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Background: Routine Doppler study is a common tool for early diagnosis of Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR) and Small for Gestational Age (SGA) patients. It aimed to determine the role of the Foramen Ovale Pulsatility Index (FOPI) study beside routine Doppler study among patients with FGR and SGA fetuses., Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 35 FGR, 32 SGA, and 33 Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) fetuses. Demographic data, amniotic fluid index, neonatal outcome, and Doppler velocimetry, including Umbilical Artery Pulsatility Index (UMAPI), Uterine Artery Pulsatility Index (UTAPI), Middle Cerebral Artery Pulsatility Index (MCAPI), Ductus Venosus Pulsatility Index (DVPI), and FOPI were documented. Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, non-parametric pairwise comparisons adjusted for Bonferroni correction, Pearson correlation test, Chi square, Fisher's exact test, and Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analysis with Youden's Index (sensitivity+specificity-1) to estimate cut-off point were used to analyze the data at significance level <0.05 for all tests., Results: FOPI cut-off points were 2.24 (sensitivity=77%, specificity=94%) and 1.15 (sensitivity=90%, specificity=20%) to predict FGR and SGA, respectively. FOPI showed a positive correlation with UMAPI and UTAPI (r=0.52 and r=0.30, P<0.001 and P=0.006, respectively), but not with MCAPI and DVPI (r=0.08 and r=0.12, P=0.50 and P=0.30, respectively). Besides, UMAPI, UTAPI, and FOPI were altered among patients with stages I and II FGR. Umbilical cord potential hydrogen (umbilical cord pH), 1- and 5-min Apgar score significantly increased by Birth weight centile; however, UMAPI, FOPI, and UTAPI significantly decreased., Conclusion: UMAPI is recommended to predict short-term neonatal morbidities and demonstrate the early or late onset FGR. Besides, FOPI is suggested as the first-line Doppler study to detect abnormal growth velocity. More studies are warranted, especially considering long-term neonatal morbidities., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright: © Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Objective: To investigate the association between varying degrees of abnormality in the Doppler uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) and adverse perinatal outcome., Methods: This was a prospective study of women with a singleton, non-anomalous pregnancy in whom UtA-PI was measured universally in midpregnancy and who gave birth in Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK, between 2016 and 2023. Relative risk ratios (RRR) for the primary outcomes of extended perinatal mortality and live birth with a severe small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate were calculated using multinomial logistic regression, for early preterm birth (before 34 + 0 weeks' gestation) and late preterm/term birth (at or after 34 + 0 weeks). Risks were also investigated for iatrogenic preterm birth and a composite adverse outcome before 34 + 0 weeks., Results: Overall, 33 364 pregnancies were included in the analysis. Compared to those with a normal UtA-PI, the risk of extended perinatal mortality with delivery before 34 + 0 weeks was higher in women with UtA-PI ≥ 90 th percentile (RRR, 4.7 (95% CI, 2.7-8.0); P < 0.001), but this was not demonstrated in births at or after 34 + 0 weeks. The risk of live birth with severe SGA was associated strongly with abnormal UtA-PI for early births (RRR, 26.0 (95% CI, 11.6-58.2); P < 0.001) and later births (RRR, 2.3 (95% CI, 1.8-2.9); P < 0.001). Women with raised UtA-PI were more likely to have an early iatrogenic birth (RRR, 7.8 (95% CI, 5.5-11.2); P < 0.001). For each outcome before 34 + 0 weeks and the composite outcome, the risk increased significantly in association with the degree of abnormality in the UtA-PI (from < 90 th , 90-94 th , 95-98 th to ≥ 99 th percentile) (P trend  < 0.001). When using the 90 th percentile as opposed to the 95 th , there was a significant improvement in the overall predictive accuracy (as determined by the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve) for the composite adverse outcome (χ 2  = 6.64, P = 0.01) and iatrogenic preterm birth (χ 2  = 4.10, P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Elevated UtA-PI is a key predictor of iatrogenic preterm birth, severe SGA and perinatal loss up to 34 + 0 weeks' gestation. The 90 th percentile for UtA-PI should be used, and management should be tailored according to the degree of abnormality, as pregnancies with very raised UtA-PI measurement constitute a group at extreme risk of adverse outcome. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Background: Power Doppler ultrasonography has been used as an adjunct in the diagnosis of peripheral nerve compression neuropathy. To better characterize its sensitivity and specificity, the authors performed a systematic review of its use in carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome diagnosis., Methods: The authors systematically reviewed published literature on the use of power Doppler ultrasound to diagnose peripheral compression neuropathy using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase.com, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Health Technology Assessment Database, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, World Health Organization International Clinical Trial Repository Platform, and Clinicaltrials.gov. No filters for language, date, or publication type were used., Results: After reviewing 1538 identified studies, 27 publications were included involving 1751 participants with compression neuropathy (2048 median and 172 ulnar). All but three studies examined patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Heterogeneity between study design and methodology was a noted limitation. Sensitivity and specificity of power Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome ranged from 2.2 to 93.4 percent, and 89 to 100 percent, respectively, whereas sensitivity for cubital tunnel syndrome was 15.3 to 78.9 percent. There was variability in power Doppler signal detection based on location, with higher sensitivities at the carpal tunnel inlet and in areas of increased nerve swelling., Conclusions: Power Doppler ultrasound is unreliable as a screening test but appears to increase diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in compression neuropathies. It is most beneficial in moderate to severe disease and may be valuable in detecting early cases and in disease surveillance., (Copyright © 2021 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Introduction: Traditional diagnostic workup for Endometrial carcinoma in women with post-menopausal bleeding (PMB) involves endometrial biopsy. Addition of colour and power Doppler ultrasound to transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) might help in differentiating subset of women who are at high risk of carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistance Index (RI) of uterine and spiral artery in PMB and to determine the diagnostic value of power Doppler flow mapping in them., Material and Methods: A prospective study was done amongst 50 women with PMB. All women were subjected to TVS including uterine artery and spiral artery Doppler velocimetry, power Doppler flow mapping of spiral artery, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy., Results: Uterine artery PI and RI values were overlapping between benign and malignant endometrial pathologies. Whereas spiral artery PI ≤ 0.33 and RI ≤ 0.5 helps in differentiating malignant frombenign pathology. Power Doppler multiple vessel pattern is also found to have a better diagnostic ability in picking endometrial cancer., Conclusion: Addition of spiral artery velocimetry and power Doppler flow mapping to those with thickened endometrium, aids in differentiating endometrial malignancy from benign pathology. This might be helpful in counselling the women for endometrial biopsy, as histopathological analysis is the gold standard diagnostic modality., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: We have shown previously that third-trimester growth in small fetuses (estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10 th percentile) with birth weight (BW) < 10 th percentile is heterogeneous using individualized growth assessment (IGA). We aimed to test our hypothesis that individual growth patterns in small fetuses with BW > 10 th percentile are also variable but in different ways., Methods: This was a study of 191 cases with EFW < 10 th percentile and BW > 10 th percentile (appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) cohort), derived from the PORTO study. Composite size parameters were used to quantify growth pathology at individual third-trimester timepoints (individual composite prenatal growth assessment score (-icPGAS)). The fetal growth pathology score 1 (-FGPS1), calculated cumulatively from serial -icPGAS values, was used to characterize third-trimester growth patterns. Vascular-system evaluation included umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler velocimetry. Outcome variables were birth age (preterm/term delivery) and BW (expressed as growth potential realization index for weight (GPRI WT ) and percentile). The findings from the AGA cohort were compared with those from small fetuses (EFW < 10 th percentile) with BW < 10 th percentile (small-for-gestational-age (SGA) cohort)., Results: The AGA cohort was found to have 134 fetuses (70%) with normal growth pattern and 57 (30%) with growth restriction based on IGA criteria. Seven growth-restriction -FGPS1 patterns