Animals ; Brain ; embryology ; Ear ; embryology ; Esophagus ; embryology ; Fallopian Tubes ; embryology ; Female ; Heart ; embryology ; Humans ; Kidney ; embryology ; Liver ; embryology ; Lung ; embryology ; Male ; Organogenesis ; physiology ; Penis ; embryology ; Rabbits ; Stomach ; embryology ; Vagina ; embryology

Nonvisualized, dilated or even a small fetal stomach can be associated with a variety of anomalies and poor fetal outcome. Therefore, we attempted to evaluate the stomach circumference (SC)/abdominal circumference (AC) ratio to assess normal limits of fetal stomach size. A total of 363 fetuses ranging from 15 to 39 weeks' gestation were prospectively evaluated with ultrasonography. The SC was measured from a plane that is perpendicular to the fetal longitudinal axis at the level where the largest axial circumference of the stomach was obtained using a digitizer. The AC was also measured at the same section and the ratio was calculated by dividing the SC by the AC and multiplying by 100. The SC increased linearly from 15 to 24 weeks and showed fluctuations in size thereafter to 39 weeks. A strong correlation was noted between gestational age and both SC (r: 0.842, P <0.0001) and AC (r: 0.975, P <0.0001). The SC/AC ratio was normally distributed with a mean of 20.4 +/- 3.9% and ranged between 14.8% and 27.03% throughout pregnancy (r: 0.021, P > 0.05). Although the fetal stomach is a dynamically changing organ, the SC/AC ratio can be considered as a potentially useful parameter in assessing fetal stomach size.
Abdomen/embryology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fetal Development/physiology ; Fetus/anatomy & histology* ; Gestational Age ; Human ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach/embryology* ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Cytoplasmic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an antioxidant enzyme that converts superoxide to hydrogen peroxide in cells. Its spatial distribution matches that of superoxide production, allowing it to protect cells from oxidative stress. SOD1 deficiencies result in embryonic lethality and a wide range of pathologies in mice, but little is known about normal SOD1 protein expression in developing embryos. In this study, the expression pattern of SOD1 was investigated in post-implantation mouse embryos and extraembryonic tissues, including placenta, using Western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. SOD1 was detected in embryos and extraembryonic tissues from embryonic day (ED) 8.5 to 18.5. The signal in embryos was observed at the lowest level on ED 9.5-11.5, and the highest level on ED 17.5-18.5, while levels remained constant in the surrounding extraembryonic tissues during all developmental stages examined. Immunohistochemical analysis of SOD1 expression on ED 13.5-18.5 revealed its ubiquitous distribution throughout developing organs. In particular, high levels of SOD1 expression were observed in the ependymal epithelium of the choroid plexus, ganglia, sensory cells of the olfactory and vestibulocochlear epithelia, blood cells and vessels, hepatocytes and hematopoietic cells of the liver, lymph nodes, osteogenic tissues, and skin. Thus, SOD1 is highly expressed at late stages of embryonic development in a cell- and tissue-specific manner, and can function as an important antioxidant enzyme during organogenesis in mouse embryos.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex/embryology/enzymology ; Copulation ; Cytoplasm/*enzymology ; Embryonic Development/*physiology ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung/embryology/enzymology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Organogenesis/*physiology ; Pregnancy ; Stomach/embryology/enzymology ; Superoxide Dismutase/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and nestin in gastric development in human embryos and fetuses.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MAP-2 and nestin proteins in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues of human embryos and fetuses during the second, third and fourth month of development.

RESULTSIn the second to fourth months of gestation, MAP-2 and nestin expressions were detected in the neural cells and neural fibers of the intermuscular nerve plexus and submucosal plexus in the gastric cardia, pyloric and gastric tissues. As the gestational age increased, the number of MAP-2- and nestin-positive cells and the expression intensity all increased in the myenteric plexus, but MAP-2 and nestin expressions were negative in the glandular and mucosal tissues of human embryonic and fetal gastric cardia, pylorus or gastric walls.

CONCLUSIONMAP-2 and nestin participate in the regulation of the development of gastric tissues in human embryos.

Fetus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; metabolism ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Nestin ; Stomach ; embryology ; metabolism

A study was conducted to present clinical and statistical analysis of pediatric patients admitted to Severance Hospital between Jan. 1966 and Dec. 1975. Remakable progress has been made in the field of pediatrics and pediatric surgery, particularly in physiology, anesthesiology and operative technique. However, the ultimate result hasn't been totally satisfactory, largely due to the lack of cognizance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Futhermore, most of the patients with associated abnormal conditions, such as congenital heart disease, other associated G.I. anomalies and chromosomal anomalies, require surgery, urgently A total of 250 cases were analyzed according to systems. The following results were obtained; 1. 1. In the sex ratio male to female was 6-7:1. 2. 2. The order of frequency of diseases was as follows; Congenital megacolon 50 cases(20.0%), Imperforated anus 45 cases (18.0%), Congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis 41 cases(16.4%), Congenital anomalies of intestine 29 cases (11.6%), Congenital anomalies of hepatobiliary system 25 cases(10.0%), Meckel's diverticulum 18 cases(7.2%), Situs inversus 11 cases (4.4%), Congenital diaphragmatic hernia 6cases(2.4%), Congenital anomalies of cecum 6 cases(2.4%), Esophageal diverticulum 6 cases (2.4%), Esophagealatresia 4 cases (1.6%), Congenital anomalies of pancreas 4 cases (1.6%), Patent omphalomessentric duct 2 cases (0.8%), Congenital intestinal perforation 2 cases (0.8%), and Congenital stomach perforation 1 cases (0.4%). 3. There was an overall mortality rate of 36 cases (18.9%), the causes of death were frequently associated with respiratory failure. 4. Associated congenital anomlies were found in 57 cases. They were G. I. Anomalies, congenital heart diseases, Down's syndrome and cleft palate. 5. Of significance was the fact in this study, congenital megacolon had the highest incidence which was in sharp contrast to accidental series in which congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis showed the peak incidence. These figures are very similar to that reported in various publications. This analysis suggest that a more keen understanding of neonatal physiology, embryology, surgical technique and improved post-operative care for anomalous patients, may certainly improve the ultimate outcome of corrective surgery.
Anal Canal ; Anesthesiology ; Cause of Death ; Cecum ; Cleft Palate ; Digestive System* ; Diverticulum, Esophageal ; Down Syndrome ; Early Diagnosis ; Embryology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic ; Hirschsprung Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intestinal Perforation ; Intestines ; Male ; Meckel Diverticulum ; Mortality ; Pancreas ; Pediatrics ; Physiology ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sex Ratio ; Situs Inversus ; Statistics as Topic* ; Stomach