Sonographic imaging of the fetal face is important since a number of chromosomal aberrations are associated with facial malformations. In the past, imaging of the fetal forehead and diagnosis of frontal bossing had been based on subjective evaluation using two‐dimensional ultrasonography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quantitatively the fetal forehead using three‐dimensional technology to generate normative data throughout gestation. This should allow the objective diagnosis of abnormal growth of the fetal forehead, such as frontal bossing. We also report a case of a fetus with frontal bossing in whom the generated nomogram was applied. A cross‐sectional study was performed in 130 normal healthy singleton pregnancies between 16 and 38 weeks' gestation. Using three‐dimensional ultrasonography, a line connecting the apex of the philtrum and the nasion was drawn across the anterior forehead, which delineated the area of the forehead for analysis. The forehead length, forehead height, and forehead area under the curve were measured and the forehead index was calculated. A second order polynomial growth function was noted throughout gestation for the forehead length (r = 0.93), forehead height (r = 0.97), and forehead area (r = 0.97). The fetal forehead index remained relatively constant throughout gestation. The results of this study provide normative data of fetal forehead length, width, and area using three‐dimensional ultrasonographic technology. Normative dimensions of the fetal forehead developed and presented herein are expected to serve as a basis for the objective assessment of presumed fetal facial abnormalities and may facilitate the detection of the associated syndromes. This is demonstrated in our case report of an achondroplastic fetus in whom all forehead dimensions were above the 95th percentile.
Planarians, the representatives of an ancient bilaterian group with complex reproductive system and high regenerative capabilities, are model system suitable for studying the basic molecular requirements for the development of the reproductive system. To further explore the morphological changes of the gonads during desexualization and the molecular events of the genes controlling the reproductive system development in planarians, we have investigated the histological changes of ovary and testis by paraffin section and the expression patterns of reproductive-related genes by the quantitative real-time PCR in Dugesiajaponica Ichikawa & Kawakatsu, 1964, upon starvation. The four genes, Djprps, DjvlgA, DjvlgB and Djnos, have been selected. The research results show that the degradation of ovary changes from outside layer to inside, and the testis changes are opposite; the reproductive capacity of the planarians starts to be damaged from the 17th to 25th days and to disappear completely from the 26th to 37th days during starvation. The expression patterns of the four genes exhibit the obvious dynamic variations during their desexualization, which indicates that these genes might be involved in gonad development.
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