Nomogram for fetal limb bones in Chinese ethnicity.

Objective: To construct fetal limb bone nomograms in the Chinese ethnic population.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study on singleton pregnancies between 12 and 37 weeks of gestation. Femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, ulna, radius, and foot length were measured in a standardized manner by one of the three sonographers.

Survival after thermal ablation versus wedge resection for stage I non-small cell lung cancer < 1 cm and 1 to 2 cm: evidence from the US SEER database.

Background: This study compared the survival outcomes after thermal ablation versus wedge resection in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ≤ 2 cm.

Methods: Data from the United States (US) National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with stage I NSCLC and lesions ≤ 2 cm who received thermal ablation or wedge resection were included.

2024 multidisciplinary consensus on image-guided lung tumor ablation from the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation.

In this article, the multidisciplinary team of the Taiwan Academy of Tumor Ablation, who have expertise in treating lung cancer, present their perspectives on percutaneous image-guided thermal ablation (IGTA) of lung tumors. The modified Delphi technique was applied to reach a consensus on clinical practice guidelines concerning ablation procedures, including a comprehensive literature review, selection of panelists, creation of a rating form and survey, and arrangement of an in-person meeting where panelists agreed or disagreed on various points. The conclusion was a final rating and written summary of the agreement.

Evaluation of pre-test counselling offered for non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) as a primary screening tool.

The increasing popularity and expansion of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to screen for rare conditions beyond common trisomies prompts evaluation of pre-test counselling currently offered. We conducted a prospective survey to assess women's knowledge of NIPT in those who had undergone NIPT (study group) and those who were planning to have NIPT (control group). Out of the 189 questionnaires analysed, the study group did not show a higher knowledge score compared to the control group (P = 0.

Neonatal outcome and mode of delivery in the presence of nuchal cord loops: implications on patient counselling and the mode of delivery.

Purpose: To review and compare the foetal outcomes and mode of delivery in patients with nuchal cord for single loop, double loops, and multiple loops.

Methods: A retrospective study of 4,404 singleton term pregnancies which underwent spontaneous labour was conducted. The patients were classified into five groups: without nuchal cord, nuchal cord of any turns, nuchal cord for 1 turn, nuchal cord for 2 turns and nuchal cord for 3 turns or above.

Secondary findings from non-invasive prenatal testing for common fetal aneuploidies by whole genome sequencing as a clinical service.

Objective: To report secondary or additional findings arising from introduction of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy by whole genome sequencing as a clinical service.

Methods: Five cases with secondary findings were reviewed.

Results: In Case 1, NIPT revealed a large duplication in chromosome 18p, which was supported by arrayCGH of amniocyte DNA, with final karyotype showing mosaic tetrasomy 18p.

Scan the fetal heart by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography with live xPlane imaging.

Objective: To describe the methodology of live xPlane imaging in the visualization of the fetal heart in detail.

Methods: Fifty-one consecutive pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were imaged to display four screening sections of the fetal heart, the four-chamber view, the left outflow tract view (LVOT), the right outflow tract view (RVOT), and the three-vessel and trachea view (3VT), using live xPlane imaging. The methodology of how to visualize the screening planes was described in detail.

Serum placental growth factor and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 during first trimester in Chinese women with pre-eclampsia--a case-control study.

Objective: To investigate the association between first trimester maternal placental growth factor (PlGF) and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) levels with subsequent development of pre-eclampsia (PE).

Methods: This is a matched case-control study using stored serum samples collected from non-smoking Chinese women with singleton pregnancies who underwent first trimester screening for aneuploidy. Each case that developed PE was matched with a control whose maternal age, weight, gestational age and date of blood collection were within ± 2 years, ± 5 kg, ± 1 day, and ± 2 weeks of the index case, respectively.

Placental site in the second trimester of pregnancy and its association with subsequent obstetric outcome.

Objective: To determine if placental location in the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study on 16 236 patients having ultrasound examination at 14 to 23 weeks of gestation between 2000 and 2007. The placental location was classified into one of four groups: 'central', 'fundal', 'lateral' and 'covering Os'.

Assessment of sonographer nuchal translucency measurement performance--central tendency and dispersion.

Objective: To assess center and sonographer nuchal translucency (NT) measurements that were performed as part of routine prenatal screening for Down syndrome.

Methods: Sonographers were assessed for measures of central tendency and dispersion by comparing them with expected population median and dispersion parameters. NT measurements were converted to multiples of the expected NT values according to CRL (NTMoM) and transformed to their log(10) equivalent (log(10) NTMoM).

The use of three-dimensional ultrasound does not improve training in fetal biometric measurements.

Objective: To investigate whether three-dimensional (3D) technology offers any advantage over two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound in fetal biometric measurement training.

Methods: Ten midwives with no hands-on experience in ultrasound were randomized to receive training on 2D or 3D ultrasound fetal biometry assessment. Midwives were taught how to obtain fetal biometric measurements (biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL)) by a trainer.

