Browsing by Author "Perovic, M. (36543025300)"

Objective: First trial of estimating values of scans of fetal heart structures (FHS) in first trimester of pregnancy, as more primary facts of possible chromosomopathies. Materials and Methods: The study included 2,643 fetuses that were examined in first trimester of pregnancy on Sono CT convex (C5-2MHz), endovaginal (ev 8-4MHz), and linear transducers (L12-5MHz) during a period of eight years. Fetal heart was evaluated using appropriate software with broad-band transducers and color Doppler, Sono CT, and HD ZOOM technologies. The scan was performed by three experienced physicians. FHS were based on: left and right ventricle morphology; AV valves (atrioventricular) position and existence of primal ostium; relationship of left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) and right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) and great vessels on three vessel view (3VV) and estimation of ductal and aortic arch. Results: Several developments, one being the ability to identify fetuses at risk for cardiac defects combining nuchal translucency (NT), ductus venosus (DV) Doppler, and evaluation of tricuspid regurgitation, have prompted reconsideration of the role of the first trimester prognostic factor of fetal evaluation. In low-risk pregnancies group, 36 (1.8%) fetuses were found to have congenital heart disease (CHD), and in high-risk pregnancies the number of fetuses with CHD was 75 (12%). Genetic amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed in all fetuses with CHD. Forty-two (37.8%) fetuses with CHD were found to have chromosomal anomalies. Out of 111 fetuses with CHD 39 (35.1%) had an nuchal translucency (NT) above three mm. Out of 42 fetuses with chromosomal anomalies and CHD, 29 (69%) had an increased NT. Conclusion: Using first trimester fetal echosonography constitutes a further step in the earlier recognition of chromosomopathies, even in low risk groups. Still further steps are necessary as all facts of good clinical practice. In order to offer further benefits during pregnancies, improvements in diagnostics are still required.

Recent studies have suggested that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may affect cell DNA structure in in vitro conditions. In this paper, we present the results indicating that AgNPs change nuclear complexity properties in isolated human epithelial buccal cells in a time-dependent manner. Epithelial buccal cells were plated in special tissue culture chamber / slides and were kept at 37°C in an RPMI 1640 cell culture medium supplemented with L-glutamine. The cells were treated with colloidal silver nanoparticles suspended in RPMI 1640 medium at the concentration 15 mg L-1. Digital micrographs of the cell nuclei in a sample of 30 cells were created at five different time steps: before the treatment (controls), immediately after the treatment, as well as 15, 30 and 60 min after the treatment with AgNPs. For each nuclear structure, values of fractal dimension, lacunarity, circularity, as well as parameters of grey level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) texture, were determined. The results indicate time-dependent reduction of structural complexity in the cell nuclei after the contact with AgNPs. These findings further suggest that AgNPs, at concentrations present in today's over-the-counter drug products, might have significant effects on the cell genetic material. © 2013 Royal Microscopical Society.