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Melbourne A, Schabel MC, David AL, Roberts VHJ. Magnetic resonance imaging of placental intralobule structure and function in a preclinical nonhuman primate model†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:1065-1076. [PMID: 38442734 PMCID: PMC11180614 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the central role of adequate blood flow and oxygen delivery is known, the lack of optimized imaging modalities to study placental structure has impeded our understanding of its vascular function. Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly being applied in this field, but gaps in knowledge remain, and further methodological developments are needed. In particular, the ability to distinguish maternal from fetal placental perfusion and the understanding of how individual placental lobules are functioning are lacking. The potential clinical benefits of developing noninvasive tools for the in vivo assessment of blood flow and oxygenation, two key determinants of placental function, are tremendous. Here, we summarize a number of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques that have been developed and applied in animal models and studies of human pregnancy over the past decade. We discuss the potential applications and limitations of these approaches. Their combination provides a novel source of contrast to allow analysis of placental structure and function at the level of the lobule. We outline the physiological mechanisms of placental T2 and T2* decay and devise a model of how tissue composition affects the observed relaxation properties. We apply this modeling to longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from a preclinical pregnant nonhuman primate model to provide initial proof-of-concept data for this methodology, which quantifies oxygen transfer and placental structure across and between lobules. This method has the potential to improve our understanding and clinical management of placental insufficiency once validation in a larger nonhuman primate cohort is complete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Matthias C Schabel
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Anna L David
- Department of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria H J Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Holmes H, Saini BS, Moir OJ, Darby JRT, Morrison JL, Sun L, Seed M. Pulmonary Vascular Regulation in the Fetal and Transitional Lung. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:1-19. [PMID: 38325936 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Fetal lungs have fewer and smaller arteries with higher pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) than a newborn. As gestation advances, the pulmonary circulation becomes more sensitive to changes in pulmonary arterial oxygen tension, which prepares them for the dramatic drop in PVR and increase in pulmonary blood flow (PBF) that occur when the baby takes its first few breaths of air, thus driving the transition from fetal to postnatal circulation. Dynamic and intricate regulatory mechanisms control PBF throughout development and are essential in supporting gas exchange after birth. Understanding these concepts is crucial given the role the pulmonary vasculature plays in the development of complications with transition, such as in the setting of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and congenital heart disease. An improved understanding of pulmonary vascular regulation may reveal opportunities for better clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Holmes
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Olivia J Moir
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Jack R T Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada; Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada
| | - Liqun Sun
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada; Translational Medicine Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada; Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8 Canada.
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Abaci Turk E, Yun HJ, Feldman HA, Lee JY, Lee HJ, Bibbo C, Zhou C, Tamen R, Grant PE, Im K. Association between placental oxygen transport and fetal brain cortical development: a study in monochorionic diamniotic twins. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhad383. [PMID: 37885155 PMCID: PMC11032198 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal cortical growth and the resulting folding patterns are crucial for normal brain function. Although cortical development is largely influenced by genetic factors, environmental factors in fetal life can modify the gene expression associated with brain development. As the placenta plays a vital role in shaping the fetal environment, affecting fetal growth through the exchange of oxygen and nutrients, placental oxygen transport might be one of the environmental factors that also affect early human cortical growth. In this study, we aimed to assess the placental oxygen transport during maternal hyperoxia and its impact on fetal brain development using MRI in identical twins to control for genetic and maternal factors. We enrolled 9 pregnant subjects with monochorionic diamniotic twins (30.03 ± 2.39 gestational weeks [mean ± SD]). We observed that the fetuses with slower placental oxygen delivery had reduced volumetric and surface growth of the cerebral cortex. Moreover, when the difference between placenta oxygen delivery increased between the twin pairs, sulcal folding patterns were more divergent. Thus, there is a significant relationship between placental oxygen transport and fetal brain cortical growth and folding in monochorionic twins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Abaci Turk
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Hyuk Jin Yun
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Henry A Feldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Joo Young Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Hyun Ju Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, South Korea
| | - Carolina Bibbo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis St, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Cindy Zhou
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Rubii Tamen
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Patricia Ellen Grant
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Kiho Im
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, United States
- Fetal Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Dr, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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Desmond A, Nguyen K, Watterson CT, Sklansky M, Satou GM, Prosper AE, Garg M, Van Arsdell GS, Finn JP, Afshar Y. Integration of Prenatal Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Congenital Heart Disease. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e030640. [PMID: 37982254 PMCID: PMC10727279 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.030640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Standard of care echocardiography can have limited diagnostic accuracy in certain cases of fetal congenital heart disease. Prenatal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has potential to provide additional anatomic imaging information, including excellent soft tissue images in multiple planes, improving prenatal diagnostics and in utero hemodynamic assessment. We conducted a literature review of fetal CMR, including its development and implementation into clinical practice, and compiled and analyzed the results. Our findings included the fact that technological and innovative approaches are required to overcome some of the challenges in fetal CMR, in part due to the dynamic nature of the fetal heart. A number of reconstruction algorithms and cardiac gating strategies have been developed over time to improve fetal CMR image quality, allowing unique investigations into fetal hemodynamics, oxygenation, and growth. Studies demonstrate that incorporating CMR in the prenatal arena influences postnatal clinical management. With further refinement and experience, fetal CMR in congenital heart disease continues to evolve and demonstrate ongoing potential as a complementary imaging modality to fetal echocardiography in the care of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Desmond
- Division of Neonatology, Department of PediatricsUCLA Mattel Children’s HospitalLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Kim‐Lien Nguyen
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
- Division of CardiologyDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
| | | | - Mark Sklansky
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Mattel Children’s HospitalLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Gary M. Satou
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of PediatricsDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Mattel Children’s HospitalLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Ashley E. Prosper
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Meena Garg
- Division of Neonatology, Department of PediatricsUCLA Mattel Children’s HospitalLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Glen S. Van Arsdell
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of SurgeryDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
| | - J. Paul Finn
- Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
- Division of CardiologyDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Radiological SciencesDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Yalda Afshar
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDavid Geffen School of Medicine, UCLALos AngelesCAUSA
- Molecular Biology InstituteUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
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Correa S, Nichols ES, Mueller ME, de Vrijer B, Eagleson R, McKenzie CA, de Ribaupierre S, Duerden EG. Default mode network functional connectivity strength in utero and the association with fetal subcortical development. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9144-9153. [PMID: 37259175 PMCID: PMC10350815 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The default mode network is essential for higher-order cognitive processes and is composed of an extensive network of functional and structural connections. Early in fetal life, the default mode network shows strong connectivity with other functional networks; however, the association with structural development is not well understood. In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and anatomical images were acquired in 30 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies. Participants completed 1 or 2 MR imaging sessions, on average 3 weeks apart (43 data sets), between 28- and 39-weeks postconceptional ages. Subcortical volumes were automatically segmented. Activation time courses from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were extracted from the default mode network, medial temporal lobe network, and thalamocortical network. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the association between functional connectivity strength between default mode network-medial temporal lobe, default mode network-thalamocortical network, and subcortical volumes, respectively. Increased functional connectivity strength in the default mode network-medial temporal lobe network was associated with smaller right hippocampal, left thalamic, and right caudate nucleus volumes, but larger volumes of the left caudate. Increased functional connectivity strength in the default mode network-thalamocortical network was associated with smaller left thalamic volumes. The strong associations seen among the default mode network functional connectivity networks and regionally specific subcortical volume development indicate the emergence of short-range connectivity in the third trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Correa
- Neuroscience Program, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Emily S Nichols
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Megan E Mueller
- Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Barbra de Vrijer
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Roy Eagleson
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Charles A McKenzie
- Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Sandrine de Ribaupierre
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Emma G Duerden
- Western Institute for Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
- Applied Psychology, Faculty of Education, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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Abulnaga SM, Turk EA, Bessmeltsev M, Grant PE, Solomon J, Golland P. Volumetric Parameterization of the Placenta to a Flattened Template. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2022; 41:925-936. [PMID: 34784274 PMCID: PMC9069541 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2021.3128743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a volumetric mesh-based algorithm for parameterizing the placenta to a flattened template to enable effective visualization of local anatomy and function. MRI shows potential as a research tool as it provides signals directly related to placental function. However, due to the curved and highly variable in vivo shape of the placenta, interpreting and visualizing these images is difficult. We address interpretation challenges by mapping the placenta so that it resembles the familiar ex vivo shape. We formulate the parameterization as an optimization problem for mapping the placental shape represented by a volumetric mesh to a flattened template. We employ the symmetric Dirichlet energy to control local distortion throughout the volume. Local injectivity in the mapping is enforced by a constrained line search during the gradient descent optimization. We validate our method using a research study of 111 placental shapes extracted from BOLD MRI images. Our mapping achieves sub-voxel accuracy in matching the template while maintaining low distortion throughout the volume. We demonstrate how the resulting flattening of the placenta improves visualization of anatomy and function. Our code is freely available at https://github.com/mabulnaga/placenta-flattening.
