早期瘢痕妊娠的MRI的表现和诊断价值

目的分析早期剖宫产瘢痕妊娠(CSP)的MRI表现,以提高对这类产科危重症诊断的准确性。方法2017年1月至2019年6月期间,对我院经过手术和病理证实的剖宫产手术后宫腔内瘢痕处早期妊娠的22例患者的MRI资料进行回顾性分析,所有患者均采用MR平扫+增强进行检查,将MRI表现与手术、病理所见进行对照分析。结果单纯孕囊型患者21例,团块型病灶患者1例。瘢痕区呈深V状5例,深U状14例,线或细带状3例。孕囊外壁T2WI可显示低信号线11例,孕囊内壁显示低信号线12例。DWI孕囊呈环状混杂等高信号。增强扫描孕囊呈轻中度环状强化。T2WI、DWI、T1WI增强序列对囊壁内外壁的显示有不同的价值。结论MRI多序列扫描,有助于综合判读孕囊绒毛膜与瘢痕接触的程度,推测孕囊可能的植入部位,对于孕早期CSP诊断具有重要价值。     

Attenuation Coefficient Estimation of Normal Placentas

Attenuation coefficient estimation has the potential to be a useful tool for placental tissue characterization. A current challenge is the presence of inhomogeneities in biological tissue that result in a large variance in the attenuation coefficient estimate (ACE), restricting its clinical utility. In this work, we propose a new Attenuation Estimation Region Of Interest (AEROI) selection method for computing the ACE based on the (i) envelope signal-to-noise ratio deviation and (ii) coefficient of variation of the transmit pulse bandwidth. The method was first validated on a tissue-mimicking phantom, for which an 18%–21% reduction in the standard deviation of ACE and a 14%–24% reduction in the ACE error, expressed as a percentage of reported ACE, were obtained. A study on 59 post-delivery clinically normal placentas was then performed. The proposed AEROI selection method reduced the intra-subject standard deviation of ACE from 0.72 to 0.39 dB/cm/MHz. The measured ACE of 59 placentas was 0.77 ± 0.37 dB/cm/MHz, which establishes a baseline for future studies on placental tissue characterization.     

Placental metal concentrations and birth outcomes: The Environment and Childhood (INMA) project

Objective

To examine the association of placental levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and chromium (Cr) with birth outcomes (birth weight, length, and head circumference, low birth weight [LBW], gestational age, preterm delivery, and small for gestational age [SGA]) in mother-child pairs from the Environment and Childhood (INMA) Project in Spain.

Association between fetoplacental Doppler results,placental pathology,and angiogenic factors among pregnant women with anxiety

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate whether state and trait anxiety among pregnant women were associated with fetoplacental Doppler findings, abnormal placental pathology, and placental angiogenic factors.Materials and methodsA total of 102 pregnant women at 32–35 gestational weeks were recruited and examined prospectively. State and trait anxiety were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Using Doppler ultrasound, pulsatility index (PI) of the umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and uterine artery (UtA) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) were determined. Doppler parameters were converted into multiples of the median (MoM). Abnormal placental pathology was classified into 2 groups: vascular underperfusion (VU) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to examine placental cells staining positive for placental growth factor (PLGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1-α (HIF-1α), which are markers for angiogenesis and hypoxic status, respectively.ResultsWomen with high state anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM and CPR MoM, while those with high trait anxiety scores had low MCA-PI MoM. VU was associated with a higher incidence of high trait anxiety scores, and HCA was associated with a higher incidence of high state and trait anxiety scores. Regression analysis showed a relationship between maternal state anxiety on MCA-PI MoM and HCA after controlling for covariates. Maternal trait anxiety exhibited relationships with VU and HCA after adjustment.ConclusionOur results demonstrated that maternal anxiety is associated with altered fetal cerebral blood flow and abnormal placental pathology but is not associated with uteroplacental insufficiency and placental angiogenic factors.     

Viral infection in placenta relevant cells – a morphological and immunohistochemical cell culture study

Viral infections in pregnancy are known to cause fetal malformation, growth restriction, and even fetal death. Macroscopic placental examination usually shows slight and unspecific changes. Histology may show secondary, non‐specific tissue reaction, i.e. villitis with lymphocytic invasion. Primary specific morphology characteristics are known for some virus, like cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, and herpes simplex, however many viral infections show non‐specific changes. Placenta relevant cells as human first trimester trophoblasts HTR8/SVneo, primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and primary human embryonic fibroblasts were examined following infection with commonly occurring virus like adenovirus and enterovirus. Morphology in routine stained sections and virus‐specific immunostains were studied 4, 8, 24, 48, 72 h after infection. Nuclear enlargement was seen in the infected cells. A specific diagnosis of adenovirus or enterovirus infection, however, was not possible without specific immunostains.     