were observed, including the previously defined progressive, late, adaptive and recovering types. The recovering type was the most common growth pattern in the AGA cohort (50.9%). About one-third of fetuses without any evidence of growth restriction had significant unexplained abnormalities in the UA (34%) and MCA (31%) and elevated mean GPRI WT values (113 ± 12.5%). Comparison of the AGA and SGA cohorts indicated a significant difference in the distribution of -FGPS1 growth patterns (P = 0.0001). Compared with the SGA cohort, the AGA cohort had more fetuses with a normal growth pattern (70% vs 38%) and fewer cases with growth restriction (30% vs 62%). While the recovering type was the most common growth-restriction pattern in the AGA cohort (51%), the progressive type was the primary growth-restriction pattern in the SGA cohort (44%). No difference in the incidence of MCA or UA abnormality was found between the SGA and AGA cohorts when comparing subgroups of more than 10 fetuses., Conclusions: Both normal-growth and growth-restriction patterns were observed in the AGA cohort using IGA, as seen previously in the SGA cohort. The seven types of growth restriction defined in the SGA cohort were also identified in AGA cases, but their distribution was significantly different. In one-third of cases without evidence of growth pathology in the AGA cohort, Doppler abnormalities in the UA and MCA were seen. This heterogeneity underscores the difficulty of accurate classification of fetal and neonatal growth status using conventional population-based methods. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: First, to compare published Doppler reference charts of the ratios of flow in the fetal middle cerebral and umbilical arteries (i.e. the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and umbilicocerebral ratio (UCR)). Second, to assess the association of thresholds of CPR and UCR based on these charts with short-term composite adverse perinatal outcome in a cohort of pregnancies considered to be at risk of late preterm fetal growth restriction., Methods: Studies presenting reference charts for CPR or UCR were searched for in PubMed. Formulae for plotting the median and the 10 th percentile (for CPR) or the 90 th percentile (for UCR) against gestational age were extracted from the publication or calculated from the published tables. Data from a prospective European multicenter observational cohort study of singleton pregnancies at risk of fetal growth restriction at 32 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation, in which fetal arterial Doppler measurements were collected longitudinally, were used to compare the different charts. Specifically, the association of UCR and CPR thresholds (CPR < 10 th percentile or UCR ≥ 90 th percentile and multiples of the median (MoM) values) with composite adverse perinatal outcome was analyzed. The association was also compared between chart-based thresholds and absolute thresholds. Composite adverse perinatal outcome comprised both abnormal condition at birth and major neonatal morbidity., Results: Ten studies presenting reference charts for CPR or UCR were retrieved. There were large differences between the charts in the 10 th and 90 th percentile values of CPR and UCR, respectively, while median values were more similar. In the gestational-age range of 28-36 weeks, there was no relationship between UCR or CPR and gestational age. From the prospective observational study, 856 pregnancies at risk of late-onset preterm fetal growth restriction were included in the analysis. The association of abnormal UCR or CPR with composite adverse perinatal outcome was similar for percentile thresholds or MoM values, as calculated from the charts, and for absolute thresholds, both on univariable analysis and after adjustment for gestational age at measurement, estimated fetal weight MoM and pre-eclampsia. The adjusted odds ratio for composite adverse perinatal outcome was 3.3 (95% CI, 1.7-6.4) for an absolute UCR threshold of ≥ 0.9 or an absolute CPR threshold of < 1.11 (corresponding to ≥ 1.75 MoM), and 1.6 (95% CI, 0.9-2.9) for an absolute UCR threshold of ≥ 0.7 to < 0.9 or an absolute CPR threshold of ≥ 1.11 to < 1.43 (corresponding to ≥ 1.25 to < 1.75 MoM)., Conclusions: In the gestational-age range of 32 to 36 weeks, adjustment of CPR or UCR for gestational age is not necessary when assessing the risk of adverse outcome in pregnancies at risk of fetal growth restriction. The adoption of absolute CPR or UCR thresholds, independent of reference charts, is feasible and makes clinical assessment simpler than if using percentiles or other gestational-age normalized units. The high variability in percentile threshold values among the commonly used UCR and CPR reference charts hinders reliable diagnosis and clinical management of late preterm fetal growth restriction. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: In fetuses with isolated left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (LCDH), prenatal detection of severe pulmonary hypoplasia is important, as fetal therapy can improve survival. Cases with mild or moderate lung hypoplasia still carry a considerable risk of mortality and morbidity, but there has been less interest in the accurate prediction of outcome in these cases. In this study of fetuses with mild or moderate isolated LCDH, we aimed to investigate: (1) the association between intrapulmonary artery (IPA) Doppler findings and mortality at discharge; (2) whether adding IPA Doppler findings improves the prediction of mortality based on lung size and liver herniation; and (3) the association between IPA Doppler findings and early neonatal morbidity., Methods: This was a retrospective study of all consecutive fetuses assessed at the BCNatal and UZ Leuven hospitals between 2008 and 2020 with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated, non-severe LCDH, defined as observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio (o/e-LHR) > 25%, that were managed expectantly during pregnancy followed by standardized neonatal management. An additional inclusion criterion was the availability of IPA Doppler measurements. The primary outcome was the association between IPA Doppler findings and mortality at discharge. Other predictors included o/e-LHR, liver herniation and gestational age at birth. Secondary outcomes were the association between IPA Doppler findings and the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT), need for supplemental oxygen at discharge and need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. IPA pulsatility index (PI) values were converted into Z-scores. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the associations between predictor variables and outcome, and the best model was chosen based on the Nagelkerke R 2 ., Results: Observations for 70 non-severe LCDH cases were available. Fifty-four (77%) fetuses survived until discharge. On logistic regression analysis, higher IPA-PI was associated with an increased risk of mortality (odds ratio (OR), 3.96 (95% CI, 1.62-9.70)), independently of o/e-LHR (OR, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.97)). An IPA-PI Z-score cut-off of 1.8 predicted mortality with a detection rate of 69% and specificity of 93%. Adding IPA-PI to o/e-LHR improved significantly the model's performance (Nagelkerke R 2 , 46% for o/e-LHR + IPA-PI vs 28% for o/e-LHR (P < 0.002)), with a detection rate of 81% at a 10% false-positive rate. IPA-PI was associated with PHT (OR, 2.20 (95% CI, 1.01-4.59)) and need for oxygen supplementation at discharge (OR, 1.90 (95% CI, 1.10-3.40)), independently of lung size., Conclusions: In fetuses with mild or moderate LCDH, IPA-PI was associated with mortality and morbidity, independently of lung size. A model combining o/e-LHR with IPA-PI identified up to four in five cases that eventually died, despite being considered to have non-severe pulmonary hypoplasia. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

We analysed the effectiveness of transvaginal ultrasonographic and foetal/maternal pulse Doppler findings as predictors of labour onset within 1 week. We included 22 single normal pregnancies and evaluated the one-point and short- and long-term differences in uterine artery pulsatility index (PI), umbilical artery PI, middle cerebral artery PI (MCA-PI), peak systolic velocity, and cervical length (CL). Presence of funnelling and membrane separation over the internal cervical os was evaluated. Significant changes were observed in the one-point measurement of and short-term and long-term differences in CL, the one-point measurement of and long-term difference in MCA-PI, and the presence of membrane separation (Grade 2). In multivariate analysis, the significant predictors were short-term differences in CL (odds ratio [OR]: 5.27), long-term differences in MCA-PI (OR: 13.3), and presence of membrane separation (Grade 2) (OR: 5.38). Transvaginal ultrasonographic and foetal pulse Doppler findings were effective predictors of labour onset within 1 week.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Parameters reported to predict labour onset include the Bishop score, cervical length, decreased long-term cervical length, funnelling of the internal cervical os, and adrenal gland volume. What do the results of this study add? Short-term changes in cervical length, long-term changes in middle cerebral artery pulsatility index, and the presence of membrane separation Grade 2 were found to be useful predictive factors of labour onset in this study. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The prediction of labour onset enables clinicians to properly manage pregnancy and delivery considering maternal and foetal conditions.

