Rump Length Research Articles

Ultrasound assessment of embryo cardiac function as a predictive criterion of adverse pregnancy outcome

Purpose to evaluate the value of the embryo/fetus heart rate (HR) in early pregnancy assessed by ultrasound for the formation of a group at high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of ultrasound examinations of 1073 pregnant women at 5+0–10+6 weeks was carried out. The embryo/fetus heart rate was compared with the gestational age calculated by the crown rump length (CRL) and the date of the last menstruation period (LMP). Retrospectively, all examined pregnant women were divided into two groups: group 1—with intrauterine embryo death before 14 weeks of pregnancy (n = 107); group 2—with prolongation of pregnancy until the second trimester (n = 966). When analyzing the data array using a decision tree, the embryo heart rate was assessed at various stages of pregnancy by LMP, CRL, and regardless of the exact period of pregnancy.Results. Analysis of heart rate values at different stages of pregnancy by LMP showed significant differences in heart rate between groups, the cases of later embryo loss characterized by lover heart rate values. There were no significant differences in heart rate between the groups at different stages of pregnancy by CRL (significant differences were obtained only at 8+0–9+6 weeks). Cut-off values of embryo heart rate for prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes have been proposed for different stages of pregnancy, as well as a universal cut-off for the entire embryonic period.Conclusion. The proposed cut-off values of embryo heart rate for different stages of pregnancy, calculated by LMP, may be used for timely prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes. When the exact gestational age is unknown, a universal heart rate cut-off value of <116 bpm may be used. All proposed HR cut-off values were characterized by high specificity, but none of them by high sensitivity. A sensitivity of HR cut-off values can be increased by the use in combination with other ultrasound and clinical signs of adverse pregnancy outcome.

Anatomical parameters do not determine linear breaking strength or dimensions of the porcine biliary system

Abstract Background The porcine gall bladder and cystic duct gained attention in experimental research aimed at improving human clinical care. While the common bile duct has been investigated before, there is almost no data on the porcine cystic duct. Its relevance for research originates from its potential use in xenotransplantation. Methods We included 10 consecutive pigs (1♀, 9♂) that had been sacrificed after participation in another study. At necropsy, the distance from the biliary papilla to the gall bladder (gall bladder distance) was measured. The cystic duct was then subjected to linear traction. Ethical approval for the study was granted. Associations between force measurements and anatomical parameters were tested by correlation analysis. Results The pigs had a mean body weight of 21.9 kg (standard deviation 2 kg), a mean liver weight of 590 g (standard deviation 88 g), and a mean crown rump length of 67.3 cm (standard deviation 3 cm). The gall bladder distance was 8.2 cm (95% confidence interval: 7.6–8.7 cm). The cystic duct withstood mean linear traction forces of 4.8 N (95% confidence interval: 3.7–5.8 N) and could be elongated by a mean of 6 mm (95% confidence interval: 3.9–8 mm). Linear breaking strength was neither correlated to gall bladder distance (R = 0.3, 95% confidence interval: − 0.41 to 0.78, P = 0.406) or crown rump length (R = 0.42, 95% confidence interval: − 0.28 to 0.83, P = 0.222) nor liver weight (R = 0.02, 95% confidence interval: − 0.62 to 0.64, P = 0.954) or body weight (R = 0.36, 95% confidence interval: − 0.35 to 0.81, P = 0.304). This was also true for gall bladder distance. Conclusions Our study indicates that allometric parameters were not associated with the gall bladder distance or its resistance to traction forces. Consequently, substantial variation of these parameters can be expected in these surgically important parameters, which cannot be derived from easily accessible anatomical parameters.

Investigation of the potential teratogenic effects of fructose on the embryo using the rat whole embryo culture model