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Deng Y, Jin Y, Xu R, Zeng S. Fetal Hemodynamic Response to Maternal Oxygenation in Normal and Complicated Pregnancies. ULTRASCHALL IN DER MEDIZIN (STUTTGART, GERMANY : 1980) 2021; 42:607-613. [PMID: 32971542 DOI: 10.1055/a-1187-1459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Maternal oxygenation (MO) is widely applied in obstetrics. Scholars have conducted numerous studies on maternal hyperoxygenation and have reported many theoretical and applied achievements and a number of different points of view. The main purpose of this article is to discuss the effect of maternal oxygenation on fetal circulation during normal and complicated pregnancies and to ascertain its potential side effects and research gaps in this field. In complicated pregnancies, the fetus may benefit from oxygen therapy. However, large randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies are necessary to support the widespread application of maternal oxygenation in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Deng
- Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Jin
- Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Ran Xu
- Urology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Shi Zeng
- Department of Ultrasonography, Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
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Issa E, Stevenson GN, Gomes De Melo Tavares Ferreira AE, Chang MHY, Alphonse J, Welsh AW. The Influence of Hyperoxygenation on Fetal Brain Vascularity Measured Using 3D Power Doppler Ultrasound and the Index "Fractional Moving Blood Volume". Fetal Diagn Ther 2021; 48:651-659. [PMID: 34710879 DOI: 10.1159/000517727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal hyperoxygenation effects on fetal cerebral hemodynamics are largely unknown. This study aimed to determine efficacy and reliability of a validated power Doppler ultrasound (US) index, fractional moving blood volume (FMBV), at measuring fetal cerebral vasculature changes during maternal hyperoxia. METHODS The fetal cerebral effects of 10 min of hyperoxygenation at 2 flow rates (52%/60% FiO2) were evaluated in women in their third trimester of pregnancy. 2D-US and 3D-US in a transverse plane were performed before, during, and following maternal hyperoxygenation with FMBV estimation performed offline. RESULTS Forty-five cases provided data for analysis. Mean intraobserver ICCs were 0.89 (3D-FMBV) and 0.84 (2D-FMBV). A significant difference in vascularity before and during and before and after 60% hyperoxia was observed (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were found at 52% hyperoxia (p > 0.05). Significant differences in vascularity were found between 2D-FMBV and 3D-FMBV (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Measurement of fetal cerebral vascularity by 3D-FMBV and 2D-FMBV was highly reproducible. The differing cerebral vascular changes seen with 60% but not 52% FiO2 suggest a possible "threshold effect" that may have influenced prior studies. Further studies are needed to assess cerebral effects of maternal hyperoxygenation on compromised fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evitta Issa
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gordon Niall Stevenson
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Melissa Han Yiin Chang
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer Alphonse
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alec William Welsh
- School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
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Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. Emerging placental biomarkers of health and disease through advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Exp Neurol 2021; 347:113868. [PMID: 34562472 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Placental dysfunction is a major cause of fetal demise, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, as well as significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Infant survivors of placental dysfunction are at elevatedrisk for lifelong neuropsychiatric morbidity. However, despite the significant consequences of placental disease, there are no clinical tools to directly and non-invasively assess and measure placental function in pregnancy. In this work, we will review advanced MRI techniques applied to the study of the in vivo human placenta in order to better detail placental structure, architecture, and function. We will discuss the potential of these measures to serve as optimal biomarkers of placental dysfunction and review the evidence of these tools in the discrimination of health and disease in pregnancy. Efforts to advance our understanding of in vivo placental development are necessary if we are to optimize healthy pregnancy outcomes and prevent brain injury in successive generations. Current management of many high-risk pregnancies cannot address placental maldevelopment or injury, given the standard tools available to clinicians. Once accurate biomarkers of placental development and function are constructed, the subsequent steps will be to introduce maternal and fetal therapeutics targeting at optimizing placental function. Applying these biomarkers in future studies will allow for real-time assessments of safety and efficacy of novel interventions aimed at improving maternal-fetal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickie Andescavage
- Developing Brain Institute, Department of Radiology, Children's National, Washington DC, USA; Department of Neonatology, Children's National, Washington DC, USA
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10
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Stout JN, Liao C, Gagoski B, Turk EA, Feldman HA, Bibbo C, Barth WH, Shainker SA, Wald LL, Grant PE, Adalsteinsson E. Quantitative T 1 and T 2 mapping by magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) of the placenta before and after maternal hyperoxia. Placenta 2021; 114:124-132. [PMID: 34537569 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION MR relaxometry has been used to assess placental exchange function, but methods to date are not sufficiently fast to be robust to placental motion. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) permits rapid, voxel-wise, intrinsically co-registered T1 and T2 mapping. After characterizing measurement error, we scanned pregnant women during air and oxygen breathing to demonstrate MRF's ability to detect placental oxygenation changes. METHODS The accuracy of FISP-based, sliding-window reconstructed MRF was tested on phantoms. MRF scans in 9-s breath holds were acquired at 3T in 31 pregnant women during air and oxygen breathing. A mixed effects model was used to test for changes in placenta relaxation times between physiological states, to assess the dependency on gestational age (GA), and the impact of placental motion. RESULTS MRF estimates of known phantom relaxation times resulted in mean absolute errors for T1 of 92 ms (4.8%), but T2 was less accurate at 16 ms (13.6%). During normoxia, placental T1 = 1825 ± 141 ms (avg ± standard deviation) and T2 = 60 ± 16 ms (gestational age range 24.3-36.7, median 32.6 weeks). In the statistical model, placental T2 rose and T1 remained contant after hyperoxia, and no GA dependency was observed for T1 or T2. DISCUSSION Well-characterized, motion-robust MRF was used to acquire T1 and T2 maps of the placenta. Changes with hyperoxia are consistent with a net increase in oxygen saturation. Toward the goal of whole-placenta quantitative oxygenation imaging over time, we aim to implement 3D MRF with integrated motion correction to improve T2 accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey N Stout
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Congyu Liao
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Borjan Gagoski
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Esra Abaci Turk
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Henry A Feldman
- Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Carolina Bibbo
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - William H Barth
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Scott A Shainker
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Lawrence L Wald
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal and Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Elfar Adalsteinsson
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Markovic S, Roussel T, Neeman M, Frydman L. Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Discrimination of Fetoplacental Metabolism in Normal and L-NAME-Induced Preeclamptic Mice. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11060376. [PMID: 34200839 PMCID: PMC8230481 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11060376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent magnetic resonance studies in healthy and cancerous organs have concluded that deuterated metabolites possess highly desirable properties for mapping non-invasively and, as they happen, characterizing glycolysis and other biochemical processes in animals and humans. A promising avenue of this deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) approach involves looking at the fate of externally administered 2H6,6′-glucose, as it is taken up and metabolized into different products as a function of time. This study employs deuterium magnetic resonance to follow the metabolism of wildtype and preeclamptic pregnant mice models, focusing on maternal and fetoplacental organs over ≈2 h post-injection. 2H6,6′-glucose uptake was observed in the placenta and in specific downstream organs such as the fetal heart and liver. Main metabolic products included 2H3,3′-lactate and 2H-water, which were produced in individual fetoplacental organs with distinct time traces. Glucose uptake in the organs of most preeclamptic animals appeared more elevated than in the control mice (p = 0.02); also higher was the production of 2H-water arising from this glucose. However, the most notable differences arose in the 2H3,3′-lactate concentration, which was ca. two-fold more abundant in the placenta (p = 0.005) and in the fetal (p = 0.01) organs of preeclamptic-like animals, than in control mice. This is consistent with literature reports about hypoxic conditions arising in preeclamptic and growth-restricted pregnancies, which could lead to an enhancement in anaerobic glycolysis. Overall, the present measurements suggest that DMI, a minimally invasive approach, may offer new ways of studying and characterizing health and disease in mammalian pregnancies, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Markovic
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
| | - Tangi Roussel
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine, 13385 Marseille, France;
| | - Michal Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
| | - Lucio Frydman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-8934-4093
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12
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Impact of intrauterine fetal resuscitation with oxygen on oxidative stress in the developing rat brain. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9798. [PMID: 33963277 PMCID: PMC8105387 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89299-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of maternal oxygen for intrauterine resuscitation is contentious because of the lack of evidence for its efficacy and the possibility of fetal harm through oxidative stress. Because the developing brain is rich in lipids and low in antioxidants, it remains vulnerable to oxidative stress. Here, we tested this hypothesis in a term pregnant rat model with oxytocin-induced fetal distress followed by treatment with either room air or 100% oxygen for 6 h. Fetal brains from both sexes were subjected to assays for biomarkers of oxidative stress (4-hydroxynonenal, protein carbonyl, or 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine), expression of genes mediating oxidative stress, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Contrary to our hypothesis, maternal hyperoxia was not associated with increased biomarkers of oxidative stress in the fetal brain. However, there was significant upregulation of the expression of select genes mediating oxidative stress, of which some were male-specific. These observations, however, were not accompanied by changes in the expression of proteins from the mitochondrial electron transport chain. In summary, maternal hyperoxia in the setting of acute uteroplacental ischemia-hypoxia does not appear to cause oxidative damage to the developing brain.
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13
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Steinweg JK, Hui GTY, Pietsch M, Ho A, van Poppel MP, Lloyd D, Colford K, Simpson JM, Razavi R, Pushparajah K, Rutherford M, Hutter J. T2* placental MRI in pregnancies complicated with fetal congenital heart disease. Placenta 2021; 108:23-31. [PMID: 33798991 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most important and common group of congenital malformations in humans. Concurrent development and close functional links between the fetal heart and placenta emphasise the importance of understanding placental function and its influence in pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate placental oxygenation by relaxometry (T2*) to assess differences in placental phenotype and function in CHD. METHODS In this prospective cross-sectional observational study, 69 women with a fetus affected with CHD and 37 controls, whole placental T2* was acquired using a 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner. Gaussian Process Regression was used to assess differences in placental phenotype in CHD cohorts compared to our controls. RESULTS Placental T2* maps demonstrated significant differences in CHD compared to controls at equivalent gestational age. Mean T2* values over the entire placental volume were lowest compared to predicted normal in right sided obstructive lesions (RSOL) (Z-Score 2.30). This cohort also showed highest lacunarity indices (Z-score -1.7), as a marker of lobule size. Distribution patterns of T2* values over the entire placental volume were positively skewed in RSOL (Z-score -4.69) and suspected, not confirmed coarctation of the aorta (CoA-) (Z-score -3.83). Deviations were also reflected in positive kurtosis in RSOL (Z-score -3.47) and CoA- (Z-score -2.86). CONCLUSION Placental structure and function appear to deviate from normal development in pregnancies with fetal CHD. Specific patterns of altered placental function assessed by T2* deliver crucial complementary information to antenatal assessments in the presence of fetal CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes K Steinweg
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Grace Tin Yan Hui
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maximilian Pietsch
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Ho
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Milou Pm van Poppel
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Lloyd
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathleen Colford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John M Simpson
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Reza Razavi
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kuberan Pushparajah
- Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Congenital Heart Disease, Evelina Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jana Hutter
- Centre for the Developing Brain, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Science, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Magawa S, Nii M, Ishida M, Takase S, Nakayama R, Enomoto N, Tanaka H, Kondo E, Sakuma H, Ikeda T. Evaluation of placental oxygenation index using blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) during normal late pregnancy. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 35:5274-5281. [PMID: 33491514 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1878140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM Noninvasive blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-MRI) has recently been used to evaluate placental oxygenation. However, this method still has unresolved problems, such as long testing times and lack of normal values set. In the present study, we used a shorter protocol in BOLD-MRI and established normal values for placental oxygenation in late pregnancy. METHODS We recruited 18 healthy singleton pregnant women (>32 weeks of gestation) who had a normal body size before pregnancy and a normal course of pregnancy. They underwent BOLD-MRI with three consecutive 4-min periods of different oxygenation: normoxia (21% O2), hyperoxia (10 L O2/min), and then normoxia. Placental time-activity curves were presented as signal intensity change relative to baseline (ΔR2*). The time from starting maternal oxygen administration to peak ΔR2*. To assess the relationship between peak ΔR2* values and placenta-related parameters and fetal development, the correlation between peak ΔR2*, placental weight, and neonatal birth weight was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation test. RESULTS In all cases, the BOLD signal was elevated by maternal oxygen administration, with the peak resolving within 4 min after the end of oxygen administration. Peak ΔR2* and time to peak ΔR2* during oxygenation were 7.99 ± 2.58, and 458.1 ± 73.9 s, respectively. There was a significant correlation between peak ΔR2* and neonatal birth weight (percentile) (r = 0.537, p = .022), and between placental weight and neonatal birth weight (r = 0.769, p < .01). CONCLUSIONS In all cases, the BOLD signal increased with maternal hyperoxia using this protocol. So, 4 min observation following maternal oxygen administration is sufficient for peak ΔR2* evaluation. These reference values set in this study may be one of the indicators of BOLD signal changes in normal pregnancies after 32 weeks of gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoichi Magawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Masafumi Nii
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Masaki Ishida
- Department of Radiology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Shinichi Takase
- Department of Radiology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nakayama
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naosuke Enomoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Eiji Kondo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Hajime Sakuma
- Department of Radiology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Ikeda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Faculty Medicine, Mie, Japan
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15
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The application of in utero magnetic resonance imaging in the study of the metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of the developmental origins of health and disease. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:193-202. [PMID: 33308364 PMCID: PMC8162788 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Observing fetal development in utero is vital to further the understanding of later-life diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a tool for obtaining a wealth of information about fetal growth, development, and programming not previously available using other methods. This review provides an overview of MRI techniques used to investigate the metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. These methods add to the understanding of the developing fetus by examining fetal growth and organ development, adipose tissue and body composition, fetal oximetry, placental microstructure, diffusion, perfusion, flow, and metabolism. MRI assessment of fetal growth, organ development, metabolism, and the amount of fetal adipose tissue could give early indicators of abnormal fetal development. Noninvasive fetal oximetry can accurately measure placental and fetal oxygenation, which improves current knowledge on placental function. Additionally, measuring deficiencies in the placenta’s transport of nutrients and oxygen is critical for optimizing treatment. Overall, the detailed structural and functional information provided by MRI is valuable in guiding future investigations of DOHaD.