Objectives: There were two objectives of this study. First, to examine the value of uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI) at 19-24 weeks' gestation in the prediction of subsequent development of pre-eclampsia (PE) and to compare the performance of screening between the use of, first, fixed cut-offs of UtA-PI, second, percentile cut-offs of UtA-PI adjusted for gestational age, third, a competing-risks model combining maternal demographic characteristics and medical history with UtA-PI, and, fourth, a competing-risks model combining maternal factors with UtA-PI and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Second, to stratify pregnancy care based on the estimated risk of PE at 19-24 weeks' gestation from UtA-PI and combinations of maternal factors with UtA-PI and MAP., Methods: This was a prospective, non-intervention study in women attending for an ultrasound scan at 19-24 weeks as part of routine pregnancy care. Patient-specific risks of delivery with PE at < 36 weeks' gestation were calculated using the competing-risks model to combine the prior distribution of the gestational age at delivery with PE, obtained from maternal characteristics and medical history, with multiples of the median (MoM) values of UtA-PI and MAP. Different risk cut-offs were used to vary the proportion of the population stratified into each risk category (very high risk, high risk, intermediate risk and low risk) with the intention of detecting about 80%, 85%, 90% and 95% of cases of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation. We also examined the performance of screening by maternal factors and UtA-PI MoM, fixed cut-offs of UtA-PI and percentile cut-offs of UtA-PI adjusted for gestational age. Calibration for risks for PE < 36 weeks' gestation by the combination of maternal factors, UtA-PI MoM and MAP MoM was assessed by plotting the observed incidence of PE against the predicted incidence. Additionally, we developed reference ranges of transabdominal and transvaginal measurement of UtA-PI according to gestational age., Results: In the study population of 96 678 singleton pregnancies, there were 2866 (3.0%) that subsequently developed PE, including 467 (0.5%) that delivered at < 36 weeks' gestation. If the objective of screening was to identify about 90% of cases of delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks and the method of screening was a combination of maternal factors, UtA-PI MoM and MAP MoM, the proportion of the population stratified into very high-risk, high-risk, intermediate-risk and low-risk groups would be 2.4%, 3.9%, 17.8% and 75.9%, respectively; the respective values were 6.0%, 3.0%, 21.0% and 70.0% if screening was by maternal factors and UtA-PI MoM, 5.7%, 7.5%, 49.8% and 37.0% if screening was by fixed cut-offs of UtA-PI and 6.9%, 5.2%, 49.0% and 38.9% if screening was by percentile cut-offs of UtA-PI. In the validation of the prediction model based on a combination of maternal factors and MoM values of UtA-PI and MAP, calibration plots demonstrated good agreement between the predicted risk and the observed incidence of PE., Conclusions: All pregnant women should have screening for PE at 20 and 36 weeks' gestation. The findings at 20 weeks can be used to identify the subgroups that require additional monitoring and reassessment at 28 and 32 weeks. The performance of screening by a combination of maternal factors and MoM values of UtA-PI and MAP at 19-24 weeks for delivery with PE at < 28, < 32 and < 36 weeks' gestation is superior to that of screening by a combination of maternal factors and UtA-PI MoM, by fixed cut-offs of UtA-PI or by percentile cut-offs of UtA-PI. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: To determine the of undiagnosed lower extremity artery disease using the pulse oximetry in a type 2 diabetic population sample. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study that included 594 type 2 diabetic patients, with no previous history of lower extremity artery disease. Medical history, physical examination, determination of the ankle-brachial index (portable Doppler) and measurement of oxygen saturation in upper and lower extremities (pulse oximeter) were performed. Results: Frequency of lower extremity artery disease determined by ankle-brachial index was 18.4%. No significant correlations were detected between oxygen saturation and the ankle-brachial index except for the relationship between ankle-brachial index vs. oxygen saturation at 30 cm lower limb elevation vs. the supine position at no elevation (0 cm) in subjects under the age of 40. Pulse oximetry showed little diagnostic value in the screening of lower extremity artery disease. A relationship between lower extremity artery disease and age has been found. Its diagnosis was associated with a lower body mass index and lower systolic blood pressure in the lower extremities and higher in the upper extremities. Conclusions: We conclude that pulse oximetry is not useful in the screening for asymptomatic lower extremity artery disease in type 2 diabetics., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Objective: To examine the potential value of maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler at 35-37 weeks' gestation in combination with the established biomarkers of pre-eclampsia (PE), including mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA-PI), serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), in the prediction of subsequent development of PE., Methods: This was a prospective observational study in women attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation. This visit included recording of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history, ultrasound examination for fetal anatomy and growth, assessment of flow velocity waveforms from the maternal ophthalmic arteries, and measurement of MAP, UtA-PI, serum PlGF and serum sFlt-1. The competing-risks model was used to estimate the individual patient-specific risks of delivery with PE at any time and at < 3 weeks after assessment by a combination of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history with biomarkers. The area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve and detection rate (DR) of delivery with PE, at a 10% false-positive rate (FPR), in screening by combinations of maternal factors with ophthalmic artery second to first peak of systolic velocity ratio (PSV ratio), MAP, UtA-PI, serum PlGF and serum sFlt-1 were determined. The modeled performance of screening for PE was also estimated., Results: The study population of 2287 pregnancies contained 60 (2.6%) that developed PE, including 19 (0.8%) that delivered with PE at < 3 weeks after assessment. The PSV ratio improved the prediction of PE with delivery at any stage after assessment provided by maternal factors alone (from 25.4% to 50.6%), maternal factors and MAP (54.3% to 62.7%), maternal factors, MAP and PlGF (68.3% to 70.8%) and maternal factors, MAP, PlGF and sFlt-1 (75.7% to 76.7%), at a FPR of 10%. The PSV ratio also improved the prediction of PE with delivery at < 3 weeks after assessment provided by maternal factors alone (from 31.0% to 69.4%), maternal factors and MAP (74.1% to 83.4%), maternal factors, MAP and UtA-PI (77.1% to 85.0%) and maternal factors, MAP and PlGF (84.8% to 88.6%). The empirical results for DR at a 10% FPR were consistent with the modeled results. Screening by a combination of maternal factors with MAP and PSV ratio also detected 59.4% (95% CI, 58.6-82.5%) of cases of gestational hypertension with delivery at any stage after assessment, and 86.7% (95% CI, 82.4-100%) of those with delivery at < 3 weeks after assessment., Conclusion: Ophthalmic artery Doppler could potentially improve the performance of screening for PE at 35-37 weeks, especially imminent PE with delivery within 3 weeks after assessment, but further studies are needed to validate this finding. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: Ebstein anomaly and tricuspid valve dysplasia (EA/TVD) carry high perinatal mortality. Past studies have focused on cardiac predictors of mortality; we sought to describe the fetal echo (FE) extracardiac Dopplers in this cohort and determine their association with perinatal mortality., Method: Fetuses with EA/TVD at 23 centers from 2005-2011 were included for retrospective study. Doppler pattern and velocity of the umbilical artery (UA), umbilical vein (UV), ductus venosus (DV), and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were collected. Bivariate and multivariate analyzes were performed. The primary outcome measure was perinatal mortality, defined as fetal demise or neonatal death., Results: Of 190 cases that met eligibility criteria, alterations were seen in 50% of UA, 16% of UV, 48% of DV, and 8% of MCA Doppler indices on the last FE (median 27.4 weeks). Independent predictors of perinatal mortality included abnormal UA Doppler pattern of absence or reversed end diastolic flow (OR 9.7) and UV velocity z score <1 (OR 2.5), in addition to diagnosis <32 weeks (OR 4.2) and tricuspid valve (TV) annulus z score ≥6 (OR 5.3)., Conclusion: Abnormal UA Doppler pattern and decreased UV velocity are independent predictors of perinatal mortality in EA/TVD fetuses and should be used to refine mortality risk and guide perinatal management., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Decompression sickness (DCS) remains a major operational concern for diving operations, submarine escape and high-altitude jumps. Aside from DCS symptoms, venous gas emboli (VGE) detected with ultrasound post-dive are often used as a marker of decompression stress in humans, with a specificity of 100% even though the sensitivity is poor [1]. Being non-invasive, portable and non-ionizing, ultrasound is particularly suited to regular and repeated monitoring. It could help elucidate inter- and intra-subject variability in VGE and DCS susceptibility, but analyzing these recordings remains a cumbersome task [2]., Competing Interests: The authors of this paper declare no conflicts of interest exist with this submission., (Copyright© Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.)

