Prenatal diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease associated with lower postpartum depressive symptoms: a case-control study.

Objective: When the expectant mother is faced with an unforeseen event during pregnancy, she may experience emotional fragility and depression. This study was carried out to test the association between the time of diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) and depressive symptoms in puerperal women.

Method: A case-control study.

Fetal ductus arteriosus constriction associated with citronella maternal use.

Constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus is a condition that narrows the ductus arteriosus and can lead to death, so the importance of prior diagnosis. Citronella, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, should be avoided during pregnancy as it may cause constriction of the fetal duct.

A germline chimeric KANK1-DMRT1 transcript derived from a complex structural variant is associated with a congenital heart defect segregating across five generations.

Structural variants (SVs) pose a challenge to detect and interpret, but their study provides novel biological insights and molecular diagnosis underlying rare diseases. The aim of this study was to resolve a 9p24 rearrangement segregating in a family through five generations with a congenital heart defect (congenital pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis and pulmonary artery stenosis), by applying a combined genomic analysis. The analysis involved multiple techniques, including karyotype, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), FISH, genome sequencing (GS), RNA-seq, and optical genome mapping (OGM).

Maternal supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid does not cause constriction of fetal ductus arteriosus: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is recommended routinely in pregnancy to promote fetal development. DHA has anti-inflammatory activity, but its effects on the fetal heart and circulation are unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether maternal DHA supplementation in the third trimester affects maternal prostaglandin levels and fetal ductus arteriosus flow dynamics.

A germline chimeric KANK1-DMRT1 transcript derived from a complex structural variant is associated with a congenital heart defect segregating across five generations.

Structural variants (SVs) pose a challenge to detect and interpret, but their study provides novel biological insights and molecular diagnosis underlying rare diseases. The aim of this study was to resolve a 9p24 rearrangement segregating in a family through five generations with a congenital heart defect (congenital pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis, and pulmonary artery stenosis), by applying a combined genomic analysis. The analysis involved multiple techniques, including karyotype, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), FISH, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), RNA-seq and optical genome mapping (OGM).

Maternal ingestion of cocoa causes constriction of fetal ductus arteriosus in rats.

Maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods has been associated with fetal ductus arteriosus constriction (DAC), but safety of chocolate exposure in fetal life has not been studied. This experimental study tested the hypothesis that maternal cocoa consumption in late pregnancy causes fetal DAC, with possible associated antioxidant effects. Pregnant Wistar rats, at the 21st gestational day, received by orogastric tube cocoa (720 mg/Kg) for 12 h, indomethacin (10 mg/Kg), for 8 h, or only water, before cesaren section.

Improvement in fetal pulmonary hypertension and maturity after reversal of ductal constriction: prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To test the hypotheses that estimated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) decreases and pulmonary vascular maturation, assessed by the ratio of pulmonary arterial flow acceleration time to ejection time (AT/ET ratio), increases after reversal of fetal ductus arteriosus constriction by reducing maternal intake of the causal agent (prostaglandin inhibitors, such as polyphenol-rich foods or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and that these effects are independent of gestational age, which are inferences not yet demonstrated in the clinical setting.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study comparing Doppler echocardiographic ductal flow dynamics, MPAP and pulmonary arterial flow AT/ET ratio in third-trimester fetuses (≥ 28 weeks' gestation) with ductus arteriosus constriction, at the time of diagnosis and after 2 weeks of reduced maternal intake of prostaglandin inhibitors either by suspending the use of pharmacological agents with potential for prostaglandin inhibition or by restricting the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods. MPAP was estimated using the Dabestani equation (MPAP = 90 - (0.

Development of the Z-score for the measurement of myocardial thickness by two-dimensional echocardiography in normal fetuses.

Background: In the current literature, there is a tendency to describe normal values of echocardiographic measurements by means of the Z-score. In fetal cardiology, these Z-score equations are still being established. Measurement of myocardial thickness is an important assessment, especially in fetuses of diabetic mothers, because of the risk of developing myocardial hypertrophy secondary to elevated maternal blood glucose levels.

Corrigendum to "Behaviour of the Foramen Ovale Flow in Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1496903.].

Pulmonary Vein Flow Impedance: An Early Predictor of Cardiac Dysfunction in Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Introduction: In intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), increased uteroplacental vascular impedance contributes to preferential flow to left ventricle (LV), with consequent alteration of its compliance and increased left atrial (LA) pressure. Pulmonary vein pulsatility index (PVPI) reflects the increased impedance to LA filling and could be used as a cardiac monitoring parameter in IUGR.

