Maternal plasma urocortin concentration is increased in patients with TPTL who have PTD, and its measurement may be a promising new biochemical marker of PTD.

The application of the combined test reduced the need for invasive testing to only 14% of the studied pregnant population, without missing any of the fetuses with trisomy 21 or 18.

The perimenopausal period, from 1 to 4 years, is characterised by vasomotor symptoms, or hot flushes, and other effects due a deficit of estrogens. Approximately 85% of women have hot flushes for 1 year and 25 - 50% continue for up to 5 years. The cause of hot flushes has been linked to dysfunction of the thermoregulatory centre caused by estrogen withdrawal. One proposal for the aetiology of hot flushes is that the thermoregulatory zone is shifted downward in patients who experience hot flushes. Estrogen withdrawal creates a change of the central opioid system and a thermoregulatory instability. Estrogen and/or progestin replacement is the treatment of choice for this distressing symptom. However, steroid replacement may be associated with risks and complications, and is limited in some subjects by well-known contraindications. Veralipride, a synthetic benzamide derivative with antidopaminergic action, is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes associated with menopausal hypoestrogenism, gaining interest as a non-hormonal treatment for climacteric flushing. In recent years, extrapyramidal disorders associated with veralipride therapy have been reported and are often due to drug misuse. Adverse effects include acute dyskinesia or Parkinsonism, which may occur after many months of treatment. An association between adverse effects and mistake of administration has been described. This article discusses available data on the benefits and risks of veralipride therapy for menopausal symptoms.

Listeria monocytogenes is an alimentary infection which can be extremely dangerous for pregnant women. A 34-year-old pregnant woman was hospitalized with fetal cardiac rate alterations and influenza-like symptoms. A caesarean section due to fetal distress was performed. A maternal-fetal listeriosis diagnosis was possible only after the birth through bacteriological and histological examination on both the placenta and the newborn.

Oral communication abstractsperiod and to present data on ultrasound-anatomical correlates of the normal human palate between 12 and 24 weeks of gestation. Methods: Thirty fetuses from normal pregnancies underwent examination of the face and palate using 3D ultrasound imaging in both the axial and reverse face views. To establish ultrasound-anatomical correlates, high-resolution images of human embryos and fetuses of comparable gestational age to those examined by ultrasound were obtained from our collection of human embryology. Results: During the embryological period the palatal shelves grew towards the midline and fused during the 8 th week (LMP) of gestation. The last component to reach full differentiation was the bilobular (bifid) uvula, which becomes monolobular during the 9 th week of gestation. 3D ultrasound images using both maximum and surface rendered modes showed close anatomical correlation with the comparable anatomical specimens, with the exception of the soft palate and uvula. Axial views provided better visualization of the palate up to the 20 th week but thereafter coronal sections were superior owing to the avoidance of acoustic shadowing. Discussion: Prenatal 3D ultrasound images from the 12 th to the 24 th week of gestation correlate well with the landmarks observed in anatomical specimens of comparable gestational ages. However, data from larger series of different ethnic groups are needed to establish reliable patterns of normal growth. OC180Comparison between three different methods of visualizing the secondary fetal palate by three-dimensional ultrasonography