Imaging the fetal aortic arch and its branching pattern in a midtrimester screening population.

Unlabelled: Purpose Variants of the aortic arch branching have recently been found to have an impact for neonates undergoing surgical interventions of the thoracic aorta such as repair of aortic coarctation. They have been described prenatally in 6%, whereas they occur in up to 26% postnatally. To explore whether the branching variations might have been under-diagnosed in utero, we comprehensively assessed the aortic arch and its branching patterns in a low-risk population between 19 and 22 weeks of gestation.

Systematic Ultrasound Evaluation of Olfactory Sulci in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Defects: A Clue for CHARGE Syndrome Diagnosis.

Introduction: Arhinencephaly have been identified as a significant feature in CHARGE syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic role of olfactory sulci (OS) in identifying CHARGE syndrome among fetuses with major congenital heart defects (CHDs).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated OS development in fetuses diagnosed with CHDs from 2017 to 2021.

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.

Intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation is associated with fetal cardiac concentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in preterm labor and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.

Background: Preterm delivery is associated with cardiovascular remodeling and dysfunction in children and adults. However, it is unknown whether these effects are caused by the neonatal consequences of preterm birth or if these are already present in utero.

Objective: We evaluated fetal cardiac morphology and function in fetuses of mothers admitted for preterm labor or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and the association of these changes with the presence of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation.

Application of Blended Learning to Veterinary Gross Anatomy Practical Sessions: Students' Perceptions of Their Learning Experience and Academic Outcomes.

The use of blended learning strategies is increasingly common in health sciences, including veterinary medicine; however, there are very few descriptions of these methods being applied to practicals. We describe here the application of blended learning based on the implementation of flipped classrooms with collaborative learning and gamification to the 2020-2021 veterinary medicine gross anatomy practicals at CEU Cardenal Herrera University (Spain). Students prepared for the sessions by pre-viewing videos and taking a quiz before the start.

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.

Anxiety, emotions, and thoughts of veterinary medicine students during their first visit to the dissection room.

The use of cadavers is essential for veterinary anatomy learning. However, facing an animal corpse can be stressful for veterinary students because of their empathy toward animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate veterinary medicine students' emotions, feelings, and anxiety levels related to practicals with dog cadavers.

Cord Blood Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Left-Sided Congenital Heart Disease.

Fetal echocardiography has limited prognostic ability in the evaluation of left-sided congenital heart defects (left heart defects). Cord blood cardiovascular biomarkers could improve the prognostic evaluation of left heart defects. A multicenter prospective cohort (2013−2019) including fetuses with left heart defects (aortic coarctation, aortic stenosis, hypoplastic left heart, and multilevel obstruction (complex left heart defects) subdivided according to their outcome (favorable vs.

Learning veterinary anatomy playing cards.

Gamification is a dynamic tool for educational transformation useful to encourage student interest and enhance learning. Here we present a study conducted to investigate the effectiveness of an educational card game developed by us in veterinary anatomy practicals to reinforce knowledge acquisition in veterinary students. A total of four sets of cards were designed, each one with different anatomical topics (structure identification, articulation and positioning, clinical anatomy, and comparative anatomy); students were arranged in small groups (7-10 students per group) and played the game at the end of each anatomy practical session, discussing the corresponding questions, randomly chosen, as a team.

Pulmonary hypertension in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Antenatal prediction and impact on neonatal mortality.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PAH) in left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH); how we could predict it; and how PAH contributed to the model for mortality prediction.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis in three European centers. The primary outcome was the presence of PAH on postnatal day (d) 1, 7, and at discharge.

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.

Brain Oxygen Perfusion and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Fetuses with Congenital Heart Disease-A Retrospective, Case-Control Pilot Study.

Fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) have circulatory changes that may lead to predictable blood flow disturbances that may affect normal brain development. Hypoxemia and hypoperfusion may alter the redox balance leading to oxidative stress (OS), that can be assessed measuring stable end-products. OS biomarkers (OSB) were measured in amniotic fluid in fetuses with ( = 41) and without CHD ( = 44) and analyzed according to aortic flow, expected cyanosis after birth, and a CHD classification derived from this.

S100B Maternal Blood Levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Are Birthweight, Gender and Delivery Mode Dependent.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the main causes of perinatal mortality/morbidity. Today, a parameter offering useful information on fetal central nervous system (CNS) development/damage is eagerly awaited. We investigated the role of brain-protein S100B in the maternal blood of GDM pregnancies by means of a prospective case-control study in 646 pregnancies (GDM: = 106; controls: = 530).

Autophagy and Glycative Stress: A Bittersweet Relationship in Neurodegeneration.

Autophagy is a fine-tuned proteolytic pathway that moves dysfunctional/aged cellular components into the lysosomal compartment for degradation. Over the last 3 decades, global research has provided evidence for the protective role of autophagy in different brain cell components. Autophagic capacities decline with age, which contributes to the accumulation of obsolete/damaged organelles and proteins and, ultimately, leads to cellular aging in brain tissues.

A UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of oxidative stress biomarkers in amniotic fluid.

Oxidative stress in the fetal period is associated with preterm birth as well as short and long-term adverse clinical outcomes. Here, an Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of biomarkers of oxidative stress-derived damage to proteins and DNA in amniotic fluid (AF) samples is presented. Appropriate accuracy and precision levels, as well as sensitivity with limits of detection in the low nanomolar (<2 nM) range were achieved.

Next-Generation Sequencing Gene Panels and "Solo" Clinical Exome Sequencing Applied in Structurally Abnormal Fetuses.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic yield of 2 different next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches: gene panel and "solo" clinical exome sequencing (solo-CES), in fetuses with structural anomalies and normal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), in the absence of a known familial mutation.

Methodology: Gene panels encompassing from 2 to 140 genes, were applied mainly in persistent nuchal fold/fetal hydrops and in large hyperechogenic kidneys. Solo-CES, which entails sequencing the fetus alone and only interpreting the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man genes, was performed in multisystem or recurrent structural anomalies.

Psychological distress, dyadic adjustment and family dynamics after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease.

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most frequent congenital diseases. When expectant fathers and mothers are informed of a CHD during pregnancy, they have to confront a series of individual and interpersonal psychological changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychological impact of a prenatal diagnosis of CHD on expectant parents.

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.

[Psychological distress, dyadic adjustment and family dynamics after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease].

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most frequent congenital diseases. When expectant fathers and mothers are informed of a CHD during pregnancy, they have to confront a series of individual and interpersonal psychological changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the psychological impact of a prenatal diagnosis of CHD on expectant parents.

Perinatal post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system (CNS): a pictorial review.

Central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities cause approximately 32-37.7% of terminations of pregnancy (TOP). Autopsy is currently the gold standard for assessing dead foetuses and stillborn.

Prenatal cerebellar growth is altered in congenital diaphragmatic hernia on ultrasound.

Objective: Children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) are at risk for neurodevelopmental delay. Herein we report on prenatal changes in biometry and brain perfusion in fetuses with isolated CDH.

Study Design: This retrospective study evaluated fetuses with isolated, left-sided CDH in three European referral centers.

Personalized Genetic Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Defects in Newborns.

Congenital heart disease is a group of pathologies characterized by structural malformations of the heart or great vessels. These alterations occur during the embryonic period and are the most frequently observed severe congenital malformations, the main cause of neonatal mortality due to malformation, and the second most frequent congenital malformations overall after malformations of the central nervous system. The severity of different types of congenital heart disease varies depending on the combination of associated anatomical defects.