Background: Defining regional fat distribution is of importance because of regional variation in adipocyte metabolism. In order to investigate whether maternal body fat distribution changes during pregnancy we measured the abdominal maternal fat thickness. Methods: A longitudinal study of the thickness of the preperitoneal fat layer (P) and subcutaneous fat layer (S) in the abdomen was conducted; ultrasonography was used to obtain the measurements and the P/S ratio was calculated during each trimester as well as postpartum. Results: When compared with the first and second trimesters, a significant increase in both the P and P/S ratios was observed in the third trimester; thus, regional fat distribution changes during pregnancy. Conclusion: Intra-abdominal visceral fat accumulation increases during pregnancy.

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Placental mesenchymal dysplasia is a very rare disorder in which the placenta is enlarged and contains cystic villi and dilated vasculature. The authors present a new case report of placental mesenchymal dysplasia with severe fetal growth restriction.

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Aneurysm of the ductus arterious in adult in rare. 28 cases have been previously reported in the Japanese literature. A new 73-year-old male case, preoperatively diagnosed and successfully repaired, are presented. The patient with hoarseness was admitted to our hospital. Contrast-enhanced CT scans and aortograms made a diagnosis for the aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus. Operation was done through left thoracotomy with the aid of partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The pulmonary arterial end of the ductus arteriosus was closed and a Ligamentum arteriosus was identified. A 3 by 2.7 cm saccular aneurysm was resected and segmental replacement of the aorta with woven dacron graft was performed. Because of it's critical location and the high incidence of complications, aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus in the adult should be surgically corrected when diagnosed.