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to correlate the Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine arteries with the Kurjak Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET), to investigate the effect of uterine artery flow assessed by the Doppler on fetal behavior., Methods: A population of 80 pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy was included for uterine artery Doppler (UAD) assessment. The investigation group consisted of 40 women with abnormal UAD, while the control group consisted of 40 women with normal UAD. The inclusion criteria for the investigated group were: gestation above 20 weeks, and an abnormal finding of Doppler ultrasonography of the uterine arteries. All patients underwent a KANET test and were followed up to the end of their pregnancy., Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the average score of KANET tests between the two groups (9.20±3.32 vs. 13.55±2.21; p=0.001). In the first group, an abnormal flow on the side of the placenta affected the score of the KANET test (B=11.948; p=0.005), while abnormal flow on the opposite side did not affect the score of the KANET test (p>0.05). Physiological flow had no effect on the KANET test in the control group (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Abnormal flow affects the value of the KANET score, and can be used as one of the parameters in evaluation of probable fetal neurodevelopmental disorders., (© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Objectives: To describe the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of adnexal torsion., Methods: This was a retrospective study. From the operative records of the eight participating gynecological ultrasound centers, we identified patients with a surgically confirmed diagnosis of adnexal torsion, defined as surgical evidence of ovarian pedicle, paraovarian cyst and/or Fallopian tube twisted on its own axis, who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination by an experienced examiner, between 2008 and 2018. Only cases with at least two available ultrasound images and/or videoclips (one grayscale and one with Doppler evaluation) were included. Clinical, ultrasound, surgical and histological information was retrieved from each patient's medical record and entered into an Excel file by the principal investigator at each center. In addition, two authors reviewed all available ultrasound images and videoclips of the twisted adnexa, with regard to the presence of four predefined ultrasound features reported to be characteristic of adnexal torsion: (1) ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles, (2) the follicular ring sign, (3) the whirlpool sign and (4) absence of vascularization in the twisted organ., Results: A total of 315 cases of adnexal torsion were identified. The median age of the patients was 30 (range, 1-88) years. Most patients were premenopausal (284/314; 90.4%) and presented with acute or subacute pelvic pain (305/315; 96.8%). The surgical approach was laparoscopic in 239/312 (76.6%) patients and conservative surgery (untwisting with or without excision of a lesion) was performed in 149/315 (47.3%) cases. According to the original ultrasound reports, the median largest diameter of the twisted organ was 83 (range, 30-349) mm. Free fluid in the pouch of Douglas was detected in 196/275 (71.3%) patients. Ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles was reported in the original ultrasound report in 167/241 (69.3%) patients, the whirlpool sign in 178/226 (78.8%) patients, absent color Doppler signals in the twisted organ in 119/269 (44.2%) patients and the follicular ring sign in 51/134 (38.1%) patients. On retrospective review of images and videoclips, ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles (201/254; 79.1%) and the whirlpool sign (139/153; 90.8%) were the most commonly detected features of adnexal torsion., Conclusion: Most patients with surgically confirmed adnexal torsion are of reproductive age and present with acute or subacute pain. Common ultrasound signs are an enlarged adnexa, the whirlpool sign, ovarian stromal edema with or without peripherally displaced antral follicles and free fluid in the pelvis. The follicular ring sign and absence of Doppler signals in the twisted organ are slightly less common signs. Recognizing ultrasound signs of adnexal torsion is important so that the correct treatment, i.e. surgery without delay, can be offered. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., (Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: First, to examine the potential value of maternal ophthalmic artery Doppler at 35-37 weeks' gestation in the prediction of subsequent development of pre-eclampsia (PE), and, second, to examine the variability between repeat measurements in the same eye and variability in measurements between the two eyes., Methods: This was a prospective observational study in women attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation. The visit included recording of maternal demographic characteristics and medical history and assessment of flow velocity waveforms from the maternal ophthalmic artery. Waveforms were obtained in sequence from the right eye, left eye and again from the right and then left eye. We recorded the average of the four measurements, two from each eye, for the following four indices: first peak of systolic velocity; second peak of systolic velocity; pulsatility index; and the ratio of the second to first peak of systolic velocity (PSV ratio). The measurements of the four indices were standardized to remove the effects of maternal characteristics and elements from the medical history. The competing-risks model was used to determine the detection rate (DR) of delivery with PE at any time and at < 3 weeks after assessment, at a 10% false-positive rate (FPR), in screening by maternal factors alone and a combination of maternal factors and the adjusted value of each of the four ophthalmic artery indices., Results: The study population of 2287 pregnancies contained 60 (2.6%) that developed PE, including 19 (0.8%) that delivered with PE at < 3 weeks after assessment. The DR, at 10% FPR, of delivery with PE at any time after assessment by maternal factors was 25.0% (95% CI, 14.7-37.9%), and this increased by 25 percentage points to 50.0% (95% CI, 36.8-63.2%) with the addition of the adjusted PSV ratio (P = 0.005); the respective values for delivery with PE at < 3 weeks after assessment were 31.6% (95% CI, 12.6-56.6%) and 57.9% (95% CI, 33.5-79.8%). The other ophthalmic artery indices did not improve the prediction provided by maternal factors alone. There was good correlation between the first and second measurements of PSV ratio from the same eye (right eye r = 0.823, left eye r = 0.840), but poorer correlation in the first and second measurements between the two eyes (first measurement r = 0.690, second measurement r = 0.682). In screening by maternal factors and PSV ratio for PE with delivery at any stage after assessment, the estimated DR, at 10% FPR, was 50.0% when the average of four measurements was used (two from each eye), 49.1% when the average of one measurement from each eye was used, 47.3% when the average of two measurements from the same eye was used, and 45.8% when only one measurement was used., Conclusions: Ophthalmic artery PSV ratio at 35-37 weeks' gestation can predict subsequent delivery with PE, especially if this occurs within 3 weeks after assessment. In the assessment of ophthalmic artery Doppler, it is necessary to use the average of one measurement from each eye to minimize variability of measurements. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology., (© 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objective: To investigate the association between absent or reversed end-diastolic flow (ARED) on umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound and poor neurological outcome at 2 years of age after very preterm birth associated with suspected fetal growth restriction (FGR) or maternal hypertensive disorders., Methods: The study population comprised all very preterm (22-31 completed weeks) singleton pregnancies delivered because of suspected FGR and/or maternal hypertensive disorders that had umbilical artery Doppler and 2-year follow-up available included in EPIPAGE-2, a prospective, nationwide, population-based cohort of preterm births in France in 2011. Univariate and two-level multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of ARED in the umbilical artery, as compared with normal or reduced end-diastolic flow, with severe or moderate neuromotor and/or sensory disability and with an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) score below a threshold. This was defined as a score more than 2 SD below the mean in any of the five domains, at age 2, adjusting for gestational age at delivery. ASQ is used to identify children at risk of developmental delay requiring reinforced follow-up and further evaluation. Descriptive statistics and bivariate tests were weighted according to the duration of the inclusion periods., Results: The analysis included 484 children followed up at 2 years of age, for whom prenatal umbilical artery Doppler ultrasound was available. Among them, 8/484 (1.6%) had severe or moderate neuromotor and/or sensory disability, and 156/342 (45.4%) had an ASQ score below the threshold. Compared with normal or reduced end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery (n = 305), ARED (n = 179) was associated with severe or moderate neuromotor and/or sensory disability (adjusted odds ratio (OR), 11.3; 95% CI, 1.4-93.2) but not with an ASQ score below the threshold (adjusted OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.8-1.9)., Conclusion: Among children delivered before 32 weeks of gestation due to suspected FGR and/or maternal hypertensive disorder who survived until 2 years of age, prenatal ARED in the umbilical artery was associated with a higher incidence of severe or moderate neuromotor and/or sensory disability. Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., (Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The current COVID-19 pandemic is causing diagnostic and risk stratification difficulties in Emergency Departments (ED) worldwide. Molecular tests are not sufficiently sensitive, and results are usually not available in time for decision making in the ED. Chest x-ray (CXR) is a poor diagnostic test for COVID-19, and computed tomography (CT), while sensitive, is impractical as a diagnostic test for all patients. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has an established role in the evaluation of acute respiratory failure and has been used during the COVID-19 outbreak as a decision support tool. LUS shows characteristic changes in viral pneumonitis, and while these changes are not specific for COVID-19, it may be a useful adjunct during the diagnostic process. It is quick to perform and repeat and may be done at the bedside. The authors believe that LUS can help to mitigate uncertainty in undifferentiated patients with respiratory symptoms. This review aims to provide guidance regarding indications for LUS, describe the typical sonographic abnormalities seen in patients with COVID-19 and provide recommendations around the logistics of performing LUS on patients with COVID-19 and managing the infection control risk of the procedure. The risk of anchoring bias during a pandemic and the need to consider alternative pathologies are emphasised throughout this review. LUS may be a useful point-of-care test for emergency care providers during the current COVID-19 pandemic if used within a strict framework that governs education, quality assurance and proctored scanning protocols., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused a pandemic, overwhelming health care systems around the world. Hospitals around the world, including the United States, have been struggling to adapt to the influx of patients with COVID-19, the illness caused by SARS-CoV2, given limited resources and high demand for medical care., Objectives: This article seeks to provide emergency physicians with a guide to sonographic findings in COVID-19 and an algorithm by which point-of-care lung ultrasound may assist emergency physicians caring for these patients during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic., Discussion: The studies currently being published have established a typical set of ultrasound findings in COVID-19. Point-of-care lung ultrasound is rapid and accessible in most emergency departments in the United States, and even in many resource-poor settings., Conclusion: Point-of-care ultrasound provides numerous benefits to emergency providers caring for patients with COVID-19, including decreasing resource utilization, assisting in diagnosis, guiding management of the critically ill patient, and aiding in rapid triage of patients under investigations for COVID-19., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The NHS in England has rapidly expanded staff testing for COVID-19 in order to allow healthcare workers who would otherwise be isolating with symptoms suspicious of COVID-19 to be cleared to work. However, the high false negative rate associated with current RT-PCR tests could put other staff, family members and patients at risk. We believe combining swab testing with real-time lung ultrasound (LUS) would improve the ability to rule-in COVID-19 infection in those requiring screening., (© Royal College of Physicians 2020. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of cross-sectional area (CSA), resistive index (RI), and strain ratio (SR) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)., Design: This prospective and case-control study included patients with a diagnosis of CTS and a healthy control group. The participants were examined with an ultrasound Doppler system equipped with a high-resolution (5-18 MHz) linear probe (Philips L18-5). CSA, RI, and SR values were compared., Results: CSA, RI, and SR were found to be effective tools to detect the presence of CTS (regardless of severity). The cut-off value of 11.25 mm for CSA had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.2% and 88.0%, respectively. The cut-off value of 0.740 for RI had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.4% and 94.0%, respectively. The cut-off value of 1.95 for SR had a sensitivity and specificity of 97.2% and 84.0%, respectively. In respect of the severity of CTS, ultrasound was found to be an effective method to classify severe CTS cases only., Conclusion: The CSA, SR, and RI seem to have excellent accuracy in the diagnosis of CTS. When the grading of severity is considered, ultrasound seems to be sensitive and specific in differentiating severe CTS cases from mild or moderate CTS cases.

Objective: To assess clinical variability in the management of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses according to different published Doppler reference charts for umbilical artery (UA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler indices and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR)., Methods: We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Web of Science databases from 1954 to 2018 for studies with the sole aim of creating fetal Doppler reference values for UA, MCA and CPR. The top cited articles for each Doppler parameter were included. Variability in Doppler values at the following clinically relevant cut-offs was assessed: UA-pulsatility index (PI) > 95 th percentile; MCA-PI < 5 th percentile; and CPR < 5 th percentile. Variability was calculated for each week of gestation and expressed as the percentage difference between the highest and lowest Doppler value at the clinically relevant cut-offs. Simulation analysis was performed in a cohort of SGA fetuses (n = 617) to evaluate the impact of this variability on clinical management., Results: From a total of 40 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 19 were analyzed (13 for UA-PI, 10 for MCA-PI and five for CPR). Wide discrepancies in reported Doppler reference values at clinically relevant cut-offs were found. MCA-PI showed the greatest variability, with differences of up to 51% in the 5 th percentile value at term. Variability in the 95 th percentile of UA-PI and the 5 th percentile of CPR at each gestational week ranged from 21% to 41% and 15% to 33%, respectively. As expected, on simulation analysis, these differences in Doppler cut-off values were associated with significant variation in the clinical management of SGA fetuses, despite using the same protocol., Conclusions: The choice of Doppler reference chart can result in significant variation in the clinical management of SGA fetuses, which may lead to suboptimal outcomes and inaccurate research conclusions. Therefore, an attempt to standardize fetal Doppler reference ranges is needed. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., (Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: The aim is to review current literature related to the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of suspected and confirmed Covid-19 cases., Key Findings: Medical Imaging plays an important auxiliary role in the diagnosis of Covid-19 patients, mainly those most seriously affected. Practice differs widely among different countries, mainly due to the variability of access to resources (viral testing and imaging equipment, specialised staff, protective equipment). It has been now well-documented that chest radiographs should be the first-line imaging tool and chest CT should only be reserved for critically ill patients, or when chest radiograph and clinical presentation may be inconclusive., Conclusion: As radiographers work on the frontline, they should be aware of the potential risks associated with Covid-19 and engage in optimal strategies to reduce these. Their role in vetting, conducting and often reporting the imaging examinations is vital, as well as their contribution in patient safety and care. Medical Imaging should be limited to critically ill patients, and where it may have an impact on the patient management plan., Implications for Practice: At the time of publication, this review offers the most up-to-date recommendations for clinical practitioners in radiology departments, including radiographers. Radiography practice has to significantly adjust to these new requirements to support optimal and safe imaging practices for the diagnosis of Covid-19. The adoption of low dose CT, rigorous infection control protocols and optimal use of personal protective equipment may reduce the potential risks of radiation exposure and infection, respectively, within Radiology departments., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess Doppler ultrasound (US) and tenosynovial fluid (TSF) characteristics in tenosynovitis within common rheumatic conditions, as well as their diagnostic utility., Methods: Subjects with tenosynovitis underwent Doppler US and US-guided TSF aspiration for white cell count (WCC) and crystal analysis. Tenosynovial Doppler scores (DS) were semiquantitatively graded. TSF WCC and DS were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests and logistic regression between non-inflammatory conditions (NIC), inflammatory conditions (IC) and crystal-related conditions (CRC). Receiver operating curves, sensitivity and specificity assessed the ability of WCC and DS to discriminate IC from NIC., Results: We analysed 100 subjects from 14 sites. The mean age was 62 years, 65% were female, and the mean TSF volume was 1.2 mL. Doppler signal was present in 93.7% of the IC group and was more frequent in IC than in NIC group (OR 6.82, 95% CI 1.41 to 32.97). The TSF median WCC per 10 9 /L was significantly higher in the IC (2.58, p<0.001) and CRC (1.07, p<0.01) groups versus the NIC group (0.38). A TSF cut-off