Wider UCA in the second trimester is related to sPTB. UCA measurement is a reproducible technique. UCA appears to increase from the first to the second trimester. Prospective studies, with ultrasound examinations aimed at measuring UCA in vivo, are needed to accurately assess the characteristics of this marker and its potential as a predictor of sPTB in clinical practice.

Introduction: The uterocervical angle has been proposed as an ultrasound marker to predict spontaneous preterm birth; however, the studies that provided this evidence were retrospective and their results heterogeneous. This study aimed to assess the ability of the uterocervical angle to predict spontaneous preterm birth before 34 and 37 weeks of gestation. How to cite this article: Farràs Llobet A, Higueras T, Calero IZ, et al. Prospective evaluation of the uterocervical angle as a predictor of spontaneous preterm birth.

BackgroundPrimary care is the ideal setting for early identification of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a potentially progressive disease that may lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer but is frequently underrecognized because subjects at risk are often not evaluated. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a reliable method for non-invasive quantification of liver fat. It has the advantage of simultaneous measurement of liver stiffness (LS), an estimate of liver fibrosis. There is no information on CAP in subjects with risk factors from primary care.AimTo investigate the prevalence of hepatic steatosis, as estimated by CAP, in subjects from the community with metabolic risk factors and correlate findings with clinical and biochemical characteristics and LS.Patients and methodsPopulation-based study of 215 subjects with metabolic risk factors without known liver disease identified randomly from a primary care center. A control group of 80 subjects matched by age and sex without metabolic risk factors was also studied. CAP and LS were assessed using Fibroscan.ResultsSubjects with risk factors had CAP values higher than those of control group (268±64 vs 243±49dB/m,p<0.001). Prevalence of severe steatosis (CAP> 280dB/m) in subjects with risk factors was 43%. In multivariate analysis, fatty liver index (FLI) and HOMA were independent predictive factors of severe steatosis. There was a direct correlation between CAP and FLI values (r = 0.52,p<0.001). Interestingly, prevalence of increased LS was 12.6% in the risk group vs 0% in the control group (p<0.001). Increased LS occurred predominantly in subjects with high CAP values.ConclusionsA high proportion of subjects with metabolic risk factors seen in primary care have severe steatosis. FLI could be used as a surrogate of CAP. Increased LS was found in a significant proportion of subjects with risk factors but not in control subjects.

In women with a PCS, measurement of cervical length and head-perineum distance at term is associated with the mode of delivery. A combination of clinical and sonographic parameters at term can predict the likelihood of vaginal delivery.