Late-gestation maternal undernutrition induces circulatory redistribution while preserving uteroplacental function independent of fetal glycaemic state.

Programming effects of maternal undernutrition on fetal metabolic and cardiovascular systems are well elucidated, yet a detailed characterization of maternal haemodynamics is not available. This study used comprehensive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to quantify maternal haemodynamics after 29 days (111-140 days) of late-gestation undernutrition (LGUN) in pregnant sheep. Control ewes received 100% of metabolizable energy requirements (MERs, n = 15), whereas LGUN ewes were globally nutrient restricted to 50% MER (n = 18), with a subset of fetuses undergoing continuous glucose infusion (LGUN + G, n = 6/18).

Electric potential energy optimized 3D radial sampling trajectories for MRI.

A novel method for creating "golden" 3D center-out radial MRI sampling trajectories was developed and analyzed. This method, called ELECTRO (ELECTRic potential energy Optimized), uses repulsive forces to minimize electric potential energy. An objective function [Formula: see text], the electric potential energies of all subsets of consecutive readouts in a 3D radial trajectory, and its reduced form were minimized using a multi-stage optimization strategy.

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging in human placenta: insights into fetal growth restriction and congenital heart disease.

Placental function plays a crucial role in fetal development, as it serves as the primary interface for delivery of nutrients and oxygen from the mother to fetus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly improved our ability to visualize and understand the placenta's complex structure and function. This review provides an up-to-date examination of the most common and novel placental MRI techniques.

Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling and Hyperkinetic Remote Myocardium in Sheep Measured by Cardiac MRI Feature Tracking.

Background: Cardiac MRI feature tracking (FT) allows objective assessment of segmental left ventricular (LV) function following a myocardial infarction (MI), but its utilization in sheep, where interventions can be tested, is lacking.

Purpose: To apply and validate FT in a sheep model of MI and describe post-MI LV remodeling.

Study Type: Animal model, longitudinal.

Acute-on-chronic: using magnetic resonance imaging to disentangle the haemodynamic responses to acute and chronic fetal hypoxaemia.

Introduction: The fetal haemodynamic response to acute episodes of hypoxaemia are well characterised. However, how these responses change when the hypoxaemia becomes more chronic in nature such as that associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR), is less well understood. Herein, we utilised a combination of clinically relevant MRI techniques to comprehensively characterize and differentiate the haemodynamic responses occurring during acute and chronic periods of fetal hypoxaemia.

Safety and feasibility pilot study of continuous low-dose maternal supplemental oxygen in fetal single ventricle heart disease.

Objective: Fetuses with single ventricle physiology (SVP) exhibit reductions in fetal cerebral oxygenation, with associated delays in fetal brain growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Maternal supplemental oxygen (MSO) has been proposed to improve fetal brain growth, but current evidence on dosing, candidacy and outcomes is limited. In this pilot study, we evaluated the safety and feasibility of continuous low-dose MSO in the setting of SVP.

Maternal tadalafil treatment does not increase uterine artery blood flow or oxygen delivery in the pregnant ewe.

Increasing placental perfusion (PP) could improve outcomes of growth-restricted fetuses. One way of increasing PP may be by using phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors, which induce vasodilatation of vascular beds. We used a combination of clinically relevant magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to characterize the impact that tadalafil infusion has on maternal, placental and fetal circulations.

Fetal Hemodynamics, Early Survival, and Neurodevelopment in Patients With Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Fetuses with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) exhibit profound fetal circulatory disturbances that may affect early outcomes.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the relationship between fetal hemodynamics and early survival and neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes in patients with cyanotic CHD.

Methods: In this longitudinal observational study, fetuses with cyanotic CHD underwent late gestational fetal cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) to measure vessel blood flow and oxygen content.

Shiga Toxin-Producing Testing in New York 2011-2022 Reveals Increase in Non-O157 Identifications.

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) are an important cause of bacterial enteric infection. STEC strains cause serious human gastrointestinal disease, which may result in life-threatening complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. They have the potential to impact public health due to diagnostic challenges of identifying non-O157 strains in the clinical laboratory.

Feasibility of MRI assessment of maternal-fetal oxygen transport and consumption relative to maternal position in healthy late gestational pregnancies.

