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Coward-Smith M, Liong S, Oseghale O, Erlich JR, Miles MA, Liong F, Brassington K, Bozinovski S, Vlahos R, Brooks RD, Brooks DA, O’Leary JJ, Selemidis S. Low dose aspirin prevents endothelial dysfunction in the aorta and foetal loss in pregnant mice infected with influenza A virus. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1378610. [PMID: 38638436 PMCID: PMC11024306 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1378610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) infection in pregnancy resembles a preeclamptic phenotype characterised by vascular dysfunction and foetal growth retardation. Given that low dose aspirin (ASA) is safe in pregnancy and is used to prevent preeclampsia, we investigated whether ASA or NO-conjugated aspirin, NCX4016, resolve vascular inflammation and function to improve offspring outcomes following IAV infection in pregnant mice. Pregnant mice were intranasally infected with a mouse adapted IAV strain (Hkx31; 104 plaque forming units) and received daily treatments with either 200µg/kg ASA or NCX4016 via oral gavage. Mice were then culled and the maternal lungs and aortas collected for qPCR analysis, and wire myography was performed on aortic rings to assess endothelial and vascular smooth muscle functionality. Pup and placentas were weighed and pup growth rates and survival assessed. IAV infected mice had an impaired endothelial dependent relaxation response to ACh in the aorta, which was prevented by ASA and NCX4016 treatment. ASA and NCX4016 treatment prevented IAV dissemination and inflammation of the aorta as well as improving the pup placental ratios in utero, survival and growth rates at post-natal day 5. Low dose ASA is safe to use during pregnancy for preeclampsia and this study demonstrates that ASA may prove a promising treatment for averting the significant vascular complications associated with influenza infection during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Coward-Smith
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stella Liong
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Osezua Oseghale
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jonathan R. Erlich
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark A. Miles
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Felicia Liong
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kurt Brassington
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven Bozinovski
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross Vlahos
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Robert D. Brooks
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Doug A. Brooks
- Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - John J. O’Leary
- Discipline of Histopathology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Sir Patrick Dun’s Research Laboratory and the Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stavros Selemidis
- Centre for Respiratory Science and Health, School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, Royal Melbourne Institute of Techology (RMIT) University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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2
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Rubin JM, Pinter SZ, Halloran KM, Pallas BD, Fowlkes JB, Vyas AK, Padmanabhan V, Kripfgans OD. Placental assessment using spectral analysis of the envelope of umbilical venous waveforms in sheep. Placenta 2023; 142:119-127. [PMID: 37699274 PMCID: PMC10954287 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.08.072] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study was designed to test the efficacy of an ultrasound flow measurement method to evaluate placental function in a hyperandrogenic sheep model that produces placental morphologic changes and an intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pregnant ewes were assigned randomly between control (n = 12) and testosterone-treatment (T-treated, n = 22) groups. The T-treated group was injected twice weekly intramuscularly (IM) with 100 mg testosterone propionate. Control sheep were injected with corn oil vehicle. Lambs were delivered at 119.5 ± 0.48 days gestation. At the time of delivery of each lamb, flow spectra were generated from one fetal artery and two fetal veins, and the spectral envelopes examined using fast Fourier transform analysis. Base 10 logarithms of the ratio of the amplitudes of the maternal and fetal spectral peaks (LRSP) in the venous power spectrum were compared in the T-treated and control populations. In addition, we calculated the resistive index (RI) for the artery defined as ((peak systole - min diastole)/peak systole). Two-tailed T-tests were used for comparisons. RESULTS LRSPs, after removal of significant outliers, were -0.158 ± 0.238 for T-treated and 0.057 ± 0.213 for control (p = 0.015) animals. RIs for the T-treated sheep fetuses were 0.506 ± 0.137 and 0.497 ± 0.086 for controls (p = 0.792) DISCUSSION: LRSP analysis distinguishes between T-treated and control sheep, whereas RIs do not. LRSP has the potential to identify compromised pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Rubin
- University of Michigan Department of Radiology, Medical Sciences Building 1, 1301 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2026, USA.
| | - Stephen Z Pinter
- University of Michigan Department of Radiology, Medical Sciences Building 1, 1301 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2026, USA.
| | - Katherine M Halloran
- University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics, 7510 MSRB1, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5718, USA.
| | - Brooke D Pallas
- University of Michigan Address Unit Lab Animal Medicine, 2800 Plymouth Rd. NCRC-G090, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA.
| | - J Brian Fowlkes
- University of Michigan Department of Radiology, Medical Sciences Building 1, 1301 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2026, USA.
| | - Arpita K Vyas
- Washington University in St. Louis Department of Pediatrics, St. Louis Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Place, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Vasantha Padmanabhan
- University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics, 7510 MSRB1, 1150 W. Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5718, USA.
| | - Oliver D Kripfgans
- University of Michigan Department of Radiology, Medical Sciences Building 1, 1301 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2026, USA.
