scholarly journals Echogenic intracardiac focus – existence in the first trimester and the role of microRNAs

Folia Medica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-147
Author(s):  
Antonios Koutras ◽  
Zacharias Fasoulakis ◽  
Arzou Halil ◽  
Emmanuel N. Kontomanolis

Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) constitutes a finding in the ultrasound study that indicates an area which is echogenically bright in the fetal heart and is as bright as the bone that moves synchronically to the atrioventricular valves. Microcalcifications of the papillary muscles or chordae tendinae are being represented by this echogenicity and are mostly present in the left ventricle (90% of cases). EIF appears usually at the ultrasound that is realized in the mid-trimester in a percentage that reaches 3.5% in euploid fetuses and 15% to 30% in fetuses with trisomy 21. In the current paper, the rare and curious case of a 21-year-old primigravida woman is described, who presented for ultrasound scan at the 12th week of gestation. The scan revealed the presence of EIF, which is very rare, as it is well-known that it usually appears in the second trimester of pregnancy. Counseling and debriefing for dismissing parents’ anxiety is necessary as well as further examinations, because EIF has low sensitivity. This specific case report could constitute a beginning in the research of whether investigating EIF in the first trimester of pregnancy is possible and which are the benefits of its detection for the mother, the fetus and the whole family, in clinical practice.

Diabetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 95-OR
Author(s):  
CÉCILIA LÉGARÉ ◽  
VÉRONIQUE DESGAGNÉ ◽  
FRÉDÉRIQUE WHITE ◽  
MICHELLE S. SCOTT ◽  
PATRICE PERRON ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Diana Massalska ◽  
Katarzyna Ozdarska ◽  
Tomasz Roszkowski ◽  
Julia Bijok ◽  
Anna Kucińska-Chahwan ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To establish the distribution of diandric and digynic triploidy depending on gestational age. Methods 107 triploid samples tested prospectively in a single genetic department during a four-year period were analyzed for parental origin of triploidy by Quantitative Fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction (QF-PCR) (n=95) with the use of matching parental samples or by MS-MLPA (n=12), when parental samples were unavailable. Tested pregnancies were divided into three subgroups with regard to the gestational age at spontaneous pregnancy loss: <11 gestational weeks, 11–14 gestational weeks, and >14 gestational weeks. Results Diandric triploidy constituted overall 44.9% (46.5% in samples miscarried <11 gestational weeks, 64.3% in samples miscarried between 11 and 14 gestational weeks, and 27.8% in pregnancies which survived >14 gestational weeks). Conclusions The distribution of diandric and digynic triploidy depends on gestational age. The majority of diandric triploid pregnancies is lost in the first trimester of pregnancy. In the second trimester, diandric cases are at least twice less frequent than digynic ones.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariya Angelova Angelova ◽  
Emil Kovachev ◽  
Nikolai Todorov

AIM: The aim of this publication is to present a case of CMV infection during pregnancy, with clinical manifestations of the development of microcephaly and simultaneous dilatation of the 3rd and 4th brain ventricle at 23 weeks gestation. This article discusses the role of ultrasound screening in the second trimester of pregnancy.CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 25-year-old woman with the initials S.K. in her second pregnancy that came to our antenatal Consulting Centre. The first screening for blood count, blood group, biochemistry and serology showed results within the reference range. The patient came for a second comprehensive biochemical screening at 17 – 18 weeks gestation. The results showed the low genetic risk of congenital anomalies. Fetal morphology of the fetus was normal. S.K. came again for consultation at 22 weeks gestation in connection with the admittance of her first 3-year-old child to the hospital because of pneumonia. Serological tests of the child had shown elevated CMV titer - specific IgM. Then we made new serological tests of the patient and the results have shown that the patient was most likely infected by CMV primarily in the first trimester of pregnancy. After consulting about the risk of transmission of CMV to the fetus, the woman chose monthly ultrasound scans and refused amniocentesis. At 36 weeks gestation, in addition to the microcephaly already established, enlargement of the IV brain ventricle at the expense of underdevelopment of the cerebellum was noticed. Also, 2nd to 3rd stage of placenta maturity and low quantity of amniotic fluid was established. A male fetus of weight 2,890 g and height 50 cm was delivered.   The fetus was with skin petechiae and hepatosplenomegaly. Neurological examination showed no abnormalities.CONCLUSIONS: In the described case the time interval between infection and ultrasonic manifestations is more than 17 weeks. The long interval between infection and occurrence of ultrasound markers can be a good prediction sign, as it may reflect less aggressive viral infection than present in cases where similar ultrasound findings were obtained shortly after infection of the mother.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 467-470
Author(s):  
Wasan Wajdi Ibrahim ◽  
Afraa Mahjoob Al-Naddawi ◽  
Hayder A. Fawzi

Objectives: Assessment of glycodelin (GD) as a marker for unruptured ectopic pregnancy (EP) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted during June 2016 to May 2017 in the Obstetrics and Gynecological Department of Baghdad University at Baghdad teaching hospital/medical city complex. In this study, 100 pregnant women in their first trimester of pregnancy were included after clinical and ultrasonic findings. Results: Based on the results, GD levels in EP were significantly lower than those with normal intrauterine pregnancy (1.58 ± 1.18 vs. 30.1 ± 11.9). In addition, using receiver operator curve analysis, the cut-off GD level of 9.5 and less had acceptable validity results (100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 95% positive predictive value, 100% negative predictive value, and accuracy 100%) to predict EP. Conclusions: In general, serum GD is considered as an excellent predictor of unruptured EP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huub F.J. Savelkoul

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a heterogeneous group of behavioral disorders in which a disturbed immune reactivity can contribute to the etiology. In retrospective research we found an association between the risk to develop ASD and the month of birth with a peak in July pointing at a possible decreased exposure to sunlight during the first two semesters of pregnancy. This could point to an important role of vitamin D which has important anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities and thereby regulates the proper functioning of the immune system in these individuals. Maternal serum levels of vitamin D double during the first trimester of pregnancy and therefore decreased exposure to sunlight resulting in diminished levels of vitamin D production can be an important risk factor for the development of ASD. However, there is a need for more integrated multidisciplinary studies in families where all siblings are also studied to elucidate the contribution of their genetic risk factors.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (S1) ◽  
pp. 150-150
Author(s):  
F. Crovetto ◽  
F. Figueras ◽  
F. Crispi ◽  
S. Triunfo ◽  
M. Pugia ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 274-281
Author(s):  
Lea Lénárt ◽  
Marcel Taverne ◽  
Peter Wolleswinkel ◽  
Zoltán Gubik ◽  
László Molnár ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to create a fetal heart rate (FHR) reference curve for singleton bovine fetuses in the first trimester of gestation and to determine its possible relationship with the outcome of pregnancy. Forty-eight Holstein-Friesian cows with one fetus and five cows with twins were used. Fetal heart beatings were recorded on videotape during transrectal scanning with a 5 and/or 7.5 MHz linear array transducer on a weekly basis between Days 40 and 95 of gestation. FHR was calculated by averaging the results of five counts of the same record by the same observer. For singleton pregnancies, a reference curve was created using the mean, the standard deviation (SD) and the 5th and 95th percentiles. The FHR increased from Days 40–46 (173 beats/min) to Days 61–67 (183 beats/min). After a peak, the FHR decreased slowly until Days 89–95 (175 beats/min), while the SD increased. There was no significant difference between singleton and twin fetuses. in the aborted and lost fetuses in twin gestation due to fetal reduction, both bradycardia and tachycardia were detected compared to the singleton pregnancy reference curve.


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