The role of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 in modulating immune detection of choriocarcinoma.

Gestational choriocarcinomas are derived from placental trophoblast cells, with HLA-C being the only class I polymorphic molecule expressed. However, choriocarcinomas have not been profiled for endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 (ERAP2) expression. ERAP2 trims peptides presented by human leukocyte antigens (HLA) that have shown to modulate immune response.

Ethical Considerations Concerning Amnioinfusions for Treating Fetal Bilateral Renal Agenesis.

Congenital bilateral renal agenesis has been considered a uniformly fatal condition. However, the report of using serial amnioinfusions followed by the live birth in 2012 and ongoing survival of a child with bilateral renal agenesis has generated hope, but also considerable controversy over an array of complex clinical and ethical concerns. To assess the ethical concerns associated with using serial amnioinfusions for bilateral renal agenesis, we assembled a multidisciplinary group to map the ethical issues relevant to this novel intervention.

Fetal membrane imaging and the prediction of preterm birth: a systematic review, current issues, and future directions.

Background: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is the largest identifiable cause of preterm birth. There is currently no good screening test for PPROM in low-risk asymptomatic patients. Our goal was to identify how imaging methods can be utilized for examining the risks for PPROM in asymptomatic patients.

Middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity in monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) values in monochorionic (MC) and dichorionic (DC) twin pregnancies.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which MCA Doppler evaluation was performed in unselected twin pregnancies at time of routine sonography between 28 and 32 weeks. Pregnancies with known fetal anomalies, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and red cell alloimmunization or other conditions associated with anemia were excluded.

Alpha-fetoprotein detection of neural tube defects and the impact of standard ultrasound.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate neural tube defect (NTD) detection according to whether serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening or standard ultrasound are performed.

Study Design: Prenatal and neonatal datasets were reviewed to identify pregnancies with NTDs from 1 institution between January 2000 and December 2003. AFP screening was offered < 21 weeks and considered elevated if > or = 2.

Fetal MRI of urine and meconium by gestational age for the diagnosis of genitourinary and gastrointestinal abnormalities.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to assess the appearance of the colon and genitourinary tract in fetuses with respect to gestational age with T1- and T2-weighted MRI acquisitions and their applications to abnormalities in these systems.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of the fetal MRI database was performed to select studies in which both T1- and T2-weighted acquisitions were obtained. The signal characteristics of fluid in the fetal colon and urine in the fetal bladder were evaluated, and gestational age and fetal MRI diagnosis were recorded.

MRI of fetal genitourinary anomalies.

Objective: The objective of our study was to show examples of fetal MRI evaluations of congenital genitourinary anomalies and to review the embryology in relation to the MRI findings.

Conclusion: MRI was performed on 35 pregnant women with sonographic findings that suggested that their fetuses had genitourinary anomalies. Oligohydramnios or anhydramnios was identified in 22 of 35 women and did not hinder visualization of anomalies.

Fetal central nervous system biometry on MR imaging.

Objective: We sought to compare the biometry of the fetal head on MR imaging with sonographic measurements in fetuses with and without suspected central nervous system abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: Blinded retrospective measurements of biparietal diameter, head circumference, and cerebellar width obtained on MR imaging were assigned a gestational age on the basis of median sonographic measurements and compared with sonographic and clinical assignment of gestational age in fetuses with no central nervous system abnormalities. In fetuses with central nervous system abnormalities, the same MR measurements were compared with sonographic measurements obtained within 1 week.

Second-opinion magnetic resonance imaging for suspected fetal central nervous system abnormalities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of magnetic resonance imaging and gestational age in the setting of fetuses with suspected abnormalities of the central nervous system that were detected by ultrasound scanning.

Study Design: Multiplanar magnetic resonance studies were performed in fetuses with suspected central nervous system abnormalities on ultrasound scanning. Magnetic resonance imaging was evaluated for its ability to provide additional information, change the diagnosis, or impact obstetric treatment.

Fetal central nervous system ventricle and cisterna magna measurements by magnetic resonance imaging.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the ventricular atria and cisterna magna in fetuses with and without suspected central nervous system (CNS) anomalies by magnetic resonance (MR).

Study Design: Measurements of the right and left ventricular atria and cisterna magna were obtained by MR in two groups: those with and without CNS anomalies. Published mean ultrasound measurements of the far field atrium were compared with MR.

Hydramnios: anomaly prevalence and sonographic detection.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and ultrasound detection of fetal anomalies in pregnancies with hydramnios, and to estimate anomaly and aneuploidy risks when no sonographic abnormality is noted.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies with hydramnios. Hydramnios was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on greatest amniotic fluid index of 25.

Persistence of placenta previa according to gestational age at ultrasound detection.

Objective: To evaluate gestational age at ultrasound detection of placenta previa as a predictor of previa persistence until delivery, and to estimate the effects of previa type, parity, and prior cesarean delivery on previa persistence.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnancies with placenta previa detected during transabdominal or endovaginal ultrasound examination. Previa was categorized as complete if the placenta completely covered the internal cervical os or incomplete if the inferior placental edge partially covered or reached the margin of the os.