Expansion of the prenatal phenotype of Baraitser-Winter syndrome: Presentation of two cases of multiple congenital anomaly syndrome.

Baraitser-Winter cerebrofrontofacial syndrome (BWCFF) is a variable multiple congenital anomaly condition, typically presenting postnatally with neurocognitive delays, distinctive facial features, cortical brain malformations, and in some, a variety of additional congenital malformations. However, only a few cases have reported the prenatal presentation of this syndrome. Here, we report two cases of BWCFF and their associated prenatal findings. One case presented with non-immune hydrops fetalis and a horseshoe kidney and was found to have a de novo heterozygous variant in ACTB (c.158A>G). The second case presented with gastroschisis, bilateral cleft lip and palate, and oligohydramnios, and was found to harbor a different de novo variant in ACTB (c.826G>A). Limited reports exist describing prenatally identified anomalies that include fetal growth restriction, increased nuchal fold, bilateral hydronephrosis, rocker bottom foot, talipes, cystic hygroma, omphalocele, and hydrops fetalis. In addition, only three of these cases have included detailed prenatal imaging findings. The two prenatal cases presented here demonstrate an expansion of the prenatal phenotype of BWCFF to include gastroschisis, lymphatic involvement, and oligohydramnios, which should each warrant consideration of this diagnosis in the setting of additional anomalies.

Placental Location in Maternal-Fetal Surgery for Myelomeningocele.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine incision based on the placental location in open maternal-fetal surgery (OMFS) has never been evaluated in regard to maternal or fetal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether an anterior placenta was associated with increased rates of intraoperative, perioperative, antepartum, obstetric, or neonatal complications in mothers and babies who underwent OMFS for fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) closure. METHODS: Data from the international multicenter prospective registry of patients who underwent OMFS for fMMC closure (fMMC Consortium Registry, December 15, 2010-June 31, 2019) was used to compare fetal and maternal outcomes between anterior and posterior placental locations. RESULTS: The placental location for 623 patients was evenly distributed between anterior (51%) and posterior (49%) locations. Intraoperative fetal bradycardia (8.3% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.005) and performance of fetal resuscitation (3.6% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.034) occurred more frequently in cases with an anterior placenta when compared to those with a posterior placenta. Obstetric outcomes including membrane separation, placental abruption, and spontaneous rupture of membranes were not different among the 2 groups. However, thinning of the hysterotomy site (27.7% vs. 17.7%, p = 0.008) occurred more frequently in cases of an anterior placenta. Gestational age (GA) at delivery (p = 0.583) and length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (p = 0.655) were similar between the 2 groups. Fetal incision dehiscence and wound revision were not significantly different between groups. Critical clinical outcomes including fetal demise, perinatal death, and neonatal death were all infrequent occurrences and not associated with the placental location. CONCLUSIONS: An anterior placental location is associated with increased risk of intraoperative fetal resuscitation and increased thinning at the hysterotomy closure site. Individual institutional experiences may have varied, but the aggregate data from the fMMC Consortium did not show a significant impact on the GA at delivery or maternal or fetal clinical outcomes.

Postoperative Ultrasound as a Predictor of Newborn Function and Ambulation after Open Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair.

OBJECTIVE: Function of the lower extremities after prenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair is best assessed with ambulatory function at 30-36 months of age, but parents often ask about function before this milestone. Lower extremity movement can be assessed by ultrasound (US) and at the newborn exam (NE), but correlation between US, NE, and ambulation is not firmly established. METHODS: This was a retrospective correlation study of fetuses that underwent open prenatal MMC repair at SSM Cardinal Glennon Fetal Care Institute, St. Louis, MO, between January 2011 and June 2017. Movement at the ankles, knees, and hips was assessed by US after open repair on postoperative days (PODs) 0-5 and at 32 weeks gestation. NE was performed by physical therapy or neurosurgery within the first month of life, and pediatric follow-up between 30 and 36 months of age was obtained to document ambulation. RESULTS: Forty-two fetuses were included. Joint movement seen on US varied by POD: it was present on POD 1 in 7% of fetuses and 62% by POD 5. Degree of ventriculomegaly, lesion level, and lesion length did not have a significant effect on US, NE, or ambulation. Knee movement on POD 3 correlated with knee movement at NE (k = 0.58, p < 0.01), but only later knee movement correlated with ambulation (k = 0.28-0.46, p = 0.01). Hip movement at 32 weeks was the only single joint assessment that correlated with NE and ambulation (k = 0.45 and 0.46, p = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Lower extremity movement increases between POD 1 and POD 5 in fetuses after open fetal MMC repair. Knee and hip movement on US at 32 weeks correlates with ambulation at 30-36 months. These data may inform counseling, and direct therapy and spark prospective investigations.

