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Objectives Geometric morphometric analysis has been used to quantify differences in biological shapes. Cranial irregularities are described in anomalous fetuses but are qualitative and ill-defined. Our goal was to apply geometric morphometric statistical analysis using three-dimensional (3D) multiplanar display to quantify shape differences in normal and abnormal fetal skulls. Methods This was a retrospective pilot study of mid-trimester patients undergoing ultrasonography. 3D multi-planar display using spatial rotation was used to identify landmarks in coronal and transverse planes to establish a consistent fetal facial profile. Outline coordinates of the brow were determined by blinded examiners using computer software. Elliptical Fourier analysis (EFA) was used to obtain sets of functional coefficients. An atypicality index (AI) was determined from retained principal component (PC) scores. An AI > 95th percentile of the expected distribution defined outliers. Results Outlines were successfully identified in 38 patients (six abnormal). Using the AI, there were three outliers, all from abnormal fetuses (trisomy 18, trisomy 21, and cam pomelic dysplasia). Two fetuses with trisomy 21 and one with an unbalanced translocation had normal atypicality indices. Conclusions 3D multiplanar display and geometric morphometric analysis enable quantification of fetal skull shape. An abnormal skull shape was identified in two of four aneuploid fetuses and no normal ones. Geometric morphometric analysis represents a promising new quantitative modality which, when applied with 3D sonographic multiplanar display, may be used to more objectively analyse fetal malformation. Larger prospective trials are needed to refine the technique and improve reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider coupled models of flow and energy with phase change in thawing soils in permafrost at the pore- and Darcy scales. We develop the underlying models from first principles and define robust and conservative discretization algorithms based on cell-centered finite volume discretization on Cartesian grids and implicit time stepping for individual models. To couple the models we consider sequential approaches as well as time-lagging of some of the nonlinear properties. We also derive practical new surrogate models to obtain Darcy scale data from the pore-scale simulations. Finally, we study the sensitivity of models to the data in realistic scenarios. In particular we find that for the dynamics at the time scale of days, the nonlinear flow parameters have most significant impact on pressure, while temperature is less sensitive to data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Triphasic umbilical artery waveform associated with severe placental abnormality, IUGR, and fetal demise," by B. Rochelson and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Prenatal ultrasound findings of Wolman's disease: a case report," by M. Sood and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Case of placental mesenchymal dysplasia," by H. B. Tam Tam and colleagues, is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Case report of alloimmunization in monochorionic diamniotic twins successfully treated with intrauterine transfusion of single twin," by H. B. Tam Tam and colleagues is presented.

Persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) are known to be often excluded from primary health care and community prevention programmes leading to high use of hospital emergency departments (EDs). This study aimed to identify demographic features, clinical characteristics and attendance outcomes of PEH presenting to ED. Analysis of routinely collected data set. Clinical presentations and drug prescription data of PEH who presented a major ED in the West Midlands region of England from 2014 to 2019 were extracted and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. During the study period, 3271 of 596,198 presentations were made by PEH; 74% PEH attendees were male. Drug- and alcohol-related conditions, as well as pain and injury constituted the most frequent reasons for presentation, contributing to over half of all presentations. A significantly higher proportion of males (n = 481, 20.3%) presented with drug and alcohol problems than females (n = 93, 11.2%) (P ≤ 0.001). However, pain was the primary reason for presentation for twice as many female patients (n = 189, 22.8%) compared with males (n = 305, 12.9%) (P < 0.001). Nearly one in five left the ED before being assessed and a total of 39 patients (1.2%) died in the ED and 785 (24.0%) required in-patient admissions to the same hospital. Drug, alcohol and pain including the need of opioid analgesics constituted the majority of presentations made by PEH in ED. The observed rate of death of PEH in ED is 12 times higher than the general population. A very high proportion of PEH also leave the ED before being treated. Future research should focus on strengthening community interventions, particularly to improve access to those at risk of dual diagnoses of substance misuse and mental health problems. Interventions involving multisector collaborations are needed to improve seamless discharge from ED and minimise repeat attendance. Gender differences in the nature of presentations and ED outcomes needs to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concordance between reported fetal-sex with cfDNA and genetic testing results were determined in participants who received low-risk cfDNA results. To describe the performance of cfDNA screening for the sex chromosomes in an unselected obstetrical population. [Extracted from the article]

