Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Herbert Valensise, Daniele Farsetti, Francesca Pometti, Barbara Vasapollo, Gian Paolo Novelli, Christoph Lees
Summary: This study investigated the relationships between maternal and fetal hemodynamics in a population with suspected fetal growth restriction. The results showed that maternal and fetal hemodynamic parameters were different in the three groups of fetuses: fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, and adequate for gestational age. Maternal hemodynamic parameters were closely and continuously correlated with fetal hemodynamic features. Assessing maternal and fetal hemodynamic parameters is important for the diagnosis and monitoring of fetal growth restriction.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Jonathan M. Rubin, J. Brian Fowlkes, Stephen Z. Pinter, Marjorie C. Treadwell, Oliver D. Kripfgans
Summary: Placental blood flow analysis using Fast Fourier Transform of umbilical venous pulse wave spectra can assess maternal/fetal blood flow simultaneously, distinguishing between normal and complications like IUGR and pre-eclampsia. Differences in maternal/fetal spectral peaks and weight-normalized umbilical venous blood flows may act synergistically in cases with both conditions. This new marker in umbilical venous flow has the potential to identify primary causes of IUGR and pre-eclampsia when combined with umbilical cord blood flow analysis.
JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Shiri Shinar, Melissa Tigert, Swati Agrawal, William A. Parks, John C. Kingdom
Summary: In this retrospective study, the association between PlGF and placental dysfunction was investigated, showing its potential for diagnosing FGR secondary to MVM. Low PlGF was found to be related to fetal growth restriction, abnormal Dopplers, and adverse perinatal outcomes.
PREGNANCY HYPERTENSION-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WOMENS CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
(2021)
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)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Nikita P. Joshi, Aditi R. Mane, Akriti S. Sahay, Deepali P. Sundrani, Sadhana R. Joshi, Chittaranjan S. Yajnik
Summary: Maternal nutrient availability and transport through the placenta are essential for fetal development, particularly the transfer of glucose which is crucial for fetal growth and development. Glucose transport across the placenta is influenced by maternal glucose concentrations and mediated by glucose transporter family proteins. Alterations in these transporters can impact fetal growth and body composition, potentially leading to future metabolic risks for the baby.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2022)
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.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xing-Xing Gao, Shuai Lin, Pei-Ying Jiang, Meng-Ying Ye, Wei Chen, Chuan-Xiang Hu, Yuan-Hua Chen
Summary: This study revealed that gestational cholestasis induces apoptosis of trophoblast cells in the placenta, leading to placental insufficiency and IUGR. Furthermore, the activation of the IRE1α pathway was found in cholestasis cases.
Article
Acoustics
R. H. Saab, G. R. Devore, M. Monson, J. Masri, L. M. Korst, R. H. Chmait
Summary: This study aimed to assess the difference in umbilical vein flow (UVF) between the recipient and donor twins with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and to evaluate the change in UVF following laser surgery. The results showed a significant preoperative difference in UVF between the recipient and donor twins, and a substantial increase in UVF of the donor twin postoperatively, confirming the effectiveness of laser surgery in improving perfusion.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Eduardo Felix Martins Santana, Renata Gomes Castello, Giuseppe Rizzo, Gianpaolo Grisolia, Edward Araujo Junior, Heron Werner, Mario Lituania, Gabriele Tonni
Summary: This review presents a wide range of placental and umbilical cord pathologies that affect pregnancy outcomes. These anomalies are associated with high-risk pregnancies and can lead to fetal compromise and poor perinatal outcomes. By analyzing perinatology databases and providing prenatal imaging with autopsy correlation, this manuscript aids in understanding and defining this critical obstetrical and perinatological issue.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Daniela Denis Di Martino, Laura Avagliano, Enrico Ferrazzi, Federica Fuse, Vittoria Sterpi, Marco Parasiliti, Tamara Stampalija, Sara Zullino, Antonio Farina, Gaetano Pietro Bulfamante, Matteo Di Maso, Francesco D'Ambrosi
