Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Basel H. Nasser, Daher Hamid, Yacoub Zakharian, Jimmy E. Jadaon
Summary: An umbilical vein varix refers to the focal dilatation of a specific portion of the umbilical vein, which is a rare condition in fetuses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GYNECOLOGY & OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Odessa P. Hamidi, Camille Driver, Jon G. Steller, Emma E. Peek, Lorenzo Monasta, Tamara Stampalija, Diane L. Gumina, Greggory R. DeVore, John C. Hobbins, Henry L. Galan
Summary: This study compares the differences and abnormal rates of umbilical vein flow (UVF) between fetal growth restriction (FGR) fetuses meeting Delphi criteria (FGR-D), small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses, and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) controls. The results show that absolute UVF is decreased in FGR-D, and the incidence of abnormal UVF is higher in late-onset FGR fetuses. UVF may provide additional diagnostic value for fetuses affected by growth restriction.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jonathan M. Rubin, Stephen Z. Pinter, Katherine M. Halloran, Brooke D. Pallas, J. Brian Fowlkes, Arpita K. Vyas, Vasantha Padmanabhan, Oliver D. Kripfgans
Summary: This study tested the efficacy of an ultrasound flow measurement method to evaluate placental function in a hyperandrogenic sheep model. The results showed that the analysis of the ratio of the amplitudes in the venous power spectrum (LRSP) was able to distinguish between the treated and control sheep, while the resistive index (RI) could not. LRSP has the potential to identify compromised pregnancies.
Review
Acoustics
Moira Barbieri, Daniela Denis Di Martino, Enrico Mario Ferrazzi, Tamara Stampalija
Summary: Placental blood supply to the fetus can be measured by evaluating the umbilical vein blood flow. Despite its potential application in healthcare, the umbilical vein blood flow volume is still used only in research setting. One of the reasons is a concern regarding its reproducibility, partly due to technology issues. Nowadays, technology improvements make this evaluation accurate and reproducible. The aim of this review is to refresh basic elements of the physiology of umbilical vein blood flow and its analysis. Its evaluation in normal and abnormal fetal growth is also discussed.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Jonathan M. Rubin, Sibo Li, J. Brian Fowlkes, Shriram Sethuraman, Oliver D. Kripfgans, William Shi, Marjorie C. Treadwell, James R. Jago, Ronald D. Leichner, Stephen Z. Pinter
Summary: The study compared a new method for estimating blood volume flow with the standard 1-dimensional spectral Doppler method in the umbilical vein, finding significantly less variation in estimates with the new 3-dimensional ultrasound method.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Serena Resta, Gaia Scandella, Ilenia Mappa, Maria Elena Pietrolucci, Pavjola Maqina, Giuseppe Rizzo
Summary: The number of pregnancies achieved through IVF is increasing globally, with improved chances of success due to technological advances. However, pregnancies conceived through IVF have a higher risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes, mainly related to hypertensive diseases, pre-eclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. Advances in ultrasound technology allow for the evaluation of placental volume and hemodynamics, with differences observed between fresh and frozen-thawed embryos.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lina Qi, Jingle Jiang, Ge Yu, Xin Zhang, Xi Qi, Jingfei Zhang, Lili Zhang, Tian Wang
Summary: The study found that daily curcumin supplementation alleviated placental inflammation in rat models of IUGR by inhibiting the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Curcumin supplementation increased fetal weight and placental total protein levels, normalized changes induced by low protein diet, and regulated levels of serum lipids and inflammatory cytokines.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Kathrin Oelmeier, Mareike Moellers, Helen A. Koester, Daniela Willy, Eike Bormann, Janina Braun, Walter Klockenbusch, Ralf Schmitz
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between fetal Doppler and adrenal gland ratio and fetal growth restriction (FGR). The results showed that PI of the umbilical artery was correlated with FGR, while adrenal gland ratio showed no correlation. However, in logistic regression, both parameters were significantly associated with fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Combining these parameters improved the predictive value.
JOURNAL OF PERINATAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Droima Stevens, Veronique Schiffer, Carmen Severens-Rijvers, Johnny de Nobrega Teixeira, Ashlee van Haren, Marc Spaanderman, Salwan Al-Nasiry
Summary: The study revealed that histologic decidual vasculopathy is associated with abnormal uterine artery Doppler, independent of clinical phenotype during pregnancy.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Liesbeth V. V. Maggiotto, Shubhamoy Ghosh, Bo-Chul Shin, Amit Ganguly, Venu Lagishetty, Jonathan P. P. Jacobs, Sherin U. U. Devaskar
Summary: Intra-Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) is a risk factor for adult-onset chronic diseases and is associated with dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiome. A hypercaloric diet can worsen dysbiosis and contribute to childhood obesity. This study compared different diets in rats with IUGR and found that a high-fat-high-fructose diet exacerbated dysbiosis, increasing the risk of detrimental health problems in IUGR offspring.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Berna Sermin Kilic, Nil Atakul, Sahabettin Selek, Yildiz Atamer
Summary: This study found that plasma galanin levels were lower in pregnant women with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and there was no correlation between galanin levels and maternal BMI and preterm pregnancies. This suggests a blunted neuropeptide response to hormonal stimulus in IUGR pregnancies.