SMART participants were excluded from this analysis if pregnancy outcome was unknown, fetal aneuploidy or major anomaly was identified, or the pregnancy was interrupted. OP09.05: Prediction of pre-eclampsia using machine learning The main aim was to develop a method to predict pre-eclampsia using novel machine learning tools. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: To check whether there is a difference in indications for delivery, antepartum and neonatal characteristics in intermittent absent end diastolic velocity (iAEDV) compared to persistent absent or reversed end diastolic velocity (pA/REDV). Methods: A retrospective study of 109 patients with iAEDV or pA/REDV from 19 to 39 weeks. The delivery indication was classified as maternal or fetal. The primary antepartum and maternal characteristics were age, parity, AMA, chronic hypertension, PEC, thrombophilia, lupus, diabetes, smoker, placenta previa, gestational age (GA) at diagnosis of IUGR and/or SGA, GA at diagnosis of elevated S/D, iAEDV or pA/REDV, GA at delivery, minimal/absent variability day of delivery, BPP ≤ 6 prior to delivery. The primary neonatal outcomes were birth weight, arterial cord pH, neonatal demise, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage and length of stay in the NICU. Results: Fetuses with iAEDV were diagnosed with an elevated S/D at a later GA (29.6 vs. 27.5 weeks, p < 0.03), delivered at a later GA (31.6 vs. 29.7 weeks, p < 0.01), had a higher birth weight (1336.6 vs. 933 g, p < 0.0004), were more likely to be delivered for maternal indications (42.9% vs. 20.27%, p < 0.01), had a higher cord arterial pH (7.28 vs. 7.21, p < 0.002) and were less likely to have an arterial pH at birth <7.2 (0% vs. 34.1%, p < 0.002). Conclusions: Although fetuses with iAEDV have an improved antenatal course as compared with pA/REDV, indications for delivery are more likely to be maternal and adverse outcome is common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Prenatal diagnosis and antenatal management of placentalmesenchymal dysplasia," by N. Desai and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the conference paper "Absence of intracranial translucency on first trimester screen as a predictor of open neural tube defects," by A.A. Shah and colleagues is presented.

Seven cases of 45,X were confirmed in the cohort including 4 with mosaicism, for a prevalence of 1:2614. cfDNA identified 6/7 cases (sensitivity=85.7%). cfDNA results reported high risk for 45,X in 24 cases; 6 of these were confirmed (PPV=25.0%). CfDNA screening for 45,X can be complicated by mosaicism and the diagnosis may be delayed due to variable and late onset of manifestations. We aimed to define the prevalence and screening performance for 45,X using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) - based cfDNA screening for aneuploidy and 22q11.2DS, in a large prospective registry study with genetic confirmation (SMART registry study). [Extracted from the article]

Because diagnostic test results are expected to affect perinatal management, HR22q pregnancies were stratified by use of invasive testing. The goal of the study was to determine whether results of SNP-based cfDNA screening for 22q11.2DS affects prenatal or neonatal management. HR22q pregnancies with normal prenatal diagnosis results had significantly fewer Caesarean sections and had fewer postnatal evaluations. [Extracted from the article]

An abstract of the article "Antenatal characteristics and indications for delivery in intermittent absent end diastolic velocity," by J. Y. Rosner and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Biochemical maternal serum markers alone and in combination predict extremes of Doppler abnormality (AREDV)," by B. Rochelson and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article Prenatal diagnosis of the distal 11q deletion (Jacobsen Syndrome), by A. Roman and colleagues is presented.