Summary: This study found a higher prevalence of placental maternal vascular malperfusion in HDP-FGR and early FGR groups, which were associated with abnormal feto-placental Doppler parameters. In contrast, HDP-AGA fetus and late FGR presented more heterogeneous placental lesions not severe enough to cause feto-placental Doppler anomalies. These findings suggest potential preventive nutritional approaches for pregnant women with predisposing factors for HDP-AGA fetuses and late FGR.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rojan Saghian, Lindsay Cahill, Anum Rahman, Joseph Steinman, Greg Stortz, John Kingdom, Christopher Macgowan, John Sled
Summary: This study presented a generalized wave decomposition method to compute forward and reflected components from UA waveforms, exploring the relationship between placental vascular abnormalities and FGR. The findings suggest that terminal load impedance plays a significant role in shaping waveforms, potentially aiding in distinguishing healthy and abnormal placental vasculature in pregnancies suspected of late-onset FGR.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Brit H. Boehmer, Stephanie R. Wesolowski, Laura D. Brown, Paul J. Rozance
Summary: The study aimed to investigate whether a 9-day leucine infusion could enhance insulin secretion and increase pancreatic islet size, beta-cells, and vascularity in intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) fetal sheep. However, the results showed that IUGR fetal sheep islets were not responsive to leucine infusion in terms of insulin secretion or any histologic features measured, unlike normally growing fetuses.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kristina Norvilaite, Diana Ramasauskaite, Daiva Bartkeviciene, Aleksandra Sliachtenko, Juozas Kurmanavicius
Summary: This study conducted detailed Doppler examinations and monitoring of 53 late-onset intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) fetuses. The results showed that the TA-PI increased gradually from the 35th week, while the UA-PI remained stable. The MCA-PI and CPR decreased progressively from inclusion to delivery, with abnormalities observed from the 37th week onwards. These observations can contribute to the development of guidelines for detecting deteriorating signs and intervention timing in late pregnancies with IUGR.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
M. La Verde, F. Savoia, G. Riemma, A. Schiattarella, A. Conte, S. Hidar, M. Torella, N. Colacurci, P. De Franciscis, M. Morlando
Summary: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic accuracies of aortic isthmus Doppler in predicting adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies with FGR. The study found a significant association between retrograde aortic isthmus blood flow and the risk of perinatal death, stillbirth, and respiratory distress syndrome.
ARCHIVES OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mengqi Gu, Fengyuan Zhang, Xiaotong Jiang, Pengzheng Chen, Shuting Wan, Qingfeng Lv, Yuan Lu, Qian Zhou, Yanyun Wang, Lei Li
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of placental exosomes on endothelial cells. The results showed that H/R-exo and PE-exo inhibited the biological functions of endothelial cells and impaired vessel development, potentially leading to vascular disorders in offspring.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
M. Perez-Cruz, O. Gomez, M. Gibert, N. Masoller, E. Marimon, D. Lip-Sosa, M. Bennasar, E. Bonet-Carne, M. D. Gomez-Roig, J. M. Martinez-Crespo, E. Gratacos, E. Eixarch
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate corpus callosum size in fetuses with isolated major congenital heart defects using neurosonography. Findings revealed that fetuses with major CHD had a smaller corpus callosum compared to controls, particularly in the subgroup with expected poorer brain oxygen supply. This suggests sonographic corpus callosum size could serve as a clinically feasible marker of abnormal white matter development in congenital heart defects.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Mireia Salvador, Anna Vilaregut, Rosana Moyano, Queralt Ferrer, Olga Gomez, Teresa Moratalla, Elisa Llurba
Summary: This study evaluated the psychological impact of a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) on expectant parents. The results showed that many parents experienced stages of shock and denial in response to the disease diagnosis, and both individual and couple-level psychological distress and idealized dyadic adjustment were present.