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16
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Khen-Dunlop N, Chalouhi G, Lecler A, Bouchouicha A, Millischer AE, Tavitian B, Siauve N, Balvay D, Salomon LJ. Assessment of BOLD response in the fetal lung. Eur Radiol 2020; 31:3090-3097. [PMID: 33123792 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-07272-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assessment of lung development and maturity is of utmost importance in prenatal counseling. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) effect MRI was developed for functional evaluations of organs. To date, no data are available in fetal lungs and nothing is known about the existence of a BOLD effect in the lungs. The aim of our study was to evaluate if a BOLD response could be detected in fetal lungs. MATERIALS AND METHODS From January 2014 to December 2016, 38 healthy pregnant women were prospectively enrolled. After a routine scan on a 1.5-T MRI device (normoxic period), maternal hyperoxia was induced for 5 min before the BOLD sequence (hyperoxic period). R2* was evaluated by fitting average intensity of the signal, both for normoxic (norm) and hyperoxic (hyper) periods. RESULTS A significant BOLD response was observed after maternal hyperoxia in the lungs with a mean R2* decrease of 12.1 ± 2.5% (p < 0.001), in line with the placenta response with a mean R2* decrease of 19.2 ± 5.9% (p < 0.0001), confirming appropriate oxygen uptake. Conversely, no significant BOLD effect was observed for the brain nor the liver with a mean ∆R2* of 3.6 ± 3.1% (p = 0.64) and 2.8 ± 3.7% (p = 0.23). CONCLUSION This study shows for the first time in human that a BOLD response can be observed in the normal fetal lung despite its prenatal "non-functional status." If confirmed in congenital lung and chest malformations, this property could be used in addition to the lung volume for a better prediction of postnatal respiratory status. KEY POINTS • Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) effect MRI was developed for functional evaluations of organs and could have interesting implications for the fetal organs. • Assessment of lung development is of utmost importance in prenatal counseling, but to date no data are available in fetal lungs. • BOLD response can be observed in the normal fetal lung opening the way to studies on fetus with pathological lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naziha Khen-Dunlop
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE PLATEFORM - Faculte Paris Descartes, Paris, France. .,Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France. .,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, 149 Rue de Sevres, 75105, Paris, France.
| | - Gihad Chalouhi
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Augustin Lecler
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Afef Bouchouicha
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Elodie Millischer
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE PLATEFORM - Faculte Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Department of Pediatric Radiology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Bertrand Tavitian
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.,Department of Radiology, Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris Descartes Medical University, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Siauve
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE PLATEFORM - Faculte Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France.,Department of Radiology, Louis Mourier Hospital, Colombes, France
| | - Daniel Balvay
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Imagerie (LRI), INSERM U970, Equipe 2, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center - PARCC, 56 Rue Leblanc, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Laurent J Salomon
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE PLATEFORM - Faculte Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Department of Obstetrics, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
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17
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Jiang L, Sun T, Liao Y, Sun Y, Qian Z, Zhang Y, Wu D. Probing the ballistic microcirculation in placenta using flow-compensated and non-compensated intravoxel incoherent motion imaging. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:404-412. [PMID: 32720386 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging is widely used to evaluate microcirculatory flow, which consists of diffusive and ballistic flow components. We proposed a joint use of flow-compensated (FC) and non-compensated (NC) diffusion gradients to probe the fraction and velocity of ballistic flow in the placenta. METHODS Forty pregnant women were included in this study and scanned on a 1.5T clinical scanner. FC and NC diffusion MRI (dMRI) sequences were achieved using a pair of identical or mirrored bipolar gradients. A joint FC-NC model was established to estimate the fraction (fb ) and velocity (vb ) of the ballistic flow. Conventional IVIM parameters (f, D, and D*) were obtained from the FC and NC data, separately. The vb and f·D*, as placental flow velocity measurements, were correlated with the umbilical-artery Doppler ultrasound indices and gestational ages. RESULTS The ballistic flow component can be observed from the difference between the FC and NC dMRI signal decay curves. vb fitted from the FC-NC model showed strong correlations with umbilical-artery impedance indices, the systolic-to-diastolic (SD) ratio and pulsatility index (PI), with correlation coefficients of 0.65 and 0.62. The f·D* estimated from the NC data positively correlated with SD and PI, while the FC-based f·D* values showed weak negative correlations. Significant gestational-age dependence was also found in the flow velocity measurements. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated the feasibility of using FC and NC dMRI to noninvasively measure ballistic flow velocity in the placenta, which may be used as a new marker to evaluate placenta microcirculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Taotao Sun
- Department of Radiology, Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhao Liao
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Sun
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoxia Qian
- Department of Radiology, Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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18
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Sanapo L, Al-Shargabi T, Ahmadzia HK, Schidlow DN, Donofrio MT, Hitchings L, Khoury A, Larry Maxwell G, Baker R, Bulas DI, Gomez LM, du Plessis AJ. Fetal acute cerebral vasoreactivity to maternal hyperoxia in low-risk pregnancies: a cross-sectional study. Prenat Diagn 2020; 40:813-824. [PMID: 32274806 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To establish whether fetal cerebral vasoreactivity (CVRO2 ), following maternal hyperoxia, is predicted by fetal cerebral and uteroplacental Doppler pulsatility indices (PI) at baseline, fetal pulmonary vasoreactivity to oxygen (PVRO2 ), gestational age (GA), or sex. METHODS Pulsatility index of middle (MCA), anterior (ACA), posterior cerebral (PCA), umbilical (UA), uterine (UtA), and branch of the pulmonary arteries (PA) were obtained, by ultrasound, before (baseline), during (hyperoxia) and after 15 minutes of maternal administration of 8 L/min of 100% oxygen, through a non-rebreathing face mask, in normal singleton pregnancies within 20 to 38 weeks' gestation. CVRO2 was defined as changes greater than zero in z score of PI of the cerebral arteries from baseline to hyperoxia. Logistic modeling was applied to identify CVRO2 predictors. RESULTS A total of 97 pregnancies were eligible. In the overall population, median z scores of PI of MCA, ACA, and PCA did not differ between study phases. Based on the logistic model, baseline z scores for cerebral PI and GA were the best predictors of CVRO2 . CONCLUSIONS In low-risk pregnancies, fetal CVRO2 to hyperoxia does not occur uniformly but depends on cerebral PI and GA at baseline. These findings may provide useful reference points when oxygen is administered in high-risk pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanapo
- Women's Medicine Collaborative-Division of Research, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Tareq Al-Shargabi
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Homa K Ahmadzia
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - David N Schidlow
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary T Donofrio
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Laura Hitchings
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Alfred Khoury
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - G Larry Maxwell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Robin Baker
- Department of Neonatology, Fairfax Neonatal Associates, Inova Children's Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Dorothy I Bulas
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Luis M Gomez
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Adre J du Plessis
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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19
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Maternal hyperoxygenation for the human fetus: should studies be curtailed? Pediatr Res 2020; 87:630-633. [PMID: 31600768 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0604-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Congenital hypoplasia of left heart structures in fetuses frequently progresses with gestational development. Interference with cerebral development is common in these fetuses. Chronic maternal hyperoxygenation (MHO) has been recommended to increase left ventricular size and to limit cerebral damage. The effects of MHO on cerebral blood flow and metabolism have been studied in normal fetuses and fetuses with left heart hypoplasia. Maternal hyperoxygenation increases fetal pulmonary blood flow. This is associated with reduction of foramen ovale flow, thus limiting the increase in left ventricular output. Modest increase in the size of left heart structures has been reported, but in another study, no significant improvement occurred. In sheep fetuses increased oxygenation results in marked reduction of cerebral blood flow, with no change in oxygen delivery or consumption by the brain, but significant reduction in cerebral glucose delivery and consumption. In one study of fetuses with left heart hypoplasia, chronic MHO was associated with decrease in head size. The effectiveness of MHO in improving left ventricular development is controversial. MHO is, however, associated with reduction of cerebral blood flow and possible interference with cerebral development. In view of this it is recommended that all studies of chronic maternal hyperoxygenation be curtailed.