of ≥0.67 WCC per 10 9 /L optimally discriminated IC versus NIC with a sensitivity and specificity each of 81.3%. In the IC group, 20 of 48 (41.7%) subjects had a TSF WCC <2.00 per 10 9 /L., Conclusions: A negative DS helps rule out IC in tenosynovitis, but a positive DS is non-specific and merits TSF testing. Unlike synovial fluid, a lower TSF WCC better discriminates IC from NIC. US guidance facilitates aspiration of minute TSF volume, which is critical for diagnosing tenosynovial CRC., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a point-of-care ultrasound technique used for its portability, widespread availability, and ability to provide real-time diagnostic information and procedural guidance. LUS outperforms lung auscultation and chest X-ray, and it is an alternative to chest computed tomography in selected cases. Cardiologists may enhance their physical and echocardiographic examination with the addition of LUS. We present a practical guide to LUS, including device selection, scanning, findings, and interpretation. We outline a 3-point scanning protocol using 2-dimensional and M-mode imaging to evaluate the pleural line, pleural space, and parenchyma. We describe LUS findings and interpretation for common causes of respiratory failure. We provide guidance specific of COVID-19, which at the time of writing is a global pandemic. In this context, LUS emerges as a particularly useful tool for the diagnosis and management of patients with cardiopulmonary disease., (Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Pregnancies complicated by late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) are at increased risk of short- and long-term morbidities. Despite this, identification of cases at higher risk of adverse perinatal outcome, at the time of FGR diagnosis, is challenging. The aims of this study were to elucidate the strength of association between fetoplacental Doppler indices at the time of diagnosis of late-onset FGR and adverse perinatal outcome, and to determine their predictive accuracy., Methods: This was a prospective study of consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated by late-onset FGR. Late-onset FGR was defined as estimated fetal weight (EFW) or abdominal circumference (AC) < 3 rd centile, or EFW or AC < 10 th centile and umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) > 95 th centile or cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) < 5 th centile, diagnosed after 32 weeks. EFW, uterine artery PI, UA-PI, fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI, CPR and umbilical vein blood flow normalized for fetal abdominal circumference (UVBF/AC) were recorded at the time of the diagnosis of FGR. Doppler variables were expressed as Z-scores for gestational age. Composite adverse perinatal outcome was defined as the occurrence of at least one of emergency Cesarean section for fetal distress, 5-min Apgar score < 7, umbilical artery pH < 7.10 and neonatal admission to the special care unit. Logistic regression analysis was used to elucidate the strength of association between different ultrasound parameters and composite adverse perinatal outcome, and receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC)-curve analysis was used to determine their predictive accuracy., Results: In total, 243 consecutive singleton pregnancies complicated by late-onset FGR were included. Composite adverse perinatal outcome occurred in 32.5% (95% CI, 26.7-38.8%) of cases. In pregnancies with composite adverse perinatal outcome, compared with those without, mean uterine artery PI Z-score (2.23 ± 1.34 vs 1.88 ± 0.89, P = 0.02) was higher, while Z-scores of UVBF/AC (-1.93 ± 0.88 vs -0.89 ± 0.94, P ≤ 0.0001), MCA-PI (-1.56 ± 0.93 vs -1.22 ± 0.84, P = 0.004) and CPR (-1.89 ± 1.12 vs -1.44 ± 1.02, P = 0.002) were lower. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, Z-scores of mean uterine artery PI (P = 0.04), CPR (P = 0.002) and UVBF/AC (P = 0.001) were associated independently with composite adverse perinatal outcome. UVBF/AC Z-score had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.723 (95% CI, 0.64-0.80) for composite adverse perinatal outcome, demonstrating better accuracy than that of mean uterine artery PI Z-score (AUC, 0.593; 95% CI, 0.50-0.69) and CPR Z-score (AUC, 0.615; 95% CI, 0.52-0.71). A multiparametric prediction model including Z-scores of MCA-PI, uterine artery PI and UVBF/AC had an AUC of 0.745 (95% CI, 0.66-0.83) for the prediction of composite adverse perinatal outcome., Conclusion: While CPR and uterine artery PI assessed at the time of diagnosis are associated independently with composite adverse perinatal outcome in pregnancies complicated by late-onset FGR, their diagnostic performance for composite adverse perinatal outcome is low. UVBF/AC showed better accuracy for prediction of composite adverse perinatal outcome, although its usefulness in clinical practice as a standalone predictor of adverse pregnancy outcome requires further research. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., (Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: Pain sensitization contributes to the complex osteoarthritis (OA) pain experience. The relationship between imaging features of hand OA and clinically assessed pain sensitization is largely unexplored. This study was undertaken to examine the association of structural and inflammatory features of hand OA with local pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in the Nor-Hand study., Methods: The cross-sectional relationship of severity of structural radiographic features of hand OA (measured according to the Kellgren/Lawrence scale [grade 0-4] and the absence or presence of erosive joint disease) as well as ultrasound-detected hand joint inflammation (assessed by gray-scale synovitis [grade 0-3] and the absence or presence of power Doppler activity) to the PPTs of 2 finger joints was examined by multilevel regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, using beta values with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs)., Results: A total of 570 joints in 285 participants included in the Nor-Hand study were assessed. Greater structural and inflammatory severity was associated with lower PPTs, with adjusted beta values of -0.5 (95% CI -0.6, -0.4) per Kellgren/Lawrence grade increase, -1.4 (95% CI -1.8, -0.9) for erosive versus non-erosive joints, -0.7 (95% CI -0.9, -0.6) per gray-scale synovitis grade increase, and -1.5 (95% CI -1.8, -1.1) for joints with power Doppler activity on ultrasound versus those without., Conclusion: Greater severity of structural pathologic features and hand joint inflammation was associated with lower PPTs in the finger joints of patients with hand OA, indicating pain sensitization. Our results indicate that pain sensitization might be driven by structural and inflammatory pathology in hand OA., (© 2020 The Authors. Arthritis & Rheumatology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American College of Rheumatology.)

Background: The delayed graft function (DGF) in kidney transplantation (KT) is a risk factor for long-term poor graft survival. The pathogenesis is multifactorial but mainly related to an ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the graft hemodynamics have been recently identified as a key aspect for early DGF risk assessment and potential therapeutic intervention., Methods: A pilot study on 20 single kidney grafts from donor after brain death with intraoperative measurement of graft arterial flowmetry, 30 minutes after reperfusion. Exclusion criteria were grafts with multiple arteries or severe atherosclerosis of the recipient's external iliac artery., Results: KT recipients with DGF (n = 4, 20%) were homogenous with controls (n = 16) in terms of cold ischemia time, donor age, recipients' hemodynamic parameters, renal artery, and recipients' external iliac artery diameters. Nonetheless, at transplant, the kidney grafts that developed DGF were characterized by a significantly higher renal artery resistive index (DGF vs no-DGF 0.96 ± 0.04 vs 0.77 ± 0.13, P = .02), as well as lower flow extraction rate (24.8% ± 11.8 vs 59.2% ± 21.1, P < .01)., Conclusions: Intraoperative arterial graft flowmetry seems to be an effective tool to identify grafts at high risk of DGF., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease has increased the demand for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) care. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between some risk factors for AVF failure (advanced age, female sex, diabetes, obesity, central venous catheter, previous fistula, and hospitalization) and having a Doppler ultrasound performed preoperatively., Methods: A prospective study was performed with 228 dialysis patients from Imperatriz, Maranhão. Half of the sample was randomly selected to receive preoperative Doppler ultrasound and the other half did not, from the period of October 2016 to September 2018., Results: There were 53 total failures corresponding to 23.2% of our sample, which is almost double that of the patients in the clinical group. Considering the failures and risk factors associated with the overall sample, there was a statistically significant association between a central venous catheter on the same side of the AVF with P = 0.04 (Odds Ratio 1.24) and obesity with P = 0.05 (Odds Ratio 1.36), which was not repeated in the Doppler ultrasound group individually. There was no statistically significant difference between the Doppler group and clinical group with respect to the amount of days of previous AVF hospitalization and failure., Conclusions: We concluded that the reduction of failures with an introduction of the Doppler was statistically significant in the overall sample, but establishing a relationship between specific risk factors and failure was only possible with two of the risk factors in the study - obesity and central venous catheter on the same side of the AVF.

