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Objectives 1) To determine the prevalence of fibroids in asymptomatic young black and white women (ages 18–30yo); 2) To determine other differences in uterine and adnexal anatomy; 3) To obtain preliminary data for sample size calculations. Design A pilot cross-sectional study. Setting An academic medical center Patients 101 non-parous black and white women, ages 18–30 years old, with no known diagnosis of fibroids or clinically suggestive symptoms. Interventions A transvaginal ultrasound was performed in the follicular phase in all subjects. Main Outcome Measure(s) 1) Presence of fibroids; 2) endometrial thickness; 3) ovarian findings. Results Of the 101 participants (mean age 24.5 ± 3.5), 43% self-identified as black and 57% as white. The prevalence of ultrasound-diagnosed fibroids was 15% overall (26% in black women and 7% in white women). The mean fibroid size was 2.3 ± 2.1 cm. There was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between races, even after adjusting for contraception use and fibroid presence. Conclusions Racial differences in fibroid prevalence exist even before women become symptomatic. Findings of thicker endometrium in black women could have clinical implications and warrants further investigation.

Patients with a twin pregnancy consisting of a complete mole and a normal fetus are at increased risk for hemorrhage and medical complications, as well as the development of persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor.

This study relates antioxidant status and blood pressure (BP) in 168 healthy residents of Augusta, GA, following usual diets. BP ranges were systolic (S) 84-152, mean 112 +/- 1 mm Hg, and diastolic (D) 52-96, mean 72 +/- 1 mm Hg. Plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) were significantly inversely related to SBP (r = -0.18, P < 0.05) and DBP (r = -0.20, P < 0.01); with regression equations SBP vs AA = -0.083C + 116 and DBP = -0.077C + 76. Highest and lowest quintiles of AA differed significantly in mean SBP (108 +/- 2, 113 +/- 2 mm Hg) and DBP (69 +/- 1, 74 +/- 2), P < 0.05. Plasma AA concentrations were significantly lower in the smokers. By deleting smokers, the inverse relations of SBP and DBP with plasma AA and the slopes of the equation were enhanced. Plasma selenium, alpha-tocopherol, alpha-tocopherol:cholesterol ratio, retinol and taurine were not related to BP; whereas male gender, body mass index, body fat distribution, plasma cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides correlated.

Endometrial thickness after administration of a single dose of mifepristone and misoprostol for medical termination should not dictate clinical intervention. The decision to treat should be based on the presence of a persistent gestational sac or compelling clinical signs and symptoms.

Objective. To determine the intraobserver and interobserver variability in calculating three-dimensional fetal brain volumes and to examine the relationship between these volumes and biparietal diameter and head circumference measurements and estimated gestational age. Methods. Eighty-five subjects between 16 and 40 completed weeks' gestation participated in the Institutional Review Board-approved study. Fetal head images were obtained axially and stored on a magnetic optical disk. The fetal brain volumes were calculated in triplicate by each of 2 observers using 8 to 10 coronal cuts. The coefficient of variation was determined for both physicians. Pearson correlations and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between three-dimensional head volume and standard biparietal diameter and head circumference measurements and estimated gestational age. Results. The coefficients of variation were low for both investigators, at 2.04% and 2.44%. The correlations between fetal brain volumes and biparietal diameter, head circumference, and estimated gestational age were all highly significant (P < .001). The linear regression of brain volumes with estimated gestational age was also highly significant (P < .001). Conclusions. Three-dimensional fetal brain volume measurements had excellent intraobserver and interobserver reliability. The volumes correlated very well with standard biparietal diameter and head circumference measurements. These volumes can also be used to determine estimated gestational age. Key words: fetal brain volumes; three-dimensional ultrasonography; estimated gestational age; biparietal diameter; head circumference. Abbreviations BPD, biparietal diameter; EGA, estimated gestational age; HC, head circumference; 3D, three-dimensional; 2D, two-dimensional hree-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography improves imaging of the fetal brain. Images of the corpus callosum, septum pellucidum, third and fourth ventricles, and other anatomic structures are easily obtainable compared with standard two-dimensional (2D) ultrasonography.1 With 3D ultrasonography, it is possible to examine all 3 orthogonal planes and to scan the fetal head through parallel sections. There is also a marker dot that is in the same position in all views that enables precise evaluation of anatomic and pathologic characteristics. 2-4Three-dimensional ultrasonography also enables volume calculation. Studies have shown that 3D ultrasonographic in vitro volume estimation is accurate. 5,6 To date, volumes of the placenta and fetal liver have been used to diagnose fetal growth restriction. 7,8 Volumes of the fetal thigh, abdomen, and upper arm have been integrated into formulas for birth weight prediction. [9][10][11][12] Although the fetal brain has been studied extensively for anatomic structure by 3D ultrasonography, brain volumes have not been previously evaluated.

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