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Josowitz R, Linn R, Rychik J. The Placenta in Congenital Heart Disease: Form, Function and Outcomes. Neoreviews 2023; 24:e569-e582. [PMID: 37653088 DOI: 10.1542/neo.24-9-e569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The maternal-fetal environment, controlled and modulated by the placenta, plays a critical role in the development and well-being of the fetus, with long-term impact through programming of lifelong health. The fetal cardiovascular system and placenta emerge at the same time embryologically, and thus placental form and function are altered in the presence of congenital heart disease (CHD). In this review, we report on what is known about the placenta from a structural and functional perspective when there is CHD. We describe the various unique pathologic findings as well as the diagnostic imaging tools used to characterize placental function in utero. With growing interest in the placenta, a standardized approach to characterizing placental pathology has emerged. Furthermore, application of ultrasonography techniques and magnetic resonance imaging now allow for insights into placental blood flow and functionality in vivo. An improved understanding of the intriguing relationship between the placenta and the fetal cardiovascular system will provide opportunities to develop novel ways to optimize outcomes. Once better understood, therapeutic modulation of placental function offered during the vulnerable period of fetal plasticity may be one of the most impactful ways to alter the course of CHD and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Josowitz
- Division of Cardiology, Fetal Heart Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Rebecca Linn
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jack Rychik
- Division of Cardiology, Fetal Heart Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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Dencks S, Schmitz G. Ultrasound localization microscopy. Z Med Phys 2023; 33:292-308. [PMID: 37328329 PMCID: PMC10517400 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (ULM) is an emerging technique that provides impressive super-resolved images of microvasculature, i.e., images with much better resolution than the conventional diffraction-limited ultrasound techniques and is already taking its first steps from preclinical to clinical applications. In comparison to the established perfusion or flow measurement methods, namely contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and Doppler techniques, ULM allows imaging and flow measurements even down to the capillary level. As ULM can be realized as a post-processing method, conventional ultrasound systems can be used for. ULM relies on the localization of single microbubbles (MB) of commercial, clinically approved contrast agents. In general, these very small and strong scatterers with typical radii of 1-3 µm are imaged much larger in ultrasound images than they actually are due to the point spread function of the imaging system. However, by applying appropriate methods, these MBs can be localized with sub-pixel precision. Then, by tracking MBs over successive frames of image sequences, not only the morphology of vascular trees but also functional information such as flow velocities or directions can be obtained and visualized. In addition, quantitative parameters can be derived to describe pathological and physiological changes in the microvasculature. In this review, the general concept of ULM and conditions for its applicability to microvessel imaging are explained. Based on this, various aspects of the different processing steps for a concrete implementation are discussed. The trade-off between complete reconstruction of the microvasculature and the necessary measurement time as well as the implementation in 3D are reviewed in more detail, as they are the focus of current research. Through an overview of potential or already realized preclinical and clinical applications - pathologic angiogenesis or degeneration of vessels, physiological angiogenesis, or the general understanding of organ or tissue function - the great potential of ULM is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Dencks
- Lehrstuhl für Medizintechnik, Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Georg Schmitz
- Lehrstuhl für Medizintechnik, Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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Jafarzadeh E, Démoré CE, Burns PN, Goertz DE. Spatially segmented SVD clutter filtering in cardiac blood flow imaging with diverging waves. ULTRASONICS 2023; 132:107006. [PMID: 37116399 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.107006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Ultrafast ultrasound imaging enables the visualization of rapidly changing blood flow dynamics in the chambers of the heart. Singular value decomposition (SVD) filters outperform conventional high pass clutter rejection filters for ultrafast blood flow imaging of small and shallow fields of view (e.g., functional imaging of brain activity). However, implementing SVD filters can be challenging in cardiac imaging due to the complex spatially and temporally varying tissue characteristics. To address this challenge, we describe a method that involves excluding the proximal portion of the image (near the chest wall) and divides the reduced field of view into overlapped segments, within which tissue signals are expected to be spatially and temporally coherent. SVD filtering with automatic selection of cut-off singular vector orders to remove tissue and noise signals is implemented for each segment. Auto-thresholding is based on the coherence of spatial singular vectors, delineating tissue, blood, and noise subspaces within a spatial similarity matrix calculated for each segment. Filtered blood flow signals from the segments are reconstructed and then combined and Doppler processing is used to form a set of blood flow images. Preliminary experimental results suggest that the spatially segmented approach improves the separation of the tissue and blood subsets in the spatial similarity matrix so that automatic thresholding is significantly improved, and tissue clutter can then be rejected more effectively in cardiac ultrafast imaging, compared to using the full field of view. In the case studied, spatially segmented SVD improved the rate of correct automatic selection of thresholds from 78% to 98.7% for the investigated cases and improved the post-filter power of blood signals by an average of more than 10 dB during a cardiac cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Jafarzadeh
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - Christine Em Démoré
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - Peter N Burns
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - David E Goertz
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5G 1L7, Canada.
