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Ghidini A, Cacace M, Fumagalli S, Ornaghi S, Kuttuva K, Cacace A, Passarelli N, Locatelli A. Efficacy of antepartum fetal surveillance for stillbirth prevention. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2024; 37:2397538. [PMID: 39198037 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2024.2397538] [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] [Received: 07/27/2024] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2019 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued specific recommendations for performance of antepartum fetal surveillance (AFS) based on individual risk factors. As similar recommendations were already in place at our institution, we have evaluated the impact of AFS on stillbirth (SB) occurrence in a 5-year cohort. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of all deliveries between 7/1/2013 and 6/30/2018. Excluded were multiples, anomalous fetuses or newborns, and deliveries before 32 0/7 weeks' gestation. AFS was conducted from 32 weeks with a modified biophysical profile, with a complete biophysical profile as back-up for non-reactive non-stress tests. All cases of SB were prospectively identified and individually reviewed to verify the presence of risk factors, the results of fetal testing if done, and calculate the interval between last fetal test and delivery. The electronic medical records during the study period were queried to identify women who underwent AFS and those who did not. Chi-square was used to compare the rates of SB between the two groups. RESULTS 16,827 women fulfilled the study inclusion and exclusion criteria, 5711 (34%) had risk factors which prompted AFS; 37% had 2 or more risk factors. SB occurred in 1.8‰ of them (10/5711) (3 had 1 risk factor, 5 had 2, and 2 had 3 risk factors). Rates of SB at ≥32.0 weeks were similar between women who had AFS and those who did not (1.8 vs. 2.3‰, p = 0.51, OR = 0.75, 95%CI 0.36-1.55). The false-negative rate at <7 days of a reassuring AFS among compliant women was 1.4‰ (8/5711). Rates of preterm delivery were similar in the tested vs untested population (6.5 vs. 6.0%, p = 0.22). CONCLUSION Implementation of AFS in women with risk factors similar to those recommended by the ACOG may lower the risk of SB from 32 weeks to that of low-risk pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Ghidini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antenatal Testing Center, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Marietta Cacace
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antenatal Testing Center, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Simona Fumagalli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Obstetrics Unit, Foundation IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Ornaghi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Obstetrics Unit, Foundation IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Kavya Kuttuva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antenatal Testing Center, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Alyssa Cacace
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Antenatal Testing Center, Inova Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, VA, USA
| | - Noemi Passarelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Obstetrics Unit, Foundation IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
| | - Anna Locatelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Obstetrics Unit, Foundation IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy
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Martínez-Varea A, Prasad S, Domenech J, Kalafat E, Morales-Roselló J, Khalil A. Association between fetal growth restriction and stillbirth in twin compared with singleton pregnancies. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2024; 64:513-520. [PMID: 38642338 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Twin pregnancies are at higher risk of stillbirth compared to singletons. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal mortality, but its impact on twins vs singletons remains unclear. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association of FGR and small-for-gestational age (SGA) with stillbirth in twin compared with singleton pregnancies. A secondary objective was to assess these associations stratified by gestational age at delivery. Furthermore, we aimed to compare the associations of FGR and SGA with stillbirth in twin pregnancies using twin-specific vs singleton birth-weight charts, stratified by chorionicity. METHODS This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of pregnancies receiving obstetric care and giving birth between 1999 and 2022 at St George's Hospital, London, UK. The exclusion criteria included triplet and higher-order pregnancies, those resulting in miscarriage or live birth at ≤ 23 + 6 weeks, termination of pregnancy and missing data regarding birth weight or gestational age at birth. Birth-weight data were collected and FGR and SGA were defined as birth weight <5th and <10th centiles, respectively. While standard logistic regression was used for singleton pregnancies, the association of FGR and SGA with stillbirth in twin pregnancies was investigated using mixed-effects logistic regression models. For twin pregnancies, intercepts were allowed to vary for twin pairs to account for intertwin dependency. Analyses were stratified by gestational age at delivery and chorionicity. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.001. RESULTS The study included 95 342 singleton and 3576 twin pregnancies. There were 494 (0.52%) stillbirths in singleton and 41 (1.15%) stillbirths in twin pregnancies (17 dichorionic and 24 monochorionic). SGA and FGR were associated significantly with stillbirth in singleton pregnancies across all gestational ages at delivery: the odds ratios (ORs) for SGA and FGR were 2.36 ((95% CI, 1.78-3.13), P < 0.001) and 2.67 ((95% CI, 2.02-3.55), P < 0.001), respectively, for delivery before 32 weeks; 2.70 ((95% CI, 1.71-4.31), P < 0.001) and 2.82 ((95% CI, 1.78-4.47), P < 0.001), respectively, for delivery between 32 and 36 weeks; and 3.85 ((95% CI, 2.83-5.21), P < 0.001) and 4.43 ((95% CI, 3.16-6.12), P < 0.001), respectively, for delivery after 36 weeks. In twin pregnancies, when stratified by gestational age at delivery, both SGA and FGR determined by twin-specific birth-weight charts were associated with increased odds of stillbirth for those delivered before 32 weeks (SGA: OR, 3.87 (95% CI, 1.56-9.50), P = 0.003 and FGR: OR, 5.26 (95% CI, 2.11-13.01), P = 0.001), those delivered between 32 and 36 weeks (SGA: OR, 6.67 (95% CI, 2.11-20.41), P = 0.001 and FGR: OR, 9.54 (95% CI, 3.01-29.40), P < 0.001) and those delivered beyond 36 weeks (SGA: OR, 12.68 (95% CI, 2.47-58.15), P = 0.001 and FGR: OR, 23.84 (95% CI, 4.62-110.25), P < 0.001). However, the association of stillbirth with SGA and FGR in twin pregnancies was non-significant when diagnosis was based on singleton charts (before 32 weeks: SGA, P = 0.014 and FGR, P = 0.005; 32-36 weeks: SGA, P = 0.036 and FGR, P = 0.008; after 36 weeks: SGA, P = 0.080 and FGR, P = 0.063). CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that SGA and, especially, FGR are associated significantly with an increased risk of stillbirth across all gestational ages in singleton pregnancies, and in twin pregnancies when twin-specific birth-weight charts are used. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Martínez-Varea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | - S Prasad
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of London, London, UK
| | - J Domenech
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - E Kalafat
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Koç University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - J Morales-Roselló
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | - A Khalil
- Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of London, London, UK
- Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK
- Twin and Multiple Pregnancy Centre for Research and Clinical Excellence, St George's University Hospital, St George's University of London, London, UK
- Fetal Medicine Unit, Liverpool Women's Hospital, Liverpool, UK
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Larsen ML, Krebs L, Hoei-Hansen CE, Kumar S. Assessment of fetal growth trajectory identifies infants at high risk of perinatal mortality. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2024; 63:764-771. [PMID: 38339783 DOI: 10.1002/uog.27610] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze perinatal risks associated with three distinct scenarios of fetal growth trajectory in the latter half of pregnancy compared with a reference group. METHODS This cohort study included women with a singleton pregnancy that delivered between 32 + 0 and 41 + 6 weeks' gestation and had two or more ultrasound scans, at least 4 weeks apart, from 18 + 0 weeks. We evaluated three different scenarios of fetal growth against a reference group, which comprised appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses with appropriate forward-growth trajectory. The comparator growth trajectories were categorized as: Group 1, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses (estimated fetal weight (EFW) or abdominal circumference (AC) persistently < 10th centile) with appropriate forward growth; Group 2, fetuses with decreased growth trajectory (decrease of ≥ 50 centiles) and EFW or AC ≥ 10th centile (i.e. non-SGA) at their final ultrasound scan; and Group 3, fetuses with decreased growth trajectory and EFW or AC < 10th centile (i.e. SGA) at their final scan. The primary outcome was overall perinatal mortality (stillbirth or neonatal death). Secondary outcomes included stillbirth, delivery of a SGA infant, preterm birth, emergency Cesarean section for non-reassuring fetal status and composite severe neonatal morbidity. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS The final study cohort comprised 5319 pregnancies. Compared to the reference group, the adjusted odds of perinatal mortality were increased significantly in Group 2 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 4.00 (95% CI, 1.36-11.22)) and Group 3 (aOR, 7.71 (95% CI, 2.39-24.91)). Only Group 3 had increased odds of stillbirth (aOR, 5.69 (95% CI, 1.55-20.93)). In contrast, infants in Group 1 did not have significantly increased odds of demise. The odds of a SGA infant at birth were increased in all three groups compared with the reference group, but was highest in Group 1 (aOR, 111.86 (95% CI, 62.58-199.95)) and Group 3 (aOR, 40.63 (95% CI, 29.01-56.92)). In both groups, more than 80% of infants were born SGA and nearly half had a birth weight < 3rd centile. Likewise, the odds of preterm birth were increased in all three groups compared with the reference group, being highest in Group 3, with an aOR of 4.27 (95% CI, 3.23-5.64). Lastly, the odds of composite severe neonatal morbidity were increased in Groups 1 and 3, whereas the odds of emergency Cesarean section for non-reassuring fetal status were increased only in Group 3. CONCLUSION Assessing the fetal growth trajectory in the latter half of pregnancy can help identify infants at increased risk of perinatal mortality and birth weight < 3rd centile for gestation. © 2024 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Larsen
- Center for Cerebral Palsy, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Amager-Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - L Krebs
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C E Hoei-Hansen
- Center for Cerebral Palsy, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S Kumar
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Mater Mother's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Steyde G, Spairani E, Magenes G, Signorini MG. Fetal heart rate spectral analysis in raw signals and PRSA-derived curve: normal and pathological fetuses discrimination. Med Biol Eng Comput 2024; 62:437-447. [PMID: 37889432 PMCID: PMC10794317 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-023-02953-5] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Cardiotocography (CTG) is the most common technique for electronic fetal monitoring and consists of the simultaneous recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine contractions. In analogy with the adult case, spectral analysis of the FHR signal can be used to assess the functionality of the autonomic nervous system. To do so, several methods can be employed, each of which has its strengths and limitations. This paper aims at performing a methodological investigation on FHR spectral analysis adopting 4 different spectrum estimators and a novel PRSA-based spectral method. The performances have been evaluated in terms of the ability of the various methods to detect changes in the FHR in two common pregnancy complications: intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and gestational diabetes. A balanced dataset containing 2178 recordings distributed between the 32nd and 38th week of gestation was used. The results show that the spectral method derived from the PRSA better differentiates high-risk pregnancies vs. controls compared to the others. Specifically, it more robustly detects an increase in power percentage within the movement frequency band and a decrease in high frequency between pregnancies at high risk in comparison to those at low risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Steyde
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy.
| | - Edoardo Spairani
- Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering Department, Università di Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giovanni Magenes
- Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering Department, Università di Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Maria G Signorini
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Li X, He X, Li Z, Chen Y. Biomarker screening in fetal growth restriction based on multiple RNA-seq studies. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol X 2023; 20:100259. [PMID: 37954535 PMCID: PMC10637895 DOI: 10.1016/j.eurox.2023.100259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a severe pathological complication associated with compromised fetal development. The early diagnosis and prediction for FGR are still unclear. Sequencing technologies present a huge opportunity to identify novel biomarkers. However, limitation of individual studies (e.g., long lists of dysregulated genes, small sample size and conflicting results) hinders the selection of the best-matched ones. Study design A multi-step bioinformatics analysis was performed. We separately reanalyzed data from four public RNA-seq studies, followed by a combined analysis of individual results. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on DESeq2. Then, function enrichment analyses and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) were conducted to screen for hub genes. The results were further verified by using external microarray data. Results A total of 65 dysregulated genes (50 down and 15 upregulated) were identified in FGR compared to controls. Function enrichment and PPI analysis revealed ten hub genes closely related to FGR. Validation analysis found four downregulated candidate biomarkers (CEACAM6, SCUBE2, DEFA4, and MPO) for FGR. Conclusions The use of omics tools to explore mechanism of pregnancies disorders contributes to improvements in obstetric clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Li
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Xin He
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Zhengpeng Li
- Microbiota Division, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University. Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing 100026, China
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Starodubtseva NL, Tokareva AO, Volochaeva MV, Kononikhin AS, Brzhozovskiy AG, Bugrova AE, Timofeeva AV, Kukaev EN, Tyutyunnik VL, Kan NE, Frankevich VE, Nikolaev EN, Sukhikh GT. Quantitative Proteomics of Maternal Blood Plasma in Isolated Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16832. [PMID: 38069155 PMCID: PMC10706154 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a significant concern in modern obstetrics, linked to high neonatal health problems and even death, as well as childhood disability, affecting adult quality of life. The role of maternal and fetus adaptation during adverse pregnancy is still not completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the disturbance in biological processes associated with isolated IUGR via blood plasma proteomics. The levels of 125 maternal plasma proteins were quantified by liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (LC-MRM MS) with corresponding stable isotope-labeled peptide standards (SIS). Thirteen potential markers of IUGR (Gelsolin, Alpha-2-macroglobulin, Apolipoprotein A-IV, Apolipoprotein B-100, Apolipoprotein(a), Adiponectin, Complement C5, Apolipoprotein D, Alpha-1B-glycoprotein, Serum albumin, Fibronectin, Glutathione peroxidase 3, Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein) were found to be inter-connected in a protein-protein network. These proteins are involved in plasma lipoprotein assembly, remodeling, and clearance; lipid metabolism, especially cholesterol and phospholipids; hemostasis, including platelet degranulation; and immune system regulation. Additionally, 18 proteins were specific to a particular type of IUGR (early or late). Distinct patterns in the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems were observed between isolated early- and late-onset IUGR. Our findings highlight the complex interplay of immune and coagulation factors in IUGR and the differences between early- and late-onset IUGR and other placenta-related conditions like PE. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving outcomes for pregnancies affected by IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia L. Starodubtseva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alisa O. Tokareva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Maria V. Volochaeva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Alexey S. Kononikhin
