Objective To detect the normal values of fetal cerebellar vermis using transabdominal ultrasonography and assess its clinical significance in the diagnosis of vermal hypoplasia(agenesis). Methods A total of 111 fetuses were evaluated by transabdominal sonography between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation.The mid-sagittal antero-posterior(AP) and cranio-caudal(CC) vermian diameters were measured. A second group of 15 fetuses with cisterns magna were assessed and compared with the value of normal fetuses.0.05) and correlated linearly with gestational age ( AP = - 5.406 + 0. 761 GA, r = 0.97 ; CC = - 5.795 +fissure, second fissure and fastigium may help identify developmental anomalies. Conclusions Transabdominal ultrasonography is a valuable tool in the study of fetal vermis during the second half of pregnancy.

Objective To investigate the the effects of chronic intrauterine hypoxia on intimal-media thickening(IMT) and strain rate(SR) in abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.Methods Sixten New-Zealand rabbits were assigned randomly to 2 groups: chronic intrauterine hypoxia group (CIH, 12% O_2, n = 8) and normal oxygen group (NO,21%O_2, n = 8).After delivery,2 male offspring rabbits per litter were selected and breast-fed for 3 months, randomly divided into high-fat diet and normal diet groups.Finally, there were 4 groups in this experiment:chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (CIH + HFD, n = 8) ,non-chronic intrauterine hypoxia with high fat diet (NCIH + HFD, n = 8),chronic intrauterine hypoxia with normal diet (CIH + ND, n = 8) and normal control (NC, n = 8).At sixth months of age, Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC) and triglyceride(TG) were assayed.SR in the abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits was evaluated by ultrasonography.Then, abdominal aorta was taken out and observed by electron microscope and IMT was measured.Results CIH increased the levels of TC and TG (P < 0.01), thickened the IMT (P<0.05) and decreased the SR(P<0.05) of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.There were relevant pathological changes in different groups.All these above-mentioned profiles were aggravated significantly after feeding high fat diet (P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusions CIH increased the IMT and decreased the SR of abdominal aorta of male offspring rabbits during adult age.