Subsequent pregnancy outcomes after open maternal-fetal surgery for myelomeningocele.

BACKGROUND: Open maternal-fetal surgery for fetal myelomeningocele results in reduction in neonatal morbidity related to spina bifida but may be associated with fetal, neonatal, and maternal complications in subsequent pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to ascertain obstetric risk in subsequent pregnancies after open maternal-fetal surgery for fetal myelomeningocele closure. STUDY DESIGN: An international multicenter prospective observational registry created to track and report maternal, obstetric, fetal/neonatal, and subsequent pregnancy outcomes following open maternal-fetal surgery for fetal myelomeningocele was evaluated for subsequent pregnancy outcome variables. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for the registry. RESULTS: From 693 cases of open maternal-fetal surgery for fetal myelomeningocele closure entered into the registry, 77 subsequent pregnancies in 60 women were identified. The overall live birth rate was 96.2%, with 52 pregnancies delivering beyond 20 weeks gestational age and median gestational age at delivery of 37 (36.3-37.1) weeks. The uterine rupture rate was 9.6% (n = 5), resulting in 2 fetal deaths. Maternal transfusion was required in 4 patients (7.7%). CONCLUSION: The risk of uterine rupture or dehiscence in subsequent pregnancies with associated fetal morbidity after open maternal-fetal surgery is significant, but is similar to that reported for subsequent pregnancies after classical cesarean deliveries. Future pregnancy considerations should be included in initial counseling for women contemplating open maternal-fetal surgery.

Experience using a rapid assay for aneuploidy and microdeletion/microduplication detection in over 2,900 prenatal specimens.

BACKGROUND: While microarray testing can identify chromosomal abnormalities missed by karyotyping, its prenatal use is often avoided in low-risk pregnancies due to the possible identification of variants of uncertain significance (VOUS). METHODS: We tested 2,970 prenatal samples of all referral indications using a rapid BACs-on-Beads-based assay with probes for sex chromosomes, common autosomal aneuploidies, and 20 microdeletion/microduplication syndromes, designed as an alternative to microarray in low-risk pregnancies and an alternative to rapid aneuploidy testing in pregnancies also undergoing microarray analysis. RESULTS: Interpretable results were obtained in 2,940 cases (99.0%), with 89% receiving results in 1 day. Aneuploidies were detected in 7.3% and partial chromosome abnormalities in 0.45% (n = 13), including 5 referred for maternal age, abnormal maternal serum screen, or isolated ultrasound markers. The added detection above karyotype was 1 in 745 in lower-risk cases with normal ultrasounds or isolated ultrasound markers/increased nuchal measurements and 1 in 165 for fetuses with structural/growth abnormalities. Neither false negatives nor false positives were found within test limitations. Female polyploidy could not be detected, while polyploidies with Y chromosomes were suspected and confirmed through additional analysis. CONCLUSION: When combined with karyotyping, this assay provides increased interrogation of specific chromosomal regions, while limiting VOUS identification.

Experience with microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization for prenatal diagnosis in over 5000 pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the usefulness of microarray testing in prenatal diagnosis based on our laboratory experience. METHODS: Prenatal samples received from 2004 to 2011 for a variety of indications (n = 5003) were tested using comparative genomic hybridization-based microarrays targeted to known chromosomal syndromes with later versions of the microarrays providing backbone coverage of the entire genome. RESULTS: The overall detection rate of clinically significant copy number alterations (CNAs) among unbiased, nondemise cases was 5.3%. Detection rates were 6.5% and 8.2% for cases referred with abnormal ultrasounds and fetal demise, respectively. The overall rate of findings with unclear clinical significance was 4.2% but would reduce to 0.39% if only de novo CNAs were considered. In cases with known chromosomal rearrangements in the fetus or parent, 41.1% showed CNAs related to the rearrangements, whereas 1.3% showed clinically significant CNAs unrelated to the karyotype. Finally, 71% of the clinically significant CNAs found by microarray were below the resolution of conventional karyotyping of fetal chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS: Microarray analysis has advantages over conventional cytogenetics, including the ability to more precisely characterize CNAs associated with abnormal karyotypes. Moreover, a significant proportion of cases studied by array will show a clinically significant CNA even with apparently normal karyotypes.