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6
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Clark A, Flouri D, Mufti N, James J, Clements E, Aughwane R, Aertsen M, David A, Melbourne A. Developments in functional imaging of the placenta. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20211010. [PMID: 35234516 PMCID: PMC10321248 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20211010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is both the literal and metaphorical black box of pregnancy. Measurement of the function of the placenta has the potential to enhance our understanding of this enigmatic organ and serve to support obstetric decision making. Advanced imaging techniques are key to support these measurements. This review summarises emerging imaging technology being used to measure the function of the placenta and new developments in the computational analysis of these data. We address three important examples where functional imaging is supporting our understanding of these conditions: fetal growth restriction, placenta accreta, and twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alys Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Joanna James
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eleanor Clements
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Rosalind Aughwane
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Aertsen
- Department of Radiology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
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7
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Hsieh BY, Kao YCJ, Zhou N, Lin YP, Mei YY, Chu SY, Wu DC. Vascular responses of penetrating vessels during cortical spreading depolarization with ultrasound dynamic ultrafast Doppler imaging. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1015843. [PMID: 36466181 PMCID: PMC9714680 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1015843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamic vascular responses during cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) are causally related to pathophysiological consequences in numerous neurovascular conditions, including ischemia, traumatic brain injury, cerebral hemorrhage, and migraine. Monitoring of the hemodynamic responses of cerebral penetrating vessels during CSD is motivated to understand the mechanism of CSD and related neurological disorders. Six SD rats were used, and craniotomy surgery was performed before imaging. CSDs were induced by topical KCl application. Ultrasound dynamic ultrafast Doppler was used to access hemodynamic changes, including cerebral blood volume (CBV) and flow velocity during CSD, and further analyzed those in a single penetrating arteriole or venule. The CSD-induced hemodynamic changes with typical duration and propagation speed were detected by ultrafast Doppler in the cerebral cortex ipsilateral to the induction site. The hemodynamics typically showed triphasic changes, including initial hypoperfusion and prominent hyperperfusion peak, followed by a long-period depression in CBV. Moreover, different hemodynamics between individual penetrating arterioles and venules were proposed by quantification of CBV and flow velocity. The negative correlation between the basal CBV and CSD-induced change was also reported in penetrating vessels. These results indicate specific vascular dynamics of cerebral penetrating vessels and possibly different contributions of penetrating arterioles and venules to the CSD-related pathological vascular consequences. We proposed using ultrasound dynamic ultrafast Doppler imaging to investigate CSD-induced cerebral vascular responses. With this imaging platform, it has the potential to monitor the hemodynamics of cortical penetrating vessels during brain injuries to understand the mechanism of CSD in advance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Yu Hsieh
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chieh Jill Kao
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ning Zhou
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Pei Lin
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ying Mei
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Yu Chu
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Dong-Chuan Wu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
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8
