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The aim of this study was to assess day-to-day variability of left ventricular (LV) volume and ejection fraction (EF) calculated from 3-dimensional echocardiography (3-DE) and to compare the reproducibility of the measurement with magnetic resonance imaging. Forty-six subjects were examined including 15 normal volunteers (group A) and 31 patients with LV dysfunction (group B). Precordial 3-DE acquisition was performed at 2 degrees rotational intervals and repeated 1 week later. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 0.5 T. End-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes were derived using Simpson's rule by manual endocardial tracing of 8 equidistant parallel LV short-axis slices with 3-DE, whereas 9-mm slices were used with magnetic resonance imaging. The mean +/- SD of end-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes (ml) and EF (%) from magnetic resonance imaging were 182 +/- 75, 121 +/- 76, and 39 +/- 18, whereas those from 3-DE were 182 +/- 76, 121 +/- 77, and 39 +/- 18 respectively. Day-to-day measurements of end-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes, and EF on 3-DE were not significantly different as assessed with SEE (2.7, 1.1, and 2.4, respectively). Intra- and interobserver SEE for calculating end-diastolic and end-systolic LV volumes and EF for magnetic resonance imaging were 6.3, 4.7, and 2.1 and 13.6, 11.5, and 4.7, respectively, whereas those for 3-DE were 3.1, 4.4, and 2.2 and 6.2, 3.8, and 3.6, respectively. Day-to-day variability of LV volume and EF calculation on 3-DE were small and not significantly different for normal and dysfunctional left ventricles. Observer variabilities of 3-DE were fewer than those of magnetic resonance imaging. Therefore, 3-DE is recommended for serial assessment of LV volume and EF in normal and abnormally shaped ventricles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have provided evidence for subtle deviations in brain morphology in children with psychiatric disorders, but much less is known about the onset and developmental trajectory of these deviations early in life. We sought to determine whether variances in cerebral ventricular size in fetuses and newborns are associated with temperamental difficulties in infants. METHODS: Within a population-based cohort study, we measured the size of the lateral ventricle of the fetus' brain twice during pregnancy. We used 3-dimensional cranial ultrasound to measure the cerebral ventricular volume of infants at age 6 weeks. We then related the size of the cerebral ventricular system to temperamental dimensions at age 3 months using the Mother and Baby Scales, and at age 6 months using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire for a total of 1028 infants. RESULTS: The size of the lateral ventricle of the fetuses in midpregnancy was not related to temperamental difficulties in infants; however, smaller lateral ventricles in late pregnancy were associated with higher activity levels at the age of 6 months. Infants with smaller ventricular volumes at age 6 weeks experienced higher activity levels, more anger or irritability and poorer orienting later in infancy. Children with the lowest ventricular volumes scored on average 0.15 (95% confidence interval 0.06-0.23, p = 0.001) points higher (23%) on activity levels than children with the highest ventricular volumes. CONCLUSION: Variations in ventricular size before and shortly after birth are associated with temperamental difficulties. Some of the morphologic differences between children with and without psychiatric disorders may develop very early in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]