Changes in uterine blood flow during pregnancy

Article Abstract:

Pregnancy requires dramatic changes in blood flow, the most obvious being that which occurs in the uterus and the development of the placenta. In order to establish normal values for some of these changes, 24 women in low-risk pregnancies and 27 healthy non-pregnant women agreed to participate in the measurement of uterine blood flow. Using Doppler ultrasonography, the mean flow of blood in the left uterine artery was determined to be about 100 milliliters (ml) per minute in non-pregnant women, about 120 ml per minute during early pregnancy and increasing to about 350 ml per minute near term. During this period the uterine artery increased in diameter from an average of 1.6 millimeters (mm) to 3.7 mm. Previous estimates of uterine blood flow have been based on indirect methods with questionable accuracy. The Doppler method provides a direct method, and may be a useful tool in the study of normal and abnormal uterine blood dynamics. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Measurement, Hemodynamics, Uterus, Doppler ultrasonography, Uterine circulation

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Interpretation of nonstress tests by an artificial neural network

Article Abstract:

An artificial neural network computer program may be effective in interpreting nonstress tests of fetuses. Nonstress tests analyze fetal heart rate before birth. Researchers trained an artificial neural network using artificial intelligence techniques to interpret nonstress tests. Two sets of data were used to teach the neural network. The first was called a training set, with nonstress test records that were interpreted the same by three different human experts. The second set was called the test set, and used records that were interpreted differently by the human experts. After training, the artificial neural network was able to correctly diagnose nonstress tests most of the time. The neural network performed better than did automated fetal heart rate analysis.

Usage, Computer networks, Software, Neural networks, Fetal heart rate, Electrocardiograph, Electrocardiographs

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The effect of isosorbide dinitrate, a donor of nitric oxide, on maternal cerebral blood flow in gestational hypertension and preeclampsia

Article Abstract:

Isosorbide dinitrate does not have an adverse effect on blood flow inside a pregnant woman's brain, according to a study of 19 pregnant women who had high blood pressure. This is important, because isosorbide dinitrate could be used to treat a serious complication of pregnancy called preeclampsia. Isosorbide dinitrate is a source of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels.

Cerebral circulation, Physiological aspects, Drug therapy, Preeclampsia, Isosorbide dinitrate

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