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Alexander G. Brzhozovskiy
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Anna E. Bugrova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Angelika V. Timofeeva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Evgenii N. Kukaev
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- V.L. Talrose Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor L. Tyutyunnik
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Natalia E. Kan
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Vladimir E. Frankevich
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Evgeny N. Nikolaev
- V.L. Talrose Institute for Energy Problems of Chemical Physics, N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady T. Sukhikh
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.O.T.); (M.V.V.); (A.S.K.); (A.G.B.); (A.E.B.); (A.V.T.); (E.N.K.); (V.L.T.); (N.E.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
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Clark AR, Fontinha H, Thompson J, Couper S, Jani D, Mirjalili A, Bennet L, Stone P. Maternal Cardiovascular Responses to Position Change in Pregnancy. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1268. [PMID: 37759669 PMCID: PMC10525953 DOI: 10.3390/biology12091268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The maternal cardiovascular-circulatory system undergoes profound changes almost from the conception of a pregnancy until the postpartum period to support the maternal adaptions required for pregnancy and lactation. Maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis requires changes in the cardiovascular autonomic responses. Here, we present a longitudinal study of the maternal cardiovascular autonomic responses to pregnancy and maternal position. Over a normal gestation, in the left lateral position there are significant changes in both time and frequency domain parameters reflecting heart rate variability. We show that cardiovascular autonomic responses to physiological stressors (standing and supine positions in late pregnancy) became significantly different with advancing gestation. In the third trimester, 60% of the subjects had an unstable heart rate response on standing, and these subjects had a significantly reduced sample entropy evident in their heart rate variability data. By 6 weeks, postpartum function returned to near the non-pregnant state, but there were consistent differences in high-frequency power when compared to nulligravid cases. Finally, we review complementary evidence, in particular from magnetic resonance imaging, that provides insights into the maternal and fetal impacts of positioning in pregnancy. This demonstrates a clear relationship between supine position and maternal hemodynamic parameters, which relates to compression of the inferior vena cava (p = 0.05). Together, these studies demonstrate new understanding of the physiology of physiological stressors related to position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alys R. Clark
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Hanna Fontinha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - John Thompson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Sophie Couper
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Devanshi Jani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Ali Mirjalili
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Laura Bennet
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Peter Stone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
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Al Darwish FM, Meijerink L, Coolen BF, Strijkers GJ, Bekker M, Lely T, Terstappen F. From Molecules to Imaging: Assessment of Placental Hypoxia Biomarkers in Placental Insufficiency Syndromes. Cells 2023; 12:2080. [PMID: 37626890 PMCID: PMC10452979 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162080] [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] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Placental hypoxia poses significant risks to both the developing fetus and the mother during pregnancy, underscoring the importance of early detection and monitoring. Effectively identifying placental hypoxia and evaluating the deterioration in placental function requires reliable biomarkers. Molecular biomarkers in placental tissue can only be determined post-delivery and while maternal blood biomarkers can be measured over time, they can merely serve as proxies for placental function. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for non-invasive imaging techniques capable of directly assessing the placental condition over time. Recent advancements in imaging technologies, including photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging, offer promising tools for detecting and monitoring placental hypoxia. Integrating molecular and imaging biomarkers may revolutionize the detection and monitoring of placental hypoxia, improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing long-term health complications. This review describes current research on molecular and imaging biomarkers of placental hypoxia both in human and animal studies and aims to explore the benefits of an integrated approach throughout gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatimah M. Al Darwish
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.F.C.); (G.J.S.)
| | - Lotte Meijerink
- Department of Obstetrics, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.B.); (T.L.); (F.T.)
| | - Bram F. Coolen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.F.C.); (G.J.S.)
| | - Gustav J. Strijkers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (B.F.C.); (G.J.S.)
| | - Mireille Bekker
- Department of Obstetrics, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.B.); (T.L.); (F.T.)
| | - Titia Lely
- Department of Obstetrics, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.B.); (T.L.); (F.T.)
| | - Fieke Terstappen
- Department of Obstetrics, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3584 EA Utrecht, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.B.); (T.L.); (F.T.)
