Fetal Heart Quantification (FetalHQ®) is a novel speckle tracking software that permits the study of global and regional ventricular shape and function from a 2D four-chamber-view loop. The 4D-Spatio Temporal Image Correlation (STIC) modality enables the offline analysis of optimized and perfectly aligned cardiac planes. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of 4D-STIC speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) using FetalHQ® and to compare it to 2D STE. We conducted a prospective study including 31 low-risk singleton pregnancies between 20 and 40 weeks of gestation. Four-chamber view volumes and 2D clips were acquired with an apex pointing at 45° and with a frame rate higher than 60 Hz. Morphometric and functional echocardiography was performed by FetalHQ®. Intra- and interobserver reproducibility were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Our results showed excellent reproducibility (ICC > 0.900) for morphometric evaluation (biventricular area, longitudinal and transverse diameters). Reproducibility was also good (ICC > 0.800) for functional evaluation (biventricular strain, Fractional Area Change, left ventricle volumes, ejection fraction and cardiac output). On the contrary, the study of the sphericity index and shortening fraction of the different ventricular segments showed lower reproducibility (ICC < 0.800). To conclude, 4D-STIC is feasible, reproducible and comparable to 2D echocardiography for the assessment of cardiac morphometry and function.

BackgroundA systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy remains the surgical standard management of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Sentinel lymph node mapping is being investigated as an alternative procedure; however, data reporting sentinel lymph node performance are heterogeneous and limited.ObjectiveA systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy remains the surgical standard management of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer. Sentinel lymph node mapping is being investigated as an alternative procedure; however, data reporting on the sentinel lymph node performance are heterogeneous and limited. This study aimed to evaluate the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with early-stage ovarian cancer.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in Medline (through PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. We included patients with clinical stage I–II ovarian cancer undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy and a pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy as a reference standard. We conducted a meta-analysis for the detection rates and measures of diagnostic accuracy and assessed the risk of bias using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. The study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with identifying number CRD42022351497.ResultsAfter duplicate removal, we identified 540 studies, 18 were assessed for eligibility, and nine studies including 113 patients were analyzed. The pooled detection rates were 93.3% per patient (95% CI 77.8% to 100%; I2=74.3%, p<0.0001), and the sentinel lymph node technique correctly identified 11 of 12 patients with lymph node metastases, with a negative predictive value per patient of 100% (95% CI 97.6% to 100%; I2=0%). The combination of indocyanine green and99mTc-albumin nanocolloid had the best detection rate (100% (95% CI 94% to 100%; I2=0%)) when injected into the utero-ovarian and infundibulo-pelvic ligaments.ConclusionSentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage ovarian cancer showed a high detection rate and negative predictive value. The utero-ovarian and infundibulo-pelvic injection using the indocyanine green and technetium-99 combination could increase sentinel lymph node detection rates. However, given the limited quality of evidence and the small number of reports, results from ongoing trials are awaited before its implementation in routine clinical practice.

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Previous reports suggest that cord blood biomarkers could serve as a prognostic tool for conotruncal congenital heart defects (CHD). We aimed to describe the cord blood profile of different cardiovascular biomarkers in a prospective series of fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and D-transposition of great arteries (D-TGA) and to explore their correlation with fetal echocardiography and perinatal outcome.MethodsA prospective cohort study (2014–2019), including fetuses with isolated ToF and D-TGA and healthy controls, was conducted at two tertiary referral centers for CHD in Barcelona. Obstetric ultrasound and fetal echocardiography were performed in the third trimester and cord blood was obtained at delivery. Cord blood concentrations of N-terminal precursor of B-type natriuretic peptide, Troponin I, transforming growth factorβ (TGFβ), placental growth factor, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 were determined.ResultsThirty-four fetuses with conotruncal-CHD (22 ToF and 12 D-TGA) and 36 controls were included. ToF-fetuses showed markedly increased cord blood TGFβ (24.9 ng/ml (15.6–45.3) vs. normal heart 15.7 ng/ml (7.2–24.3) vs. D-TGA 12.6 ng/ml (8.7–37.9); P = 0.012). These results remained statistically significant even after adjusting for maternal body mass index, birth weight and mode of delivery. TGFß levels showed a negative correlation with the pulmonary valve diameter z-score at fetal echocardiography (r = −0.576, P = 0.039). No other differences were found in the rest of cord blood biomarkers among the study populations. Likewise, no other significant correlations were identified between cardiovascular biomarkers, fetal echocardiography and perinatal outcome.ConclusionsThis study newly describes increased cord blood TGFβ concentrations in ToF compared to D-TGA and normal fetuses. We also demonstrate that TGFβ levels correlate with the severity of right ventricle outflow obstruction. These novel findings open a window of research opportunities on new prognostic and potential preventive strategies.