Detection rates of clinically significant genomic alterations by microarray analysis for specific anomalies detected by ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to understand the diagnostic utility of comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)-based microarrays for pregnancies with abnormal ultrasound findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 2858 pregnancies with abnormal ultrasounds and normal karyotypes (when performed) tested in our laboratory using CGH microarrays targeted to known chromosomal syndromes with later versions providing backbone coverage of the entire genome. Abnormalities were stratified according to organ system involvement. Detection rates for clinically significant findings among these categories were calculated. RESULTS: Clinically significant genomic alterations were identified in cases with a single ultrasound anomaly (n = 99/1773, 5.6%), anomalies in two or more organ systems (n = 77/808, 9.5%), isolated growth abnormalities (n = 2/76, 2.6%), and soft markers (n = 2/77, 2.6%). The following anomalies in isolation or with additional anomalies had particularly high detection rates: holoprosencephaly (n = 9/85, 10.6%), posterior fossa defects (n = 21/144, 14.6%), skeletal anomalies (n = 15/140, 10.7%), ventricular septal defect (n = 14/132, 10.6%), hypoplastic left heart (n = 11/68, 16.2%), and cleft lip/palate (n = 14/136, 10.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Microarray analysis identified clinically significant genomic alterations in 6.5% of cases with one or more abnormal ultrasound findings; the majority were below the resolution of karyotyping. Larger data sets such as this allow for sub-stratification by specific anomalies to determine risks for genomic alterations detectable by microarray analysis.

Dextrose intravenous fluid therapy in labor reduces the length of the first stage of labor.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the effect on length of labor when patients receive IVF with or without dextrose. Searches were performed in electronic databases from inception of each database to May 2018. Trials comparing intrapartum IVF containing dextrose (i.e. intervention group) with no dextrose or placebo (i.e. control group) were included. Only trials examining low-risk pregnancies in labor at ≥36 weeks were included. Studies were included regardless of oral intake restriction. The primary outcome was the length of total labor from randomization to delivery. The meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model. Sixteen trials (n = 2503 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. Women randomized in the IVF dextrose group did not have a statistically significant different length of total labor from randomization to delivery compared to IVF without dextrose (MD -38.33 min, 95% CI -88.23 to 11.57). IVF with dextrose decreased the length of the first stage (MD -75.81 min, 95% CI -120.67 to -30.95), but there was no change in the second stage. In summary, use of IVF with dextrose during labor in low-risk women at term does not affect total length of labor, but it does shorten the first stage of labor.

American Podiatric Medical Association Best Walking City Competition, 2004.

In 2004, the American Podiatric Medical Association conducted its third annual "Best Walking City Competition." This study improved on the 2002 and 2003 studies by increasing the number of cities competing for the title of "Best Walking City" and by including a variety of new measures of walking activities to provide a more comprehensive and equitable basis for comparing cities. The top 20 best walking cities in 2004 were identified from among the 200 largest cities across the United States. Lists of top cities were also developed by city population size and geographic region and by three different types of walking activities prevalent in each city.

Atrial fibrillation in pregnancy associated with oral terbutaline.

BACKGROUND: Terbutaline has direct effects on the cardiac conduction system, but when used to treat preterm labor it is rarely associated with clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias. Commonly used drug references did not list atrial fibrillation as a complication of terbutaline, and our literature search found only one case of atrial fibrillation that occurred with parenteral administration. CASE: A 30-year-old gravida 1 carrying a twin gestation at 35 weeks was taking 2.5 mg oral terbutaline four times daily for premature labor. She developed atrial fibrillation and was ultimately treated by chemical cardioversion with procainamide to restore normal sinus rhythm. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of atrial fibrillation during pregnancy associated with oral terbutaline. Atrial fibrillation should be added as a complication of oral terbutaline therapy.

American Podiatric Medical Association Missing Time Survey, 2004.

A 2004 survey of US adults found that 19% had experienced foot problems at work at some time. As a result, 38% reported lost productivity and 28% missed time at work. Younger, less educated male workers were more likely to suffer from foot problems. The percentage of the total population surveyed who missed time at work owing to foot problems was 5.4% in 2004. In a previous survey conducted in 2000, the corresponding percentage was 6.6%.

