Antepartum evaluation of the obstetric conjugate at transabdominal 2D ultrasound: A feasibility study

Introduction: The obstetric conjugate represents the shortest anteroposterior diameter of the birth canal and it reflects the capacity of the pelvic inlet to allow the passage and the engagement of the fetal head. The antepartum evaluation of this parameter may be attempted at digital examination to predict the risk of cephalopelvic disproportion, but the accuracy of clinical pelvimetry is notoriously poor. The aim of our study was to describe the sonographic measurement of the obstetric conjugate at transabdominal 2D-ultrasound and to assess its reproducibility. Material and methods: This is a prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary University hospital. A non-consecutive series of pregnant women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies attending the antenatal clinic for routine booking from 34 weeks of gestation onward were included. The ultrasound probe was longitudinally placed above the level of the symphysis and the interpubic fibrocartilaginous disk was visualized. Then the promontory was identified as the most prominent segment of the sacral vertebral column. The obstetric conjugate was measured as the distance between the inner edge of the interpubic disk and the promontory. The inter- and intraobserver repeatability of this measurement was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland–Altman method. Results: In all, 119 women were considered eligible for the study; of these, 111/119 (93.3%) women were included in the analysis with a median gestational age of 36.0 (35.0–37.0) weeks. The mean obstetric conjugate measurement was 11.4 ± 0.93 mm for the first operator and 11.4 ± 0.91 mm for the second operator. The overall interobserver ICC was 0.95 (95% [confidence interval] CI 0.92–0.96) and the overall intraobserver ICC was 0.97 (95% CI 0.96–0.98). Limits of agreement ranged from −0.84 to 0.80 for interobserver measures and from −0.64 to 0.62 for intraobserver measures. The degree of reliability was also analyzed for women with a body mass index ≥30 and for women with a gestational age ≥37 weeks. The inter- and intraobserver ICCs were respectively 0.97 (95% CI 0.90–0.98) and 0.98 (0.95–0.99) in the former group and 0.96 (95% CI 0.93–0.98) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.95–0.98) in the latter group. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that among pregnant women at term gestation, sonographic measurement of the obstetric conjugate is feasible and reproducible

Prenatal diagnosis and outcome of fetuses with isolated agenesis of septum pellucidum: cohort study and meta-analysis

Objective: To evaluate the postnatal outcome of children with a prenatal diagnosis of apparently isolated agenesis of the septum pellucidum (ASP). Methods: A retrospective cohort study of cases of prenatally diagnosed ASP followed in two tertiary centers and a meta-analysis combining data from the cohort study with data from published studies identified in a systematic review were carried out. Only cases with apparently isolated ASP on antenatal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging and with available postnatal follow-up data were considered eligible for inclusion. The following outcomes were analyzed: incidence of chromosomal anomalies, agreement between antenatal and postnatal findings, overall incidence of septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and incidence of major neurological disability (motor, language, coordination or behavioral disorder or epilepsy) in non-SOD children. The incidence of SOD in infants with apparently normal optic pathways on antenatal imaging was also evaluated. Results: Fifteen cases of isolated ASP, with median postnatal follow-up of 36 months (range, 12-60 months), were selected from the two centers. Six previously published studies met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and a total of 78 cases were eligible for the analysis, including the 15 cases from our series. Genetic tests were carried out antenatally in 30 fetuses, of which two had an abnormal result (pooled proportion, 9.0% (95% CI, 1.8-20.7%); I2  = 0%). Additional or discordant imaging findings were noted postnatally in 9/70 (pooled proportion, 13.7% (95% CI, 3.5-29.0%); I2  = 63.9%) cases. Of all 78 neonates with available follow-up, SOD was diagnosed postnatally in 14 (pooled proportion, 19.4% (95% CI, 8.6-33.2%); I2  = 51.2%). In 60 cases, the optic pathways were considered to be normal on antenatal imaging, and six of these (pooled proportion, 9.1% (95% CI, 1.1-24.0%); I2  = 62.0%) were diagnosed postnatally with SOD. Of the 46 infants with available neurological follow-up who were not affected by SOD, a major neurological disability was diagnosed in three (pooled proportion, 6.5% (95% CI, 0.5-18.6%); I2  = 40.1%). Conclusions: In the vast majority of cases with a prenatal diagnosis of apparently isolated ASP, the prognosis is favorable. However, an additional anomaly is detected after birth in about 14% of cases and has a negative impact on clinical outcome. Detailed antenatal assessment of the brain and optic pathways is strongly recommended in order to identify the presence of associated anomalies. Antenatal visualization of apparently normal optic pathways does not rule out SOD. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Intrapartum sonographic assessment of the fetal head flexion in protracted active phase of labor and association with labor outcome: a multicenter, prospective study