Excessive consumption of fructose-sweetened foods and beverages is a growing concern worldwide. Studies have demonstrated that fructose consumption before and during pregnancy can result in adverse outcomes such as decreased decidualization, increased fetal losses, and low birth weight. The study investigated the teratogenic effects of fructose on rat embryos during organogenesis using whole embryo culture. Within the scope of the study, 4 groups were formed as control, low, medium, and high-dose fructose (HDF) with 10 embryos in each group. The 9.5-day-old rat embryos were cultured with different concentrations of fructose (1, 5 and 10 mM) for 48 h and the possible effects of fructose were examined using morphological scoring, histochemistry, immunofluorescence, and TUNEL methods. According to the analyses, protein synthesis and proliferation were decreased, vascular formation was suppressed, and apoptosis was increased in embryos exposed to fructose, especially at concentrations of 5 mM and above. According to the morphological scoring results, it was determined that heart, hind limb, and somite development were retarded in all experimental groups compared to the control group, developmental retardation increased in direct proportion to fructose concentration, and also significant malformations were observed in all parameters examined in the HDF group. In addition, analysis of yolk sac diameter, head length, crown rump length and somite numbers showed that these parameters were significantly decreased in all experimental groups. End of the study, it was concluded that fructose at concentrations of 1 mM and above may induce embryonic development retardation and other anomalies by decreasing protein synthesis and cell proliferation, suppressing vascular formation, and increasing apoptosis in embryonic tissues.

Reliability of trans-cerebellar diameter for gestational age in comparison to crown rump length

Background and objective: accurate estimation of gestational age is important for perfect antenatal care, as many pregnant women may don’t know their last menstrual period & not have a first-trimester ultrasound that is accurate in estimating the gestational age, and the routine fetal biometry in the second & third trimesters may be unreliable for some reason. Therefore, it’s necessary to develop an ultrasonographic parameter capable of reliably estimating gestational age at any point during pregnancy. This study aims to compare the accuracy of trans-cerebellar diameter (TCD) in n 2nd and 3rd trimesters for the calculation of estimated gestational age with the first-trimester crown rump length (CRL) which is the most accurate measurement for the estimation of gestational age. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in Erbil from the 1st of January 2021 to the 10thof August 2022. A total sample of 258 antenatal women was included. The ultrasound examination was performed by a GE Voluson ultrasound system (GE health care 2015) machine using a 3.5 MHZ curved transducer. The CRL was taken between 6-13 weeks of gestational age, and TCD between 15-38 weeks. TCD is measured by keeping the calibers on the outer margin of the cerebellar hemisphere. Data were analyzed using the statistical package for social science SPSS V. 26. Results: The mean transcerebral diameter during different gestational ages was 16.35 (±0.76) less than 18 weeks gestation, 21.48 (±1.7) between 18-25 weeks gestation, 28.03 (±1.79) between 25-32 weeks gestation, 35.52 (± 1.84) above 32 weeks gestation respectively. There is a statistically significant linear correlation between TCD and ECRL with (rho=0.992) (P <0.001) Conclusion: The accuracy of the TCD in the second & third trimester of pregnancy is comparable with the estimated CRL in the first trimester, so this will help us in the estimation of the gestational age for pregnant women with unknown LMP and unavailable first-trimester dating scan.

Morphometric Characterization and Principal Component Analysis of Different Goats Breeds

Goats play a very vital role in the livestock industry and are the only livestock not forbidden by any religion. Morphometric characterization is very important for the improvement of goat breeds and the proper classification of these animals. A linear measurement was carried out on sixty goats consisting of 20 each Red Sokoto (RS), West African Long logged (WLL), and West African Dwarf WAD) goat. Parameters measures were Withers height (WH), Rump height (RH), Body length (BL), Sternum height (SH), Body depth (BD), Bicostal diameter (BC), Ear length (EL), Rump width (RW), Head width (HW), Rump length (RL), Head length (HL) Heart girth (HG), Cannon bone Circumference (CB), Muzzle diameter (MD). The data collected was subjected to statistical analysis using R. version 4.0.2. It was observed that WH, RH, BL, SH, BD, BC, EL, RW, HW, RL, HL, HG, CB, and MD, exhibit variations across different age groups. For example, WH increases from 36.89 cm (at 1.00 years) to 63.98 cm (at 4.00 years), indicating a growth in wither height as goats increase in age. A significant difference (p<0.05) in the morphometric parameters across different age groups was observed. The lowest mean weight (11.50±1.1) was recorded in WAD while the highest (24.40±1.24) was recorded in WLL). These variations in weight were significant (p<0.05) across the breeds. Principal Component Analysis shows that four components contributed to 74% of the variation in the goat. The estimation classified the goats as heavy meat type while the Dactyl thorax index classified the WAD and RS as brevigline and the WLL as medigline. This study therefore contributes to a better understanding of goat morphology which has practical implications for livestock breeding and management programs. Informed decisions can also be made about breeding strategies, selecting animals specifically, and improving the overall goat population using the information provided in this study.