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9
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Herghelegiu CG, Veduta A, Stefan MF, Magda SL, Ionascu I, Radoi VE, Oprescu DN, Calin AM. Hyperglycosylated-hCG: Its Role in Trophoblast Invasion and Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Cells 2023; 12:1647. [PMID: 37371117 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121647] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by the placenta and its roles have been studied for over a century, being the first known pregnancy-related protein. Although its main role is to stimulate the production of progesterone by corpus luteal cells, hCG does not represent just one biologically active molecule, but a group of at least five variants, produced by different cells and each with different functions. The hyperglycosylated variant of hCG (H-hCG) plays a key role in trophoblast invasion, placental development and fetal growth. During trophoblast invasion, H-hCG promotes extravillous cytotrophoblast cells to infiltrate the decidua, and also to colonize and remodel the spiral arteries in to low resistance, larger-diameter vessels. As fetal growth is heavily reliant on nutrient availability, impaired trophoblast invasion and remodeling of the uterine arteries, leads to a defective perfusion of the placenta and fetal growth restriction. Understanding the function of H-hCG in the evolution of the placenta might unveil new ways to manage and treat fetal growth restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalin Gabriel Herghelegiu
- Institutul National pentru Sanatatea Mamei si a Copilului "Alessandrescu Rusescu", 020395 Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Miruna Florina Stefan
- Department of Cardiology, University and Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Stefania Lucia Magda
- Department of Cardiology, University and Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Iuliana Ionascu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Viorica Elena Radoi
- Department of Genetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Daniela Nuti Oprescu
- Institutul National pentru Sanatatea Mamei si a Copilului "Alessandrescu Rusescu", 020395 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alina Mihaela Calin
- Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty, Dunarea de Jos University, 800008 Galati, Romania
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Springer S, Worda K, Franz M, Karner E, Krampl-Bettelheim E, Worda C. Fetal Growth Restriction Is Associated with Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A and Uterine Artery Doppler in First Trimester. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12072502. [PMID: 37048586 PMCID: PMC10095370 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12072502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of stillbirth and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. The early prediction may be important to establish treatment options and improve neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the association of parameters used in first-trimester screening, uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index and the development of FGR. In this retrospective cohort study, 1930 singleton pregnancies prenatally diagnosed with an estimated fetal weight under the third percentile were included. All women underwent first-trimester screening assessing maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin levels, fetal nuchal translucency and uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index (PI). We constructed a Receiver Operating Characteristics curve to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of early diagnosis of FGR. In pregnancies with FGR, PAPP-A was significantly lower, and uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index was significantly higher compared with the normal birth weight group (0.79 ± 0.38 vs. 1.15 ± 0.59, p < 0.001 and 1.82 ± 0.7 vs. 1.55 ± 0.47, p = 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that PAPP-A levels and uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index were significantly associated with FGR (p = 0.009 and p = 0.01, respectively). To conclude, these two parameters can predict FGR < 3rd percentile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Springer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Worda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-140-400-28210
| | - Marie Franz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Eva Karner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Christof Worda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Andreasen LA, Feragen A, Christensen AN, Thybo JK, Svendsen MBS, Zepf K, Lekadir K, Tolsgaard MG. Multi-centre deep learning for placenta segmentation in obstetric ultrasound with multi-observer and cross-country generalization. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2221. [PMID: 36755050 PMCID: PMC9908915 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29105-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The placenta is crucial to fetal well-being and it plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive pregnancy disorders. Moreover, a timely diagnosis of placenta previa may save lives. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality in pregnancy, but high-quality imaging depends on the access to equipment and staff, which is not possible in all settings. Convolutional neural networks may help standardize the acquisition of images for fetal diagnostics. Our aim was to develop a deep learning based model for classification and segmentation of the placenta in ultrasound images. We trained a model based on manual annotations of 7,500 ultrasound images to identify and segment the placenta. The model's performance was compared to annotations made by 25 clinicians (experts, trainees, midwives). The overall image classification accuracy was 81%. The average intersection over union score (IoU) reached 0.78. The model's accuracy was lower than experts' and trainees', but it outperformed all clinicians at delineating the placenta, IoU = 0.75 vs 0.69, 0.66, 0.59. The model was cross validated on 100 2nd trimester images from Barcelona, yielding an accuracy of 76%, IoU 0.68. In conclusion, we developed a model for automatic classification and segmentation of the placenta with consistent performance across different patient populations. It may be used for automated detection of placenta previa and enable future deep learning research in placental dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisbeth Anita Andreasen
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES) Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Aasa Feragen
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Compute, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | | | - Morten Bo S Svendsen
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES) Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kilian Zepf
- Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Compute, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Karim Lekadir
- Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Lab (BCN-AIM), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Martin Grønnebæk Tolsgaard
- Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES) Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Fetal Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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