To p to b ot to m : B re nt B os so m , P au l C ow an /S hu tte rS to ck Shift in the Sexes Are Endocrine Disruptors Changing Birth Ratios? According to demographic data compiled by the United Nations, an average of 105 boys are born for every 100 girls. The male proportion of births, equal to 0.515, varies slightly between years and populations, but these factors do not fully explain consiste...

OBJECTIVE To describe prevalence, prenatal diagnosis and outcome for fetuses and infants with congenital hydrocephalus. METHODS Data were taken from four European registries of congenital malformations (EUROCAT). The registries included are based on multiple sources of information and include information about livebirths, fetal deaths with GA > or = 20 weeks and terminations of pregnancy for ...

Background—This study determines the prevalence of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), diagnosed prenatally or in infancy, and fetal and perinatal mortality associated with CHD in Europe. Methods and Results—Data were extracted from the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies central database for 29 population-based congenital anomaly registries in 16 European countries covering 3.3 million b...

OBJECTIVE Definite data in heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation during pregnancy is limited. This report analyzes our experience in this area. METHODS Fifteen women underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass during pregnancy at our institution between 1972 and 1998. Surgical procedures included valve replacement in 13 patients (12 mitral, 1 aortic), declotting of a til...

This study was undertaken to assess the parameters that may predict maternal and foetal outcome in 49 thermally injured pregnant women in a Plastic surgery unit in tertiary referral center in the last five years. There were 33 maternal deaths and 34 fetal deaths. In general, pregnancy as such does not influence maternal outcome after thermal injury. In first and second trimester best chance for...

Total oestrogens were measured, on a creatinine basis, by a fully automated method in 75 000 early morning specimens of urine from 5429 women. Among the 5241 pregnancies in which the oestrogen:creatinine ratio was normal there were 11 fetal deaths (0-21%). But there were 57 fetal deaths (30-3%) among 188 patients with ratios below the fifth centile. When delivery took place before the ratio dec...

We assessed risk factors for fetal death during cholera infection and effect of treatment changes on these deaths. Third trimester gestation, younger maternal age, severe dehydration, and vomiting were risk factors. Changes in treatment had limited effects on fetal death, highlighting the need for prevention and evidence-based treatment.