The phenotypic characteristics and morphology of Jabres and Pasundan cattle differences

Abstract. Suryaka Y, Sutopo S, Setiaji A. 2024. The phenotypic characteristics and morphology of Jabres and Pasundan cattle differences. Biodiversitas 25: 3239-3246. Pasundan and Jabres cattle, prominent Indonesian breeds, exhibit unique phenotypic characteristics crucial for sustainable breeding and conservation. This study, aimed at delineating phenotypic differences between Pasundan and Jabres cattle, two prominent Indonesian breeds, is a hope for the country's sustainable breeding and conservation efforts. Data were collected from 131 adult cattle (71 Pasundan, 60 Jabres) from Kuningan and Brebes Districts, spanning July 2022 to June 2023. Morphological and morphometric analyses highlighted key distinctions: Pasundan cattle predominantly feature a solid reddish-brown coat, while Jabres cattle exhibit more diverse colors, including black. Jabres cattle showed significantly greater body length and chest girth than Pasundan cattle. Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) effectively distinguished the breeds, especially in females, with 83.33% accuracy for Pasundan and 79.31% for Jabres. Critical discriminant traits included chest width and rump length. The findings suggest that Pasundan and Jabres cattle possess unique phenotypic traits driven by genetic, environmental, and management factors. These insights are crucial for developing targeted breeding strategies to enhance breed-specific characteristics, laying the groundwork for a promising future for Indonesia's cattle industry.

A DIO2 missense mutation and its impact on fetal response to PRRSV infection

BackgroundPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2) infection during late gestation substantially lowers fetal viability and survival. In a previous genome-wide association study, a single nucleotide polymorphism on chromosome 7 was significantly associated with probability of fetuses being viable in response to maternal PRRSV-2 infection at 21 days post maternal inoculation. The iodothyronine deiodinase 2 (DIO2) gene, located ~ 14 Kilobase downstream of this SNP, was selected as a priority candidate related to fetal susceptibility following maternal PRRSV-2 infection. Our objectives were to identify mutation(s) within the porcine DIO2 gene and to determine if they were associated with fetal outcomes after PRRSV-2 challenge. Sequencing of the DIO2, genotyping identified variants, and association of DIO2 genotypes with fetal phenotypes including DIO2 mRNA levels, viability, survival, viral loads, cortisol and thyroid hormone levels, and growth measurements were conducted.ResultsA missense variant (p.Asn91Ser) was identified in the parental populations from two independent PRRSV-2 challenge trials. This variant was further genotyped to determine association with fetal PRRS outcomes. DIO2 mRNA levels in fetal heart and kidney differed by the genotypes of Asn91Ser substitution with significantly greater DIO2 mRNA expression in heterozygotes compared with wild-type homozygotes (P < 0.001 for heart, P = 0.002 for kidney). While Asn91Ser did not significantly alter fetal viability and growth measurements, interaction effects of the variant with fetal sex or trial were identified for fetal viability or crown rump length, respectively. However, this mutation was not related to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and thyroid axis, indicated by no differences in circulating cortisol, T4, and T3 levels in fetuses of the opposing genotypes following PRRSV-2 infection.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that a complex relationship among DIO2 genotype, DIO2 expression, fetal sex, and fetal viability may exist during the course of fetal PRRSV infection. Our study also proposes the increase in cortisol levels, indicative of fetal stress response, may lead to fetal complications, such as fetal compromise, fetal death, or premature farrowing, during PRRSV infection.

Fetal ultrasound anatomy and morphometric parameters of the tibia

Ultrasound screening is one of the most informative methods of visualizing fetal development during pregnancy. During standard ultrasound examinations, the length of the femur of the fetus is measured. However, if any skeletal dysplasia or intrauterine growth retardation is suspected, additional measurement of other long tubular bones should be performed. The aim of the work was to investigate the morphometric parameters of the lengths of the right and left tibia bones and to establish correlations between them and the lengths of the corresponding fibula, lower limb and crown rump length of the fetus during the fetal period of human ontogenesis. Intravital ultrasound examination of the leg bones of 38 human fetuses was performed at the medical center "YUZKO MEDICAL CENTER" in accordance with the cooperation agreement. Built-in capabilities of MS Excel were used for statistical calculations. The established data on the fetal morphometry of tibial lengths indicate relatively uniform growth of the right and left tibias during the fetal period of human ontogenesis: the length of the right tibia increases from 24.77±2.25 mm to 65.32±2.20 mm, and the length of the left tibia increases from 25.19±1.63 mm to 65.78±1.81 mm. The analysis of correlations between the length of the right and left tibia bones, the length of the fibula bones, the length of the lower limbs and the crown rump length in human fetuses aged from 4 to 10 months of intrauterine development allowed to reveal reliable strong and medium strength reliable and unreliable, mostly direct, connections in all age groups. The obtained morphometric parameters of tibia bones in fetuses of different gestational periods are important additional dimensions of fetobiometry, which can be used if a detailed assessment of the state of fetal development is necessary and in case of suspicion of congenital anomalies.

