1/5. Anencephaly and the nature of fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation.The fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation has been used in recent years as a measure of well being. Vibroacoustic stimulation theoretically may evoke both tactile and auditory responses in the fetus. In clinical practice, it is important to distinguish which type of response is actually activated. An answer may be suggested through observation of two anencephalic fetuses who demonstrated no response to such stimulation. Neuroanatomic considerations are discussed that suggest which auditory mechanisms are involved in the fetal response to vibroacoustic stimulation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. Heterotopic nervous tissue in the lungs.Foci of heterotopic nervous tissue, including ganglion-cells, were found in the lungs of an anencephalic foetus. The nine cases in the literature are reviewed. Only in two of these cases was the histological investigation sufficiently detailed to establish the nature of the ectopic tissue. In all but one case the condition was associated with gross malformation of the brain.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Vascular etiology of disruptive structural defects in monozygotic twins.Two infants with structural defects previously undescribed in the survivor of a monozygotic twin pair are reported. One infant had hydranencephaly and a spinal cord transection, with an associated dead monozygotic co-twin of 24 weeks gestation; the other child had complete atresia of the colon and a horseshoe kidney, with a deceased co-twin of approximately six weeks gestation. These defects are presumed to be the result of in utero disruption of previously normally formed structures. They occur secondary to vascular exchange from a dead to a living monozygotic twin through placental vascular anastomoses. As illustrated by the two children described, the nature of the vascular defects seen in the survivor of a monozygotic twin pair depends on the time during gestation at which the co-twin dies. Recognition of the disruptive vascular etiology of the structural defects outlined in this report will allow for appropriate counseling with respect to the negligible recurrence risk for similar vascular accidents.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. The baby K case: ethical challenges of preserving professional integrity.Caring for Baby K, an infant born with anencephaly, created moral distress and violated the integrity of some nurses. This article explores the nature of professional nurses' claims of violations of their integrity, argues for a broader moral framework for examining such dilemmas, and suggests strategies for addressing these issues in the clinical setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Anencephaly, dorsal hypermelia, and duplication of the vertebral column: a rare type of rachipagus conjoined twins.The rare combination of hypermelia with craniorachischisis and duplication of the vertebral column has been found in three cases, two published and one previously unreported. Even though the previous authors had come to other conclusions, careful analysis of the details in these twins leads to the inescapable conclusion that they were all dorsally united parasitic rachipagus twins. The nature of the original union was clearly indicated by (1) the articulation of autositic ribs to two different vertebral columns but to a single ventral sternum, (2) the articulation of parasitic ribs also to the two vertebral columns but fusion of the ribs and clavicles dorsally without an interposed sternum, and (3) the dorsal location of the rudimentary viscera of the parasite. The orientation of notomelic arms was confirmatory but not diagnostic. The proposed embryologic origin of these twins is presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.25keywords = nature (Clic here for more details about this article) |