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Objective To explore the reliability of examining the external iliac artery (EIA) at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks of gestation with Doppler ultrasound and its relationship with maternal characteristics and uterine artery blood flow. Study design Cross-sectional study of 451 pregnant women undergoing an ultrasound scan in the first trimester. Mean pulsatility index (PI) of both EIAs was correlated to maternal characteristics (maternal age, parity, body mass index and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP)) and ultrasound parameters (crown-rump length (CRL) and mean uterine artery PI). Mean EIA-PI was logarithmically transformed to perform multiple linear regression analysis. The intra- and inter-observer reproducibilities of EIA-PI were examined. Results Satisfactory flow velocity waveforms were obtained from both EIA in all patients. There is a significant negative correlation between mean EIA pulsatility index and maternal blood pressure. Multiple linear regression analysis showed an independent contribution of MAP to log EIA-PI (mean) (standardized regression coefficient = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.005 to −0.002). The intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88–0.97) and 0.87 (0.76–0.94) respectively. Conclusions Examining blood flow in the external iliac artery using Doppler ultrasound in the first trimester is feasible and reproducible. There is a negative correlation between mean EIA-PI and maternal blood pressure.

Methods: The CNF investigation was performed by histochemical cholinesterase (CE) detection with alternative method by Crevier and Belanger in modification of Savay and Csillik. Results: On early terms of disease the CNF are presented by nerve bundleswith dense network of fine terminal fibrils ending on myocytes. Several CNF have different CE activity and look like dotted line. At the same time the lowCNF density area are observed. As the termof thedisease growth theCNFdensity decreases. Thefibers become thinner and truncated with deformations, fragmentations and decreasing of their color intensity. The nerve bundles take less space and become lighter, indicating the CE activity decreasing. However, in some areas the increased CNF density are observed that can be considered as a compensatory mechanisms signs. Conclusions: The analysis of the bladder cholinergic activity in perimenopausal women with OAB has showed the progressive parasympathetic denervation with a direct correlation with the term of disease.