Histomorphological Development Study of Cecum in Local Awassi Sheep Fetuses (Ovis Aris): Prenatal Periods

This study was conducted at Al-Qasim Green University/College of Veterinary Medicine, Anatomy and Histology Branch. The experiment was designed to study the cecum of Awassi sheep fetuses: prenatal periods. Samples (30 male and female samples) were collected from healthy females uterine and divided according to age groups into four groups by crown rump length formula (CRL) for the prenatal stage. In the first age group (50-55), the cecum was in the process of development, as it was not distinguished visually. In the second age group (70-75 days), it was a small protrusion located between the ileum and the beginning of the ascending colon. With advancing age, the third group, which includes two ages in the third trimester of pregnancy, we found that the cecum was completely formed in (100-105) days and at (130-140) days of gestation. Also, upon histological study, we found that the wall of the cecum consists of four layers, as in the rest of the parts of the digestive system, and is lined with an epithelial layer surrounded by a layer of connective tissue. It is supportive of the epithelial tissue. We also found tunica submucosa constantly devolving with age, as it is mesenchymal cells in the first stage of intrauterine life and begin to transform into connective tissue with the presence of fibers and collagen (tunica submucosa) as a result of these cells transforming into spindle cells to form the inner muscle layer, as well as tunica muscularis externa. The latter is surrounded by loose connective tissue that contains a few collagen and elastic fibers surrounded by mesothelial cells (tunica serosa) that contain blood vessels to support development in the inner layers.

Use of data mining algorithms to predict body weight of Dorper sheep Breed in two selected villages of Lepelle-Nkumpi local municipality in Limpopo province, South Africa

Sheep farmers in village areas find it difficult to estimate body weight without the weighing tools. The best fitted model for estimation of sheep body weight is not conclusive. Classification and regression tree (CART), Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID), Exhaustive chi-square automatic interaction detection (Ex-CHAID) and Multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) were used to predict body weight (BW) of 306 Dorper sheep (female = 244 and male = 62) aged 1 to 2 years from linear body measurement traits such as rump height (RH), rump length (RL), heart girth (HG), withers height (WH), and body length (BL). Goodness of fit criteria's such as Pearson's correlation coefficients (r), coefficient of determination (R2), Akaike's information criterion AIC and adjusted R2 (Adj.R2) were computed for data mining algorithms performance assessment. The results indicated that MARS was the best data mining algorithm with r of 0.979, R2 of 0.958, Adj.R2 of 0.957, RMSE of 2.503 and AIC of 422.25. The MARS model provided the most appropriate predictive capability in the prediction of body weight for Dorper sheep with HG, WH, RH, BL, and sex (male) as the important traits. As a result, MARS data mining algorithm might be used to identify factors that might be vital to improve body weight of Dorper sheep for breeding programs.

Ethambutol-induced ovarian, uterine and placental oxidative stress: Implication for reproductive outcome in female Wistar rats

Tuberculosis is a major global challenge, potentially infecting more individuals than other pathogens. Ethambutol, a first line drug used in tuberculosis treatment, lacks adequate research regarding its impact on female reproductive health. This study investigates ethambutol-induced oxidative stress to the ovary, uterus and placenta with implications to reproductive outcome in female Wistar rats. Twenty adult female Wistar rats weighing between 170g-190g were divided into two groups (A and B) of ten rats each. Group A served as control and received only food and water ad libitum. Group B was administered with 15 mg/kg body weight of ethambutol, orally, daily for 28 days. After 28 days, five animals from each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the ovaries and uterus were harvested for oxidative stress analysis. The remaining animals from each group were mated, and ethambutol administration continued until gestational day 19 when they were sacrificed, and the placentae were harvested for oxidative stress analysis. The fetuses were used to study pregnancy outcomes. From the result, ovarian glutathione peroxidase was significantly elevated, uterine superoxide dismutase and catalase levels were significantly decreased while malondialdehyde activity was significantly elevated, placental catalase activity was significantly decreased while glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde activities was significantly elevated following ethambutol administration. On pregnancy outcomes, ethambutol significantly decreased crown rump length, litter weight, placental weight and fetal/placental weight ratio. In conclusion, evidence from this study suggests that ethambutol is toxic to the ovary, uterus and placenta via mechanisms that involve oxidative stress resulting in poor pregnancy outcomes.