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Rocio Garcia-Jimenez, Eva Arroyo, Carlota Borrero, Jose Antonio Garcia-Mejido, Francisco Sosa, Ana Fernandez-Palacin, Jose Antonio Sainz
Summary: Superb micro-vascular imaging (SMI) Doppler is an effective method for assessing normal placental micro-vascularization. In cases of placental insufficiency, SMI Doppler was used to observe fewer secondary and tertiary villi and a lower pulsatile index of secondary villi, highlighting its diagnostic potential in such conditions.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Acoustics
E. Hwuang, P. H. Wu, A. Rodriguez-Soto, M. Langham, F. W. Wehrli, M. Vidorreta, B. Moon, K. Kochar, S. Parameshwaran, N. Koelper, M. D. Tisdall, J. A. Detre, W. Witschey, N. Schwartz
Summary: This study recruited 87 pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy to measure UtA hemodynamics using 4D flow MRI. The results showed that MRI blood flow rate and pulsatility index were associated with pregnancy outcomes. The potential of MRI-flow and MRI-PI in predicting pre-eclampsia and small-for-gestational-age neonates was highlighted.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Lina Qi, Jingle Jiang, Jingfei Zhang, Lili Zhang, Tian Wang
Summary: The study aimed to explore the effects of maternal curcumin supplementation on intestinal damage and gut microbiota in offspring with IUGR. The results showed that maternal curcumin supplementation improved intestinal integrity, oxidative status, and gut microbiota in male offspring.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jon G. Steller, Camille Driver, Diane Gumina, Emma Peek, Teresa Harper, John C. Hobbins, Henry L. Galan
Summary: This study examined the discrepancy in umbilical artery Dopplers between paired arteries in 425 growth-restricted fetuses and found that some cases exhibited discordant pulsatility indices. The results indicated that different sampling methods may affect the detection of abnormal pulsatility indices.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Nadom Safi, Christobel Saunders, Antoinette Anazodo, Jan E. Dickinson, Frances Boyle, Angela Ives, Alex Wang, Zhuoyang Li, Elizabeth Sullivan
Summary: This study highlights different management options for breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, discussing investigations, treatments, and outcomes for these women. It includes a review of six cases of women diagnosed with breast cancer during pregnancy, illustrating various considerations for different trimesters.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Michelle K. Pedretti, Dorota A. Doherty, Jan E. Dickinson
Summary: Providers of obstetric care in Western Australia are more focused on women with obvious risk factors for preterm birth rather than adopting universal screening. There are variations in the definition of what constitutes a short cervix on ultrasound and how to treat and monitor women with a short cervical length.
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nursing
Elizabeth Sullivan, Nadom Safi, Zhuoyang Li, Marc Remond, Tina Y. T. Chen, Nasrin Javid, Jan E. Dickinson, Angela Ives, Karin Hammarberg, Antoinette Anazodo, Frances Boyle, Jane Fisher, Lesley Halliday, Greg Duncombe, Claire McLintock, Alex Y. Wang, Christobel Saunders
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, clinical management, and outcomes of women with gestational breast cancer (GBC). The findings showed that patients diagnosed with GBC before 30 weeks of gestation required surgical and systemic cancer treatment during pregnancy, along with planned preterm birth. On the other hand, for patients diagnosed after 30 weeks, cancer treatment was deferred until postdelivery. The study also revealed that 42.5% of preterm babies required higher-level neonatal care, but there were no perinatal deaths or congenital malformations.
BIRTH-ISSUES IN PERINATAL CARE
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Glen Lo, Angela Jacques, Jan E. Dickinson
Summary: This study aimed to review the MRI appearances of the placenta in low-risk pregnancies. A total of 83 pregnancies were included in the analysis. The results demonstrated that placental thickness, T2 heterogeneity, and T2 dark bands varied with gestational age.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sarah Long, Peter O'Leary, Jan E. Dickinson
Summary: In this study, 219 women participated in a survey regarding their views on genetic conditions detectable with expanded NIPT. The results showed high support for early diagnosis and termination of pregnancy in severe conditions, while emphasizing the importance of testing provided by general practitioners and genetic counselling support.
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Cheryl A. Mackay, Disna Abeysuriya, Jan E. Dickinson, Stephen Shipton, Gayatri Athalye-Jape
JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jan E. Dickinson, Dorota A. Doherty
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and complications in women with prior caesarean delivery during mid-pregnancy medical abortion with misoprostol following mifepristone priming. The study found that women with prior caesarean delivery may experience more complications during the abortion process. Therefore, reducing the dosage of misoprostol in women with a history of caesarean delivery may decrease the risk of uterine rupture.
