку. Ширина носової апертури у плодів обох статей доліхоморфного типу слід вважати крайньою формою анатомічної мінливості (високі значення на початку плодового періоду та прискорене зростання її упродовж розвитку). Ширина носової порожнини характеризується схожістю часової динаміки зростання в плодів доліхоморфного типу обох статей та значною статевою відмінністю серед інших конституційних типів. Зокрема, у плодів чоловічої статі мезоморфного типу вона зростає найінтенсивніше, а для брахіморфного типу характерна тенденція до зменшення цього показника. Тому для плодів чоловічої статі брахіморфного типу притаманні крайні форми анатомічної мінливості ширини носової порожнини. Математичний аналіз особливостей морфометричних змін носової апертури та носової порожнини дозволив вивести логарифмічні функції, що відображають закономірності динаміки змін цих структур:– ширина носової порожнини (чоловіча стать): y=6,6219*exp(0,1178*x);– ширина носової порожнини (жіноча стать): y= 6,323*exp(0,128*x);– довжина носової порожнини (чоловіча стать): y=11,9296*exp(0,1076*x);– довжина носової порожнини (жіноча стать): y=11,6504*exp(0,0992*x);– ширина носової апертури (чоловіча стать): y=5,8844*exp(0,1116*x);– ширина носової апертури (жіноча стать): y=5,8259*exp(0,0914*x);– висота носової апертури (чоловіча стать): y= 6,9016*exp(0,1418*x);– висота носової апертури (жіноча стать): y=7,0358*exp(0,1004*x).

ANATOMICAL PECULIARITIES OF ZYGOMATIC, FRONTAL AND ALVEOLAR PROCESSES OF THE UPPER JAW IN THE PERINATAL PERIOD OF ONTOGENESIS

Organometric examination of the upper jaw on 53 dead 4-10-month fetuses and 11 newborns (5 isolated organ complexes in particular) was performed. During the perinatal period the zygomatic process of the upper jaw is found to be convex shaped resembling a right-angled triangle. The surface of the zygomatic process is rough and spongy. The relief of the upper edge of the zygomatic process is changeable. In 4-5 month fetuses it is smooth, in 6-7 month ones – radially ragged, in 8-10 month fetuses and newborns – jagged. The largest growth of the zygomatic process of the upper jaw is found in the 7th, 810th month of fetal development and newborns, and the smallest – in the 4-6th months. The shape of the frontal process of the upper jaw of 4-month fetuses resembles an isosceles triangle with a broad base, and at the end of the 5th month of the intrauterine development it is drawn up and acquires a right triangle shape. This shape of the process is peculiar for 6-7, 810 month fetuses and newborns. The height of the frontal process significantly increases in late fetuses and newborns, and least of all it grows on the 6th and 7th months of fetal development, both in the right and left. The alveolar process of the upper jaw in early fetuses is little pronounced and resembles a semicircular channel, and at the end of the gestational period it is represented by a wide alveolar canal and well expressed. The height of the alveolar process of the upper jaw in fetuses and newborns significantly increases on the 6th, and 8-10 months in the newborns, and the least – in the 4-5th and the 7th month of fetal development, both in the right and left. The length of the alveolar process in fetuses and newborns increases significantly on the 7th, and 8-10 months in newborns, and the least – in the 4-5th and 6th months of intrauterine development, both in the right and left.

Morphological And Anthropometric Characteristics Of The Sublingual Salivary Glands In The Fetal Pre-Natal Human Ontogenesis

The study of morphological changes in the dynamics of age and anthropometric characteristics of prenatal ontogenesis sublingual salivary glands (SLSG) rights held on 51 specimen fruit 4-10 months of fetal development (81,0-375,0 mm parietal-coccygeal length). Implementation of the objectives of the study achieved using methods macroscopy, microscopy series of sequential histological and topographic anatomical sections, graphic and plastic remodel, fi ne dissection under the control of a binocular microscope, morphometry. It is shown that the morphological feature and anthropometric characteristics SLSG human fetal period of prenatal ontogenesis is a genetically programmed ability to create additional independent prostate lobes with separate ducts. The merger of the secretors lobules SLSG independent departments with the main part of anlagen the gland observed throughout the fetal period of prenatal ontogenesis. The study leads to the conclusion that the emergence of variants form SLSG fetuses 4–10 months of fetal development depends on the number of independent particles and their location relative to the primary germ glands.