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20
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Sun L, Marini D, Saini B, Schrauben E, Macgowan CK, Seed M. Understanding Fetal Hemodynamics Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Fetal Diagn Ther 2020; 47:354-362. [PMID: 32062652 DOI: 10.1159/000505091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Human fetal circulatory physiology has been investigated extensively using grey-scale ultrasound, which provides excellent visualization of cardiac anatomy and function, while velocity profiles in the heart and vessels can be interrogated using Doppler. Measures of cerebral and placental vascular resistance, as well as indirect measures of intracardiac pressure obtained from the velocity waveform in the ductus venosus are routinely used to guide the management of fetal cardiovascular and placental disease. However, the characterization of some key elements of cardiovascular physiology such as vessel blood flow and the oxygen content of blood in the arteries and veins, as well as fetal oxygen delivery and consumption are not readily measured using ultrasound. To study these parameters, we have historically relied on data obtained using invasive measurements made in animal models, which are not equivalent to the human in every respect. Over recent years, a number of technical advances have been made that have allowed us to examine the human fetal circulatory system using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). The combination of vessel blood flow measurements made using cine phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging and vessel blood oxygen saturation and hematocrit measurements made using T1 and T2 mapping have enabled us to emulate those classic fetal sheep experiments defining the distribution of blood flow and oxygen transport across the fetal circulation in the human fetus. In addition, we have applied these techniques to study the relationship between abnormal fetal cardiovascular physiology and fetal development in the setting of congenital heart disease and placental insufficiency. CMR has become an important diagnostic tool in the assessment of cardiovascular physiology in the setting of postnatal cardiovascular disease, and is now being applied to the fetus to enhance our understanding of normal and abnormal fetal circulatory physiology and its impact on fetal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Sun
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Davide Marini
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brahmdeep Saini
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Schrauben
- Division of Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher K Macgowan
- Division of Translational Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, .,Department of Paediatrics and Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
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21
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Chalouhi GE, Millischer AÉ, Mahallati H, Siauve N, Melbourne A, Grevent D, Vinit N, Heidet L, Aigrain Y, Ville Y, Blanc T, Salomon LJ. The use of fetal MRI for renal and urogenital tract anomalies. Prenat Diagn 2019; 40:100-109. [PMID: 31736096 DOI: 10.1002/pd.5610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Fetal anomalies are detected in approximately 2% of all fetuses and, among these, genitourinary tract abnormalities account for 30% to 50% of all structural anomalies present at birth. Although ultrasound remains the first line diagnostic modality, fetal MRI provides important additional structural and functional information, especially with the development of faster sequences and the use of functional sequences. The added value of MRI-based imaging is three-fold: (a) improvement of diagnostic accuracy by adequate morphological examination, (b) detection of additional anomalies, and (c) in addition, MRI has the potential to provide information regarding renal function. In this review, we describe the role of fetal MRI in the anatomical evaluation of renal and urogenital tract anomalies, and we also touch upon the contribution of functional MRI to the diagnostic workup of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gihad E Chalouhi
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Élodie Millischer
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France
| | - Houman Mahallati
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Nathalie Siauve
- Imagerie Médicale, Hôpital Louis Mourier APHP, Colombes, France
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Grevent
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Vinit
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Heidet
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Centre de référence des Maladies Rénales Héréditaires de l'Enfant et de l'Adulte (MARHEA), Paris, France.,Pediatric Nephrology Department, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Yves Aigrain
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Paris, France
| | - Yves Ville
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Blanc
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Paris, France.,INSERM U1151-CNRS UMR 8253, Université de Paris, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Laurent J Salomon
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Descartes and Fetus & LUMIERE team, Paris, France.,Université de Paris, Paris, France
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22
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You W, Andescavage NN, Kapse K, Donofrio MT, Jacobs M, Limperopoulos C. Hemodynamic Responses of the Placenta and Brain to Maternal Hyperoxia in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease by Using Blood Oxygen-Level Dependent MRI. Radiology 2019; 294:141-148. [PMID: 31687920 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019190751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background Impaired brain development in fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) may result from inadequate cerebral oxygen supply in utero. Purpose To test whether fetal cerebral oxygenation can be increased by maternal oxygen administration, effects of maternal hyperoxia on blood oxygenation of the placenta and fetal brain were examined by using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, BOLD MRI was performed in 86 fetuses (56 healthy fetuses and 30 fetuses diagnosed with CHD) between 22 and 39 weeks gestational age (GA) from May 2015 to December 2017, with the following study design: phase I, 2-minute resting state at baseline (room air); phase II, 6-minute maternal hyperoxia with 100% oxygen; and phase III, 5.6-minute return to resting state. After motion correction, the signals were averaged over the placenta and fetal brain and converted to the change in R2* (ΔR2*). Fetuses with CHD were categorized into those with a single ventricle (SV) or two ventricles (TVs) and those with aortic obstruction (AO) or non-AO. Data were analyzed by using generalized linear mixed models controlling for GA and sex. Results Placental ΔR2* increased during maternal hyperoxia in healthy fetuses and fetuses with CHD, but it was higher in SV CHD (mean ΔR2*, 1.3 sec-1 ± 0.1 [standard error; P < .01], 1.9 sec-1 ± 0.2 [P < .01], and 1.0 sec-1 ± 0.3 [P < .01], respectively, for control fetuses, fetuses with SV CHD, and fetuses with TV CHD). Placental ΔR2* during maternal hyperoxia changed with GA in healthy control fetuses and fetuses with SV or AO CHD (ΔR2* per week, 0.1 sec-1 ± 0 [P < .01], 0.2 sec-1 ± 0 [P = .01], and 0.2 sec-1 ± 0 [P = .01], respectively), but not in fetuses with CHD and TV or non-AO. Fetal brain ΔR2* was constant across all phases in healthy control fetuses and fetuses with TV CHD but increased during maternal hyperoxia in fetuses with SV or AO CHD (mean ΔR2*, 0.7 sec-1 ± 0.2 [P = .01] and 0.5 sec-1 ± 0.2 [P = .02], respectively). Conclusion Six minutes of maternal hyperoxia increased placental oxygenation in healthy fetuses and fetuses with congenital heart disease, and it selectively increased cerebral blood oxygenation in fetuses with single ventricle or aortic obstruction. © RSNA, 2019 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsang You
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
| | - Nickie N Andescavage
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
| | - Kushal Kapse
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
| | - Mary T Donofrio
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
| | - Marni Jacobs
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- From the Divisions of Diagnostic Imaging & Radiology (W.Y., K.K., C.L.), Neonatology (N.N.A.), Cardiology (M.T.D.), Fetal & Transitional Medicine (M.T.D., C.L.), and Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.J.), Children's National Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010; and Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC (N.N.A., M.T.D., C.L.)
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23
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Abstract
We present a volumetric mesh-based algorithm for flattening the placenta to a canonical template to enable effective visualization of local anatomy and function. Monitoring placental function in vivo promises to support pregnancy assessment and to improve care outcomes. We aim to alleviate visualization and interpretation challenges presented by the shape of the placenta when it is attached to the curved uterine wall. To do so, we flatten the volumetric mesh that captures placental shape to resemble the well-studied ex vivo shape. We formulate our method as a map from the in vivo shape to a flattened template that minimizes the symmetric Dirichlet energy to control distortion throughout the volume. Local injectivity is enforced via constrained line search during gradient descent. We evaluate the proposed method on 28 placenta shapes extracted from MRI images in a clinical study of placental function. We achieve sub-voxel accuracy in mapping the boundary of the placenta to the template while successfully controlling distortion throughout the volume. We illustrate how the resulting mapping of the placenta enhances visualization of placental anatomy and function. Our implementation is freely available at https://github.com/mabulnaga/placenta-flattening.
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24
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Afacan O, Estroff JA, Yang E, Barnewolt CE, Connolly SA, Parad RB, Mulkern RV, Warfield SK, Gholipour A. Fetal Echoplanar Imaging: Promises and Challenges. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 28:245-254. [PMID: 31592991 PMCID: PMC6788763 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0000000000000219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been gaining increasing interest in both clinical radiology and research. Echoplanar imaging (EPI) offers a unique potential, as it can be used to acquire images very fast. It can be used to freeze motion, or to get multiple images with various contrast mechanisms that allow studying the microstructure and function of the fetal brain and body organs. In this article, we discuss the current clinical and research applications of fetal EPI. This includes T2*-weighted imaging to better identify blood products and vessels, using diffusion-weighted MRI to investigate connections of the developing brain and using functional MRI (fMRI) to identify the functional networks of the developing brain. EPI can also be used as an alternative structural sequence when banding or standing wave artifacts adversely affect the mainstream sequences used routinely in structural fetal MRI. We also discuss the challenges with EPI acquisitions, and potential solutions. As EPI acquisitions are inherently sensitive to susceptibility artifacts, geometric distortions limit the use of high-resolution EPI acquisitions. Also, interslice motion and transmit and receive field inhomogeneities may create significant artifacts in fetal EPI. We conclude by discussing promising research directions to overcome these challenges to improve the use of EPI in clinical and research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Afacan
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Judy A. Estroff
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Edward Yang
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Carol E. Barnewolt
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Susan A. Connolly
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Richard B. Parad
- Advanced Fetal Care Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Robert V. Mulkern
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Simon K. Warfield
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ali Gholipour
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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25
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Turk EA, Stout JN, Ha C, Luo J, Gagoski B, Yetisir F, Golland P, Wald LL, Adalsteinsson E, Robinson JN, Roberts DJ, Barth WH, Grant PE. Placental MRI: Developing Accurate Quantitative Measures of Oxygenation. Top Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 28:285-297. [PMID: 31592995 PMCID: PMC7323862 DOI: 10.1097/rmr.0000000000000221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The Human Placenta Project has focused attention on the need for noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques to diagnose and monitor placental function throughout pregnancy. The hope is that the management of placenta-related pathologies would be improved if physicians had more direct, real-time measures of placental health to guide clinical decision making. As oxygen alters signal intensity on MRI and oxygen transport is a key function of the placenta, many of the MRI methods under development are focused on quantifying oxygen transport or oxygen content of the placenta. For example, measurements from blood oxygen level-dependent imaging of the placenta during maternal hyperoxia correspond to outcomes in twin pregnancies, suggesting that some aspects of placental oxygen transport can be monitored by MRI. Additional methods are being developed to accurately quantify baseline placental oxygenation by MRI relaxometry. However, direct validation of placental MRI methods is challenging and therefore animal studies and ex vivo studies of human placentas are needed. Here we provide an overview of the current state of the art of oxygen transport and quantification with MRI. We suggest that as these techniques are being developed, increased focus be placed on ensuring they are robust and reliable across individuals and standardized to enable predictive diagnostic models to be generated from the data. The field is still several years away from establishing the clinical benefit of monitoring placental function in real time with MRI, but the promise of individual personalized diagnosis and monitoring of placental disease in real time continues to motivate this effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Abaci Turk