Nausea and vomiting in health-related quality of life among Chinese pregnant women.

Background: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is the most common pregnancy complication affecting women during the first trimester of pregnancy. The cause of NVP remains unknown and factors associated with the occurrence of NVP are contradictory. There is currently little information on its effects of NVP in general and specifically in the Chinese population.

Massive subchorionic thrombohematoma: a series of 10 cases.

A retrospective audit identified 10 cases of massive idiopathic subchorionic thrombohematoma. The incidence was 1:3,133. Only six of these pregnancies resulted in a livebirth and only two reached term.

Effect of long-term storage on placental growth factor and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 measurements in samples from pregnant women.

Objective: To assess the effect of storage time on the stability of placental growth factor (PlGF) and fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) levels in frozen serum samples from pregnant women.

Methods: This is a matched case-control study using fresh and stored serum samples collected at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months prior to the collection of the fresh samples and frozen at -80°C. Forty-eight samples from each of the seven time-groups were matched for non-smoking Chinese, maternal weight, singleton-term pregnancy without major obstetric complications and extracted for PlGF and sFlt-1 assays.

Outcome of induction of labour using maternal characteristics, ultrasound assessment and biochemical state of the cervix.

Objective: To assess pre-induction sonographic, digital examination and biochemical changes in the cervix to predict induction outcome.

Methods: Transvaginal and abdominal scans were performed in 460 women at 37-41 weeks of gestation to determine cervical length (CL), posterior cervical angle (PCA) and foetal occipital position. The Bishop Score (BS) and the absence/presence of phosphorylated form of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (phIGFBP-1) in cervical secretions were assessed.

Prenatal findings and delineation of de novo concurrent partial trisomy 7q(7q31.2 --> qter) and partial monosomy 6q(6q26 --> qter) by high-resolution array CGH.

Objective: We investigated the application of microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) on a fetus showing hemivertebrae and intra-abdominal mass at 15 weeks.

Methods: Conventional karyotyping and high-resolution array CGH techniques using 244K CGH microarray were performed to investigate the possibility of genomic imbalance on the opted chorionic villus sample.

Results: G-banded fetal chromosome analysis showed 46,XY,der(6)t(6;7)(q26;q31.

Study on the applicability of frontomaxillary facial angle in the first-trimester trisomy 21 fetuses in Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate the measurement of frontomaxillary facial (FMF) angle at 11 weeks to 13 weeks, 6 days in a Chinese population and its applicability in the screening for fetal trisomy 21.

Method: In a retrospective study, the stored images for the measurement of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) thickness in a Chinese population from August 2003 to March 2007 were reviewed for the comparison of the FMF angle between 22 trisomy 21 fetuses (study group) with 220 randomly selected normal fetuses with satisfactory images (control group).

Results: No association between FMF angle and NT, nasal bone length, or fetal heart rate was shown (P > 0.

Gastroschisis associated with an intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix: a report of 2 cases.

We describe 2 cases of gastroschisis which were found to be associated with an intra-abdominal umbilical vein varix.

First trimester measurements of nasal bone length using three-dimensional ultrasound.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of measurements of nasal bone length using a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound in the first trimester.

Methods: In a prospective study, 118 consecutive pregnant women attending for Down syndrome screening at 11-13 + 6 weeks were recruited. They had successful fetal nasal bone measurement by two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound by four operators.

Ultrasound screening for fetal structural abnormalities performed by trained midwives in the second trimester in a low-risk population--an appraisal.

Objective: To determine the performance of trained midwives in second trimester ultrasound screening for fetal structural abnormalities in a low-risk population.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

First trimester combined screening for Trisomy 21 in Hong Kong: outcome of the first 10,000 cases.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of first trimester fetal Trisomy 21 (T21) screening using a combination of maternal age, nuchal translucency, maternal serum levels of free beta-hCG and PAPP-A in a predominantly Chinese population in Hong Kong.

Methods: Consecutive women who underwent the combined screening for T21 between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation between 2003 and 2007 were recruited. Risk of T21 was calculated using Fetal Medicine Foundation algorithm and karyotyping was advised when the risk was 1:300 or above.

Fetal nasal bone status in Chinese women undergoing first-trimester screening for trisomy 21.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the likelihood ratio for trisomy 21 in Chinese fetuses with absent nasal bone (NB) at 11-14 weeks of gestation.

Study Design: The NB was classified as present or absent in 8101 chromosomally/phenotypically normal or trisomy 21 pregnancies. The effect of crown rump length (CRL), nuchal translucency (NT), maternal age, and fetal karyotype on the incidence of absent NB was examined using logistic regression.

Expectation and knowledge of pregnant women undergoing first and second trimester ultrasound examination in a Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate expectation and knowledge on obstetric ultrasound examination in the first and second trimester in a Chinese population.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a university obstetric clinic in Hong Kong. Chinese pregnant women who underwent the first trimester early scan sessions, or the second trimester anomaly scan sessions were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire, which contained items on their knowledge, expectation, and sociodemographic characteristics.