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Rubin JM, Fowlkes JB, Pinter SZ, Treadwell MC, Kripfgans OD. Umbilical Vein Pulse Wave Spectral Analysis: A Possible Method for Placental Assessment Through Evaluation of Maternal and Fetal Flow Components. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2022; 41:2445-2457. [PMID: 34935157 PMCID: PMC10204125 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15927] [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] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Placental blood flow analysis is complicated by having both maternal and fetal flow components. Using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the umbilical venous pulse wave spectra (PW) envelope, we could simultaneously assess maternal/fetal blood flow in the placenta and investigate if normal and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)/pre-eclamptic pregnancies could be distinguished. METHODS This retrospective study included normal gestations (N = 11) and gestations with IUGR, pre-eclampsia, or both (N = 13). Umbilical vein PW were acquired and spectral envelopes were identified as a function of time and analyzed by FFT. Base-10 logarithms of the ratios of the maternal/fetal spectral peaks (LRSP) were compared in normal and IUGR/pre-eclamptic populations (two-tailed t-test). Body mass index (BMI), gestational age at scan time, placental position, and weight-normalized umbilical vein blood volume flow (two-tailed t-test, analysis of variance [ANOVA] analysis) were tested. P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS The LRSP for normal and IUGR/pre-eclamptic pregnancies were 0.141 ± 0.180 and -0.072 ± 0.262 (mean ± standard deviation), respectively (P = .033). We detected differences between normal gestations and combinations of LRSP and weight-normalized umbilical venous blood flows. Placental effects based on LRSPs and blood flow may act synergistically in cases with both pre-eclampsia and IUGR (P = .014). No other significant associations were seen. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study, we showed that umbilical venous flow contains markers related to placental maternal/fetal blood flow, which can be used to assess IUGR and pre-eclampsia. When coupled with umbilical cord blood flow, this new marker may potentially identify the primary causes of the two conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Rubin
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - J Brian Fowlkes
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Stephen Z Pinter
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marjorie C Treadwell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Flouri D, Darby JRT, Holman SL, Cho SKS, Dimasi CG, Perumal SR, Ourselin S, Aughwane R, Mufti N, Macgowan CK, Seed M, David AL, Melbourne A, Morrison JL. Placental MRI Predicts Fetal Oxygenation and Growth Rates in Sheep and Human Pregnancy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203738. [PMID: 36031385 PMCID: PMC9596844 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of fetal blood oxygen saturation (SO2 ) can transform the clinical management of high-risk pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, a novel MRI method assesses the feasibility of identifying normally grown and FGR fetuses in sheep and is then applied to humans. MRI scans are performed in pregnant ewes at 110 and 140 days (term = 150d) gestation and in pregnant women at 28+3 ± 2+5 weeks to measure feto-placental SO2 . Birth weight is collected and, in sheep, fetal blood SO2 is measured with a blood gas analyzer (BGA). Fetal arterial SO2 measured by BGA predicts fetal birth weight in sheep and distinguishes between fetuses that are normally grown, small for gestational age, and FGR. MRI feto-placental SO2 in late gestation is related to fetal blood SO2 measured by BGA and body weight. In sheep, MRI feto-placental SO2 in mid-gestation is related to fetal SO2 later in gestation. MRI feto-placental SO2 distinguishes between normally grown and FGR fetuses, as well as distinguishing FGR fetuses with and without normal Doppler in humans. Thus, a multi-compartment placental MRI model detects low placental SO2 and distinguishes between small hypoxemic fetuses and normally grown fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra Flouri
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
| | - Jack R. T. Darby
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Stacey L. Holman
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Steven K. S. Cho
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
- Department of PhysiologyThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
| | - Catherine G. Dimasi
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Sunthara R. Perumal
- South Australian Health & Medical Research InstitutePreclinicalImaging & Research LaboratoriesAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
| | - Rosalind Aughwane
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
| | - Nada Mufti
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
| | - Christopher K. Macgowan
- Division of Translational MedicineThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
- Department of Medical BiophysicsUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5S 1A1Canada
| | - Mike Seed
- Department of PaediatricsDivision of CardiologyThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
- Department of Diagnostic ImagingThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenUniversity of TorontoTorontoON M5G 1X8Canada
| | - Anna L. David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women's HealthUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6AUUK
- NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity College London HospitalsLondonW1T 7DNUK
| | - Andrew Melbourne