22 Feeding the early gestating gilt during heat stress: Implications towards fetal viability, growth, and development

Abstract Gestational heat stress (GHS) directly impacts litter development and viability and has long term negative postnatal effects on offspring. However, current data on the interactions between GHS, maternal feed energy partitioning, and fetal development measures in pigs are limited. Therefore, the study objective was to gain a greater understanding of how early GHS influences fetal development and viability and whether maternal feed energy partitioning has a role. Gestating gilts (n = 23) were exposed to thermoneutral (TN; n = 11; 18.5 ± 1.2°C) or heat stress (HS; n = 12; cyclic 26 to 38°C) conditions beginning on d 6.0 ± 0.9 of gestation to 33.0 ± 1.7. The HS treatments resulted in greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) respiration rates and body temperature and HS gilts grew faster (P &amp;lt; 0.05; 0.5 ± 0.1 kg/d) than TN gilts (0.3 ± 0.1 kg/d) as previously reported. Pregnant gilts were individually housed and limit-fed a standard gestating gilt diet (1.82 kg/d; 4.39 Mcal NE intake/d). On gestation d 33 ± 1.7, gilts were harvested and reproductive tract weight, corpus luteum (CL) counts, and fetal weights and counts were recorded. Additionally, fetal images were taken with a digital camera to assess fetal length, width, crown rump length (CRL), and viability using Image J. Fetuses were considered nonviable if CRL was more than 2 standard deviations less than the mean litter CRL or had irregular anatomical traits. All data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX with either pregnant gilt as the experimental unit for litter-based measures or individual fetus as the experimental unit for fetal based measures. Gilt NE intake efficiency [average daily gain (ADG); NE intake) was greater for HS (P = 0.04; 0.11 ± 0.01) when compared with TN gilts (0.07 ± 0.01). No fetal ADG (P = 0.26; 0.12 ± 0.04 g/d) or fetal ADG; gilt NE intake differences (P = 0.26; 0.03 ± 0.01) were detected between treatments. Total fetuses per CL were decreased for HS gilts (P = 0.01; 0.72 ± 0.03 fetuses) when compared with TN gilts (0.85 ± 0.04 fetuses). Viable fetuses per CL were reduced for HS gilts (P = 0.05; 0.69 ± 0.01 fetuses) when compared with TN gilts (0.80 ± 0.04 fetuses). The difference between total CL count and total fetuses per gilt tended to be increased for HS (P = 0.08; 6 ± 1 fetus) versus TN gilts (4 ± 1 fetus). No other fetal differences were observed (P &amp;gt; 0.10). In conclusion, early GHS improved gilt growth performance and NE efficiency, but resulted in decreased fertilization rates and reduced fetal viability and had no impact on fetal growth and development.

Hypoxia and oxidative stress impair autophagy and cell death mechanisms in trophoblast cells and reduce placental effciency in rodents