Late gestational supine positioning reduces maternal cardiac output due to inferior vena caval (IVC) compression, despite increased collateral venous return. However, little is known about the impact of maternal position on oxygen (O ) delivery and consumption of the gravid uterus, fetus, placenta and lower limbs. We studied the effects of maternal positioning on these parameters in 20 healthy pregnant subjects at 36 ± 2 weeks using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); a follow-up MRI was performed 6-months postpartum (n = 16/20).

Impaired coronary microvascular reactivity in youth with bipolar disorder.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is excessively prevalent and premature in bipolar disorder (BD), even after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The increased risk of CVD in BD may be subserved by microvascular dysfunction. We examined coronary microvascular function in relation to youth BD.

Design and Harmonization Approach for the Multi-Institutional Neurocognitive Discovery Study (MINDS) of Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Neuroimaging Ancillary Study: A Technical Note.

Dramatic advances in the management of congenital heart disease (CHD) have improved survival to adulthood from less than 10% in the 1960s to over 90% in the current era, such that adult CHD (ACHD) patients now outnumber their pediatric counterparts. ACHD patients demonstrate domain-specific neurocognitive deficits associated with reduced quality of life that include deficits in educational attainment and social interaction. Our hypothesis is that ACHD patients exhibit vascular brain injury and structural/physiological brain alterations that are predictive of specific neurocognitive deficits modified by behavioral and environmental enrichment proxies of cognitive reserve (e.

Polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics cause placental dysfunction in mice†.

Maternal exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics has been shown to result in fetal growth restriction in mice. In this study, we investigated the placental and fetal hemodynamic responses to plastics exposure in mice using high-frequency ultrasound. Healthy, pregnant CD-1 dams were given either 106 ng/L of 5 μm polystyrene microplastics or 106 ng/L of 50 nm polystyrene nanoplastics in drinking water throughout gestation and were compared with controls.

Changes in Policy Supports for Healthy Food Retailers, Farmers Markets, and Breastfeeding Among US Municipalities, 2014-2021: National Survey of Community-Based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living (CBS-HEAL).

Introduction: Policies and practices at the local level can help reduce chronic disease risk by providing environments that facilitate healthy decision-making about diet.

Methods: We used data from the 2014 and 2021 National Survey of Community-Based Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating and Active Living to examine prevalence among US municipalities of policies to support access to healthier food in supermarkets, convenience stores, and farmers markets, as well as policies to support breastfeeding among government employees. Chi-square tests were conducted to compare prevalence estimates from 2021 to 2014 overall and according to municipal characteristics.

Peripheral cord insertion is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome only when accompanied by clinically significant placental pathology.

Objective: To examine the relationship between umbilical cord insertion site, placental pathology and adverse pregnancy outcome in a cohort of normal and complicated pregnancies.

Methods: Sonographic measurement of the cord insertion and detailed placental pathology were performed in 309 participants. Associations between cord insertion site, placental pathology and adverse pregnancy outcome (pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small-for-gestational age) were examined.

Placental MRI Predicts Fetal Oxygenation and Growth Rates in Sheep and Human Pregnancy.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of fetal blood oxygen saturation (SO ) can transform the clinical management of high-risk pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction (FGR). Here, a novel MRI method assesses the feasibility of identifying normally grown and FGR fetuses in sheep and is then applied to humans. MRI scans are performed in pregnant ewes at 110 and 140 days (term = 150d) gestation and in pregnant women at 28  ± 2 weeks to measure feto-placental SO .

Fetal cardiovascular blood flow MRI: techniques and applications.

Fetal cardiac MRI is challenging due to fetal and maternal movements as well as the need for a reliable cardiac gating signal and high spatiotemporal resolution. Ongoing research and recent technical developments to address these challenges show the potential of MRI as an adjunct to ultrasound for the assessment of the fetal heart and great vessels. MRI measurements of blood flow have enabled the assessment of normal fetal circulation as well as conditions with disrupted circulations, such as congenital heart disease, along with associated organ underdevelopment and hemodynamic instability.

Volumetric Fetal Flow Imaging With Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Fetal development relies on a complex circulatory network. Accurate assessment of flow distribution is important for understanding pathologies and potential therapies. In this paper, we demonstrate a method for volumetric imaging of fetal flow with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).