Antenatal ultrasound value in risk calculation for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review to support future research.

There is a growing research interest on the antenatal features of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Indeed, it has been proved that the neurodevelopment is, at least partly, affected by processes occurring in fetal life and that the early neurodevelopmental disorders identification is essential to optimize long-term outcomes. This systematic review aims to summarize findings on antenatal ultrasound data, which are or might be considered early risk indexes of postnatal social impairments. We conducted systematic searches in Pubmed and PsychINFO databases to identify studies including fetal ultrasound measurements and postnatal neurodevelopmental outcome assessment. The bibliographic search included 3203 articles but after the assessment of the eligibility conducted by two independent researchers, only 26 studies were selected. Some alterations in ultrasound antenatal measurements (such as biophysical data, nuchal thickness and enlargement of cerebral ventricles) have been associated to autism spectrum disorder. However, data are still limited, controversial and not specific. Reported data are here discussed to strongly support studies on fetuses at high risk for autism spectrum disorder.

Prospective evaluation of automated follicle monitoring in 58 in vitro fertilization cycles: follicular volume as a new indicator of oocyte maturity.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the practical use of SonoAVC in an IVF program, and to establish new criteria for hCG administration based on follicular volume. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Private IVF Center. PATIENT(S): Fifty-eight women with infertility undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) scanning on the day of hCG administration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Image quality, mean follicular diameter obtained by 2D and 3D sonography, follicular volume, number of oocytes retrieved, number of mature oocytes, time needed for each examination. RESULT(S): Approximately 60% of the patients included in this study had good image quality and could be monitored by 3D scans with subsequent application of the SonoAVC software. When image quality is good, measurements obtained by the automated mode are comparable to those obtained manually in 62% of cases. Automated monitoring is significantly quicker than conventional manual monitoring. Follicles with a measured volume >/=0.6 cc on the day of hCG administration are associated with the finding of mature oocytes at the time of egg retrieval. CONCLUSION(S): SonoAVC allows reliable evaluation of stimulated ovaries, and may help us establish new criteria for timing hCG administration based on follicular volume estimation rather than follicular size. Software improvements are needed to improve universal patient use.