Morphological index of fetal cerebral ventricular development: a diagnostic ultrasound study / Índice morfológico del desarrollo ventricular cerebral fetal: un estudio ecográfico diagnóstico

SUMMARY: To establish an unprovable diagnostic indicative index reference for ultrasound examination of the fetal cerebral ventricles, based on the morphological characteristics throughout fetal nervous system development. Key ultrasonic morphological indicators of fetal ventricular development, which includes frontal horn width (FHW), occipital horn width (OHW), width of 3rd ventricle, cavity of septum pellucidum (CSP), width and length of 4th ventricle and thalamo-occipital distance (TOD) had been measured and analyzed collectively. All data of the indicators was collected on singleton pregnant woman between 16-39 weeks of gestational age (GA), between November 2017 and June 2021 at the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University. A total of 235 pregnant women were enrolled in the cross section study; another 36 pregnant women voluntarily joined a timeline-tracking follow-up study (cohort study) under the same examining criteria. A decrease of FHW and OHW of the lateral ventricles was observed as GA increased; while dimensional values of TOD, 3rd ventricle, CSP, as well as 4th ventricle increased with GA. Most of these indicators showed an enhanced variation tendency within a certain period of GA. Moreover, values of FHW and TOD showed asymmetry of the two hemispheres within the whole GA. Our findings revealed the morphological regularity of fetal ventricular development, which would instructively enhance the relative clinical ultrasound diagnosis; moreover, TOD also showed regularly changes as GA increased, suggesting that TOD should be considered as an additional routine ultrasonic indicator for fetal ventricular development.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue establecer un índice de referencia indicativo diagnóstico no demostrable para el examen ecográfico de los ventrículos cerebrales fetales, basado en las características morfológicas a lo largo del desarrollo del sistema nervioso fetal. Indicadores morfológicos ultrasónicos clave del desarrollo ventricular fetal, que incluyen el ancho del cuerno frontal (FHW), el ancho del cuerno occipital (OHW), el ancho del tercer ventrículo, la cavidad del septo pelúcido (CSP), el ancho y el largo del cuarto ventrículo y la distancia tálamo-occipital (TOD) fueron medidos y analizados conjuntamente. Todos los datos de los indicadores se recopilaron en mujeres embarazadas de un solo feto entre 16 y 39 semanas de edad gestacional (EG), entre noviembre de 2017 y junio de 2021 en el Segundo Hospital de la Universidad Médica de Dalian. Un total de 235 mujeres embarazadas se inscribieron en el estudio transversal; otras 36 mujeres embarazadas se unieron voluntariamente a un estudio de seguimiento de línea de tiempo (estudio de cohorte) bajo los mismos criterios de examen. Se observó una disminución de FHW y OHW de los ventrículos laterales a medida que aumentaba la GA; mientras que los valores dimensionales de TOD, tercer ventrículo, CSP y cuarto ventrículo aumentaron con GA. La mayoría de estos indicadores mostraron una tendencia de variación mejorada dentro de un cierto período de GA. Además, los valores de FHW y TOD mostraron asimetría de los dos hemisferios dentro de toda la AG. Nuestros hallazgos revelaron la regularidad morfológica del desarrollo ventricular fetal, lo que mejoraría de manera instructiva el diagnóstico clínico de ultrasonido relativo; además, TOD también mostró cambios regulares a medida que aumentaba la GA, lo que sugiere que TOD debe considerarse como un indicador ultrasónico de rutina adicional para el desarrollo ventricular fetal.

Risk factors of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To analyze the potential risk factors of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage(PIVH)in premature infants.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on clinical data of 279 premature infants admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, who completed cranial ultrasound during hospitalization.According to the cranial ultrasound with or without PIVH, the cases were divided into PIVH group and non-PIVH group.The premature infants with PIVH were divided into severe PIVH(grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ)group and mild PIVH(grade Ⅰand Ⅱ)group according to the PIVH grades.A total of 25 factors, which may influnce PIVH, were analyzed by univariate analysis, and then multivariate Logistic stepwise regression analysis(stepwise backwards method)was performed to determine the major risk factors.Results:(1)A total of 279 premature infants were included in the study, 133 of them in PIVH group, and 146 of them in non-PIVH group.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in 14 factors between two groups, including full treatment of antenatal steroid, gestation age, birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, hypothermia, early onset sepsis, metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia, anemia, respiratory distress syndrome, noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that gestational age( OR=0.709, 95% CI 0.602-0.835), and full treatment of antenatal steroid( OR=0.354, 95% CI 0.189-0.664) were protective factors for PIVH in premature infants, while neonatal asphyxia( OR=2.425, 95% CI 1.171-5.023), hypothermia( OR=2.097, 95% CI 1.088~4.041), early onset sepsis( OR=12.898, 95% CI 1.433-115.264), metabolic acidosis( OR=2.493, 95% CI 1.398-4.442), invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth( OR=5.408, 95% CI 1.156-25.297), lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth ( OR=5.035, 95% CI 1.269-19.993) were independent risk factors for PIVH in premature infants( P<0.05). (2) Among 133 cases of premature PIVH, 20 cases were severe PIVH and 13 cases were mild PIVH.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in 5 factors between two groups, including antenatal magnesium sulfate, gestation age, early onset sepsis, abnormal coagulation, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth.Multivariate analysis showed that early onset sepsis( OR=4.392, 95% CI 1.343-14.367) and abnormal coagulation( OR=3.502, 95% CI 1.234-9.867) were independent risk factors for severe PIVH in premature infants( P<0.05). Conclusion:Gestational age is negatively correlated with the occurrence of PIVH in premature infants, and completion of more than a course of treatment for antenatal dexamethasone is an independent protective factor of PIVH in premature infants.Neonatal asphyxia, metabolic acidosis, hypothermia(<35 ℃), early onset sepsis, invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth are independent risk factors for PIVH in premature infants.Abnormal coagulation and early onset sepsis are independent risk factors for severe PIVH in premature infants.

Risk factors of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To analyze the potential risk factors of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage(PIVH)in premature infants.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on clinical data of 279 premature infants admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University From January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019, who completed cranial ultrasound during hospitalization.According to the cranial ultrasound with or without PIVH, the cases were divided into PIVH group and non-PIVH group.The premature infants with PIVH were divided into severe PIVH(grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ)group and mild PIVH(grade Ⅰand Ⅱ)group according to the PIVH grades.A total of 25 factors, which may influnce PIVH, were analyzed by univariate analysis, and then multivariate Logistic stepwise regression analysis(stepwise backwards method)was performed to determine the major risk factors.Results:(1)A total of 279 premature infants were included in the study, 133 of them in PIVH group, and 146 of them in non-PIVH group.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in 14 factors between two groups, including full treatment of antenatal steroid, gestation age, birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, hypothermia, early onset sepsis, metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia, anemia, respiratory distress syndrome, noninvasive ventilation, invasive ventilation, invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that gestational age( OR=0.709, 95% CI 0.602-0.835), and full treatment of antenatal steroid( OR=0.354, 95% CI 0.189-0.664) were protective factors for PIVH in premature infants, while neonatal asphyxia( OR=2.425, 95% CI 1.171-5.023), hypothermia( OR=2.097, 95% CI 1.088~4.041), early onset sepsis( OR=12.898, 95% CI 1.433-115.264), metabolic acidosis( OR=2.493, 95% CI 1.398-4.442), invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth( OR=5.408, 95% CI 1.156-25.297), lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth ( OR=5.035, 95% CI 1.269-19.993) were independent risk factors for PIVH in premature infants( P<0.05). (2) Among 133 cases of premature PIVH, 20 cases were severe PIVH and 13 cases were mild PIVH.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in 5 factors between two groups, including antenatal magnesium sulfate, gestation age, early onset sepsis, abnormal coagulation, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth.Multivariate analysis showed that early onset sepsis( OR=4.392, 95% CI 1.343-14.367) and abnormal coagulation( OR=3.502, 95% CI 1.234-9.867) were independent risk factors for severe PIVH in premature infants( P<0.05). Conclusion:Gestational age is negatively correlated with the occurrence of PIVH in premature infants, and completion of more than a course of treatment for antenatal dexamethasone is an independent protective factor of PIVH in premature infants.Neonatal asphyxia, metabolic acidosis, hypothermia(<35 ℃), early onset sepsis, invasive ventilation within 72 hours after birth, and lumbar puncture within 72 hours after birth are independent risk factors for PIVH in premature infants.Abnormal coagulation and early onset sepsis are independent risk factors for severe PIVH in premature infants.

Early assessments of brain injury in preterm infants / 国际儿科学杂志

Improvements in prenatal and neonatal intensive care have raised the premature infants survival rate.Meanwhile,the incidence of premature brain injury is also increased.White matter iniury is one of the most common diseases of brain injury in premature infants and often leads to neurodevelopment delays and cognitive impairment.Early diagnosis and treatment of brain injury in preterm infants are important to improve their quality of life.Recent studies have shown that early detection of brain injure is benefited from some monitoring methods,including the electrophysiology,imaging,biochemical markers and cerebral oxygen metabolism of premature infants.

Clinicoradiological correlation in birth asphyxia.

Background: Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is the most dreaded neurological disease of the new-born. Assessment of severity of HIE would help proper parent counseling and early institution of stimulation therapy for better development of the infant. Methods: This study was conducted between December 2012 and May 2014. 37 term neonates with perinatal asphyxia were the subjects. The cranial ultrasound, EEG and MRI findings of these babies are analysed and correlated with each other and with clinical staging and the neurological condition of the babies at discharge. Results: Among the 37 neonates, 21 were of HIE stage 2 and 16 were of stage 3. Sensitivity of EEG in detecting abnormality in the neurological condition according to our study is 76.9%, specificity 87.5%, positive predictive value 76.9%, negative predictive value 87.5%. Sensitivity of severe pattern of injury in MRI brain in detecting abnormality in neurological condition according to our study is 76.9%, specificity 91.6%, positive predictive value 83.3%, negative predictive value 88%. Involvement of both basal ganglia and cortex in MRI brain had statistically significant correlation with abnormal neurological condition at discharge in our study (P = 0.04). Conclusion: An abnormal EEG and MRI brain in a term new-born with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is associated with poor neurological outcome. Involvement of basal ganglia/thalamus and cortex together in the MRI are predictors of abnormal outcome.

Changes of Cerebral Blood Flow by the Weak Trans-Cranial Ultrasound Irradiation in Healthy Adult Volunteers / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

In the recent aging society, many strategies against cerebral diseases including dementia are needed.As hand massage treatments promote blood flow for muscle fatigue and other disorders, ultrasonic vibration may promote cerebral blood flow.A novel, long wavelength ultrasonic vibration device with high permeation (less than 30 kHz, 2 mW/cm2) was applied to investigate cerebral blood flow before and after the frontal or occipital trans-cranial irradiation. In this study, the frontal or a mixture of the frontal and the occipital irradiation were conducted respectively on Xe gas X-ray CT, and SPECT experiments in healthy adults who did not have any excluding criteria. From the results, we confirmed that the low mill watt ultrasonic vibration emitted by the device promoted cerebral blood flow.

Relationship between the depth of cingulate sulcus on neonatal high resolution cranial ultrasound and gestational age / 소아과

PURPOSE: It is critical that the exact gestational age of a newborn baby, especially premature baby, be determined to evaluate the status of a disease and its management and to estimate the prognosis of a patient. This study aimed to investigate an easy and accurate method to estimate gestational age on cranial ultrasound, requiring minimal additional time and equipment. METHODS: A high-resolution coronal sonographic image was obtained via the anterior fontanel with a 5-12 Mhz linear probe after the usual cranial sonographic examination. We measured the depth of cerebral hemisphere, thickness of corpus callosum, and depth of cingulate sulcus and obtained the correlations between these factors and gestational age. RESULTS: Depth of cingulate sulcus had the highest correlation coefficiency with gestational age (r=0.878, P=0.000). All the cases, except for 2 cases, had a gestational age of more than 37 weeks, when the depths of cingulate sulcus were more than 0.55 cm, and had a gestational age less than 34 weeks, when the depths of cingulate sulcus were less than 0.35 cm. CONCLUSION: Measurement of the depth of cingulate sulcus was a simple and accurate method to estimate the gestational age on cranial ultrasound. The gestational age is more than 37 weeks, when the depth of cingulate sulcus is more than 0.55 cm, and is less than 34 weeks, when the depth of cingulate sulcus is less than 0.35 cm.

A Study on the Prediction of Neurodevelopmental Outcome by Cranial Ultrasound in Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants

PURPOSE: Recent progress in neonatal medicine increased the survival of preterm low birth weight infants. However, neurodevelopmental sequelae are ever increasing. We carried out this study to determine whether serial cranial ultrasonographic findings could predict neurodevelopmental outcome. METHODS: Four hundred and forty-one preterm low birth weight infants, who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Chonnam University Hospital from Jan. 1996 to Dec. 1998, were enrolled in this study. Infants were allocated to one of four groups, according to their ultrasonographic findings. Cases were included in group I when they showed normal ultrasound scans or their periventricular echogenicity was equal to choroid plexus(n=232); in group II, subependymal hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage without ventricular dilatation(n=146); in Group III, intraventricular hemorrhage with ventricular dilatation or perivemtricular echogenicity-3 (n=48); in Group IV, bilateral cystic Periventricular leukomalacia(PVL)(n=15). In these four groups, correlation among the incidence of cerebral palsy and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, cranial ultrasonographic findings, and other perinatal parameters were evaluated by ANOVA test, chi- square test, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of cerebral palsy was remarkably high in group IV(86.6%) and half of them showed a combination of other developmental abnormalities. The significant predictors of cerebral palsy were cystic PVL and duration of oxygen therapy. CONCLUSION: Cranial ultrasonographic findings could predict the development of cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm low birth weight infants.