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey N. Stout
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Ha
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Jie Luo
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Borjan Gagoski
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Filiz Yetisir
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Polina Golland
- Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Elfar Adalsteinsson
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Julian N. Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, USA
| | | | - William H. Barth
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - P. Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, MA, USA
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26
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Marini D, van Amerom J, Saini BS, Sun L, Seed M. MR imaging of the fetal heart. J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 51:1030-1044. [PMID: 31190452 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, technological advances have enabled the acquisition of high spatial and temporal resolution cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the fetus. Fetal cardiac MRI has emerged as an alternative to ultrasound, which may be helpful to confirm a diagnosis of congenital heart disease when ultrasound assessment is hampered, for example in late gestation or in the setting of oligohydramnios. MRI also provides unique physiologic information, including vessel blood flow, oxygen saturation and hematocrit, which may be helpful to investigate cardiac and placental diseases. In this review, we summarize some of the main techniques and significant advances in the field to date. Level of Evidence: 5 Technical Efficacy: Stage 5 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:1030-1044.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Marini
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua van Amerom
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brahmdeep S Saini
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liqun Sun
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto and Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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McHugh A, El-Khuffash A, Bussmann N, Doherty A, Franklin O, Breathnach F. Hyperoxygenation in pregnancy exerts a more profound effect on cardiovascular hemodynamics than is observed in the nonpregnant state. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 220:397.e1-397.e8. [PMID: 30849354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supplemental oxygen is administered to pregnant women in many different clinical scenarios in obstetric practice. Despite the accepted uses for maternal hyperoxygenation, the impact of hyperoxia on maternal hemodynamic indices has not been evaluated. As a result, there is a paucity of data in the literature in relation to the physiological changes to the maternal circulation in response to supplemental oxygen. OBJECTIVE The hemodynamic effects of oxygen therapy are under-recognized and the impact of hyperoxygenation on maternal hemodynamics is currently unknown. Using noninvasive cardiac output monitoring which employs transthoracic bioreactance, we examined the effect of brief hyperoxygenation on cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, blood pressure, stroke volume, and heart rate in pregnant mothers during the third trimester, compared with those effects observed in a nonpregnant population subjected to the same period of hyperoxygenation. STUDY DESIGN Hemodynamic monitoring was performed in a continuous manner over a 30-minute period using noninvasive cardiac output monitoring. Hyperoxygenation (O2 100% v/v inhalational gas) was carried out at a rate of 12 L/min via a partial non-rebreather mask for 10-minutes. Cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume, heart rate, and blood pressure were recorded before hyperoxygenation, at completion of hyperoxygenation, and 10 minutes after the cessation of hyperoxygenation. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to assess the change in hemodynamic indices over time and the differences between the 2 groups. RESULTS Forty-six pregnant and 20 nonpregnant women with a median age of 33 years (interquartile range, 26-38 years) and 32 years (interquartile range, 28-37 years) were recruited prospectively, respectively (P=.82). The median gestational age was 35 weeks (33-37 weeks). In the pregnant group, there was a fall in cardiac index during the hyperoxygenation exposure period (P=.009) coupled with a rise in systemic vascular resistance with no recovery at 10 minutes after cessation of hyperoxygenation (P=.02). Heart rate decreased after hyperoxygenation exposure and returned to baseline by 10 minutes after cessation of therapy. There was a decrease in stroke volume over the exposure period, with no change in systolic or diastolic blood pressure. In the nonpregnant group, there was no significant change in the cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume, heart rate, or systolic or diastolic blood pressure during the course of exposure to hyperoxygenation. CONCLUSION Hyperoxygenation during the third trimester is associated with a fall in maternal cardiac index and a rise in systemic vascular resistance without recovery to baseline levels at 10 minutes after cessation of hyperoxygenation. The hemodynamic changes that were observed in this study in response to hyperoxygenation therapy during pregnancy could counteract any intended increase in oxygen delivery. The observed maternal effects of hyperoxygenation call for a reevaluation of the role of hyperoxygenation treatment in the nonhypoxemic pregnant patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann McHugh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Afif El-Khuffash
- Department of Neonatology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Neidin Bussmann
- Department of Neonatology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anne Doherty
- Department of Anaesthesia, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Orla Franklin
- Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fionnuala Breathnach
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Rotunda, Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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28
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Vasung L, Abaci Turk E, Ferradal SL, Sutin J, Stout JN, Ahtam B, Lin PY, Grant PE. Exploring early human brain development with structural and physiological neuroimaging. Neuroimage 2019; 187:226-254. [PMID: 30041061 PMCID: PMC6537870 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Early brain development, from the embryonic period to infancy, is characterized by rapid structural and functional changes. These changes can be studied using structural and physiological neuroimaging methods. In order to optimally acquire and accurately interpret this data, concepts from adult neuroimaging cannot be directly transferred. Instead, one must have a basic understanding of fetal and neonatal structural and physiological brain development, and the important modulators of this process. Here, we first review the major developmental milestones of transient cerebral structures and structural connectivity (axonal connectivity) followed by a summary of the contributions from ex vivo and in vivo MRI. Next, we discuss the basic biology of neuronal circuitry development (synaptic connectivity, i.e. ensemble of direct chemical and electrical connections between neurons), physiology of neurovascular coupling, baseline metabolic needs of the fetus and the infant, and functional connectivity (defined as statistical dependence of low-frequency spontaneous fluctuations seen with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)). The complementary roles of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are discussed. We include a section on modulators of brain development where we focus on the placenta and emerging placental MRI approaches. In each section we discuss key technical limitations of the imaging modalities and some of the limitations arising due to the biology of the system. Although neuroimaging approaches have contributed significantly to our understanding of early brain development, there is much yet to be done and a dire need for technical innovations and scientific discoveries to realize the future potential of early fetal and infant interventions to avert long term disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Vasung
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Esra Abaci Turk
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Silvina L Ferradal
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jason Sutin
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jeffrey N Stout
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Banu Ahtam
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Pei-Yi Lin
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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29
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Wu D, Xu J, Lei J, Mclane M, van Zijl PC, Burd I. Dynamic glucose enhanced MRI of the placenta in a mouse model of intrauterine inflammation. Placenta 2018; 69:86-91. [PMID: 30213490 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated the feasibility of dynamic glucose enhanced (DGE) MRI in accessing placental function in a mouse model of intrauterine inflammatory injury (IUI). DGE uses the glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer (glucoCEST) effect to reflect infused d-glucose. METHODS IUI was induced in pregnant CD1 mice by intrauterine injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on embryonic day 17. In vivo MRI was performed on an 11.7 T scanner at 6 h s after injury, and glucoCEST effect was measured using an on-resonance variable delay multi-pulse (onVDMP) technique. onVDMP acquisition was repeated over a period of 25 min, and d-glucose was infused 5 min after the start. The time-resolved glucoCEST signals were characterized using the normalized signal difference (ΔSN) between onVDMP-labeled and nonlabeled images. RESULTS ΔSN in the PBS-exposed placentae (n = 6) showed an initial drop between 1 and 3 min after infusion, followed by a positive peak between 5 and 20 min, the time period expected to be associated with the process of glucose uptake and transport. In the LPS-exposed placentae (n = 10), the positive peak was reduced or even absent, and the corresponding area-under-the-curve (AUC) was significantly lower than that in the controls. Particularly, the AUC maps suggested prominent group differences in the fetal side of the placenta. We also found that glucose transporter 1 in the LPS-exposed placentae did not respond to maternal glucose challenge. DISCUSSION DGE-MRI is useful for evaluating placental functions related to glucose utilization. The technique uses a non-toxic biodegradable agent (d-glucose) and thus has a potential for rapid translation to human studies of placental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Jiadi Xu
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jun Lei
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael Mclane
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter C van Zijl
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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30
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Measurement of blood-oxygen saturation using a photoacoustic technique in the rabbit hypoxemia model. J Clin Monit Comput 2018; 33:269-279. [PMID: 29876708 DOI: 10.1007/s10877-018-0166-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The golden standard method to obtain accurate blood oxygen saturation is blood gas analysis that needs invasive procedure of blood sampling. Photoacoustic technique enables us to measure real-time blood oxygen saturation without invasive procedure. The aim of this study is to use the photoacoustic technique, an optical method, for accurately determining oxygen saturation in vivo. We measured induced photoacoustic signals of arterial blood in the rabbit model of stable hypoxemia after irradiation at 750 and 800 nm. Oxygen saturation was calculated from the photoacoustic signals using two calibration curves. Calibration curve 1 is a conventional curve derived from the absorbance coefficient of hemoglobin, whereas calibration curve 2 is derived from the photoacoustic signals obtained from the original blood vessel model. Simultaneously, blood-gas analysis was performed to obtain the reference standard of oxygen saturation. Regression analysis and Bland-Altman analysis were performed to assess the accuracy of oxygen saturation obtained using the two methods. The oxygen saturation calculated using calibration curves 1 and 2 showed strong correlations with the reference standard in regression analysis (R = 0.965, 0.964, respectively). The Bland-Altman analysis revealed better agreement and precision with calibration curve 2, whereas there was significant underestimation of values obtained using calibration curve 1. Photoacoustic measurement of oxygen saturation using calibration curve 2 provided an accurate estimate of oxygen saturation, which was similar to that obtained using a portable blood-gas analyzer.
