Angiogenic factors versus fetomaternal Doppler for fetal growth restriction at term: an open-label, randomized controlled trial.

Small fetuses, with estimated fetal weight (EFW) below the tenth percentile, are classified as fetal growth restriction (FGR) or small for gestational age (SGA) based on prenatal ultrasound. FGR fetuses have a greater risk of stillbirth and perinatal complications and may benefit from serial ultrasound scans to guide early delivery. Abnormal serum angiogenic factors, such as the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1):placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio, have shown potential to more accurately distinguish FGR from SGA, with fewer false positives.

Enhanced Photoluminescence of Europium-Doped TiO Nanoparticles Using a Single-Source Precursor Strategy.

TiO:Eu nanoparticles with varying europium concentrations were successfully synthesized via a one-pot sol-gel approach using a molecular heterometallic single-source precursor (SSP) Eu-Ti. For comparison, nanomaterials with similar europium levels were also produced by impregnating europium salts onto the same TiO substrate. All the nanomaterials were thoroughly characterized using Eu elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning (SEM), transmission (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL).

A single exposure to prolonged flexor carpi radialis muscle vibration increases sensorimotor cortical areas activity.

Prolonged local vibration (LV) is thought to promote brain plasticity through repeated Ia afferents discharge. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study therefore aimed at determining the acute after-effects of 30-min LV of the flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR) on sensorimotor (S1, M1) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) areas activity.

Impact of suspected preterm labour in foetal cardiovascular and metabolic programming: a prospective cohort study protocol.

Introduction: Suspected preterm labour (SPL) is an obstetric complication that occurs in 9% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of antenatal hospital admissions. More than half of women with SPL deliver a premature baby which is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in childhood and later in adult life. On the other hand, the other half of these women will deliver at term, labelled as 'false preterm labour'.