Background: To date, no research has focused on the sonographic quantification of the degree of flexion of the fetal head in relation to the labor outcome in women with protracted active phase of labor. Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between the transabdominal sonographic indices of fetal head flexion and the mode of delivery in women with protracted active phase of labor. Study Design: Prospective evaluation of women with protracted active phase of labor recruited across 3 tertiary maternity units. Eligible cases were submitted to transabdominal ultrasound for the evaluation of the fetal head position and flexion, which was measured by means of the occiput-spine angle in fetuses in nonocciput posterior position and by means of the chin-to-chest angle in fetuses in occiput posterior position. The occiput-spine angle and the chin-to-chest angle were compared between women who had vaginal delivery and those who had cesarean delivery. Cases where obstetrical intervention was performed solely based on suspected fetal distress were excluded. Results: A total of 129 women were included, of whom 43 (33.3%) had occiput posterior position. Spontaneous vaginal delivery, instrumental delivery, and cesarean delivery were recorded in 66 (51.2%), 17 (13.1%), and 46 (35.7%) cases, respectively. A wider occiput-spine angle was measured in women who had vaginal delivery compared with those submitted to cesarean delivery owing to labor dystocia (126±14 vs 115±24; P<.01). At the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve was 0.675 (95% confidence interval, 0.538–0.812; P<.01), and the optimal occiput-spine angle cutoff value discriminating between cases of vaginal delivery and those delivered by cesarean delivery was 109°. A narrower chin-to-chest angle was measured in cases who had vaginal delivery compared with those undergoing cesarean delivery (27±33 vs 56±28 degrees; P<.01). The area under the curve of the chin-to-chest angle in relation to the mode of delivery was 0.758 (95% confidence interval, 0.612–0.904; P<.01), and the optimal cutoff value discriminating between vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery was 33.0°. Conclusion: In women with protracted active phase of labor, the sonographic demonstration of fetal head deflexion in occiput posterior and in nonocciput posterior fetuses is associated with an increased incidence of cesarean delivery owing to labor dystocia. Such findings suggest that intrapartum ultrasound may contribute in the categorization of the etiology of labor dystocia

Differential Expression of CD163 on Monocyte Subsets in Healthy and HIV-1 Infected Individuals

CD163, a haptoglobin-hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) scavenger receptor, expressed by monocytes and macrophages, is important in resolution of inflammation. Age-related non-AIDS co-morbidities in HIV-infected individuals, particularly dementia and cardiovascular disease, result in part from effects of HIV-1 infection on monocyte and macrophage biology. CD163 co-expression on CD14+CD16++ monocytes has been proposed as a useful biomarker for HIV-1 disease progression and the presence of HIV associated dementia. Here we investigated CD163 expression on monocyte subsets ex vivo, on cultured macrophages, and soluble in plasma, in the setting of HIV-1 infection. Whole blood immunophenotyping revealed CD163 expression on CD14++CD16- monocytes but not on CD14+CD16++ monocytes (P = 0.004), supported by CD163 mRNA levels. Incubation with M-CSF induced CD163 protein expression on CD14+CD16++ monocytes to the same extent as CD14++CD16− monocytes. CD163 expression on CD14++CD16+ monocytes from HIV-infected subjects was significantly higher than from uninfected individuals, with a trend towards increased expression on CD14++CD16− monocytes (P = 0.019 and 0.069 respectively), which is accounted for by HIV-1 therapy including protease inhibitors. Shedding of CD163 was shown to predominantly occur from the CD14++CD16− subset after Ficoll isolation and LPS stimulation. Soluble CD163 concentration in plasma from HIV-1 infected donors was similar to HIV-1 uninfected donors. Monocyte CD163 expression in HIV-1 infected patients showed a complicated relationship with classical measures of disease progression. Our findings clarify technical issues regarding CD163 expression on monocyte subsets and further elucidates its role in HIV-associated inflammation by demonstrating that CD163 is readily lost from CD14++CD16− monocytes and induced in pro-inflammatory CD14+CD16++ monocytes by M-CSF. Our data show that all monocyte subsets are potentially capable of differentiating into CD163-expressing anti-inflammatory macrophages given appropriate stimuli. Levels of CD163 expression on monocytes may be a potential biomarker reflecting efforts by the immune system to resolve immune activation and inflammation in HIV-infected individuals