Introduction: Hypoxia and oxidative stress can activate autophagy, a lysosomal degradation pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis. Impairments in autophagy mechanisms have been observed in placentas from obstetric complications associated with placental hypoxia and oxidative stress, such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of hypoxia and oxidative stress on placental cell autophagy. We hypothesized that exposure to oxidative stress and hypoxia would alter the balance between cytotoxic and cytoprotective mechanisms in human trophoblast cells and rat placentas and would adversely affect placental effciency. Methods: We used an in vitro model incorporating human trophoblast cells (BeWo cells) exposed to an oxidative stressor, antimycin A (10, 100, 320 μM) or vehicle for 4 hours. Trophoblast cell death and autophagy mechanisms were assessed via flow cytometry and western blotting. Additionally, we used a rodent model of gestational sleep apnea, a pregnancy complication associated with placental hypoxia. Long Evans timed-pregnant dams were exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH; n=6-8) or normoxia (NX; n=8-9) during their sleep cycle from gestational day (GD) 15 to 20 (term=21-23 days). Results: In trophoblast cells (n=5-9 independent experiments), antimycin A increased necrosis and LC3 A/B II/I ratio (autophagy marker) at 100 μM compared to vehicle (p≤0.015). At antimycin A 320 μM, necrosis remained elevated, while BAX (pro-apoptotic marker) and p62 (autophagosomal flux marker) were reduced compared to vehicle (p&lt;0.0001), and LC3 A/B II/I ratio returned to vehicle levels (p&gt;0.05 vs. vehicle). Placental weights from CIH exposed dams were greater (NX: 0.51±0.02 g vs. CIH: 0.60±0.03 g, p=0.015) and fetal to placental weight ratios (marker of placental effciency) were reduced compared to control pregnancies (NX: 5.25±0.13 vs. CIH: 4.43±0.14, p=0.0006) on GD20. Gestational CIH did not affect (p&gt;0.05) fetal weights (NX: 2.76±0.06 g vs. CIH: 2.61±0.06 g), crown to rump length (NX: 3.32±0.03 cm vs. CIH: 3.18±0.12 cm), abdominal girth (NX: 3.22±0.06 cm vs. CIH: 3.32±0.12 cm), or litter size (NX: 11.9±0.90 vs. CIH: 10.5±0.82). Conclusion: Oxidative stress alters the balance between cytotoxic and cytoprotective mechanisms in trophoblast cells, promoting cell necrosis. Although assessment of autophagy machinery and cell death in placentas from hypoxic pregnancies is ongoing, our results indicate that gestational CIH adversely affects placental effciency. NIH R01 HL146562, AHA 22PRE-900431, T32 AG020494, AHA 22POST-903250. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Histological Assessment of Placental Development Following Intrauterine Exposure to Caffeine in Adult Wistar Rats

In recent years, there have been concerns about human reproductive disorders. Physiological adaptations are crucial for optimal fetal development during pregnancy. The widespread consumption of caffeine by pregnant women raises questions about its impact on maternal physiology and fetal development. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the histological assessment of placenta development following intrauterine exposure to caffeine in adult Wistar rats using appropriate standard techniques. On each gestational day (GD13, GD15, GD17, and GD19), five (5) animals were sampled from each group and their placentas were harvested for histological assessment. The Maternal weight, Fetal Crown Rump Length, Placental weight, Placental diameter major, Placental diameter minor, and fetal weight were taken on the harvested placenta. Results showed varying alterations in the histomorphology of the placenta ranging from delayed differentiation of glycogen cells, dilated and congested blood vessels, vacuolar degeneration of glycogen cell islands, poor development of the labyrinth zone, and dilated fetal capillaries. In conclusion, there is histomorphological evidence that caffeine administration has deleterious effects on the development of the placenta in Wistar rats.

First-trimester fetal size, accelerated growth in utero, and child neurodevelopment in a cohort study.

Early pregnancy is a critical window for neural system programming; however, the association of first-trimester fetal size with children's neurodevelopment remains to be assessed. This study aimed to explore the association between first-trimester fetal size and children's neurodevelopment and to examine whether intrauterine accelerated growth could compensate for the detrimental effects of first-trimester restricted growth on childhood neurodevelopment. The participants were from a birth cohort enrolled from March 2014 to March 2019 in Wuhan, China. A total of 2058 fetuses with crown to rump length (CRL) (a proxy of first-trimester fetal size) measurements in the first trimester and neurodevelopmental assessment at age 2 years were included. We measured the first-trimester CRL and defined three fetal growth patterns based on the growth rate of estimated fetal weight from mid to late pregnancy. The neurodevelopment was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development of China Revision at 2 years. Each unit (a Z score) increase of first-trimester CRL was associated with increased scores in mental developmental index (MDI) (adjusted beta estimate = 1.19, (95% CI: 0.42, 1.95), P = 0.03) and psychomotor developmental index (PDI) (adjusted beta estimate = 1.36, (95% CI: 0.46, 2.26), P < 0.01) at age 2 years, respectively. No significant association was observed between fetal growth rate and PDI. For children with restricted first-trimester fetal size (the lowest tertile of first-trimester CRL), those with "intrauterine accelerated growth" pattern (higher growth rates) had significantly higher MDI (adjusted beta estimate = 6.14, (95% CI: 3.80, 8.49), P < 0.001) but indistinguishable PDI compared to those with "intrauterine faltering growth" pattern (lower growth rates). Main limitations of this study included potential misclassification of gestational age due to recall bias of the last menstrual period and residual confounding. The current study suggests that restricted first-trimester fetal size is associated with mental and psychomotor developmental delay in childhood. However, in children with restricted first-trimester fetal size, intrauterine accelerated growth was associated with improved mental development but had little effect on psychomotor development. Additional studies are needed to validate the results in diverse populations.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Gestational Sac, Yolk Sac, Embryonic Heart Rate and Crown Rump Length as Prognostic Factors for First Trimester Pregnancy Outcomes