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonLondonSE1 7EUUK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonWC1E 6BTUK
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
| | - Janna L. Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research GroupHealth and Biomedical InnovationUniSA Clinical and Health SciencesUniversity of South AustraliaAdelaideSA 5001Australia
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Bertholdt C, Dap M, Pillot R, Chavatte-Palmer P, Morel O, Beaumont M. Assessment of placental perfusion using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A longitudinal study in pregnant rabbit. Theriogenology 2022; 187:135-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Bourquin C, Poree J, Lesage F, Provost J. In Vivo Pulsatility Measurement of Cerebral Microcirculation in Rodents Using Dynamic Ultrasound Localization Microscopy. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2022; 41:782-792. [PMID: 34710041 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2021.3123912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
An increased pulse pressure, due to arteries stiffening with age and cardiovascular disease, may lead to downstream brain damage in microvessels and cognitive decline. Brain-wide imaging of the pulsatility propagation from main feeding arteries to capillaries in small animals could improve our understanding of the link between pulsatility and cognitive decline. However, it requires higher spatiotemporal resolution and penetration depth than currently available with existing brain imaging techniques. Herein, we show the feasibility of performing Dynamic Ultrasound Localization Microscopy (DULM), a novel imaging approach to capture hemodynamics with a subwavelength resolution. By producing cine-loops of flowing microbubbles in 2D in the whole rodent brain lasting several cardiac cycles, DULM performed pulsatility measurements in microvessels in-depth, in vivo, with and without craniotomy. Cortical veins and arteries were shown to have a significatively different pulsatility index and the method was compared against Contrast Enhanced Ultrafast Ultrasound Doppler (CEUFD) pulsatility measurements.
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Lopez-Tello J, Arias-Alvarez M, Gonzalez-Bulnes A, Sferuzzi-Perri AN. Models of Intrauterine growth restriction and fetal programming in rabbits. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:1781-1809. [PMID: 31538701 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects approximately 10% of human pregnancies globally and has immediate and life-long consequences for offspring health. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of IUGR and its association with later health and disease outcomes are poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, the use of experimental animals is critically important. Since the 50's different environmental, pharmacological, and surgical manipulations have been performed in the rabbit to improve our knowledge of the control of fetal growth, fetal responses to IUGR, and mechanisms by which offspring may be programmed by an adverse gestational environment. The purpose of this review is therefore to summarize the utility of the rabbit as a model for IUGR research. It first summarizes the knowledge of prenatal and postnatal development in the rabbit and how these events relate to developmental milestones in humans. It then describes the methods used to induce IUGR in rabbits and the knowledge gained about the mechanisms determining prenatal and postnatal outcomes of the offspring. Finally, it discusses the application of state of the art approaches in the rabbit, including high-resolution ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and gene targeting, to gain a deeper integrative understanding of the physiological and molecular events governing the development of IUGR. Overall, we hope to engage and inspire investigators to employ the rabbit as a model organism when studying pregnancy physiology so that we may advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying IUGR and its consequences in humans and other mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Lopez-Tello
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Arias-Alvarez
- Department of Animal Production. Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Amanda N Sferuzzi-Perri
- Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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13
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Simon EG, Callé S, Remenieras JP. [Tomorrow's ultrasound imaging: When ultrasound systems become ultra-fast]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 47:395-397. [PMID: 30914358 DOI: 10.1016/j.gofs.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- E G Simon
- Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, médecine fœtale et stérilité conjugale, CHU de Dijon Bourgogne, 14, rue Paul-Gaffarel, 21079 Dijon cedex, France; UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, université de Tours, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours cedex 1, France.