Prenatal stress and affective disorders in a population birth cohort

Pregnant women exposed to an acute traumatic event are thought to produce offspring with an increased incidence of affective disorders. It is not known whether there are specific times in pregnancy which confer increased vulnerability, or if psychosocial stress alone can increase the incidence of affective disorders in offspring. We examined the relationship of the timing of an acute psychosocial threat during pregnancy to the incidence of affective disorders in offspring using data from a large birth cohort. Using data on 90079 offspring born in Jerusalem in 1964-1976 and linked to Israel's psychiatric registry, we constructed proportional hazards models to evaluate the link between gestational age during the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967 and incidence of mood disorders. Those in their first trimester of fetal development during the war were more likely to be admitted to hospitals for any mood disorders [relative risk (RR) = 3.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68-5.39, p = 0.0002]; for bipolar disorder the risk was doubled (RR = 2.44, 95% CI: 0.996-5.99, p = 0.054) and for all 'other' mood disorders the risk was tripled (RR = 3.61, 95% CI: 1.68-7.80, p = 0.001). Mood disorders were also increased in offspring whose mothers had been in the third month of pregnancy in June of 1967 (RR = 5.54, 95% CI: 2.73-11.24, p < 0.0001). A time-limited exposure to a severe threat during early gestation may be associated with an increased incidence of affective disorders in offspring. The third month of fetal development was a moment of special vulnerability.

P-1390 - Prenatal stress and affective disorders in a population birth cohort

Maternal psychological stress during pregnancy has been associated with the risk for mood disorders in offspring, although there is no consensus about the influence of the timing of the stress on outcomes. We examined the relationship of prenatal stress at specific times in pregnancy to the incidence of mood disorders in offspring using data from a large birth cohort. We linked data on 90,079 offspring born in Jerusalem in 1964–76 to Israel's psychiatric registry. We used proportional hazards models to evaluate the link between discharge diagnoses and gestational age during the Arab-Israeli war of June, 1967. Those in their first trimester of fetal development during the war were significantly more likely to be admitted to hospitals for any mood disorders (RR = 3.01, 1.68–5.39, p = .0002), and the subgroups of bipolar disorder (2.44; 1.0–5.99; p = .054) and “other” mood disorders (3.61; 1.68–7.80; p = .001). Mood disorders were substantially increased in offspring whose mothers had been in the third month of pregnancy in June, 1967 (5.54, 2.73–11.24, p < .0001). These findings suggest that acute maternal stress in early pregnancy may contribute to the etiology of mood disorders in offspring. They point to the third month of fetal development as a moment of special vulnerability.

Development of the cardiac venous system in prenatal human life

AbstractThe human coronary sinus is an evolutionary modification of the terminal part of the left sinus horn. Anatomically, the coronary sinus is a short, broad vessel that runs along the coronary groove situated on the diaphragmatic surface of the heart. This structure, which opens into the right atrium, collects blood from the great cardiac vein and from other veins of the heart as well. In this study, we assessed the growth and dimensions of the coronary sinus at the fourth and eighth months of fetal development from whole material received from the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum, Department of Histology and Embryology in Bydgoszcz. A group of 219 specimens, 105 male and 114 female fetuses, presented no visible malformations or developmental abnormalities. The results of this study determined that the dimension of the coronary sinus during prenatal development is not sexually dimorphic. Furthermore, following a monthly period of rapid growth in length of this structure, there are no further increases in length after the six months gestation. Finally, we concluded that the dimensions of the coronary sinus obtained during autopsy are similar to those determined through intravital ultrasound examination. The diameter of the coronary sinus is the best parameter to monitoring the fetal age and the growing of the fetus. Accordingly, we suggest that the best way of estimate for proper blood drainage from heart veins is study of coronary sinus volume.

