Objective To quantitatively analyze the fetal lung echo and right lung volume in the third trimester by real-time three-dimensional ultrasound (3-D US) and evaluate the feasibility of fetal lung maturity. Methods A total of 732 women with normal singleton pregnancies between 28 and 42 weeks of gestation underwent ultrasound examination. The 3-D US equipment with a 3.5-5MHz transabdominal transducer was used for the fetal biometric measurement. The echogenicity ratio between fetal lung and liver was compared. The fetal lung volume was calculated by the rotational multiplanar technique for volume measurement (VOCAL). Results The right fetal lung volume increased with the increase of gestational age with a linear positive correlation (r=0.884, P<0.01). After 34 weeks, the echogenicity ratio of fetal lung to liver was more than 1.1. Conclusion The echogenicity of lung/liver and fetal lung volume could be used as normal fetal predictable indicators for fetal lung maturity.

AIM: To determine the relevance of NADPH oxidase subunit p22hox and the expression of superoxide anion on ventricular remodeling in myocardial infarction (MI) rats. METHODS: MI of Sprague-Dawley rats were established by left anterior descenting coronary artery ligation. 8 weeks after MI, Doppler echocardiography, hemodynamic study and histomorphometry were performed to analyze the ventricular remodeling. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance in plasma and myocardium were measured, and the distribution of superoxide anion was observed with laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of p22phox mRNA and protein level was detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The left ventricular remodeling was significant in MI rats, also the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance increased in the plasma and non-infarcted myocardium. The expressions of p22-phox mRNA and protein levels, and superoxide anion increased in infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium in MI rats. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the expression of NADPH oxidase and its derived superoxide anion may take part in left ventricular remodeling through oxidative stresss after MI.