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31
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You W, Xu F, Limperopoulos C. LINEAR CONVOLUTION MODEL OF FETAL CIRCULATION FOR HEMODYNAMIC RESPONSES TO MATERNAL HYPEROXIA USING IN UTERO FUNCTIONAL MRI. PROCEEDINGS. IEEE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON BIOMEDICAL IMAGING 2018; 2018:1284-1287. [PMID: 29899816 DOI: 10.1109/isbi.2018.8363806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Functional MRI studies have started the hemodynamic responses of the placenta and fetal brain using maternal hyperoxia. While most studies have focused on analyzing the changes in magnitude of fMRI signals, few studies have analyzed the latency and duration of responses to hyperoxia. This paper proposes a linear convolution model of fetal circulation where a chain of responses to maternal hyperoxia are produced in the placenta and fetal brain. Specifically, an impulse response to hyperoxia was modeled as the hemodynamic response function (HRF) which consists of multiple gamma functions. Both time-to-peak and full width at half maximum of HRF were estimated using simulated annealing (SA). A Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to evaluate the performance of the SA-based method for estimating both parameters. Finally, we provided an example of estimating HRFs from fMRI time series of the placenta and fetal brain acquired during maternal hyperoxia in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsang You
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Childrens National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC
| | - Feng Xu
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Childrens National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, Childrens National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC
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32
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Nye GA, Ingram E, Johnstone ED, Jensen OE, Schneider H, Lewis RM, Chernyavsky IL, Brownbill P. Human placental oxygenation in late gestation: experimental and theoretical approaches. J Physiol 2018; 596:5523-5534. [PMID: 29377190 PMCID: PMC6265570 DOI: 10.1113/jp275633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The placenta is crucial for life. It is an ephemeral but complex organ acting as the barrier interface between maternal and fetal circulations, providing exchange of gases, nutrients, hormones, waste products and immunoglobulins. Many gaps exist in our understanding of the detailed placental structure and function, particularly in relation to oxygen handling and transfer in healthy and pathological states in utero. Measurements to understand oxygen transfer in vivo in the human are limited, with no general agreement on the most appropriate methods. An invasive method for measuring partial pressure of oxygen in the intervillous space through needle electrode insertion at the time of Caesarean sections has been reported. This allows for direct measurements in vivo whilst maintaining near normal placental conditions; however, there are practical and ethical implications in using this method for determination of placental oxygenation. Furthermore, oxygen levels are likely to be highly heterogeneous within the placenta. Emerging non-invasive techniques, such as MRI, and ex vivo research are capable of enhancing and improving current imaging methodology for placental villous structure and increase the precision of oxygen measurement within placental compartments. These techniques, in combination with mathematical modelling, have stimulated novel cross-disciplinary approaches that could advance our understanding of placental oxygenation and its metabolism in normal and pathological pregnancies, improving clinical treatment options and ultimately outcomes for the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth A Nye
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Emma Ingram
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Edward D Johnstone
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
| | - Oliver E Jensen
- School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Henning Schneider
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inselspital, University of Bern, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rohan M Lewis
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Igor L Chernyavsky
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Paul Brownbill
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.,St Mary's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK
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33
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Yamaleyeva LM, Brosnihan KB, Smith LM, Sun Y. Preclinical Ultrasound-Guided Photoacoustic Imaging of the Placenta in Normal and Pathologic Pregnancy. Mol Imaging 2018; 17:1536012118802721. [PMID: 30348036 PMCID: PMC6201183 DOI: 10.1177/1536012118802721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Placental oxygenation varies throughout pregnancy. The detection of early changes in placental oxygenation as pregnancy progresses is important for early identification of preeclampsia or other complications. This invited commentary discusses a recent preclinical study on the application of 3-dimensional photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for assessment of regional variations in placental oxygenation and longitudinal analysis of differences in placental oxygenation throughout normal pregnancy and pregnancy associated with hypertension or placental insufficiency in mice. Three-dimensional PAI more accurately reflects oxygen saturation, hemoglobin concentrations, and changes in oxygen saturation in whole placenta compared to 2-dimensional imaging. These studies suggest that PAI is a sensitive tool to detect different levels of oxygen saturation in the placental and fetal vasculature in pathologic and normal pregnancy in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliya M. Yamaleyeva
- Department of Surgery, Hypertension and Vascular Research, Wake Forest
School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - K. Bridget Brosnihan
- Department of Surgery, Hypertension and Vascular Research, Wake Forest
School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Lane M. Smith
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine,
Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Yao Sun
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC,
USA
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34
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Sanapo L, Pruetz JD, Słodki M, Goens MB, Moon-Grady AJ, Donofrio MT. Fetal echocardiography for planning perinatal and delivery room care of neonates with congenital heart disease. Echocardiography 2017; 34:1804-1821. [DOI: 10.1111/echo.13672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanapo
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine; Children's National Health System; George Washington University; Washington DC USA
| | - Jay D. Pruetz
- Division of Cardiology; Children's Hospital Los Angeles; Keck School of Medicine; University of Southern California; Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Maciej Słodki
- Department of Prenatal Cardiology; Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute; Lodz Poland
- Faculty of Health Sciences; The State University of Applied Sciences; Plock Poland
| | - M. Beth Goens
- Special Delivery Service; Pediatric Cardiology; University of New Mexico; Albuquerque NM USA
| | - Anita J. Moon-Grady
- Division of Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital; San Francisco CA USA
| | - Mary T. Donofrio
- Division of Fetal and Transitional Medicine; Children's National Health System; George Washington University; Washington DC USA
- Fetal Heart Program; Division of Cardiology; Children's National Health System; Washington DC USA
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35
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Co-Vu J, Lopez-Colon D, Vyas HV, Weiner N, DeGroff C. Maternal hyperoxygenation: A potential therapy for congenital heart disease in the fetuses? A systematic review of the current literature. Echocardiography 2017; 34:1822-1833. [DOI: 10.1111/echo.13722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Co-Vu
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; Congenital Heart Center; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
| | - Dalia Lopez-Colon
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; Congenital Heart Center; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
| | - Himesh V. Vyas
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; Congenital Heart Center; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
| | - Natalie Weiner
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; Congenital Heart Center; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
| | - Curt DeGroff
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology; Department of Pediatrics; Congenital Heart Center; University of Florida College of Medicine; Gainesville FL USA
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36
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Fadl S, Moshiri M, Fligner CL, Katz DS, Dighe M. Placental Imaging: Normal Appearance with Review of Pathologic Findings. Radiographics 2017; 37:979-998. [PMID: 28493802 DOI: 10.1148/rg.2017160155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The placenta plays a crucial role throughout pregnancy, and its importance may be overlooked during routine antenatal imaging evaluation. Detailed systematic assessment of the placenta at ultrasonography (US), the standard imaging examination during pregnancy, is important. Familiarity with the normal and abnormal imaging appearance of the placenta along with the multimodality and methodical approach for evaluation of its related abnormalities is necessary, so that radiologists can alert clinicians regarding appropriate prompt management decisions. This will potentially decrease fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. This article reviews early placental formation and the expected imaging appearance of the placenta during pregnancy, as well as variations in its morphology. It also discusses various placental diseases and their potential clinical consequences. Placental pathologic conditions include abnormalities of placental size, cord insertion, placental and cord location, and placental adherence. Other conditions such as bleeding in and around the placenta, as well as trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic tumors of the placenta, are also discussed. US with Doppler imaging is the initial imaging modality of choice for placental evaluation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is reserved for equivocal cases or when additional information is needed. Computed tomography (CT) has a limited role in evaluation of placental abnormalities because of the ionizing radiation exposure and the relatively limited assessment of the placenta; however, CT can provide important information in specific circumstances, particularly evaluation of trauma and staging of choriocarcinoma. This article also addresses recent techniques and updates in placental imaging, including elastography, diffusion-weighted MR imaging, and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MR imaging. These advanced imaging techniques may provide additional information in evaluation of abnormal placental adherence and new insights into placental pathophysiology in selected patients. Online supplemental material is available for this article. ©RSNA, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaimaa Fadl
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Mariam Moshiri
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Corinne L Fligner
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Douglas S Katz
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
| | - Manjiri Dighe
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.F., M.M., M.D.) and Pathology (C.L.F.), University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195; and Department of Radiology, Winthrop Radiology Associates, Mineola, NY (D.S.K.)
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37
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Wu D, Lei J, Jia B, Xie H, Zhu Y, Xu J, Mori S, Zhang J, Burd I. In vivo assessment of the placental anatomy and perfusion in a mouse model of intrauterine inflammation. J Magn Reson Imaging 2017; 47:1260-1267. [PMID: 28981189 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides useful markers to examine placental function. MRI features of placental injury due to intrauterine inflammation-a common risk during pregnancy, are not well known. PURPOSE To investigate the capability of structural MRI and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging in examining acute placental injury in a mouse model of intrauterine inflammation, as well as gestation-dependent placental changes. STUDY TYPE Prospective study. ANIMAL MODEL Pregnant CD1 mice were scanned on embryonic day 15 (E15, n = 40 placentas from six dams) and E17. On E17, mice were subjected to intrauterine injury by exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, n = 25 placentas from three dams) or sham injury (n = 25 placentas from three dams). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE In vivo MRI was performed on an 11.7T Bruker scanner, using a fast spin-echo sequence and a diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequence. ASSESSMENT T2 -weighted MRI was acquired to evaluate placental volume. IVIM imaging was performed in a restricted field-of-view using 15 b-values from 10-800 s/mm2 , based on which, the pseudodiffusion fraction (f), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and tissue water coefficient (D) were estimated with a two-step fitting procedure. STATISTICAL TESTS Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the group differences. RESULTS The placental volume increased by ∼21% from E15 to E17 (P < 0.01), and a 15% volume loss was observed at 6 hours after LPS exposure (P < 0.01). IVIM parameters (f, D*, and f·D*) were similar between the E15 and E17 sham groups (P > 0.05), which was significantly reduced in the LPS-exposed placentas compared to the shams (P < 0.001). D values decreased from E15 to E17 (P < 0.05), which were further reduced after LPS exposure (P < 0.05). Changes in placental area and vascular density were histologically identified in the LPS-exposed group, along with gestation-dependent changes. DATA CONCLUSION Our results suggested structural MRI and IVIM measurements are potential markers for detecting acute placental injury after intrauterine inflammation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:1260-1267.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jun Lei
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Bei Jia
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Han Xie
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Center for Prenatal and Hereditary Disease Diagnosis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yan Zhu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Jiadi Xu
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susumu Mori
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiangyang Zhang
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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38
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Luo J, Abaci Turk E, Bibbo C, Gagoski B, Roberts DJ, Vangel M, Tempany-Afdhal CM, Barnewolt C, Estroff J, Palanisamy A, Barth WH, Zera C, Malpica N, Golland P, Adalsteinsson E, Robinson JN, Grant PE. In Vivo Quantification of Placental Insufficiency by BOLD MRI: A Human Study. Sci Rep 2017. [PMID: 28623277 PMCID: PMC5473907 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal health is critically dependent on placental function, especially placental transport of oxygen from mother to fetus. When fetal growth is compromised, placental insufficiency must be distinguished from modest genetic growth potential. If placental insufficiency is present, the physician must trade off the risk of prolonged fetal exposure to placental insufficiency against the risks of preterm delivery. Current ultrasound methods to evaluate the placenta are indirect and insensitive. We propose to use Blood-Oxygenation-Level-Dependent (BOLD) MRI with maternal hyperoxia to quantitatively assess mismatch in placental function in seven monozygotic twin pairs naturally matched for genetic growth potential. In-utero BOLD MRI time series were acquired at 29 to 34 weeks gestational age. Maps of oxygen Time-To-Plateau (TTP) were obtained in the placentas by voxel-wise fitting of the time series. Fetal brain and liver volumes were measured based on structural MR images. After delivery, birth weights were obtained and placental pathological evaluations were performed. Mean placental TTP negatively correlated with fetal liver and brain volumes at the time of MRI as well as with birth weights. Mean placental TTP positively correlated with placental pathology. This study demonstrates the potential of BOLD MRI with maternal hyperoxia to quantify regional placental function in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA.,Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium, RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Esra Abaci Turk
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA.,Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium, RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Carolina Bibbo
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Borjan Gagoski
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA
| | | | - Mark Vangel
- Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 02114, USA
| | | | | | - Judy Estroff
- Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA
| | | | - William H Barth
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 02114, USA
| | - Chloe Zera
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Norberto Malpica
- Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium, RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.,Medical Image Analysis and Biometry Laboratory, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, 28933, Spain
| | - Polina Golland
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.,Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Elfar Adalsteinsson
- Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium, RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.,Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA
| | - Julian N Robinson
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA
| | - Patricia Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, 02115, USA.