Evidence against neonatal aspiration of keratinizing epithelium as a cause of congenital cholesteatoma.

It has been suggested that congenital cholesteatoma may be caused by perinatal aspiration of squamous epithelium. Microscopic study of fetal temporal bones. Thirty-one temporal bones from infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome before 1 year of age and 27 temporal bones obtained from preterm fetal deaths aged 4 to 8 months of fetal development were studied to assess signs of aspiration of squamous epithelium in the middle ear. None of the prenatal or postnatal temporal bones showed keratinizing epithelial cells or lanugo. A certain number of specimens displayed a nonspecific inflammatory lymphocytic infiltration. The data in the present study do not support the theory of amniotic fluid and squamous epithelial aspiration as an origin of congenital cholesteatoma.

The development of the ossicular ligaments in the human middle ear.

We examined serially sectioned human temporal bones of fetuses and newborns from Wittmaack's temporal bone collection at the University of Hamburg. At the end of the 3rd month of fetal development, a concentration of mesenchyme arises in the area which later contains the ossicular ligaments. The anlage of these ligaments can be clearly identified in the 4th month of development. The longitudinal axis of the cells in this anlage first runs parallel with the surface of the ossicles. In the further stages of development with increasing fibrillogenesis the cells straighten out according to the physiological stresses. Differentiation of the ligaments is terminated at the end of the 9th month.

N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase of lymphocytes in the premature infant with special reference to the fetal development of the lysosomas apparatus.

N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity was determined in peripheral blood lymphocytes by means of Hayashi's cytochemical method in 50 premature infants born between the 21st and 37th weeks of gestation. The lymphocytes exhibited three types of enzymatic cytochemical reaction, i.e. granular, diffuse and mixed (both granular and diffuse). The total count of enzyme-positive lymphocytes was significantly lower in the group of premature infants born between the 21st and 28th weeks of gestation as compared with those born later. This difference was due to the smaller numbers of enzyme-positive lymphocytes with granular reaction type in the group of more immature infants. The formation of enzyme-positive lysosomal granules within the lymphocyte cytoplasm during the last months of fetal development has been suggested and the relationship between the enzymatic equipment of lymphocyte lysosomes and immune response discussed.

A CHEMICAL STUDY OF THE BLOOD GROUP-SPECIFIC SUBSTANCES FOUND IN MECONIUM

Meconium (I), the characteristic first stool of the infant, is a viscid, sticky, odorless, greenish brown to black material, which is regularly seen during the 5th month of fetal development. The amount excreted after birth varies from 60 to 200 gm. It is generally considered to be an accumulation of debris consisting of desquamated cells of the alimentary tract and skin, lanugo, fatty material from the vernix caseosa, amniotic fluid, and various intestinal secretions. It has been shown to contain very large amounts of blood group-specific materials which correspond with the blood type of the individual infant and its ability to secrete blood group materials in its body fluids (2). Most previous studies of blood group-specific substances have been made on those of animal origin, because there are so few sources of the human substances in a concentration sufficient to allow separation and purification. In meconium the specific substances are present in large amounts and in a relatively pure form. Meconium has not been studied by modern chemical methods. Preliminary studies (2) indicated that meconium is for the most part soluble in water and contains little ash and large amounts of hydrolyzable, nonfermentable carbohydrate. The experimental work described in this article was undertaken to elucidate the composition of normal meconium further. It was also of interest to investigate the chemical composition of some of the individual group-specific substances in meconium, to determine whether there were any gross differences between the different types of specific substances and to see whether the substances were comparable in composition to the materials prepared by other workers. The composition of single samples of meconium from a calf’ and a dog was also studied.