Term planned delivery based on fetal growth assessment with or without the cerebroplacental ratio in low-risk pregnancies (RATIO37): an international, multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: The cerebroplacental ratio is associated with perinatal mortality and morbidity, but it is unknown whether routine measurement improves pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether the addition of cerebroplacental ratio measurement to the standard ultrasound growth assessment near term reduces perinatal mortality and severe neonatal morbidity, compared with growth assessment alone.

Methods: RATIO37 was a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pragmatic trial, conducted in low-risk pregnant women, recruited from nine hospitals over six countries.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: The PAN-COVID study.

Objective: To assess perinatal outcomes for pregnancies affected by suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: Prospective, web-based registry. Pregnant women were invited to participate if they had suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1st January 2020 and 31st March 2021 to assess the impact of infection on maternal and perinatal outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, pre-term birth and transmission to the infant.

Long-term (18 Years) Results of Patients With Long-segment Barrett Esophagus Submitted to Acid Suppression-duodenal Diversion Operation: Better Than Nissen Fundoplication?

Objective: To determine late results of AS-DD procedure in long-segment (LSBE) and extralong-segment BE (ELSBE) using subjective and objective measurements to ascertain the histological impact over intestinal metaplasia (IM) and progression to EAC.

Summary Of Background Data: Barrett esophagus (BE) is a known precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and Nissen fundoplication has proven to be unable to stop mixed reflux among them. Our group proposed a surgical procedure that handles pathophysiological changes responsible for BE.

Prescriptive Reference Standards of Third-Trimester Cerebroplacental Ratio and Its Physiological Determinants.

Objective: To construct valid reference standards reflecting optimal cerebroplacental ratio and to explore its physiological determinants.

Methods: A cohort of 391 low-risk pregnancies of singleton pregnancies of nonmalformed fetuses without maternal medical conditions and with normal perinatal outcomes was created. Doppler measurements of the middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery were performed at 24-42 weeks.

The Vocal Tract in Loud Twang-Like Singing While Producing High and Low Pitches.

Unlabelled: Twang-like vocal qualities have been related to a megaphone-like shape of the vocal tract (epilaryngeal tube and pharyngeal narrowing, and a wider mouth opening), low-frequency spectral changes, and tighter and/or increased vocal fold adduction. Previous studies have focused mainly on loud and high-pitched singing, comfortable low-pitched spoken vowels, or are based on modeling and simulation. There is no data available related to twang-like voices in loud, low-pitched singing.

Quality assessment of fetal middle cerebral and umbilical artery Doppler images using an objective scale within an international randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the quality of Doppler images of the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) and umbilical artery (UA) using an objective scale, and to determine the reliability of this scale, within a multicenter randomized controlled trial (Revealed versus concealed criteria for placental insufficiency in unselected obstetric population in late pregnancy (Ratio37)).

Methods: The Ratio37 trial is an ongoing randomized, open-label, multicenter controlled study of women with a low-risk pregnancy recruited at 20 weeks. Doppler measurements of the fetal MCA and UA were performed at 37 weeks.

A Computerized Tomography Study of Vocal Tract Setting in Hyperfunctional Dysphonia and in Belting.

Background: Vocal tract setting in hyperfunctional patients is characterized by a high larynx and narrowing of the epilaryngeal and pharyngeal region. Similar observations have been made for various singing styles, eg, belting. The voice quality in belting has been described to be loud, speech like, and high pitched.

Revealed versus concealed criteria for placental insufficiency in an unselected obstetric population in late pregnancy (RATIO37): randomised controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5%-10% of all pregnancies, contributing to 30%-50% of stillbirths. Unfortunately, growth restriction often is not detected antenatally. The last weeks of pregnancy are critical for preventing stillbirth among babies with FGR because there is a pronounced increase in stillbirths among growth-restricted fetuses after 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity by quantitative ultrasound lung texture analysis: a multicenter study.

Background: Prediction of neonatal respiratory morbidity may be useful to plan delivery in complicated pregnancies. The limited predictive performance of the current diagnostic tests together with the risks of an invasive procedure restricts the use of fetal lung maturity assessment.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of quantitative ultrasound texture analysis of the fetal lung (quantusFLM) to predict neonatal respiratory morbidity in preterm and early-term (<39.

Efficacy of Water Resistance Therapy in Subjects Diagnosed With Behavioral Dysphonia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy of water resistance therapy (WRT) in a long-term period of voice treatment in subjects diagnosed with voice disorders.

Methods: Twenty participants, with behavioral dysphonia, were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) voice treatment with WRT, and (2) voice treatment with tube phonation with the distal end in air (TPA). Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent aerodynamic, electroglottographic, acoustic, and auditory-perceptual assessments.

Computerized Tomography Measures During and After Artificial Lengthening of the Vocal Tract in Subjects With Voice Disorders.

Purpose: The present study aimed to observe the effect of two types of tubes on vocal tract bidimensional and tridimensional images.

Methods: Ten participants with hyperfunctional dysphonia were included. Computerized tomography was performed during production of sustained [a:], followed by sustained phonation into a drinking straw, and then repetition of sustained [a:].

Comparison of Supraglottic Activity and Spectral Slope Between Theater Actors and Vocally Untrained Subjects.

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess supraglottic activity in theater actors and to observe whether they present differences compared with subjects with no voice training. Acoustic and perceptual analyses were also performed.