Objective: To assess the prostate cancer (CaP) detection rates of contrast-enhanced, transrectal subharmonic ultrasound imaging (SHI)., Materials and Methods: This IRB-approved study enrolled 55 subjects. The initial 5 subjects were studied for SHI optimization, while the remaining 50 were evaluated with contrast-enhanced sonography using continuous SHI, color, and power Doppler as well as conventional grayscale, continuous color, and power Doppler and SHI combined with maximum flash replenishment. A maximum of 6 directed biopsy cores were obtained from sites of greatest asymmetrical enhancement, followed by spatially distributed cores in a double sextant distribution. Subharmonic time-intensity parameters, including time to peak intensity, peak intensity, and estimated perfusion were also evaluated for each directed biopsy core. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and conditional logistic regression were employed to assess the benefit of each modality and the quantitative SHI parameters., Results: Cancer was detected in 22 of 50 subjects. Among subjects with clinically significant CaP (n = 11), targeted cores were more likely to be positive (odds ratio 1.39, P = .02). The majority of patients detected by SHI demonstrated significant CaP (5/8); SHI remained an independent marker of malignancy in a multivariate logistic regression model (P = .027). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of imaging findings compared to biopsy results yielded diagnostic accuracies ranging from 0.59 to 0.80 for all imaging modalities with the highest being for quantitative subharmonic perfusion estimates., Conclusion: This first-in-humans study provides a preliminary estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of SHI for detection of clinically significant CaP (up to 80%)., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Few data are available on the epidemiology and management of GCA in real life. We aimed to address this situation by using health insurance claims data for France., Methods: This retrospective study used the Echantillon Généraliste de Bénéficiaires (EGB) database, a 1% representative sample of the French national health insurance system. The EGB contains anonymous data on long-term disease status, hospitalizations and reimbursement claims for 752 717 people. Data were collected between 2007 and 2015. The index date was defined as the date of the first occurrence of a GCA code. Demographics, comorbidities, diagnostic tests and therapies were analysed. Annual incidence rates were calculated, and incident and overall GCA cases were studied., Results: We identified 241 patients with GCA. The annual incidence was 7-10/100 000 people ⩾50 years old. Among the 117 patients with incident GCA, 74.4% were females, with mean age 77.6 years and mean follow-up 2.2 years. After the index date, 51.3% underwent temporal artery biopsy and 29.1% high-resolution Doppler ultrasonography. Among the whole cohort, 84.3% used only glucocorticoids. The most-prescribed glucocorticoid-sparing agent was methotrexate (12.0%)., Conclusion: The incidence of GCA in France is 7-10/100 000 people ⩾ 50 years old. Adjunct agents, mainly methotrexate, are given to only a few patients. The use of temporal artery biopsy in only half of the patients might reflect a shift toward the use of imaging techniques to diagnose GCA., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Sometimes endometrial polyps, submucosal myomas, and endometrial cancer show similar findings under ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to assess the antidiastole value of blood flow parameters using three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasonography angiography (PDA) between endometrial cancer and uterine parenchyma lumps. The data of the blood flow indices in 3D-PDA including the vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI), and vascularization flow index (VFI) in 40 patients with endometrial cancer and 41 patients with uterine parenchyma lumps (endometrial polyps and submucosal myomas) were retrospectively analysed and compared utilizing Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) software. The results showed that all the blood flow parameters (VI, FI, VFI) were significantly higher in women with endometrial cancer than in those with uterine parenchyma lumps (P<0.001). The area under the curve of ROC of VI, FI, and VFI was 0.98, 0.84, and 0.97, respectively. Thus, the best predictor of endometrial carcinoma was VI with a sensitivity of 97.0% and a specificity of 91.0%. The optimal cutoff value of VI was 4.06%. Our data demonstrated that all of the blood flow signal parameters (including VI, FI, and VFI) in 3D power Doppler ultrasonography had significant antidiastole values between endometrial cancer and uterine parenchyma lumps to assist clinicians in properly diagnosing patients.

Aim: The early-onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is associated with severe placental insufficiency and Doppler abnormalities. The late-onset IUGR is associated with mild placental insufficiency and normal Doppler velocimetry. The computerized cardiotocographic (cCTG) monitoring is used to evaluate the fetal well-being in pregnancies complicated by IUGR. Our aim was to investigate the cardiotocographic characteristics of IUGR fetuses and to identify every cCTG difference between Healthy and IUGR fetuses., Methods: Four hundred thirty pregnant women were enrolled starting from the 28th week of gestation until the time of delivery: 200 healthy and 230 IUGR fetuses. Fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline (FHR), short-term variability (STV), long-term irregularity (LTI), delta, interval index (II), approximate entropy (ApEn), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), movement frequency (MF), LF/(HF + MF) ratio (LF/(HF + MF)) and number of decelerations were examined. Newborn baby data were also collected., Results: The parameters of short- and medium-term variability discriminate between IUGR and healthy fetuses before 36 weeks including FHR, STV, LTI and delta discriminate between each subgroup of IUGR were compared to each one of the other two (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: cCTG is a useful tool for the evaluation of chronic hypoxemia, which causes a delay in the maturation of all components of the autonomic and central nervous system. However, cCTG requires integration with fetal ultrasound and Doppler vessels evaluation to improve the ability to predict the neonatal outcome., (© 2019 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Objectives: To construct gestation specific reference limits for fetal umbilical (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility indices (PI) and the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) in singleton pregnancies with normal BMI between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation., Methods: We ultrasonographically examined 596 fetuses from women with normal nutritional and health status and minimal environmental constraints on fetal growth. Each mother was considered only once for measurement of fetal Doppler indices, at gestations between 16 and 40 weeks in a prospective cross-sectional study. Gestational age was confirmed by fetal crown-rump length measurement between 11 and 14 weeks. Pulsatility indices of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries were measured by real time and Doppler ultrasonography. CPR ratio was calculated by dividing MCA PI by UA PI. The fetal Doppler measurements obtained from the current study were compared with commonly used reference charts. For each parameter separate polynomial regression models were fitted to estimate the gestation specific means and standard deviations, assuming that the measurements have a normal distribution at each gestational age., Results: A significant difference of fetal Doppler indices was observed between our study and previously published reference charts for most gestational weeks. The fitted 10th, 50th and 90th centiles at 40 weeks of gestation were 0.65, 0.87 and 1.08 for UA PI; 0.93, 1.32 and 1.71 MCA PI; 1.02, 1.58 and 2.13 for CPR., Conclusions: These charts can be used for better defining the normal range of fetal arterial Doppler indices. This will be useful in the diagnosis and management of fetuses with abnormal fetal growth.

