Reproducibility Analysis of Two Speckle Tracking Software for the Antenatal Semiautomated Assessment of the Fetal Cardiac Function.

Introduction: Speckle tracking echocardiography is a non-Doppler modality allowing the semiautomated evaluation of the fetal cardiac function by tracking the speckles of the endocardial borders. Little evidence is available on the evaluation and comparison of different software for the functional assessment of the fetal heart by means of speckle tracking echocardiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility and agreement of two different proprietary speckle tracking software for the prenatal semiautomated assessment of the fetal cardiac function.

Cord blood cardiovascular biomarkers in tetralogy of fallot and D-transposition of great arteries.

Unlabelled: Previous reports suggest that cord blood biomarkers could serve as a prognostic tool for conotruncal congenital heart defects (CHD). We aimed to describe the cord blood profile of different cardiovascular biomarkers in a prospective series of fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and D-transposition of great arteries (D-TGA) and to explore their correlation with fetal echocardiography and perinatal outcome.

Methods: A prospective cohort study (2014-2019), including fetuses with isolated ToF and D-TGA and healthy controls, was conducted at two tertiary referral centers for CHD in Barcelona.

Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes before Viability in Twin Pregnancies: What Can We Expect?

Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROMs) before viability carries significant perinatal mortality and morbidity. Clinical management and prenatal counselling are a challenge, especially in twin pregnancies, due to scarce evidence on how previable PPROM affects this population. The aim of this study was to describe pregnancy outcomes of twin pregnancies complicated with previable PPROM and evaluate potential prognostic factors that may predict perinatal mortality.

Significant Features for Human Activity Recognition Using Tri-Axial Accelerometers.

Activity recognition using wearable sensors has become essential for a variety of applications. Tri-axial accelerometers are the most widely used sensor for activity recognition. Although various features have been used to capture patterns and classify the accelerometer signals to recognise activities, there is no consensus on the best features to choose.

Impact of Preoperative Cervical Length on Pregnancy Outcome in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of preoperative cervical length on pregnancy outcome in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome that underwent laser surgery or cord occlusion.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of 330 patients stratified by preoperative cervical length (≥25 mm, 16-24 mm,≤15 mm). Maternal characteristics, operative data, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the cervical length groups as well as between the subgroups of patients with a cervical length≤15 mm according to management (expectant vs.

Designing Tangibles to Support Emotion Logging for Older Adults: Development and Usability Study.

Background: The global population is aging, leading to shifts in health care needs. In addition to developing technology to support physical health, there is an increasing recognition of the need to consider how technology can support emotional health. This raises the question of how to design devices that older adults can interact with to log their emotions.

The heart after surviving twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Background: The persistent changes in cardiac structure and function in children who survived twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome remain a matter of concern and controversy. Current fetal echocardiographic parameters and their postnatal evolution can help improve our understanding of the subject.

Objective: To describe the echocardiographic changes of monochorionic fetuses affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, the recipient and the donor, before and after laser photocoagulation and to determine their evolution in the third trimester and during their first year of life.

Feasibility of 4D-Spatio Temporal Image Correlation (STIC) in the Comprehensive Assessment of the Fetal Heart Using FetalHQ.

Fetal Heart Quantification (FetalHQ®) is a novel speckle tracking software that permits the study of global and regional ventricular shape and function from a 2D four-chamber-view loop. The 4D-Spatio Temporal Image Correlation (STIC) modality enables the offline analysis of optimized and perfectly aligned cardiac planes. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of 4D-STIC speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) using FetalHQ® and to compare it to 2D STE.

Loneliness in older people and COVID-19: Applying the social identity approach to digital intervention design.

The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening loneliness for many older people through the challenges it poses in engaging with their social worlds. Digital technology has been offered as a potential aid, however, many popular digital tools have not been designed to address the needs of older adults during times of limited contact. We propose that the Social Identity Model of Identity Change (SIMIC) could be a foundation for digital loneliness interventions.