Isolated acute funisitis in the absence of acute chorioamnionitis: What does it mean?

ObjectiveAcute funisitis (AF) is most commonly associated with acute chorioamnionitis (AC) and ascending infection. The significance of cases of AF without associated AC or isolated funisitis (IF) is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate clinical and pathologic features of IF and to determine its significance.Study designThis was a retrospective review of placentas of patients delivering at our institution from 1997 to 2017. Placentas with the diagnosis of IF comprised the study population and placentas without either AF or AC served as controls.ResultsThere were 156 cases and 181 controls identified. Maternal age, gestational age, birthweight and mode of delivery were similar in both groups. 132 (84.6%) of cases of IF had meconium, with 62 (47.0%) having meconium only in the membranes, 36 (27.3%) in the membranes and cord and 34 (25.6%) in the membranes and cord with associated myonecrosis. 72 (38.7%) of controls had microscopically identified meconium, with only one (1.4%) showing meconium in the cord. None had myonecrosis (p < .001). There was also a significantly higher rate of intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) in the IF group (p = .027). but the rate of suspected Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was significantly greater in the controls (p = .014).ConclusionIF is highly associated with the presence of meconium discharge and meconium-associated myonecrosis of umbilical vessels. The inflammation in IF may be the result of damage to the muscle fibers of the cord due to meconium but additional studies are necessary to understand the significance of these findings.     

Another look at returns to birthweight

We revisit the causal effect of birthweight. Because variation in birthweight in developed countries primarily stems from variation in gestational age rather than intrauterine growth restriction, we depart from the widely-used twin fixed-effects estimator and employ an instrumental variable – the diagnosis of placenta previa, which provides exogenous variation in gestation length. We find protective effects of additional birthweight against infant mortality and health capital loss, such as cerebral palsy, but in contrast to sibling and twin studies, no strong evidence for non-health long-run outcomes, such as test scores. We also find that short-run birthweight effects have diminished significantly over the decades.     

胎盘植入性疾病的危险因素及妊娠结局分析

目的探讨胎盘植入性疾病的危险因素及妊娠结局。 方法回顾性分析2009年1月至2017年12月广州医科大学附属第三医院/广州重症孕产妇救治中心围产资料数据库中信息完整的单胎妊娠孕妇48 650例临床资料，将这些孕妇分为胎盘植入性疾病组和非胎盘植入性疾病组，分析胎盘植入性疾病的危险因素及其妊娠结局。 结果单因素分析显示，年龄≥35岁、高中教育水平及以下、孕次≥3次、经产妇、人工流产史、剖宫产史、体外受精－胚胎移植受孕、合并前置胎盘是胎盘植入性疾病的相关危险因素(P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示，胎盘植入性疾病的独立危险因素为剖宫产史(OR＝2.254，95%CI：1.917～2.650)、体外受精－胚胎移植受孕(OR＝1.591，95%CI：1.212～2.089)、合并前置胎盘(OR＝28.282，95%CI：24.338～32.866)；与非胎盘植入性疾病产妇相比，患有胎盘植入性疾病产妇早产、剖宫产、产后出血、弥散性血管内凝血、产褥期感染、子宫切除、低出生体重儿、新生儿Apgar评分相对较低(1 min)、产妇入住重症监护病房的发生率明显升高(P<0.05)。 结论剖宫产史、辅助生殖受孕、合并前置胎盘是引起胎盘植入性疾病的独立危险因素，胎盘植入性疾病的妊娠结局不良。     

Maternal cadmium,placental PCDHAC1, and fetal development

Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant implicated as a developmental toxicant, yet the underlying mechanisms that confer this toxicity are unknown. Mother-infant pairs from a Rhode Island birth cohort were investigated for the potential effects of maternal Cd exposure on fetal growth, and the possible role of the PCDHAC1 gene on this association. Mothers with higher toenail Cd concentrations were at increased odds of giving birth to an infant that was small for gestational age or with a decreased head circumference. These associations were strongest amongst those with low levels of DNA methylation in the promoter region of placental PCDHAC1. Further, we found placental PCDHAC1 expression to be inversely associated with maternal Cd, and PCDHAC1 expression positively associated with fetal growth. Our findings suggest that maternal Cd affects fetal growth even at very low concentrations, and some of these effects may be due to the differential expression of PCDHAC1.