Material And Methods: A total of 27 IUGR fetuses (group 1), 28 fetuses with appropriate growth for gestational age from hypertensive mothers (group 2), and 28 controls (group 3) were studied.

Behaviour of the Foramen Ovale Flow in Fetuses with Intrauterine Growth Restriction.

Background: Foramen ovale (FO) flow may be altered in IUGR. This study was designed to test this hypothesis.

Methods: Forty pregnant women (24-38 weeks) were divided into 3 groups: group I (IUGR), group II (adequate growth and maternal hypertension), and group III (normal controls).

Increase of prostaglandin E2 in the reversal of fetal ductal constriction after polyphenol restriction.

Objective: Anti-inflammatory substances that inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and polyphenol-rich foods, can cause constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that reversal of fetal ductal constriction after maternal restriction of polyphenol-rich foods, in the third trimester of pregnancy, is accompanied by increased plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

Methods: This was a controlled clinical trial of women with singleton pregnancy ≥ 28 weeks undergoing fetal echocardiography.

Polyphenol supplementation inhibits physiological increase of prostaglandin E2 during reproductive period - A randomized clinical trial.

Anti-inflammatory property of polyphenols and their effect on the metabolism of prostaglandins is not established in healthy humans. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polyphenol supplementation in plasma levels of prostaglandin E and other markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in women using contraceptives. In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, women aged 25-35 years were selected.

Deleterious effects of maternal ingestion of cocoa upon fetal ductus arteriosus in late pregnancy.

Cocoa powder has twice more antioxidants than red wine and three times more than green tea. Ten percent of its weight is made up of flavonoids. Cocoa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating cyclooxigenase-2 receptors expression in the endothelium and enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability.

Dynamics of pulmonary venous flow in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that the pulmonary vein pulsatility index (PVPI) is higher in fetuses with growth restriction (IUGR) than in normal fetuses.

Methods: Twenty-two fetuses with IUGR and twenty-one (21) fetuses with appropriate growth for gestational age from healthy mothers were studied. PVPI was calculated by Doppler echocardiography [maximal velocity (systolic or diastolic peak) - pre-systolic peak / mean velocity].

Nitric oxide and reactive species are modulated in the polyphenol-induced ductus arteriosus constriction in pregnant sheep.

Objective: Because we have previously demonstrated the relation between polyphenol-rich foods (PRF) consumption and ductus arteriosus constriction, in this work, pregnant sheep were submitted to oral PRF intake for 14 days to understand how this process occurs. Fetal Doppler echocardiography, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers and total polyphenol excretion were evaluated.

Results: The high polyphenol intake induced ductus arteriosus constriction by 71.

Maternal-fetal attachment and prenatal diagnosis of heart disease.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that there are differences in the level of maternal-fetal attachment before and after fetal echocardiography in the presence or absence of cardiac abnormalities.

Study Design: Cohort study in which the mothers responded to a validated Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale. The study compared a group of pregnant women with diagnosis of fetal heart disease (FHD) with a group without this diagnosis ("no fetal heart disease" - NFHD).

Prenatal effects of maternal consumption of polyphenol-rich foods in late pregnancy upon fetal ductus arteriosus.

Fetal circulation has characteristic features, being morphologically and functionally different from extrauterine circulation. The ductus arteriosus plays a fundamental role in directing the blood flow to fetal inferior body parts. Basically, the ductus arteriosus directs 80-85% of the right ventricular output arising from the superior vena cava, coronary sinus, and a small part from the inferior vena cava to descending aorta.

Maternal restriction of polyphenols and fetal ductal dynamics in normal pregnancy: an open clinical trial.

Background: We have recently demonstrated reversal of fetal ductal constriction after dietary maternal restriction of polyphenol-rich foods (PRF), due to its inhibitory action on prostaglandin synthesis.

Objective: To test the hyphotesis that normal third trimester fetuses also improve ductus arteriosus dynamics after maternal restriction of polyphenols.

Methods: Open clinical trial with 46 fetuses with gestational age (GA) > 28 weeks submitted to 2 Doppler echocardiographic studies with an interval of at least 2 weeks, being the examiners blinded to maternal dietary habits.

Late outcomes of congenital heart disease.

In our days, more than 90% of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) reach adolescence and adult life, and therapeutic procedures are performed with late quality of life (QOL) in mind. Rates of success are now assessed at long range by sequels, residues and adaptation of the individuals to normality. The attempt to identify factors to avoid psychopathological sequels in this group of "new" cardiac patients is one of the most important aspects of studies on late outcome of congenital heart disease.