| | - S Callé
- GREMAN, UMR CNRS 7347, université de Tours, 20, avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France
| | - J P Remenieras
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Inserm, université de Tours, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37032 Tours cedex 1, France
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14
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Wu C, Bayer CL. Imaging placental function: current technology, clinical needs, and emerging modalities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 63:14TR01. [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaccd9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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15
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Baranger J, Arnal B, Perren F, Baud O, Tanter M, Demene C. Adaptive Spatiotemporal SVD Clutter Filtering for Ultrafast Doppler Imaging Using Similarity of Spatial Singular Vectors. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2018; 37:1574-1586. [PMID: 29969408 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2018.2789499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Singular value decomposition of ultrafast imaging ultrasonic data sets has recently been shown to build a vector basis far more adapted to the discrimination of tissue and blood flow than the classical Fourier basis, improving by large factor clutter filtering and blood flow estimation. However, the question of optimally estimating the boundary between the tissue subspace and the blood flow subspace remained unanswered. Here, we introduce an efficient estimator for automatic thresholding of subspaces and compare it to an exhaustive list of thirteen estimators that could achieve this task based on the main characteristics of the singular components, namely the singular values, the temporal singular vectors, and the spatial singular vectors. The performance of those fourteen estimators was tested in vitro in a large set of controlled experimental conditions with different tissue motion and flow speeds on a phantom. The estimator based on the degree of resemblance of spatial singular vectors outperformed all others. Apart from solving the thresholding problem, the additional benefit with this estimator was its denoising capabilities, strongly increasing the contrast to noise ratio and lowering the noise floor by at least 5 dB. This confirms that, contrary to conventional clutter filtering techniques that are almost exclusively based on temporal characteristics, efficient clutter filtering of ultrafast Doppler imaging cannot overlook space. Finally, this estimator was applied in vivo on various organs (human brain, kidney, carotid, and thyroid) and showed efficient clutter filtering and noise suppression, improving largely the dynamic range of the obtained ultrafast power Doppler images.
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16
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Mourier E, Tarrade A, Duan J, Richard C, Bertholdt C, Beaumont M, Morel O, Chavatte-Palmer P. Non-invasive evaluation of placental blood flow: lessons from animal models. Reproduction 2016; 153:R85-R96. [PMID: 27845691 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In human obstetrics, placental vascularisation impairment is frequent as well as linked to severe pathological events (preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction), and there is a need for reliable methods allowing non-invasive evaluation of placental blood flow. Uteroplacental vascularisation is complex, and animal models are essential for the technical development and safety assessment of these imaging tools for human clinical use; however, these techniques can also be applied in the veterinary context. This paper reviews how ultrasound-based imaging methods such as 2D and 3D Doppler can provide valuable insight for the exploration of placental blood flow both in humans and animals and how new approaches such as the use of ultrasound contrast agents or ultrafast Doppler may allow to discriminate between maternal (non-pulsatile) and foetal (pulsatile) blood flow in the placenta. Finally, functional magnetic resonance imaging could also be used to evaluate placental blood flow, as indicated by studies in animal models, but its safety in human pregnancy still requires to be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mourier
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France .,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - A Tarrade
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - J Duan
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - C Richard
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
| | - C Bertholdt
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - M Beaumont
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - O Morel
- IADIInserm U947, University of Lorraine, CHRU of Brabois, Nancy, France.,CHRU of Nancypole de Gynécologie Obstétrique, Nancy, France
| | - P Chavatte-Palmer
- UMR BDRINRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France.,PremUp FoundationParis, France
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Li YL, Hyun D, Abou-Elkacem L, Willmann JK, Dahl JJ. Visualization of Small-Diameter Vessels by Reduction of Incoherent Reverberation With Coherent Flow Power Doppler. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2016; 63:1878-1889. [PMID: 27824565 PMCID: PMC5154731 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2016.2616112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Power Doppler (PD) imaging is a widely used technique for flow detection. Despite the wide use of Doppler ultrasound, limitations exist in the ability of Doppler ultrasound to assess slow flow in the small-diameter vasculature, such as the maternal spiral arteries and fetal villous arteries of the placenta and focal liver lesions. The sensitivity of PD in small vessel detection is limited by the low signal produced by slow flow and the noise associated with small vessels. The noise sources include electronic noise, stationary or slowly moving tissue clutter, reverberation clutter, and off-axis scattering from tissue, among others. In order to provide more sensitive detection of slow flow in small diameter vessels, a coherent flow imaging technique, termed coherent flow PD (CFPD), is characterized and evaluated with simulation, flow phantom experiment studies, and an in vivo animal small vessel detection study. CFPD imaging was introduced as a technique to detect slow blood flow. It has been demonstrated to detect slow flow below the detection threshold of conventional PD imaging using identical pulse sequences and filter parameters. In this paper, we compare CFPD with PD in the detection of blood flow in small-diameter vessels. The results from the study suggest that CFPD is able to provide a 7.5-12.5-dB increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over PD images for the same physiological conditions and is less susceptible to reverberation clutter and thermal noise. Due to the increase in SNR, CFPD is able to detect small vessels in high channel noise cases, for which PD was unable to generate enough contrast to observe the vessel.
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