MRI characteristics of the fetal tethered spinal cord: a comparative study

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of spinal cord neural tube defects: A prospective study

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the value of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the prenatal diagnosis of spinal neural tube defects.

Methods

From August 2018 to January 2021, 56 fetuses with suspected spinal cord neural tube defects were treated by prenatal ultrasound in the Neurosurgery Department of the First Medical Center of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Fetal MRI was performed within 72 h after ultrasound diagnosis. Forty singleton fetuses were selected. Magnetic resonance examination was performed within 1 month after birth, and the diagnostic coincidence rates of prenatal ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance examination in the prenatal diagnosis of spinal cord neural tube defects were compared and analyzed using postnatal magnetic resonance examination as the standard.

Results

The coincidence rates of prenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI for the prenatal diagnosis of spina bifida were 71.4% (20/28) and 39.2% (11/28), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. The coincidence rates of prenatal ultrasound and fetal MRI in the diagnosis of intraspinal lipoma were 52.6% (10/19) and 73.7% (14/19), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant.

Conclusion

Fetal MRI has an advantage over prenatal ultrasound in detecting intraspinal lipoma. Prenatal ultrasound has an advantage over fetal MRI in detecting spina bifida.

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar spine development in vivo: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to describe MR imaging appearances of the fetal lumbar spine in vivo at different gestational ages (GAs).

METHODS

This retrospective study was approved by the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. We collected MR images and clinical data of 93 fetuses in our hospital. All the MR images were obtained by 3-T MR. All had the mid-sagittal plane of steady state free precession sequence (Trufi) of the lumbar spine, which could show the lumbar vertebra and conus medullaris (CM). Regression analysis was made between GA and heights of lumbar vertebral body ossification center (LVBOC), lengths of LVBOC, and heights of intervertebral gap (IVG).

RESULTS

There were good linear correlations between the heights of LVBOC and GA (P < 0.001), lengths of LVBOC and GA (P < 0.001), and heights of IVG and GA (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

We showed the different development of each LVBOC and IVG which caused the difference of the shape of LVBOC and IVG.

The bidirectional role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and related mechanisms in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

The Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway, a well-conserved and basic intracellular signaling cascade, is mostly inactivated under basal conditions, although it can be phosphorylated under extracellular stimulation; in addition, it can influence the transcription and expression of multiple genes involved in biological processes such as cellular growth, metabolism, differentiation, degradation and angiogenesis. The inflammatory response, apoptosis, oxidative stress and angiogenesis are the main factors involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Numerous studies have confirmed that the JAK2/STAT3 axis can be activated rapidly by ischemic stress, which is closely related to the regulation of these important pathological processes. However, different opinions on the specific role of this signaling pathway remain. In this paper, we review and summarize previous studies on the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in ischemic stroke.