Differential Expression of CD163 on Monocyte Subsets in Healthy and HIV-1 Infected Individuals

CD163, a haptoglobin-hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) scavenger receptor, expressed by monocytes and macrophages, is important in resolution of inflammation. Age-related non-AIDS co-morbidities in HIV-infected individuals, particularly dementia and cardiovascular disease, result in part from effects of HIV-1 infection on monocyte and macrophage biology. CD163 co-expression on CD14+CD16++ monocytes has been proposed as a useful biomarker for HIV-1 disease progression and the presence of HIV associated dementia. Here we investigated CD163 expression on monocyte subsets ex vivo, on cultured macrophages, and soluble in plasma, in the setting of HIV-1 infection. Whole blood immunophenotyping revealed CD163 expression on CD14++CD16- monocytes but not on CD14+CD16++ monocytes (P = 0.004), supported by CD163 mRNA levels. Incubation with M-CSF induced CD163 protein expression on CD14+CD16++ monocytes to the same extent as CD14++CD16− monocytes. CD163 expression on CD14++CD16+ monocytes from HIV-infected subjects was significantly higher than from uninfected individuals, with a trend towards increased expression on CD14++CD16− monocytes (P = 0.019 and 0.069 respectively), which is accounted for by HIV-1 therapy including protease inhibitors. Shedding of CD163 was shown to predominantly occur from the CD14++CD16− subset after Ficoll isolation and LPS stimulation. Soluble CD163 concentration in plasma from HIV-1 infected donors was similar to HIV-1 uninfected donors. Monocyte CD163 expression in HIV-1 infected patients showed a complicated relationship with classical measures of disease progression. Our findings clarify technical issues regarding CD163 expression on monocyte subsets and further elucidates its role in HIV-associated inflammation by demonstrating that CD163 is readily lost from CD14++CD16− monocytes and induced in pro-inflammatory CD14+CD16++ monocytes by M-CSF. Our data show that all monocyte subsets are potentially capable of differentiating into CD163-expressing anti-inflammatory macrophages given appropriate stimuli. Levels of CD163 expression on monocytes may be a potential biomarker reflecting efforts by the immune system to resolve immune activation and inflammation in HIV-infected individuals

Cardiotocographic findings in the second stage of labor among fetuses delivered with acidemia: a comparison of two classification systems.

BACKGROUND: The RCOG classification system of CTG trace is widely used for the analysis of the fetal heart rate during the first and second stage of labor. Other authors proposed specific classification systems for the second stage traces. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of RCOG and Piquard cardiotocographic patterns classification systems in predicting fetal acidemia in the second stage of labor. STUDY DESIGN: This was a nested retrospective case-control study including fetuses delivered with metabolic acidemia in the second stage of labor and a matched group of non-acidemic fetuses as controls. Cases and controls were selected from the electronic medical records of the University Hospital of Bologna between 2008 and 2013. The last 60min of the cardiotocograms recorded during the second stage of labor were independently classified by a senior consultant and a trainee according to RCOG and Piquard classifications. The inter-observer agreement and the accuracy of the two classifications in predicting fetal acidemia were evaluated. RESULTS: In all, 82 acidemic fetuses and 164 controls were recruited in the study period. Regarding the CTG traces assessment, the inter-observer agreement was moderate for both the categorizations (RCOG κ=0.584). Unclassifiable CTG patterns were more frequent among acidemic fetuses vs controls either at RCOG and at Piquard evaluation (26.8% vs 7.9%, p<0.001). Both systems yielded a moderate and comparable ability to predict fetal acidemia (RCOG ROC AUC=0.731; 95% CI 0.660-0.795; Piquard ROC AUC=0.773; 95% CI 0.704-0.833. DeLong z-test=1.186, p=0.236). CONCLUSIONS: RCOG and Piquard systems have a moderate accuracy in identifying acidemic fetuses during the second stage of labor. The occurrence of unclassifiable findings seems significantly more common among the acidemic fetuses