ANALES DE PEDIATRIA
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lennart Van der Veeken, Francesca M. Russo, Ewelina Litwinska, Olga Gomez, Doaa Emam, Liesbeth Lewi, David Basurto, Stephen Van der Veeken, Luc De Catte, Eduard Gratacos, Elisenda Eixarch, Kypros Nicolaides, Jan Deprest
Summary: Fetuses with isolated left-sided CDH exhibit a small cerebellum and reduced MCA peak systolic velocity. Disease severity is correlated to changes in TCD and MCA Doppler values. Follow-up studies are needed to determine the impact of these changes on neurodevelopment.
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ben Van Calster, Alexandra Benachi, Kypros H. Nicolaides, Eduard Gratacos, Christoph Berg, Nicola Persico, Glenn J. Gardener, Michael Belfort, Yves Ville, Greg Ryan, Anthony Johnson, Haruhiko Sago, Przemyslaw Kosinski, Pietro Bagolan, Tim Van Mieghem, Philip L. J. DeKoninck, Francesca M. Russo, Stuart B. Hooper, Jan A. Deprest
Summary: This analysis suggests that fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion improves survival in cases of moderate and severe lung hypoplasia. The timing of balloon insertion may impact the treatment effect, but further research is needed to determine its precise influence due to the limited sample size and confounding factors. In particular, early insertion of the balloon greatly increases the risk of preterm delivery.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mari Merce Cascant-Vilaplana, Abel Albiach-Delgado, Marta Camprubi-Camprubi, Miriam Perez-Cruz, Olga Gomez, Miguel Arraez, Marina Lopez-Nogueroles, Julia Kuligowski, Maximo Vento
Summary: This study presents an analytical method for quantifying biomarkers of oxidative stress-derived damage to proteins and DNA in amniotic fluid samples. The method achieves high accuracy, precision, and sensitivity, making it suitable for research on oxidative stress-related complications during pregnancy.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Alonso, Marti Catala, Daniel Lopez, Enric Alvarez-Lacalle, Iolanda Jordan, Juan Jose Garcia-Garcia, Victoria Fumado, Carmen Munoz-Almagro, Eduard Gratacos, Nuria Balanza, Rosauro Varo, Pere Millat, Barbara Baro, Sara Ajanovic, Sara Arias, Joana Claverol, Mariona Fernandez de Sevilla, Elisenda Bonet-Carne, Aleix Garcia-Miquel, Ermengol Coma, Manuel Medina-Peralta, Francesc Fina, Clara Prats, Quique Bassat
Summary: The reopening of schools in Catalonia appeared to be safe and the preventive measures in place were effective in detecting and containing transmission. The risk of transmission within schools was found to be relatively low.
Letter
Acoustics
E. Eixarch, E. Gratacos
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xavier P. Burgos-Artizzu, David Coronado-Gutierrez, Brenda Valenzuela-Alcaraz, Elisenda Bonet-Carne, Elisenda Eixarch, Fatima Crispi, Eduard Gratacos
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Acoustics
A. Hawkins-Villarreal, A. L. Moreno-Espinosa, K. Castillo, N. Hahner, O. Picone, L. Mandelbrot, I. Simon, E. Gratacos, A. Gonce, E. Eixarch
Summary: The study aimed to assess the cortical maturation pattern in fetuses with CMV infection using MRI, and compare it with healthy controls. Results showed that even in non-severely affected fetuses, CMV infection could be associated with altered brain cortical structure.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
D. L. Lip-Sosa, M. Perez-Cruz, P. Ahumada-Droguett, T. Ribas-Prats, M. Puertollano, M. A. Garcia-Gomez, E. Mazarico, E. Eixarch, C. Escera, M. D. Gomez-Roig
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the measurements of midbrain morphology on neurosonography in late-onset small fetuses classified as small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or growth-restricted (FGR). The results showed that small fetuses had significantly shorter corpus callosum-fastigium length and tectal length compared to controls, and these differences were more pronounced in fetuses with more severe smallness. These findings suggest the potential value of midbrain measurements as biomarkers for brain development in a high-risk population.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