American Podiatric Medical Association Best Walking City Competition, 2003.

In 2003, the American Podiatric Medical Association conducted its second annual "Walking City Competition." The objective of the study was to update and expand on the results of a previous study conducted in 2002, taking into account a wider variety of measures of walking and walking conditions and identifying the best cities for walking in the United States on a regional basis.

American Podiatric Medical Association best walking city competition, 2002.

In 2002, the American Podiatric Medical Association initiated a "walking city competition." The objective of the study was to identify the best cities for walking in the United States.

Prenatal diagnosis of 47,XXX.

We report 2 cases of 47,XXX that were diagnosed prenatally and were screened positive for trisomy 21 by biochemical and ultrasound markers. These cases underline the importance of discussing the sex chromosome abnormalities during the genetic counseling after an abnormal triple screen test or ultrasound examination.

Effects of establishing cell cultures and cell culture conditions on the proliferative life span of human fibroblasts isolated from different tissues and donors of different ages.

It is well known that normal human cells placed in a culture environment exhibit a limited proliferative capacity. The extent to which the culture environment influences proliferative life span is not understood. This study evaluated the effects of the standard procedures used to establish and maintain cultures on the proliferative life spans of different types of human fibroblast cells established from fetal and adult skin and lung. The results of this study demonstrate that procedures to establish cell cultures use only one of several subpopulations of cells present in biopsy pieces and that the culture conditions routinely employed by most laboratories can exert significant effects on proliferative life-span determinations. The maximum proliferative life span differed significantly when obtained by growing the cells in two commonly used commercial media. Proliferative life span was inversely related to ambient oxygen tension and directly related to seeding density in all of the lines examined although lines established from adult skin were much more resistant to toxicity. Enzymatic antioxidant defense levels of fetal skin fibroblasts were much lower than those observed in adult skin fibroblasts, but the effects of oxygen on their life spans were similar. Hyperoxia induced larger increases in glutathione concentration in cell lines with low antioxidant enzyme levels.

Developing a metadata data model for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a large and comprehensive health survey utilizing leading edge technologies to produce national estimates of health measures and the nutritional status of the U.S. population. Early NHANES metadata models grouped data by categories with little specificity and often not capturing the complexity of the survey. Subsequently, existing models at the Census Bureau, CDC, and the EPA were evaluated in addition to industry standards, such as DDI, Dublin Core, and ISO 1179. For the NHANES metadata model, the DDI standard and CDC Public Health Conceptual Model were chosen as the backbone for constructing the data model. The new model has led to increased data accuracy and several value-added products for producing codebooks, automatically checking questionnaire skip patterns, and producing questionnaire instrumentation.

Ketamine attenuates neutrophil activation after cardiopulmonary bypass.

UNLABELLED: Surgery is associated with activation of neutrophils and their influx into affected tissue. The pathogenic role of superoxide production generated by activated neutrophils has been documented repeatedly. Ketamine suppresses neutrophil oxygen radical production in vitro. In the present study, we compared the effect of adding small-dose ketamine to opioids during the induction of general anesthesia on superoxide production by neutrophils after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Thirty-five patients undergoing elective CABG were randomized to one of two groups and prospectively studied in a double-blinded manner. The patients received either ketamine 0.25 mg/kg or a similar volume of saline in addition to large-dose fentanyl anesthesia. Blood samples were drawn before the operation, immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass, 24 and 48 postoperative h, and on postoperative Days 3-6. Functional capacity of neutrophils was assessed by superoxide generation after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, opsonized zymosan, or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. The addition of small-dose ketamine to general anesthesia attenuates increased production of the superoxide anion (O2-) by neutrophils without chemical stimulation and after stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, and opsonized zymosan for 4-6 days after CABG. In addition, ketamine attenuated the percentage of neutrophils on postoperative Days 2-6. In the Control group, superoxide production significantly increased compared with the baseline value. By contrast, in the Ketamine group, this difference was not significant. IMPLICATIONS: In a randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical study, we compared the effect of adding small-dose ketamine to opioids during general anesthesia on superoxide production and showed that ketamine suppressed the increase of superoxide anion production by neutrophils after coronary artery bypass grafting.