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Wang H, Wen Z, Wu W, Sun Z, Kisrieva-Ware Z, Lin Y, Wang S, Gao H, Xu H, Zhao P, Wang Q, Macones GA, Schwartz AL, Cuculich P, Cahill AG, Wang Y. Noninvasive electromyometrial imaging of human uterine maturation during term labor. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1198. [PMID: 36918533 PMCID: PMC10015052 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36440-0] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Electromyometrial imaging (EMMI) was recently developed to image the three-dimensional (3D) uterine electrical activation during contractions noninvasively and accurately in sheep. Herein we describe the development and application of a human EMMI system to image and evaluate 3D uterine electrical activation patterns at high spatial and temporal resolution during human term labor. We demonstrate the successful integration of the human EMMI system during subjects' clinical visits to generate noninvasively the uterine surface electrical potential maps, electrograms, and activation sequence through an inverse solution using up to 192 electrodes distributed around the abdomen surface. Quantitative indices, including the uterine activation curve, are developed and defined to characterize uterine surface contraction patterns. We thus show that the human EMMI system can provide detailed 3D images and quantification of uterine contractions as well as novel insights into the role of human uterine maturation during labor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Zichao Wen
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Wenjie Wu
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Zhexian Sun
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Zulfia Kisrieva-Ware
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Yiqi Lin
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Sicheng Wang
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Hansong Gao
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Haonan Xu
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Peinan Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Qing Wang
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - George A Macones
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Alan L Schwartz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Phillip Cuculich
- Department of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Alison G Cahill
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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Stout MJ, Chubiz J, Raghuraman N, Zhao P, Tuuli MG, Wang LV, Cahill AG, Cuculich PS, Wang Y, Jungheim ES, Herzog ED, Fay J, Schwartz AL, Macones GA, England SK. A multidisciplinary Prematurity Research Cohort Study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272155. [PMID: 36006907 PMCID: PMC9409532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Worldwide, 10% of babies are born preterm, defined as a live birth before 37 weeks of gestation. Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal death, and survivors face lifelong risks of adverse outcomes. New approaches with large sample sizes are needed to identify strategies to predict and prevent preterm birth. The primary aims of the Washington University Prematurity Research Cohort Study were to conduct three prospective projects addressing possible causes of preterm birth and provide data and samples for future research. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant patients were recruited into the cohort between January 2017 and January 2020. Consenting patients were enrolled into the study before 20 weeks' gestation and followed through delivery. Participants completed demographic and lifestyle surveys; provided maternal blood, placenta samples, and cord blood; and participated in up to three projects focused on underlying physiology of preterm birth: cervical imaging (Project 1), circadian rhythms (Project 2), and uterine magnetic resonance imaging and electromyometrial imaging (Project 3). RESULTS A total of 1260 participants were enrolled and delivered during the study period. Of the participants, 706 (56%) were Black/African American, 494 (39%) were nulliparous, and 185 (15%) had a previous preterm birth. Of the 1260 participants, 1220 (97%) delivered a live infant. Of the 1220 with a live birth, 163 (14.1%) had preterm birth, of which 74 (6.1%) were spontaneous preterm birth. Of the 1220 participants with a live birth, 841 participated in cervical imaging, 1047 contributed data and/or samples on circadian rhythms, and 39 underwent uterine magnetic resonance imaging. Of the 39, 25 underwent electromyometrial imaging. CONCLUSION We demonstrate feasibility of recruiting and retaining a diverse cohort in a complex prospective, longitudinal study throughout pregnancy. The extensive clinical, imaging, survey, and biologic data obtained will be used to explore cervical, uterine, and endocrine physiology of preterm birth and can be used to develop novel approaches to predict and prevent preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly J. Stout
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jessica Chubiz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Nandini Raghuraman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Peinan Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Methodius G. Tuuli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Lihong V. Wang
- Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Alison G. Cahill
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Phillip S. Cuculich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Emily S. Jungheim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Erik D. Herzog
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Justin Fay
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Alan L. Schwartz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George A. Macones
- Department of Women’s Health, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sarah K. England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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