Latency to delivery in physical examination-indicated cerclage in twins is similar to that in singleton pregnancies.

Objective: To compare latency to delivery and perinatal outcomes between twin and singleton pregnancies undergoing physical examination-indicated cerclage.

Methods: Retrospective observational study (2007-2017) of women who underwent physical examination-indicated cerclage at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. Primary outcomes were latency from cerclage to delivery and gestational age at delivery.

Perinatal outcome after selective termination in dichorionic twins discordant for congenital anomalies.

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate the perinatal outcome of selective termination of dichorionic twin pregnancies with discordant anomalies, according to gestational age at time of procedure.

Material And Methods: Retrospective review of 147 dichorionic twin pregnancies referred to our Fetal Medicine Unit between 2003 and 2018 for selective termination. Gestational age at delivery, fetal loss, and overall and 28-day post-delivery survival rates, were evaluated according to gestational age at time of procedure.

Left myocardial performance index in monochorionic diamniotic twin pairs complicated by selective fetal growth restriction with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler.

Objective: To evaluate left myocardial performance index (MPI) and its time intervals in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pairs complicated by selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) with abnormal (persistent -type II- or intermittent -type III- absent or reversed end-diastolic flow) umbilical artery Doppler.

Methods: Retrospective study including 16 MCDA twin pairs with sFGR type II, 26 MCDA twin pairs with sFGR type III and 42 gestational age-matched uncomplicated MCDA twin pairs in a single tertiary center. Left isovolumetric contraction time (ICT), ejection time (ET), and isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) were measured and MPI calculated by conventional Doppler at diagnosis of sFGR.

Analysis of maturation features in fetal brain ultrasound via artificial intelligence for the estimation of gestational age.

Background: Optimal prenatal care relies on accurate gestational age dating. After the first trimester, the accuracy of current gestational age estimation methods diminishes with increasing gestational age. Considering that, in many countries, access to first trimester crown rump length is still difficult owing to late booking, infrequent access to prenatal care, and unavailability of early ultrasound examination, the development of accurate methods for gestational age estimation in the second and third trimester of pregnancy remains an unsolved challenge in fetal medicine.

Prescriptive standards of echocardiographic morphometric and functional parameters in uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic fetuses.

Objective: To create prescriptive standards of cardiac morphometric and functional parameters in a cohort of uncomplicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins.

Method: Fetal echocardiography was performed in a cohort of uncomplicated monochorionic twin fetuses scanned longitudinally, including comprehensive morphometric and functional parameters, using 2-D imaging, M-mode and conventional Doppler. A multilevel polynomial hierarchical model adjusted by gestational age and estimated fetal weight was used to fit each cardiac parameter.

Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes after Cord Occlusion in Monochorionic Diamniotic Twins.

Introduction: Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a common complication after fetal surgeries. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for and outcomes after PPROM following cord occlusion (CO) in monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 188 consecutive MCDA pregnancies treated by bipolar or laser CO, either primarily because of discordant malformation (dMF) or severe selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR), or secondarily when complete bichorionization was not possible in case of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) or sFGR.

Corpus callosum size by neurosonography in fetuses with congenital heart defect and relationship with expected pattern of brain oxygen supply.

Objective: To evaluate corpus callosum (CC) size by neurosonography (NSG) in fetuses with an isolated major congenital heart defect (CHD) and explore the association of CC size with the expected pattern of in-utero oxygen supply to the brain.

Methods: A total of 56 fetuses with postnatally confirmed isolated major CHD and 56 gestational-age-matched controls were included. Fetuses with CHD were stratified into two categories according to the main expected pattern of cerebral arterial oxygen supply: Class A, moderately to severely reduced oxygen supply (left outflow tract obstruction and transposition of the great arteries) and Class B, near normal or mildly impaired oxygenated blood supply to the brain (other CHD).

Objectively characterizing Huntington's disease using a novel upper limb dexterity test.

