First postnatal lactate blood levels on day 1 and outcome of preterm infants with gestational age <29 weeks.

Background: Serum lactate levels are used as biomarkers for perinatal asphyxia, while their value for outcome prediction in preterm infants is uncertain. It was the aim of this observational study to determine the association of the first postnatal serum-lactate levels on day 1 of life and short-term outcome in preterm infants less than 29 gestational weeks.

Methods: We analysed data in a population-based cohort of German Neonatal Network (GNN) preterm infants with available first postnatal lactate levels enrolled at 22-28 weeks of gestational age (GA) between 1st of April 2009 and 31st December 2020.

Effects of multistrain Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus probiotics on HMO compositions after supplementation to pregnant women at threatening preterm delivery: design of the randomized clinical PROMO trial.

Background: As an indigestible component of human breast milk, Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) play an important role as a substrate for the establishing microbiome of the newborn. They have further been shown to have beneficial effects on the immune system, lung and brain development. For preterm infants HMO composition of human breast milk may be of particular relevance since the establishment of a healthy microbiome is challenged by multiple disruptive factors associated with preterm birth, such as cesarean section, hospital environment and perinatal antibiotic exposure.

How automated techniques ease functional assessment of the fetal heart: Applicability of two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography for comprehensive analysis of global and segmental cardiac deformation using fetalHQ®.

Background: Prenatal echocardiographic assessment of fetal cardiac function has become increasingly important. Fetal two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) allows the determination of global and segmental functional cardiac parameters. Prenatal diagnostics is relying increasingly on artificial intelligence, whose algorithms transform the way clinicians use ultrasound in their daily workflow.

Large bowel recurrence of endometrial adenocarcinoma years after treatment: A single-institution case series and review of the literature.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. A majority of new cases are diagnosed as low-grade International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage I, with a recurrence risk cited as less than 9 % in the first 2-3 years post-treatment. In this case series, we present three unique cases of patients with FIGO 2009 Stage I EC who all went on to present with pelvic colonic recurrences years after their initial treatment, two of the patients outside of the 5-year standard surveillance period.

Presence of low volume metastases does not alter management in node-negative, early-stage cervical cancer patients who underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: This study sought to determine if patients with early stage cervical cancer who possessed intermediate-high risk factors (defined by Peters or Sedlis criteria) and had pathologically negative lymph nodes at the time of surgery had higher rates of low volume metastases (LVM) on retrospective ultrastaging.

Methods: This IRB-approved retrospective cohort study collected data via chart review on early stage, surgically-treated node-negative cervical cancer patients who underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy, treated at a single institution from January 2011 through June 2021. Nodal blocks were retrospectively ultrastaged per standard protocol.

A Clinical Approach to Semiautomated Three-Dimensional Fetal Brain Biometry-Comparing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Two Diagnostic Tools: 5DCNS+ and SonoCNS.

(1) Objective: We aimed to evaluate the accuracy and efficacy of AI-assisted biometric measurements of the fetal central nervous system (CNS) by comparing two semiautomatic postprocessing tools. We further aimed to discuss the additional value of semiautomatically generated sagittal and coronal planes of the CNS. (2) Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) volumes were analyzed with two semiautomatic software tools, 5DCNS+™ and SonoCNS™.

Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations: Now and for the Future.

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, with over 600,000 new cases annually and approximately 350,000 cancer-related deaths per year. The disease burden is disproportionately distributed, with cancer-related mortality ranging from 5.2 deaths per 100,000 individuals in highly-developed countries, to 12.

How Automated Techniques Ease Functional Assessment of the Fetal Heart: Applicability of MPI+™ for Direct Quantification of the Modified Myocardial Performance Index.

(1) Objectives: In utero functional cardiac assessments using echocardiography have become increasingly important. The myocardial performance index (MPI, Tei index) is currently used to evaluate fetal cardiac anatomy, hemodynamics and function. An ultrasound examination is highly examiner-dependent, and training is of enormous significance in terms of proper application and subsequent interpretation.

Application of Semiautomatic Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography (FINE) in Twin Pregnancies: Half the Work or Twice the Effort?

Objective: To assess the performance of fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE, 5D Heart™) for automated volumetric investigation of the fetal heart in twin pregnancies.

Methods: Three hundred twenty-eight twin fetuses underwent fetal echocardiography in the second and third trimesters. Spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) volumes were obtained for a volumetric investigation.

Applicability of a semiautomated volumetric approach (5D CNS+™) for detailed antenatal reconstruction of abnormal fetal CNS anatomy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of a semiautomated volumetric approach (5D CNS+™) when examining fetuses with an apparent abnormal anatomy of the central nervous system (CNS).

Methods: Stored 3D volumes extracted from a cohort of > 1.400 consecutive 2nd and 3rd trimester pregnancies (range 15-36 gestational weeks) were analyzed using the semiautomatic software tool 5D CNS+™, enabling detailed reconstruction of nine diagnostic planes of the fetal brain.

Maximal Reduction of STIC Acquisition Time for Volumetric Assessment of the Fetal Heart-Benefits and Limitations of Semiautomatic Fetal Intelligent Navigation Echocardiography (FINE) Static Mode.

(1) Objective: To scrutinize the reliability and the clinical value of routinely used fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE) static mode (5DHeartStatic™) for accelerated semiautomatic volumetric assessment of the normal fetal heart. (2) Methods: In this study, a total of 296 second and third trimester fetuses were examined by targeted ultrasound. Spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) volumes of the fetal heart were acquired for further volumetric assessment.

Lennart Nilsson (1922-2017) - Pioneer of embryo photography and his work .

'Making the invisible visible' is a requirement of a coveted prize for scientific photography - the - which is named after the pioneer of human embryo photography. There is no way of avoiding his influence if the hitherto invisible is to be made visible, the intangible almost tangible, the unimaginable made imaginable, and mysteries otherwise hidden from the human eye are to be processed in a popular-scientific way and visualized in an artistic way by means of scientific-medical imaging techniques. Whilst Lennart Nilsson used state-of-the-art imaging technology within the rapidly evolving field of endoscopy, he also created what is probably the best-selling illustrated book of all times with contributing to both the further understanding of early prenatal development, as well as achieving worldwide popularity.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Automation in the Fields of Gynaecology and Obstetrics - an Assessment of the State of Play.

The long-awaited progress in digitalisation is generating huge amounts of medical data every day, and manual analysis and targeted, patient-oriented evaluation of this data is becoming increasingly difficult or even infeasible. This state of affairs and the associated, increasingly complex requirements for individualised precision medicine underline the need for modern software solutions and algorithms across the entire healthcare system. The utilisation of state-of-the-art equipment and techniques in almost all areas of medicine over the past few years has now indeed enabled automation processes to enter - at least in part - into routine clinical practice.

Presence of Cervical Vertebral Anomalies with Concomitant Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus and Multicystic Kidney in a Female Fetus: Where VACTERL-H Meets MURCS.

Background: Congenital multisystemic lesions with co-occurrence of non-random malformations, such as VACTERL-H or MURCS association, often pose serious threads to the newborn and still constitute an antenatal diagnostic dilemma.

Case Report: A malformed fetus with VACTERL-H association at 20 gestational weeks had a skin-covered neural tube defect (NTD) of the lower cervical spine, concomitant hydrocephalus, as well as unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney and the suspicion of mullerian duct anomaly as potentially assigned to MURCS association.

Discussion/conclusion: We were able to demonstrate how well-defined, standardized volumetric reconstruction of diagnostic views displaying fetal pathology might aid early and precise diagnosis of multi-organ malformations.

Effectiveness of Communication Interventions in Obstetrics-A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Obstetric work requires good communication, which can be trained through interventions targeting healthcare providers and pregnant women/patients. This systematic review aims to aggregate the current state of research on communication interventions in obstetrics. (2) Methods: Using the PICOS scheme, we searched for studies published in peer-reviewed journals in English or German between 2000 and 2020.

Acute extraperitoneal spontaneous bladder rupture in cervical cancer patient undergoing chemoradiation: A case report and review of the literature.

The standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer is pelvic radiotherapy with sensitizing cisplatin, and intracavitary brachytherapy. This standard of care treatment paradigm has best survival outcomes, however is associated with genitourinary toxicities. Spontaneous bladder rupture (SBR) is a rare complication of chemoradiation that has only been reported in literature as an intraperitoneal rupture occurring years after the cessation of treatment.

Bacterial Community Interactions During Chronic Respiratory Disease.

Chronic respiratory diseases including chronic rhinosinusitis, otitis media, asthma, cystic fibrosis, non-CF bronchiectasis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are a major public health burden. Patients suffering from chronic respiratory disease are prone to persistent, debilitating respiratory infections due to the decreased ability to clear pathogens from the respiratory tract. Such infections often develop into chronic, life-long complications that are difficult to treat with antibiotics due to the formation of recalcitrant biofilms.

The Quality of Peer-Reviewed Publications on Surgery for Early Stage Lung Cancer Within the Veterans Health Administration.

The peer-reviewed literature is often referenced to generalize outcomes for lung cancer surgeries performed within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and include assessments following resection of early stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We sought to determine the reliability of these reports that are publicly available. A systematic review was undertaken to identify PubMed indexed articles that report postoperative outcomes following surgical resections for stage I NSCLC within the VHA.

Validation of a semiautomated volumetric approach for fetal neurosonography using 5DCNS+ in clinical data from > 1100 consecutive pregnancies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a semiautomated volumetric approach (5DCNS+) for the detailed assessment of the fetal brain in a clinical setting.

Methods: Stored 3D volumes of > 1100 consecutive 2nd and 3rd trimester pregnancies (range 15-36 gestational weeks) were analyzed using a workflow-based volumetric approach 5DCNS+, enabling semiautomated reconstruction of diagnostic planes of the fetal central nervous system (CNS). All 3D data sets were examined for plane accuracy, the need for manual adjustment, and fetal-maternal characteristics affecting successful plane reconstruction.

Distant recurrence in a patient with polyp-confined stage IA serous endometrial carcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy: A case report and review of literature.

Uterine serous carcinoma is a rare, high-risk histological subtype of endometrial cancer, and use of adjuvant treatment in early stage IA disease is inconsistent, especially when the tumor is confined entirely within an endometrial polyp. We herein present a case of extrauterine recurrence in a 67-year-old female with polyp-confined, stage IA uterine serous endometrial cancer. She underwent comprehensive surgical staging with the pathology returning a 5 cm uterine serous carcinoma confined completely to a 7 cm polyp with negative margins, negative myometrial and lymphovascular space invasion, and twenty-nine negative para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes.

Communication and patient safety in gynecology and obstetrics - study protocol of an intervention study.

Background: Patient safety is a key target in public health, health services and medicine. Communication between all parties involved in gynecology and obstetrics (clinical staff/professionals, expectant mothers/patients and their partners, close relatives or friends providing social support) should be improved to ensure patient safety, including the avoidance of preventable adverse events (pAEs). Therefore, interventions including an app will be developed in this project through a participatory approach integrating two theoretical models.

Teamwork and clinician burnout in Swiss intensive care: the predictive role of workload, and demographic and unit characteristics.

Aim: The levels of teamwork and clinician burnout in healthcare differ depending on demographic and unit characteristics. However, the impact of these characteristics varies between clinical settings. In addition, the impact of objectively measured workload in such settings is largely unknown.

The importance of reflecting on practice: How personal professional development activities affect perceived teamwork and performance.

Aims And Objectives: To examine the relationships between participation in personal professional development activities (e.g., coaching, mentoring), teamwork and performance; to investigate the mediating and moderating effects of reflective thinking and perceived usefulness of development activities.

Integrating teamwork, clinician occupational well-being and patient safety - development of a conceptual framework based on a systematic review.

Background: There is growing evidence that teamwork in hospitals is related to both patient outcomes and clinician occupational well-being. Furthermore, clinician well-being is associated with patient safety. Despite considerable research activity, few studies include all three concepts, and their interrelations have not yet been investigated systematically.