Diagnosis of fetal cortical abnormalities by new reference charts for assessment of sylvian fissure biometry.

Objective: To develop novel fetal reference ranges for the characterization of the normal appearance of the Sylvian fissures (SF) along gestation and to apply them to fetuses with cortical abnormalities affecting the SF.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used three-dimensional sonographic multiplanar reformatting (3D-MPR) to examine the fetal SF. Normal development was assessed in the second and third trimesters.

A New Insight on Exophytic Serous Borderline Adnexal Tumors: Specific Sonographic Features.

Objectives: To characterize and compare the sonographic features of exophytic serous borderline ovarian tumors (ESBOT) with those of high-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary (HGSC).

Methods: Seven patients with histological diagnosis of ESBOT diagnosed between 2011 and 2019 and 10 consecutive cases of HGSC detected during 2019, both depicting an exophytic growth pattern, were identified retrospectively. The sonographic imaging of the masses was reassessed and characterized according to the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis terms.

Prenatal sonographic features of triploidy at 12-16 weeks.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to describe the sonographic appearance of triploidy in early pregnancy.

Methods: We report the sonographic characteristics of a cohort of fetal triploid cases detected at targeted ultrasonographic vaginal examinations between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation from 2008 to 2014. Indications for fetal karyotype following ultrasound were maternal request, advanced maternal age, increased nuchal translucency, and/or fetal abnormalities.

Effect of B-mode optimization techniques on fetal bowel echogenicity using computerized image analysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to provide and compare measurable parameters for normal fetal bowel echogenicity under predefined B-mode scanning presets.

Methods: Forty healthy fetuses underwent 14- to 17-week ultrasound scans, and 40 underwent 21- to 25-week scans. Sagittal, coronal, and axial fetal abdominal images were tested using predefined B-mode presets.

Sonography of the fetal cochlea in the early second trimester of pregnancy.

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of imaging the fetal cochlea in the early second trimester.

Methods: This study included 42 healthy fetuses of low-risk pregnancies between 14 and 16 weeks. The coronal head sections via sagittal and lateral acoustic windows were used for cochlear visualization.

Variations of the origin of renal arteries in the fetus identified on power Doppler and 3D sonography.

Purpose: To investigate anatomic variations of renal arteries (RAs) using 2-dimensional (2D)/3D power Doppler sonography (PDUS) in normal fetuses and in fetuses with renal anomalies.

Methods: The origin, direction, and distribution of RAs were studied in 120 fetuses without renal malformations using 2D/3D PDUS. Studies were performed between 14 and 17 weeks of gestation age on 64 male and 56 female fetuses.

Expectant management of pregnancy-related high-velocity uterine arteriovenous shunt diagnosed after abortion.

Objective: To assess sonographic and clinical outcome in women with pregnancy-related uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) diagnosed after abortion.

Method: Twelve patients diagnosed as having AVMs after abortion were followed-up until resolution of the lesions.

Results: The 9 asymptomatic patients were managed expectantly for 4 to 10 weeks without further complications.

Fetal weight estimation for prediction of fetal macrosomia: does additional clinical and demographic data using pattern recognition algorithm improve detection?

Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether pattern recognition classifiers with multiple clinical and sonographic variables could improve ultrasound prediction of fetal macrosomia over prediction which relies on the commonly used formulas for the sonographic estimation of fetal weight.

Methods: THE SVM ALGORITHM WAS USED FOR BINARY CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN TWO CATEGORIES OF WEIGHT ESTIMATION: >4000gr and <4000gr. Clinical and sononographic input variables of 100 pregnancies suspected of having LGA fetuses were tested.

The oral absorption of phospholipid prodrugs: in vivo and in vitro mechanistic investigation of trafficking of a lecithin-valproic acid conjugate following oral administration.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oral absorption characteristics of a phospholipid-drug conjugate, comprising direct conjugation between the lecithin and the drug moiety through the sn-2 position. We investigated the mechanisms involved with the trafficking of this conjugate following oral administration in the gastrointestinal (GI) lumen, within the enterocyte and further. A phospholipid-valproic acid conjugate (DP-VPA) was utilized as a model molecule.

DP-155, a lecithin derivative of indomethacin, is a novel nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug for analgesia and Alzheimer's disease therapy.

DP-155 is a lipid prodrug of indomethacin that comprises the latter conjugated to lecithin at position sn-2 via a 5-carbon length linker. It is cleaved by phospholipase A2 (PLA)(2) to a greater extent than similar compounds with linkers of 2, 3, and 4 carbons. Indomethacin is the principal metabolite of DP-155 in rat serum and, after DP-155 oral administration, the half-life of the metabolite was 22 and 93 h in serum and brain, respectively, compared to 10 and 24 h following indomethacin administration.

Instability of Doppler cerebral blood flow in monochorionic twins.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Doppler flow velocity changes in cerebral vessels of monochorionic twins with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Methods: Repeated Doppler umbilical and cerebral blood flow studies were performed in 7 twin pairs with TTTS. Eight monochorionic twin pairs and 11 dichorionic twin pairs served as control groups.

Subendometrial arterial spectral doppler assessment during IVF cycles and its correlation with treatment outcome.

The influence of blood flow impedance in subendometrial arteries on embryo implantation rate was investigated by transvaginal sonographic examination in in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. A total of 39 women undergoing IVF treatment were evaluated along the treatment cycle. Power and spectral Doppler studies of subendometrial arteries were performed to calculate the pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic:diastolic ratio (S:D).

Decidualization of ovarian endometriosis during pregnancy mimicking malignancy.

Objective: The purpose of this series is to present deciduosis (the formation of extrauterine decidua) as one of the differential diagnoses of a malignant tumor during pregnancy.

Methods: Two cases are described in which pregnant patients had a pelvic tumor. The lesions, which were diagnosed in the early second trimester, consisted of complex masses with an extensive blood supply and had a sonographic appearance of a malignant tumor.

Diagnosis of pregnancy-associated uterine venous plexus thrombosis on the basis of transvaginal sonography.

Objective: To describe the sonographic signs of uterine venous plexus thrombosis.

Methods: Four pregnant patients had a diagnosis of uterine venous plexus thrombosis in the first half of gestation. The diagnosis was based on transvaginal sonography only in 3 cases, and the fourth had magnetic resonance imaging corroboration.