Background: The Clinch Token Transfer Test (C3t) is a bi-manual coin transfer task that incorporates cognitive tasks to add complexity. This study explored the concurrent and convergent validity of the C3t as a simple, objective assessment of impairment that is reflective of disease severity in Huntington's, that is not reliant on clinical expertise for administration.

Methods: One-hundred-and-five participants presenting with pre-manifest (n = 16) or manifest (TFC-Stage-1 n = 39; TFC-Stage-2 n = 43; TFC-Stage-3 n = 7) Huntington's disease completed the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale and the C3t at baseline.

Uncomplicated Monochorionic Twins: Two Normal Hearts Sharing One Placenta.

Cardiovascular dysfunction has been reported in complicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies; however, little is known whether hemodynamic changes occur in uncomplicated MCDA twins. A prospective observational study was conducted including 100 uncomplicated MCDA twins matched by gestational age to 200 low-risk singletons. Echocardiography was performed at 26-30 weeks gestation and cord blood B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was measured at delivery.

Fetal cardiac filling and ejection time fractions by pulsed-wave Doppler: reference ranges and potential clinical application.

Objectives: Fetal cardiac function can be evaluated using a variety of parameters. Among these, cardiac cycle time-related parameters, such as filling time fraction (FTF) and ejection time fraction (ETF), are promising but rarely studied. We aimed to report the feasibility and reproducibility of fetal FTF and ETF measurements using pulsed-wave Doppler, to provide reference ranges for fetal FTF and ETF, after evaluating their relationship with heart rate (HR), gestational age (GA) and estimated fetal weight (EFW), and to evaluate their potential clinical utility in selected fetal conditions.

A Nonproprietary Movement Analysis System (MoJoXlab) Based on Wearable Inertial Measurement Units Applicable to Healthy Participants and Those With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Across a Range of Complex Tasks: Validation Study.

Background: Movement analysis in a clinical setting is frequently restricted to observational methods to inform clinical decision making, which has limited accuracy. Fixed-site, optical, expensive movement analysis laboratories provide gold standard kinematic measurements; however, they are rarely accessed for routine clinical use. Wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) have been demonstrated as comparable, inexpensive, and portable movement analysis toolkits.

Minimal Patient Clinical Variables to Accurately Predict Stress Echocardiography Outcome: Validation Study Using Machine Learning Techniques.

Background: Stress echocardiography is a well-established diagnostic tool for suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiovascular risk factors are used in the assessment of the probability of CAD. The link between the outcome of stress echocardiography and patients' variables including risk factors, current medication, and anthropometric variables has not been widely investigated.

Prediction of Perinatal Mortality in Ebstein's Anomaly Diagnosed in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy.

Objectives: Firstly, to describe the outcome of a series of fetuses with Ebstein's anomaly (EA) and, secondly, to study the utility of different second-trimester echocardiographic parameters to predict fetal and neonatal mortality.

Methods: 39 fetuses with EA diagnosed between 18 and 28 weeks of gestation were included. Fetal echocardiography included the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR); right atrial (RA) area index; displacement of the tricuspid valve (TV); tricuspid regurgitation; pulmonary artery; and ductus arteriosus flow characteristics.

Site Selectivity in Pd-Catalyzed Reactions of α-Diazo-α-(methoxycarbonyl)acetamides: Effects of Catalysts and Substrate Substitution in the Synthesis of Oxindoles and β-Lactams.

The Pd-catalyzed intramolecular carbene C-H insertion of α-diazo-α-(methoxycarbonyl)acetamides to prepare oxindoles as well as β-lactams was studied. In order to identify what factors influence the selectivity of the processes, we explored how the reactions are affected by the catalyst type, using two oxidation states of Pd and a variety of ligands. It was found that, in the synthesis of oxindoles, ((IMes)Pd(NQ)) can be used as an alternative to Pd(dba) to catalyze the carbene Csp-H insertion, although it was less versatile.