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jan E. Dickinson, Dorota A. Doherty
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed the frequency of maternal adverse events associated with second trimester medical abortion using sequential mifepristone and misoprostol in a single center from January 2008 to December 2018. The results showed that serious adverse maternal events with second trimester medical abortion are uncommon but may occur in some cases. Therefore, healthcare units providing this service need to have the appropriate facilities and expertise to handle these adverse events in a timely manner.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Giulia Peacock, Darshan Kothari, Luigi D'Orsogna, Jan E. Dickinson, David Andrews, Deane Yim
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of isolated vascular rings in a pediatric tertiary institution. The results showed an improved prenatal detection rate and higher likelihood of symptoms in postnatally diagnosed cases, who also underwent more investigations and received more medications before diagnosis. Additionally, the study found that 20.3% of isolated vascular ring anomalies carried a genetic diagnosis.
HEART LUNG AND CIRCULATION
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sarah Long, Peter O'Leary, Jan E. E. Dickinson
Summary: Prenatal screening, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), has advanced quickly and is now available for detecting multiple single gene and chromosome conditions during pregnancy. A survey of 219 women in Western Australia revealed that the majority (96%) supported expanded NIPT for these conditions, as long as the test had no risk to the pregnancy and could provide relevant medical information at any stage of pregnancy. Additionally, cost and the option to terminate a pregnancy were factors for women in deciding whether to participate in testing, with 68% considering cost and 43% supporting the option to terminate if the fetus had a condition affecting daily functioning. Reassurance and delivering a healthy child were seen as potential benefits of testing by 78% of women.
JOURNAL OF GENETIC COUNSELING
(2023)
Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Madeleine N. Jones, Kirsten R. Palmer, Maleesa M. Pathirana, Jose Guilherme Cecatti, Olimpio B. Moraes Filho, Lena Marions, Mans Edlund, Martina Prager, Craig Pennell, Jan E. Dickinson, Nelson Sass, Marta Jozwiak, Mieke Ten Eikelder, Katrien Oude Rengerink, Kitty W. M. Bloemenkamp, Amanda Henry, Ellen C. L. Lokkegaard, Ib Jarle Christensen, Jeff M. Szychowski, Rodney K. Edwards, Michael Beckmann, Caroline Diguisto, Amelie Le Gouge, Franck Perrotin, Ian Symonds, Sean O'Leary, Daniel L. Rolnik, Ben W. Mol, Wentao Li
Summary: The rates of induction have increased in Australia and the United Kingdom since 2010, indicating a growing acceptance of induction among women and health providers. Mechanical and pharmacological methods are commonly used for cervical ripening in women undergoing induction. However, induction carries the risks of cesarean delivery and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of balloon catheters and vaginal prostaglandins for labor induction.
OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Morgan D. D. Peel, Doortje M. R. Croll, Jorg Kessler, Birte Haugland, Craig E. E. Pennell, Jan E. E. Dickinson, Raed Salim, Noah Zafran, Kirsten R. R. Palmer, Ben W. W. Mol, Wentao Li
Summary: Comparing the efficacy and safety of double-balloon versus single-balloon catheters for induction of labor, it was found that single-balloon catheter is at least comparable to double-balloon catheter in terms of vaginal birth rate and maternal and perinatal safety outcomes.
ACTA OBSTETRICIA ET GYNECOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lisa F. Stinson, Yey Berman, Shaofu Li, Jeffrey A. Keelan, Jan E. Dickinson, Dorota A. Doherty, John P. Newnham, Matthew S. Payne
Summary: There is a strong association between intrauterine bacteria and preterm birth. This study investigated the bacterial and cytokine profiles in mid-gestation amniotic fluid samples from Australian preterm and term births. The results showed low diversity and richness in bacterial DNA profiles, with no significant differences between term and preterm samples. Certain cytokine levels were elevated in the presence of specific bacteria, but the biological relevance of this remains unknown.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Madeleine N. Jones, Kirsten R. Palmer, Maleesa M. Pathirana, Jose Guilherme Cecatti, Olimpio B. Moraes Filho, Lena Marions, Mans Edlund, Martina Prager, Craig Pennell, Jan E. Dickinson, Nelson Sass, Marta Jozwiak, Mieke Ten Eikelder, Katrien Oude Rengerink, Kitty W. M. Bloemenkamp, Amanda Henry, Ellen C. L. Lokkegaard, Ib Jarle Christensen, Jeff M. Szychowski, Rodney K. Edwards, Michael Beckmann, Caroline Diguisto, Amelie Le Gouge, Franck Perrotin, Ian Symonds, Sean O'Leary, Daniel L. Rolnik, Ben W. Mol, Wentao Li
Summary: This meta-analysis compares the effectiveness and safety profiles of balloon catheters and vaginal prostaglandins for cervical ripening before labor induction. Balloon catheters and vaginal prostaglandins have comparable cesarean delivery rates and maternal safety profiles, but balloon catheters lead to fewer adverse perinatal events.
Review
Psychiatry
Megan Galbally, Hubertus Himmerich, Shivanthi Senaratne, Phoebe Fitzgerald, Jeanette Frost, Nicole Woods, Jan E. Dickinson
Summary: Anorexia nervosa is a severe mental disorder that is more common in women and girls. It is associated with suicide and mortality due to the physical consequences of starvation. Despite its low prevalence, anorexia nervosa in pregnancy poses substantial risks for both the mother and infant, yet there is a lack of comprehensive guidelines and recommendations for managing it.