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39
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Turk EA, Luo J, Gagoski B, Pascau J, Bibbo C, Robinson JN, Grant PE, Adalsteinsson E, Golland P, Malpica N. Spatiotemporal alignment of in utero BOLD-MRI series. J Magn Reson Imaging 2017; 46:403-412. [PMID: 28152240 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To present a method for spatiotemporal alignment of in-utero magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) time series acquired during maternal hyperoxia for enabling improved quantitative tracking of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal changes that characterize oxygen transport through the placenta to fetal organs. MATERIALS AND METHODS The proposed pipeline for spatiotemporal alignment of images acquired with a single-shot gradient echo echo-planar imaging includes 1) signal nonuniformity correction, 2) intravolume motion correction based on nonrigid registration, 3) correction of motion and nonrigid deformations across volumes, and 4) detection of the outlier volumes to be discarded from subsequent analysis. BOLD MRI time series collected from 10 pregnant women during 3T scans were analyzed using this pipeline. To assess pipeline performance, signal fluctuations between consecutive timepoints were examined. In addition, volume overlap and distance between manual region of interest (ROI) delineations in a subset of frames and the delineations obtained through propagation of the ROIs from the reference frame were used to quantify alignment accuracy. A previously demonstrated rigid registration approach was used for comparison. RESULTS The proposed pipeline improved anatomical alignment of placenta and fetal organs over the state-of-the-art rigid motion correction methods. In particular, unexpected temporal signal fluctuations during the first normoxia period were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and volume overlap and distance between region boundaries measures were significantly improved (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The proposed approach to align MRI time series enables more accurate quantitative studies of placental function by improving spatiotemporal alignment across placenta and fetal organs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:403-412.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esra Abaci Turk
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium in RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jie Luo
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium in RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Borjan Gagoski
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Javier Pascau
- Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium in RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Bioingeniería e Ingeniería Aeroespacial, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Bibbo
- Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Julian N Robinson
- Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - P Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elfar Adalsteinsson
- Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium in RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Polina Golland
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Norberto Malpica
- Madrid-MIT M+Vision Consortium in RLE, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States.,Medical Image Analysis and Biometry Laboratory, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
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40
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van den Heuvel MI, Thomason ME. Functional Connectivity of the Human Brain in Utero. Trends Cogn Sci 2016; 20:931-939. [PMID: 27825537 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The brain is subject to dramatic developmental processes during the prenatal period. Nevertheless, information about the development of functional brain networks during gestation is scarce. Until recently it has not been possible to probe function in the living human fetal brain. Advances in functional MRI have changed the paradigm, making it possible to measure spontaneous activity in the fetal brain and to cross-correlate functional signals to attain information about neural connectional architecture across human gestation. We summarize the earliest MRI studies of fetal neural functional connectivity and highlight unique challenges and limitations inherent in the technique. In addition, we discuss future directions to unlock the potential of fetal brain functional MRI research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion I van den Heuvel
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Perinatology Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Moriah E Thomason
- Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child and Family Development, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Perinatology Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
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Lara DA, Morris SA, Maskatia SA, Challman M, Nguyen M, Feagin DK, Schoppe L, Zhang J, Bhatt A, Sexson-Tejtel SK, Lopez KN, Lawrence EJ, Andreas S, Wang Y, Belfort MA, Ruano R, Ayres NA, Altman CA, Aagaard KM, Becker J. Pilot study of chronic maternal hyperoxygenation and effect on aortic and mitral valve annular dimensions in fetuses with left heart hypoplasia. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2016; 48:365-372. [PMID: 26700848 DOI: 10.1002/uog.15846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acute maternal hyperoxygenation (AMH) results in increased fetal left heart blood flow. Our aim was to perform a pilot study to determine the safety, feasibility and direction and magnitude of effect of chronic maternal hyperoxygenation (CMH) on mitral and aortic valve annular dimensions in fetuses with left heart hypoplasia (LHH) after CMH. METHODS Gravidae with fetal LHH were eligible for inclusion in a prospective evaluation of CMH. LHH was defined as: sum of aortic and mitral valve annuli Z-scores < -4.5, arch flow reversal and left-to-right or bidirectional atrial level shunting without hypoplastic left heart syndrome or severe aortic stenosis. Gravidae with an affected fetus and with ≥ 10% increase in aortic/combined cardiac output flow after 10 min of AMH at 8 L/min 100% fraction of inspired oxygen were offered enrollment. Nine gravidae were enrolled from February 2014 to January 2015. The goal therapy was ≥ 8 h daily CMH from enrollment until delivery. Gravidae who were cared for from July 2012 to October 2014 with fetal LHH and no CMH were identified as historical controls (n = 9). Rates of growth in aortic and mitral annuli over the final trimester were compared between groups using longitudinal regression. RESULTS There were no significant maternal or fetal complications in the CMH cohort. Mean gestational age at study initiation was 29.6 ± 3.2 weeks for the intervention group and 28.4 ± 1.8 weeks for controls (P = 0.35). Mean relative increase in aortic/combined cardiac output after AMH was 35.3% (range, 18.1-47.9%). Median number of hours per day on CMH therapy was 9.3 (range, 6.5-14.6) and median duration of CMH was 48 (range, 33-84) days. Mean mitral annular growth was 0.19 ± 0.05 mm/week compared with 0.14 ± 0.05 mm/week in CMH vs controls (mean difference 0.05 ± 0.05 mm/week, P = 0.33). Mean aortic annular growth was 0.14 ± 0.03 mm/week compared with 0.13 ± 0.03 mm/week in CMH vs controls (mean difference 0.01 ± 0.03 mm/week, P = 0.75). More than 9 h CMH daily (n = 6) was associated with better growth of the aortic annulus in intervention fetuses (0.16 ± 0.03 vs 0.08 ± 0.02 mm/week, P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS CMH is both safe and feasible for continued research. In this pilot study, the effect estimates of annular growth, using the studied method of delivery and dose of oxygen, were small. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Lara
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S A Morris
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S A Maskatia
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M Challman
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M Nguyen
- Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - D K Feagin
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - L Schoppe
- Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Zhang
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Fetal Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - A Bhatt
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S K Sexson-Tejtel
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - K N Lopez
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - E J Lawrence
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Andreas
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Y Wang
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M A Belfort
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - R Ruano
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - N A Ayres
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - C A Altman
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - K M Aagaard
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - J Becker
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Lin M, Mauroy B, James JL, Tawhai MH, Clark AR. A multiscale model of placental oxygen exchange: The effect of villous tree structure on exchange efficiency. J Theor Biol 2016; 408:1-12. [PMID: 27378004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The placenta is critical to fetal health during pregnancy as it supplies oxygen and nutrients to maintain life. It has a complex structure, and alterations to this structure across spatial scales are associated with several pregnancy complications, including intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The relationship between placental structure and its efficiency as an oxygen exchanger is not well understood in normal or pathological pregnancies. Here we present a computational framework that predicts oxygen transport in the placenta which accounts for blood and oxygen transport in the space around a placental functional unit (the villous tree). The model includes the well-defined branching structure of the largest villous tree branches, as well as a smoothed representation of the small terminal villi that comprise the placenta's gas exchange interfaces. The model demonstrates that oxygen exchange is sensitive to villous tree geometry, including the villous branch length and volume, which are seen to change in IUGR. This is because, to be an efficient exchanger, the architecture of the villous tree must provide a balance between maximising the surface area available for exchange, and the opposing condition of allowing sufficient maternal blood flow to penetrate into the space surrounding the tree. The model also predicts an optimum oxygen exchange when the branch angle is 24 °, as villous branches and TBs are spread out sufficiently to channel maternal blood flow deep into the placental tissue for oxygen exchange without being shunted directly into the DVs. Without concurrent change in the branch length and angles, the model predicts that the number of branching generations has a small influence on oxygen exchange. The modelling framework is presented in 2D for simplicity but is extendible to 3D or to incorporate the high-resolution imaging data that is currently evolving to better quantify placental structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabelle Lin
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Benjamin Mauroy
- Laboratoire J. A. Dieudonné - UMR CNRS 7351, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France.