Methods: A total of 20 participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group of trained theater actors, and a comparative group of subjects with no voice training.

Air Pressure and Contact Quotient Measures During Different Semioccluded Postures in Subjects With Different Voice Conditions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of phonation into tubes in air and tubes submerged in water on air pressure variables and vocal fold adduction in subjects with different voice conditions.

Methods: Forty-five participants representing four vocal conditions were included: (1) subjects diagnosed with normal voice and without voice training, (2) subjects with normal voice with voice training, (3) subjects with muscle tension dysphonia, and (4) subjects with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Participants phonated into different kinds of tubes (drinking straw, 5 mm in inner diameter; stirring straw, 2.

Laryngoscopic and spectral analysis of laryngeal and pharyngeal configuration in non-classical singing styles.

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess three different singing styles (pop, rock, and jazz) with laryngoscopic, acoustic, and perceptual analysis in healthy singers at different loudness levels. Special emphasis was given to the degree of anterior-posterior (A-P) laryngeal compression, medial laryngeal compression, vertical laryngeal position (VLP), and pharyngeal compression.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Role of the glucose tolerance test as a predictor of preeclampsia.

Objective: To determine whether oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) play a role as predictors of preeclampsia (PET) in pregnant women.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in 2,002 singleton pregnancies that had a uterine artery (UtA) Doppler at 22-25 weeks and an OGTT. The UtA Doppler and OGTT were adjusted based on maternal characteristics, and the results were expressed as multiples of the expected normal median and compared between groups.

Assessment of pregestational insulin resistance as a risk factor of preeclampsia.

Aim: To assess the impact that pregestational insulin resistance (PIR) has as a risk factor for preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: Nested case-control study that included patients with PIR and a control group that was randomly selected from pregnancies admitted to the Fetal Medicine Unit between January 2005 and May 2011. Clinical and hemodynamic variables were analyzed by a multiple logistic regression analysis.

Is there a role for cervical assessment and uterine artery Doppler in the first trimester of pregnancy as a screening test for spontaneous preterm delivery?

Objective: To evaluate the role of cervical length (CL) and uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks as predictors of spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD) in a Chilean population.

Methods: This was a prospective study of asymptomatic women with singleton pregnancies attending for a nuchal translucency scan at 11+0 to 13+6 weeks' gestation and who underwent a transvaginal scan for evaluation of CL and UtA-PI. Exclusion criteria were fetal and pregnancy complications (other than sPTD) and iatrogenic delivery at<34 weeks.

Chorioamnionitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes: a case report of ultrasound features of fetal infection.

Maternal listeriosis is often associated with mild symptoms for the patient, but fetal infection can lead to severe adverse perinatal outcome. The most described antenatal symptoms are reduced fetal movements and an abnormal fetal heart rate trace. We present a case of fetal listeriosis suspected by ultrasound findings of fetal gastrointestinal compromise, neonatal diagnosis and outcome.

Prediction of early and late pre-eclampsia from maternal characteristics, uterine artery Doppler and markers of vasculogenesis during first trimester of pregnancy.

Objective: To develop a predictive model for pre-eclampsia using clinical, biochemical and ultrasound markers during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: This was a nested case-control study within a pre-eclampsia screening project that involved 5367 asymptomatic pregnant women undergoing routine transvaginal uterine artery (UtA) Doppler at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks. Following exclusions, there were 70 pregnant women who later developed pre-eclampsia and 289 control patients enrolled during the first trimester who had serum or plasma samples taken at enrolment available for the purposes of this study.

Evolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus in non morbid obese gastrectomized patients with Roux en-Y reconstruction: retrospective study.

Objective: Bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients with type 2 diabetes results systematically in adequate glycemic control, normalization of insulinemia, and a decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin, effects that appear early after surgery in nearly 80 to 90% of them. Possible reasons that have been discussed are a decrease in caloric consumption, weight loss, and hormonal changes at the gastrointestinal level, which could have a positive effect on glucose metabolism. Various authors have proposed the possibility of passing on this indication to diabetic patients who are overweight or are mildly obese.

A prospective randomized study comparing D2 total gastrectomy versus D2 total gastrectomy plus splenectomy in 187 patients with gastric carcinoma.

Background: Classic surgical treatment of upper third gastric carcinoma is based on an extended total gastrectomy, including splenectomy. The purpose of this study was to perform a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing the early and late results of total gastrectomy (TG) versus total gastrectomy plus splenectomy (TGS).

Methods: One hundred eighty-seven patients with gastric carcinoma were included.

Antireflux surgery, highly selective vagotomy and duodenal switch procedure: post-operative evaluation in patients with complicated and non-complicated Barrett's esophagus.

Antireflux surgery, highly selective vagotomy (HSV) and Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy have been suggested for control of pathophysiological factors involved in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the results of this technique in patients with complicated (n = 21) and noncomplicated (n=45) BE. Complete evaluation of esophageal function, endoscopic histologic and clinical control was carried out before and 2 years after surgery.

Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus by endoscopy and histologic studies: a prospective evaluation of 306 control subjects and 376 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux.

The classic endoscopic diagnosis of a Barrett's esophagus (BE) is based on the finding of > or =3 cm, of distal esophagus covered by specialized columnar epithelium. However, currently, it is based on the finding of intestinal metaplasia (IM) at the squamous-columnar mucosal junction, independent of its extent. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus by endoscopic and histological findings in control subjects and in patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER).