Journal of Medical Ultrasound最新文献

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is being actively studied as a biomarker in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of RDW in patients with carotid atherosclerosis, comparing it with an assessment of the severity of carotid artery stenosis (CAS).

Methods: The Duplex registry database was used to conduct this retrospective cross-sectional study. The study participants underwent a complete blood count test, analysis for lipid profile, and carotid ultrasound. The patients were divided into 5 groups depending on CAS degree: none; 20%-49%; 50%-69%; 70%-99%; and occlusion.

Results: Data from 2548 patients were included in the final analysis (mean age: 57.9 ± 12.3 years; 51% males [n = 1301]). The analysis confirmed the relationship between the increase in the RDW index and CAS gradation increase in men (Kr-W H = 16.43; P = 0.0009), but was not confirmed in women (Kr-W H = 4.32; P = 0.22). Significantly higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and platelets and lower levels of red blood cell and white blood cells were registered in female patients without CAS and with CAS < 50% compared with men (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that RDW is an indicator whose increase is associated with an increase in the degree of carotid atherosclerosis in men, but not in women. This allows to discuss the role of the RDW index as a possible new laboratory biomarker of inflammation and progression of atherosclerosis, which can make an additional contribution to the formation of increased morbidity and mortality in men from atherosclerotic CVD.

Background: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy account for 15%-20% maternal and 20%-25% perinatal mortality. There is interest in predicting preeclampsia (PE) early in pregnancy to reduce PE and its subsequent complications. There is no cheap and easily available, reliable predictor for PE. Some studies have shown that the lateral location of placenta is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes due to PE. The lateral placenta is yet to be proven as a strong predictor of PE to initiate preventive measures. Placental localization can be easily done on routine ultrasonography during pregnancy. In the light of these observations, a prospective study was done to study any association between PE and placental location by ultrasound in third trimester. Research Question: Is there any association between placental location on ultrasound and preeclampsia in third trimester? The objective is to study association between location of placenta and preeclampsia and compare placental location in normotensive pregnancies with that in PE in third trimester.

Methods: A prospective comparative, case-control, observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at North DMC Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India, from August 2019 to April 2020. The study population included 200 pregnant women with singleton pregnancy in third trimester, without any medical disorders such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease, cardiac disease, and coagulation disorder or smoking. One hundred women had preeclampsia and 100 were normotensive controls. Ultrasound was done after filling F form as per the Government of India guidelines to rule out sex determination, and placenta was localized by ultrasound. Placenta was classified as central when it was equally distributed between the right and left sides of the uterus irrespective of anterior, posterior, or fundal position and lateral when 75% or more of the placental mass was on one side of the midline. Placental location was compared in hypertensive and normotensive pregnancies.

Results: Out of the total 200 women, 152 (76%) had central and 48 (24%) had lateral placenta. Ninety-two percent of controls and 60% of cases had central placenta. Forty percent of cases and only 8% normotensive women had lateral placenta. Lateral placenta was five times more frequent in presence of PE as compared to normotensive controls. Out of 152 women with central placenta, 92 (60.5%) women were normotensive but with lateral placenta, only 8 (16.7%) had normal blood pressure. PE was present in 83% of women with lateral placenta and in only 39.47% with central placenta. This difference was statistically significant as P < 0.0001 as per Chi-square test. This reflects a significant association between lateral position of placenta and occurrence of PE. As per odds ratio (0.1304) patients without lateral placenta had 90% protection a

This article comprehensively reviews the literature concerning prenatal ultrasound findings of isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) and the application of specific sonographic markers to differentiate among the TAPVR types. These markers can be categorized as direct and indirect, based on either morphological features or hemodynamic changes in TAPVR. Indirect markers include the ventricular disproportion, an increased distance between the left atrium (LA) and the descending aorta, as well as the dilatation of superior vena cava or coronary sinus for supracardiac or cardiac TAPVR, along with abnormal pulmonary venous spectral Doppler patterns. Direct markers predominantly focus on the absence of a connection between the pulmonary veins and the LA. Some direct markers are specific to certain TAPVR types, such as the vertical vein. Diagnosing isolated TAPVR can pose challenges, but following a sequential approach can improve detection rates and outcomes. In cases with equivocal findings, additional follow-ups are recommended. The sequential approach described in the current article provides a step-wise methodology and sonographic markers for prenatal diagnosis of TAPVR, which can be utilized by fetal-maternal medicine specialists, obstetricians, and radiological technicians to ensure timely interventions.