| | - Joanna L James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Merryn H Tawhai
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Alys R Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Levine D. Science to Practice: Can MR Imaging–derived Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curves Reveal Transplacental Oxygen Transport and Thus Aid in Monitoring Placental Function? Radiology 2016; 280:1-3. [DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2016160018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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You W, Evangelou IE, Zun Z, Andescavage N, Limperopoulos C. Robust preprocessing for stimulus-based functional MRI of the moving fetus. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2016; 3:026001. [PMID: 27081665 DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.3.2.026001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal motion manifests as signal degradation and image artifact in the acquired time series of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. We present a robust preprocessing pipeline to specifically address fetal and placental motion-induced artifacts in stimulus-based fMRI with slowly cycled block design in the living fetus. In the proposed pipeline, motion correction is optimized to the experimental paradigm, and it is performed separately in each phase as well as in each region of interest (ROI), recognizing that each phase and organ experiences different types of motion. To obtain the averaged BOLD signals for each ROI, both misaligned volumes and noisy voxels are automatically detected and excluded, and the missing data are then imputed by statistical estimation based on local polynomial smoothing. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed pipeline was effective in mitigating the motion-induced artifacts in stimulus-based fMRI data of the fetal brain and placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonsang You
- Children's National Medical Center , Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States
| | - Iordanis E Evangelou
- Children's National Medical Center, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Radiology, 2300 Eye Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
| | - Zungho Zun
- Children's National Medical Center , Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States
| | - Nickie Andescavage
- Children's National Medical Center, Department of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States; Children's National Medical Center, Department of Neonatology, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, 2300 Eye Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
| | - Catherine Limperopoulos
- Children's National Medical Center, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Radiology, 2300 Eye Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States; Children's National Medical Center, Department of Fetal and Transitional Medicine, 111 Michigan Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20852, United States; George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, 2300 Eye Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037, United States
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Ganesh T, Estrada M, Duffin J, Cheng HL. T2* and T1 assessment of abdominal tissue response to graded hypoxia and hypercapnia using a controlled gas mixing circuit for small animals. J Magn Reson Imaging 2016; 44:305-16. [PMID: 26872559 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize T2* and T1 relaxation time response to a wide spectrum of gas challenges in extracranial tissues of healthy rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS A range of graded gas mixtures (hyperoxia, hypercapnia, hypoxia, and hypercapnic hypoxia) were delivered through a controlled gas-mixing circuit to mechanically ventilated and intubated rats. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on a 3T clinical scanner; T2* and T1 maps were computed to determine tissue response in the liver, kidney cortex, and paraspinal muscles. Heart rate and blood oxygen saturation (SaO2 ) were measured through a rodent oximeter and physiological monitor. RESULTS T2* decreases consistent with lowered SaO2 measurements were observed for hypercapnia and hypoxia, but decreases were significant only in liver and kidney cortex (P < 0.05) for >10% CO2 and <15% O2 , with the new gas stimulus, hypercapnic hypoxia, producing the greatest T2* decrease. Hyperoxia-related T2* increases were accompanied by negligible increases in SaO2 . T1 generally increased, if at all, in the liver and decreased in the kidney. Significance was observed (P < 0.05) only in kidney for >90% O2 and >5% CO2 . CONCLUSION T2* and T1 provide complementary roles for evaluating extracranial tissue response to a broad range of gas challenges. Based on both measured and known physiological responses, our results are consistent with T2* as a sensitive marker of blood oxygen saturation and T1 as a weak marker of blood volume changes. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:305-316.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tameshwar Ganesh
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, Canada.,Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada.,Physiology & Experimental Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marvin Estrada
- Lab Animal Services, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - James Duffin
- Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Hai Ling Cheng
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, Canada.,Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada.,Physiology & Experimental Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada.,The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Canada
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Avni R, Golani O, Akselrod-Ballin A, Cohen Y, Biton I, Garbow JR, Neeman M. MR Imaging-derived Oxygen-Hemoglobin Dissociation Curves and Fetal-Placental Oxygen-Hemoglobin Affinities. Radiology 2016; 280:68-77. [PMID: 26780539 PMCID: PMC4942994 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2015150721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The authors of this study present a noninvasive approach for obtaining MR imaging–based oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curves and for deriving oxygen tension values at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated and maps for the placenta and fetus in pregnant mice. Purpose To generate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–derived, oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curves and to map fetal-placental oxygen-hemoglobin affinity in pregnant mice noninvasively by combining blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) T2* and oxygen-weighted T1 contrast mechanisms under different respiration challenges. Materials and Methods All procedures were approved by the Weizmann Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Pregnant mice were analyzed with MR imaging at 9.4 T on embryonic days 14.5 (eight dams and 58 fetuses; imprinting control region ICR strain) and 17.5 (21 dams and 158 fetuses) under respiration challenges ranging from hyperoxia to hypoxia (10 levels of oxygenation, 100%–10%; total imaging time, 100 minutes). A shorter protocol with normoxia to hyperoxia was also performed (five levels of oxygenation, 20%–100%; total imaging time, 60 minutes). Fast spin-echo anatomic images were obtained, followed by sequential acquisition of three-dimensional gradient-echo T2*- and T1-weighted images. Automated registration was applied to align regions of interest of the entire placenta, fetal liver, and maternal liver. Results were compared by using a two-tailed unpaired Student t test. R1 and R2* values were derived for each tissue. MR imaging–based oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curves were constructed by nonlinear least square fitting of 1 minus the change in R2*divided by R2*at baseline as a function of R1 to a sigmoid-shaped curve. The apparent P50 (oxygen tension at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated) value was derived from the curves, calculated as the R1 scaled value (x) at which the change in R2* divided by R2*at baseline scaled (y) equals 0.5. Results The apparent P50 values were significantly lower in fetal liver than in maternal liver for both gestation stages (day 14.5: 21% ± 5 [P = .04] and day 17.5: 41% ± 7 [P < .0001]). The placenta showed a reduction of 18% ± 4 in mean apparent P50 values from day 14.5 to day 17.5 (P = .003). Reproduction of the MR imaging–based oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curves with a shorter protocol that excluded the hypoxic periods was demonstrated. Conclusion MR imaging–based oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curves and oxygen-hemoglobin affinity information were derived for pregnant mice by using 9.4-T MR imaging, which suggests a potential to overcome the need for direct sampling of fetal or maternal blood. Online supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reut Avni
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Ofra Golani
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Ayelet Akselrod-Ballin
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Yonni Cohen
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Inbal Biton
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Joel R Garbow
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
| | - Michal Neeman
- From the Departments of Biological Regulation (R.A., A.A.B., Y.C., M.N.), Biological Services (O.G.), and Veterinary Resources (I.B.), Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; and Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo (J.R.G.)
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Serov AS, Salafia C, Grebenkov DS, Filoche M. The role of morphology in mathematical models of placental gas exchange. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2015; 120:17-28. [PMID: 26494446 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00543.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The performance of the placenta as a gas exchanger has a direct impact on the future health of the newborn. To provide accurate estimates of respiratory gas exchange rates, placenta models need to account for both the physiology of exchange and the organ morphology. While the former has been extensively studied, accounting for the latter is still a challenge. The geometrical complexity of placental structure requires use of carefully crafted approximations. We present here the state of the art of respiratory gas exchange placenta modeling and demonstrate the influence of the morphology description on model predictions. Advantages and shortcomings of various classes of models are discussed, and experimental techniques that may be used for model validation are summarized. Several directions for future development are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Serov
- Physique de la Matière Condensée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France; and
| | - C Salafia
- Placental Analytics, LLC, Larchmont, New York
| | - D S Grebenkov
- Physique de la Matière Condensée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France; and
| | - M Filoche
- Physique de la Matière Condensée, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France; and
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Sørensen A, Sinding M, Peters DA, Petersen A, Frøkjær JB, Christiansen OB, Uldbjerg N. Placental oxygen transport estimated by the hyperoxic placental BOLD MRI response. Physiol Rep 2015; 3:3/10/e12582. [PMID: 26471757 PMCID: PMC4632952 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Estimating placental oxygen transport capacity is highly desirable, as impaired placental function is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and poor neonatal outcome. In clinical obstetrics, a noninvasive method to estimate the placental oxygen transport is not available, and the current methods focus on fetal well-being rather than on direct assessment of placental function. In this article, we aim to estimate the placental oxygen transport using the hyperoxic placental blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) response. In 21 normal pregnancies and in four cases of severe early onset FGR, placental BOLD MRI was performed in a 1.5 Tesla MRI system (TR:8000 msec, TE:50 msec, Flip angle:90). Placental histological examination was performed in the FGR cases. In normal pregnancies, the average hyperoxic placental BOLD response was 12.6 ± 5.4% (mean ± SD). In the FGR cases, the hyperoxic BOLD response was abnormal only in cases with histological signs of maternal hypoperfusion of the placenta. The hyperoxic placental BOLD response is mainly derived from an increase in the saturation of maternal venous blood. In the normal placenta, the pO2 of the umbilical vein is closely related to the pO2 of the uterine vein. Therefore, the hyperoxic placental BOLD response may reflect the placental oxygen supply to the fetus. In early onset FGR, the placental oxygen transport is reduced mainly because of the maternal hypoperfusion, and in these cases the placental BOLD response might be altered. Thus, the placental BOLD MRI might provide direct noninvasive assessment of placental oxygen transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sørensen
- Obstetrics and Gýnecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Marianne Sinding
- Obstetrics and Gýnecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - David A Peters
- Clinical Engineering, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Jens B Frøkjær
- Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ole B Christiansen
- Obstetrics and Gýnecology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Niels Uldbjerg
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Siauve N, Chalouhi GE, Deloison B, Alison M, Clement O, Ville Y, Salomon LJ. Functional imaging of the human placenta with magnetic resonance. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015; 213:S103-14. [PMID: 26428488 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.06.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal placentation is responsible for most failures in pregnancy; however, an understanding of placental functions remains largely concealed from noninvasive, in vivo investigations. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is safe in pregnancy for magnetic fields of up to 3 Tesla and is being used increasingly to improve the accuracy of prenatal imaging. Functional MRI (fMRI) of the placenta has not yet been validated in a clinical setting, and most data are derived from animal studies. FMRI could be used to further explore placental functions that are related to vascularization, oxygenation, and metabolism in human pregnancies by the use of various enhancement processes. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI is best able to quantify placental perfusion, permeability, and blood volume fractions. However, the transplacental passage of Gadolinium-based contrast agents represents a significant safety concern for this procedure in humans. There are alternative contrast agents that may be safer in pregnancy or that do not cross the placenta. Arterial spin labeling MRI relies on magnetically labeled water to quantify the blood flows within the placenta. A disadvantage of this technique is a poorer signal-to-noise ratio. Based on arterial spin labeling, placental perfusion in normal pregnancy is 176 ± 91 mL × min(-1) × 100 g(-1) and decreases in cases with intrauterine growth restriction. Blood oxygen level-dependent and oxygen-enhanced MRIs do not assess perfusion but measure the response of the placenta to changes in oxygen levels with the use of hemoglobin as an endogenous contrast agent. Diffusion-weighted imaging and intravoxel incoherent motion MRI do not require exogenous contrast agents, instead they use the movement of water molecules within tissues. The apparent diffusion coefficient and perfusion fraction are significantly lower in placentas of growth-restricted fetuses when compared with normal pregnancies. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has the ability to extract information regarding metabolites from the placenta noninvasively and in vivo. There are marked differences in all 3 metabolites N-acetyl aspartate/choline levels, inositol/choline ratio between small, and adequately grown fetuses. Current research is focused on the ability of each fMRI technique to make a timely diagnosis of abnormal placentation that would allow for appropriate planning of follow-up examinations and optimal scheduling of delivery. These research programs will benefit from the use of well-defined sequences, standardized imaging protocols, and robust computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Siauve
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Gihad E Chalouhi
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Deloison
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Marianne Alison
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Clement
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Yves Ville
- EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
| | - Laurent J Salomon
- INSERM, U970, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Paris Cardiovascular Research Center-PARCC, Paris, France; EA FETUS and LUMIERE Unit, Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France.
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