A. Hawkins-Villarreal, K. Castillo, A. Nadal, S. Planas, A. L. Moreno-Espinosa, A. Alarcon, M. Rebollo-Polo, F. Figueras, E. Gratacos, E. Eixarch, A. Gonce
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the periventricular echogenic halo (halo sign) and histopathological findings, as well as its association with other brain imaging abnormalities in fetuses with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The study included CMV-infected fetuses diagnosed with severe CNS abnormalities seen on ultrasound. The halo sign was observed in 91% of the fetuses, with ventriculitis being more frequent in cases with a non-isolated halo sign. Histopathological analysis showed that fetuses with an isolated halo sign had mild ventriculitis without severe brain lesions. The study suggests that detailed neurosonographic follow-up and MRI examination should be considered in the early third trimester for prognostic evaluation of CMV-infected fetuses with the halo sign as an isolated finding. Rating: 8/10.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andrea Urru, Ayako Nakaki, Oualid Benkarim, Francesca Crovetto, Laura Segales, Valentin Comte, Nadine Hahner, Elisenda Eixarch, Eduard Gratacos, Fatima Crispi, Gemma Piella, Miguel A. Gonzalez Ballester
Summary: In this study, a new pipeline for fetal and neonatal segmentation has been developed, along with the creation of two new fetal atlases. The results show that the use of the new templates and segmentation strategy leads to accurate results, outperforming a reference pipeline in early and late-onset fetal brain segmentation.
Article
Acoustics
S. Sanchez-Martinez, P. C. Randanne, A. Hawkins-Villarreal, K. Rezaei, R. Fucho, S. Bobillo-Perez, E. Bonet-Carne, M. Illa, E. Eixarch, B. Bijnens, F. Crispi, E. Gratacos
Summary: This study aimed to describe the acute cardiovascular adaptation of the fetus after connection to an artificial placenta (AP) using ultrasound and invasive and non-invasive hemodynamic assessment. The results showed that the connection to the AP system resulted in a reduction in the pulsatility index and increased umbilical venous peak velocity. While cardiac structure and function were preserved in the short term, the system led to non-physiologically elevated venous pressure and pulsatile flow.
ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisenda Eixarch, Miriam Illa, Raquel Fucho, Kambiz Rezaei, Ameth Hawkins-Villarreal, Sara Bobillo-Perez, Paula C. Randanne, Miguel Moran, Marina Chorda, Sergio Sanchez-Martinez, Yolanda J. D. de Roo-Puente, Maria del Mar Velilla, Ruth del Rio, Marc Gallego, Daniel Sanin-Ramirez, Victor Narvaez, Fatima Crispi, Elisenda Bonet-Carne, Eduard Gratacos
Summary: This study describes the development of an artificial placenta (AP) system in sheep, facing challenges and bottlenecks but ultimately achieving survival up to one week. A total of 28 fetal sheep were transferred to the AP system, with progressively increased survival goals. Results showed improved success rates over the course of the study, but common issues still hindered the system in the first two groups. The study concludes that developing a reproducible AP system requires significant time, effort, and a highly multidisciplinary team.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lucas Trigo, Elisenda Eixarch, Fernanda Faig-Leite, Marta Gomez-Chiari, Monica Rebollo, Mariana Dalaqua, Eduard Gratacos, Denise Lapa
Summary: This study investigated the changes in central nervous system anomalies before and after prenatal open spina bifida repair and their relationship with postnatal neurologic outcomes. The results showed a reduction in hindbrain herniation and a normalization of the clivus supraocciput angle after surgery, but no significant increase in abnormal corpus callosum or heterotopia. However, the presence of abnormal corpus callosum and severe ventriculomegaly was associated with an increased risk of suboptimal neurodevelopment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2023)
