Objective Among late-onset small fetuses, a combination of estimated fetal weight (EFW), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and mean uterine artery ( (mean ± SD: controls, 8.2 ± 1.1; SGA, 7.4 ± 1.2; and IUGR,6.9 ± 1.1; P < 0.001) and increased left myocardial performance index (mean ± SD: controls, 0.45 ± 0.14; SGA, 0.51 ± 0.08; and IUGR, 0.57 ± 0.1; P < 0.001).Conclusions Despite a perinatal outcome comparable to that of normal fetuses, the population of so-defined SGA fetuses showed signs of prenatal cardiac dysfunction. This supports the concept that at least a proportion of them are not 'constitutionally small' and that further research is needed.

Objectives To ascertain whether screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by uterine artery ( (relative risk (RR), 1.79 (95% CI,3)) and induction of labor for IUGR (RR, 1.36 (95% CI,). In women developing PE or IUGR, there was a trend towards fewer maternal complications (RR, 0.46 (95% CI,

Experimental data suggest that the endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in gastric function in different animal species. In most of them, CB(1) receptors have been localized on vagal terminals innervating the external wall of the stomach. We aimed at studying the putative presence and distribution of these receptors in the human gastric mucosa. To this end, we first performed Western blotting, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical analysis of CB(1) protein distribution in biopsy samples of healthy individuals. To determine the precise cell populations expressing CB(1) receptors, we performed double immunofluorescence plus confocal microscopy analysis of the same samples. Our results show that CB(1) receptors are present in the gastric epithelium of the mucosa. Specifically, they are expressed by a subpopulation of mucosal cells, the acid-secreting parietal cells, as shown by double immunohistochemical staining and by their differential abundance in subregions of the gastric mucosa. These results reinforce the notion of a prominent role for the endocannabinoid system in the gastric function in humans and postulate the use of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in parietal cells as new therapeutic targets for the regulation of gastric acid production.