Hemangioma of the umbilical cord: stenotic change of the umbilical vessels

We report a rare case of an umbilical cord hemangioma diagnosed by ultrasound at 16 weeks of gestation. The umbilical cord consisted of a hemangioma nodule and pseudocysts near the placental insertion, a large gelatin-like swelling adjacent to the nodule on its fetal side, and a short normal part extending to the navel. At 17 weeks of gestation, this condition resulted in the intrauterine death of the fetus. Microscopically, there were communications between the capillary of the hemangioma and the umbilical vessels, verifying the origin of the tumor. Moreover, the umbilical vein and one of the arteries changed stenotically due to the intravascular proliferation of the hemangioma. These findings indicate the possibility of a pathological association between the umbilical cord hemangioma and fetal demise due to impaired umbilical circulation.     

Production of prostacyclin in human umbilical cord blood vessels. Effect of natural and synthetic estrogen]

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of 17 beta-estradiol and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on prostacyclin PGI2-production in homogenates of human umbilical cord arteries and veins in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid. The incubation of 17 beta-estradiol at 2 different concentrations (10(-8) and 10(-6) M) in the presence of arachidonic acid for various times (5 min up to 24 h) effected an increase in the production of PGI2 (measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha) of 36-47% in the artery and 16-21% in the vein over basal values (100%). Under the same experimental conditions with 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol we observed an increases of 30-40% in the artery and 1-18% in the vein compared with basal values. For both estrogens this was not significantly different compared with untreated samples. In our in vitro system, natural and synthetic estrogens had no clear effect on PGI2 production in homogenates of human umbilical vessels.     

Cavernous hemangioma of the umbilical cord]

A case of a cavernous haemangioma of the umbilical cord not far from the stillborn infant of 30 weeks gestation is reported. Autopsy revealed no intrauterine growth retardation, malformation and fetopathia. The placenta shows disorders of vasculartiy.     

妊高征患者脐血管病变的临床研究

目的 探讨妊高征时脐血管的病理学特征与疾病严重程度的关系。方法 利用光镜观察４５例妊高征患者（妊高征组）和３０例正常晚孕妇女（对照组）的脐带形态学特征;并随机选取２０例妊高征患者的近胎盘端、胎儿端及近中端脐带进行光镜观察。结果 妊高征组不同部位脐带病理学特征基本一致;按脐带血管病变的有无及轻重程度将妊高征组分为无病变（６例）、轻度病变（１３例）及重度病变（２６例）３类;与轻度妊高征比较,中度和重度     

Reduction of hydroxyproline content in the vessels of the human umbilical cord in premature rupture

The hydroxyproline content of the amnion and the umbilical vessels obtained from cases in which the fetal membranes were instrumentally or prematurely ruptured was assayed. Hydroxyproline concentration (in micrograms/mg) in the latter group was 23.76, 16.79 and 17.86 in the amnion, artery and vein, whereas in the former the corresponding values were 42.20, 26.61 and 32.48. These results show that, in addition to a decrease in the amnion, hydroxyproline is lowered also in the umbilical vessels, suggesting that the reduction in the collagen in the fetal membranes is probably a particular manifestation of a general metabolic deficiency.     

Sonographic measurement of the umbilical cord area and the diameters of its vessels during pregnancy

The objective was to determine the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord, its diameter and the diameter of its vessels to establish a reference curve for these parameters during pregnancy, through a prospective cross-sectional study, including 2,310 low-risk pregnancies between 12 and 40 weeks' gestation. Means and standard deviations (SDs), plus the 10th, 50th and 90th percentiles for each measurement were calculated using polynomial regression analysis. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests were used for statistical analysis. These parameters increased significantly with gestational age. The area of the cord also varied significantly with parity. Their new reference curves for low risk pregnancies were calculated using polynomial regression, and an almost linear increase in values was found up to 32 weeks of pregnancy, tending to stabilise from then onwards. The regression equation of the umbilical cord area according to gestational age (GA) was: -1.417 + 0.3026*GA-0.008*GA(2) + 0.000007*GA(3) and the degree of adjustment (R(2)) was 0.89.