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Gestational Sac, Yolk Sac, Embryonic Heart Rate and Crown Rump Length as Prognostic Factors for First Trimester Pregnancy Outcomes

The role of the ratio of first trimester CRL (crown rump length) measurement to NT (nuchal translucency) measurements in predicting early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR)

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the role of the ratio of first-trimester CRL (crown rump length) measurement to NT (nuchal translucency) measurements in predicting early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) and to contribute to the existing literature.&#x0D; Methods: In the present case-control study, fetuses with early-onset FGR were compared to a frequency matched low risk control group. This study was conducted in the perinatology clinic of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital between 2020 and 2023. Maternal age, gravidity, parity, crown-rump length (CRL), and nuchal translucency (NT) measurements were compared between pregnant women with early onset FGR (n=39) and pregnant women without FGR (n=50).&#x0D; Results: The mean age of pregnant women with FGR who participated in the study was 27.1±0.8, and the mean age of pregnant women without FGR was 26.3±0.6, and no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p=0.4)). Mean CRL was 54.98±1.08 mm in the group with FGR and 56.99±1.11 mm in the group without FGR; there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.2). The NT value was 1.11 ± 0.04 mm in the FGR group and 1.13 ± 0.02 mm in the without FGR group, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.73). The mean CRL/NT ratio was 52.00±2.33 in the group with early onset FGR and 51.46±1.48 in the group without FGR and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.83).&#x0D; When the early developing FGR group is evaluated within itself, the mean age at diagnosis was 31.7±0.3 weeks. EFW mean percentile at diagnosis was 4.5±0.6 and ac percentile was 2.9±0.4. The mean umbilical artery systole/diastole ratio (UA-SD) was 2.9±0.16 and the mean umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI) was 1.02±0.05.&#x0D; Conclusion: Crown-rump length to nuchal translucency ratio is not clinically useful to predict early-onset FGR.

Accuracy of prenatal and postnatal biomarkers for estimating gestational age: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Knowledge of gestational age (GA) is key in clinical management of individual obstetric patients, and critical to be able to calculate rates of preterm birth and small for GA at a population level. Currently, the gold standard for pregnancy dating is measurement of the fetal crown rump length at 11-14 weeks of gestation. However, this is not possible for women first presenting in later pregnancy, or in settings where routine ultrasound is not available. A reliable, cheap and easy to measure GA-dependent biomarker would provide an important breakthrough in estimating the age of pregnancy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of prenatal and postnatal biomarkers for estimating gestational age (GA). Systematic review prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020167727) and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-DTA. Medline, Embase, CINAHL, LILACS, and other databases were searched from inception until September 2023 for cohort or cross-sectional studies that reported on the accuracy of prenatal and postnatal biomarkers for estimating GA. In addition, we searched Google Scholar and screened proceedings of relevant conferences and reference lists of identified studies and relevant reviews. There were no language or date restrictions. Pooled coefficients of correlation and root mean square error (RMSE, average deviation in weeks between the GA estimated by the biomarker and that estimated by the gold standard method) were calculated. The risk of bias in each included study was also assessed. Thirty-nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 20 studies (2,050 women) assessed prenatal biomarkers (placental hormones, metabolomic profiles, proteomics, cell-free RNA transcripts, and exon-level gene expression), and 19 (1,738,652 newborns) assessed postnatal biomarkers (metabolomic profiles, DNA methylation profiles, and fetal haematological components). Among the prenatal biomarkers assessed, human chorionic gonadotrophin measured in maternal serum between 4 and 9 weeks of gestation showed the highest correlation with the reference standard GA, with a pooled coefficient of correlation of 0.88. Among the postnatal biomarkers assessed, metabolomic profiling from newborn blood spots provided the most accurate estimate of GA, with a pooled RMSE of 1.03 weeks across all GAs. It performed best for term infants with a slightly reduced accuracy for preterm or small for GA infants. The pooled RMSEs for metabolomic profiling and DNA methylation profile from cord blood samples were 1.57 and 1.60 weeks, respectively. We identified no antenatal biomarkers that accurately predict GA over a wide window of pregnancy. Postnatally, metabolomic profiling from newborn blood spot provides an accurate estimate of GA, however, as this is known only after birth it is not useful to guide antenatal care. Further prenatal studies are needed to identify biomarkers that can be used in isolation, as part of a biomarker panel, or in combination with other clinical methods to narrow prediction intervals of GA estimation. The research was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-000368). ATP is supported by the Oxford Partnership Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre with funding from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK National Health Service, the NIHR, the Department of Health, or the Department of Biotechnology. The funders of this study had no role in study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, in writing the paper or the decision to submit for publication.

The predictive value of first trimester maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein-a (papp-a) level in predicting gestational diabetes mellitus

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the predictive value of first trimester biochemical markers in the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the file records of 361 pregnant patients, who were admitted to the 1st Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at Sisli Etfal Education and Training Hospital for first trimester prenatal screening test between 11-14 weeks of their gestation and who later had undergone 50 gram glucose challenge test at 24-28 weeks of their gestation, between November 2007 and February 2011. Age, patient weight, Crown rump length (CRL), gestational week, Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A (PAPP-A) concentration, PAPP-A multiple of median (MoM) value, Beta-human koryonik gonadotropin (B-HCG) concentration, B-HCG MoM value, 50 and 100 g oral glucose challange test result were recorded from the files. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed according to National Diabates Data Grup cutt-off values and criteria. The association between first trimester biochemical markers and subsequent development of gestational diabetes was evaluated. Results: In this study low PAPP-A and/or HCG MoM values and increased Nuchal translucency (NT) MoM values were found to be statistically significant for subsequent development of gestational diabetes. Conclusion: GDM is an important health problem that carries many risks of complications for both mother and fetus. Pregnant women with GDM may have high blood sugar levels before diagnosis at 24 weeks of gestation, so fetal growth may be negatively affected by maternal hyperglycemia. Use of first trimester screening maternal serum biomarkers may lead to early diagnosis of GDM and interventions to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Evaluation of morphological traits using multivariate techniques in Kotdhar goat native to Shivalik hill region of Himachal Pradesh.

The objective of this study was to analyze the diverse morphological attributes of Kotdhar goat native to Shivalik hill region of Himachal Pradesh. A total number of 180 goats, comprising 150 females and 30 males aged between 1 and 3years, were randomly selected to estimate15 distinct morphological traits and ten body indices. Mean values of 17.66cm, 11.68cm, 8.73cm, 71.94cm, 69.83cm, 74.48cm, 38.10cm, 73.38cm, 20.55cm, 16.48cm, 14.89cm, 13.57cm, 19.20cm, 7.71cm and 26.12kg were estimated for head length, head width, face length, body length, wither height, heart girth, chest depth, rump height, rump length, rump width, haunch width, bicoastal width, shoulder width, cannon bone and body weight respectively. In addition, morphological indices viz. body index, length index, body ratio, thoracic development, pelvic index, longitudinal pelvic index, transverse pelvic index, proportionality index, dactyl thorax index and relative depth of thorax were estimated from morphological traits. Results of morphological indices indicated that Kotdhar goat are medium bodied, longilinear, tall animals and well-suited for meat production. Phenotypic correlation among most of traits was positive and significant. Among all correlations, correlation between head length and head width was found lowest (- 0.270), while the correlation between heart girth and chest depth was observed highest (0.861). Canonical discriminant function analysis showed that there was no considerable level of intermixing for morphological traits in Kotdhar goat. Employing principal component analysis with varimax rotation, three principal components were observed, accounting for 68.47% of the total variation. First principal component (PC1) encapsulated the highest proportion of variance (44.39), revealing the high loadings on head length (0.777), body length (0.747), wither height (0.782), heart girth (0.785), chest depth (0.706), rump height (0.762), haunch width (0.734) and bicoastal width (0.793). Hence, it is possible to utilize these eight variables out of the 15 morphological traits for the characterization of the Kotdhar goat.