Background: Podiatric vascular assessment practices in the United Kingdom (UK) are currently unknown. This study aimed to describe the current practices for performing lower limb vascular assessments by podiatrists in the UK, and, to investigate the effect of practitioner characteristics, including education level and practice setting, on the choice of tests used for these assessments., Methods: A cross-sectional observational online survey of registered podiatrists in the UK was conducted using SurveyMonkey® between 1st of July and 5th of October 2018. Item content related to: practitioner characteristics, vascular testing methods, barriers to completing vascular assessment, interpretation of vascular assessment techniques, education provision and ongoing management and referral pathways. Descriptive statistics were performed, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to determine whether practitioner characteristics could predict the choice of vascular tests used., Results: Five hundred and eighty five participants accessed the online survey. After drop-outs and exclusions, 307 participants were included in the analyses. Comprehensive vascular assessments had most commonly been performed once (15.8%) or twice (10.4%) in the past week. The most common indicators for performing vascular assessment were symptoms of suspected claudication (89.3%), suspected rest pain (86.0%) and history of diabetes (85.3%). The most common barrier to performing vascular assessment was time constraints (52.4%). Doppler examination (72.3%) was the most frequently reported assessment type, with ankle-brachial index (31.9%) and toe brachial index (5.9%) less frequently performed. There were variable interpretations of vascular test results. The most common topic for education was smoking cessation (69.5%). Most participants (72.2%) were confident in determining ongoing management, with the majority referring to the patient's general practitioner (67.6%). Practitioner characteristics did not predict the types of vascular tests performed., Conclusion: The majority of vascular assessments currently performed by podiatrists in the UK are inconsistent with UK or international vascular guidelines and recommendations. Despite this, most podiatrists felt confident in diagnosing, referring and managing patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), however many felt they needed more education to feel confident to assist patients with PAD to manage their cardiovascular risk factors., Competing Interests: Competing interestsNone of the authors have any conflicts of interests to declare.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of intracranial hemodynamics often use Newtonian viscosity model to close the shear rate term in the Navier-Stokes equation. This is based on a commonly accepted hypothesis which state that non-Newtonian effects can be neglected in intracranial blood flow. This study aims to examine the validity of such hypothesis to guide future CFD studies of intracranial hemodynamics. Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) measurements of systolic and diastolic vessel diameter and blood velocity were conducted on 16 subjects (mean age 50.6). The measurements were conducted on the internal carotid (ICA), middle cerebral (MCA), and anterior communicating (AComA) arteries. Systolic and diastolic wall shear stress (WSS) values were calculated via the Hagen-Poiseuille exact solution using Newtonian and three different non-Newtonian models: namely Carreau, power-law and Herschel-Bulkley models. The Weissenberg-Rabinowitsch correction for blood shear-thinning viscosity was applied to the non-Newtonian models. The error percentage between the two sets of models was calculated and discussed. The Newtonian hypothesis was tested statistically and discussed using paired t tests. Significant differences (P < 0.0001) were found between the Newtonian and non-Newtonian WSS in ICA. In MCA and AComA, similar differences were found except in the systole and diastole for the Herschel-Bulkley and power-law models (P = 0.0669, P = 0.7298), respectively. The error between the Newtonian and non-Newtonian models ranged from - 27 to 30% (0.2 to 2.2 Pa). These values could affect the physical interpretation of IA CFD studies. Evidence suggests that the Newtonian assumption may be inappropriate to investigate intracranial hemodynamics. Graphical abstract The WSS estimation error resulting from using the Newtonian assumption compared to three non-Newtonian models for ICA, MCA, and AComA in systole and diastole conditions, based on TCCD measurements of 16 subjects. The error due to the Newtonian assumption ranged from 0.2 to 2.2 Pa (- 27 to 30%). These values could affect the physical interpretation of IA CFD studies.

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic performance of the ratio of renal resistive index (RRI) to semiquantitative power Doppler ultrasound (PDU) score in predicting acute kidney injury (AKI) 3 in critically ill patients.This study was a prospective, observational study that included 101 critically ill patients. RRI and semiquantitative PDU score were measured within 6 hours following admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The ratio of RRI to PDU (RRI/PDU) was calculated as follows: RRI / PDU. If PDU score was 0, the RRI/PDU was 1. Meanwhile, AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria.Median RRI/PDU was 0.234 (0.190, 0.335) in patients with AKI 0-2 and 0.636 (0.411, 0.738) in patients with AKI 3 (P < .001). As assessed by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC), RRI/PDU performed best in diagnosing AKI 3 [AUC = 0.935 (95% CI: 0.868-0.974)]. Optimal cuto for RRI/PDU was > 0.37, and the sensitivity and specificity were 90.5% and 90.0%, respectively. In 93 patients, except for 8 patients with a PDU score of 0, the AUC of RRI/PDU [0.938 (95% CI: 0.868-0.977)] was superior to the PDU score (0.905 [95% CI: 0.826-0.956], P = .133), RRI [0.782 (95% CI: 0.684-0.861), P = .016], serum creatinine [0.801 (95% CI: 0.705-0.877), P = .017], or 6 hours AKI stage (0.876 [95% CI: 0.791-0.935], P = .110) in predicting AKI 3 on D5.In our study, RRI, PDU score, RRI/PDU, and 6 hours AKI stage were useful in predicting AKI 3. Furthermore, RRI/PDU may be a better predictor of AKI 3.

Introduction: To test the reproducibility and repeatability of the cerebro-placental ratio., Study Design: Pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and secure dating were invited to participate after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Using recommended technique, umbilical artery PI was measured from the free loop of the umbilical cord and from the fetal end by one examiner in a state of fetal quiescence, generating four measurements per fetus. Fetal middle cerebral artery PI was also obtained. Cerebro-placental ratio (CPR) was calculated as MCA PI/Umbilical artery PI. Variability of the CPR on the two sampling occasions was tested using Pitman test of equality of variance for related samples. The difference between the two sets of CPR measurements was plotted against the mean to generate 95% limits of agreement., Results: A total of 158 women were recruited. The mean CPR was significantly lower when the umbilical artery PI was obtained at the para-vesical site, than when it in obtained from a free loop (p < 0.001). No significant correlation was seen between gestational age and CPR, when the umbilical artery PI was measured from the para-vesical site (r = -0.079, p = 0.323) or the free loop (r = -0.103, p = 0.198). Total variance of the CPR using the umbilical artery free loop was 0.286, and that using the para-vesical site of the umbilical artery was 0.164. Pitman's test showed that the total variability of CPR at the two sites was significantly different (r = 0.254, p < 0.001). The variability of CPR was significantly lower if the umbilical artery PI measurement was taken at the fetal end than that in the free loop., Conclusion: The mean CPR site was significantly lower when the umbilical artery PI was obtained at the para-vesical than in the free loop. Measurement site for the umbilical artery PI contributes to a significant proportion to the total variability of the cerebro-placental ratio. CPR measurements should include umbilical artery PI measurements at the para-vesical site rather than the free loop of the umbilical cord in order to improve repeatability. Appropriate reference ranges for the interpretation of CPR will be needed., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: To test the hypothesis that standardising the site of sampling of umbilical artery Doppler reduces the variability of umbilical artery Pulsatility Index (PI)., Study Design: In this prospective study, pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy and secure dating were invited to participate after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Using recommended technique, umbilical artery PI was measured from the free loop of the umbilical cord and from the para-vesical site by the same examiner at the beginning and the end of ultrasound examination in a state of fetal quiescence, generating four measurements per fetus. Variability of the measurements at the two sampling sites was tested using Pitman test of equality of variance for related samples. The difference between the two sets of measurements were plotted against the mean to generate limits of agreement., Results: A total of 158 women were recruited. Umbilical artery PI was significantly negatively correlated with the gestational age (r = -0.246 for free loop and -0.262 for para-vesical site, both p < 0.005). The PI at the para-vesical site was significantly higher than in the free loop (p < 0.001). Pitman's test showed that the total variability of umbilical artery PI at the two sites was no different (r = -0.091, p = 0.254)., Conclusion: Measurement site contributes to an insignificant proportion to the total variability of the umbilical artery PI measurements. Umbilical artery PI is significantly lower when measured in the free loop as compared to the para-vesical site. Standardising the site of sampling does not improve the repeatability of umbilical artery PI measurement., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study is to investigate the sensitivity of contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography (c-TTE) versus transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to detect a residual right-to-left shunt (RLS) following a transcatheter patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure.A self-controlled study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. 57 patients with PFO who had experienced migraines underwent percutaneous PFO closure. c-TTE, TEE, and contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (c-TCD) at resting and Valsalva maneuver were performed during the 3-month follow-up after the closure.The closure devices were successfully implanted in all patients without complications. Three months after closure, TEE did not detect residual Valsalva shunts in any of the 57 patients; residual valsalva shunts were found via c-TTE in 15 of the 57 patients and were also observed via c-TCD. When c-TTE and/or c-TCD were used, the rate of residual RLSs detected in patients who underwent PFO closure was 26.32%, which was significantly different than the rate detected using TEE (P < .05)c-TTE and c-TCD showed equivalent sensitivity in evaluating transcatheter closure of a PFO. c-TTE could be a more cost-effective and reliable method to detect the residual shunt after PFO closure.

Objectives: To use high-resolution imaging to characterise palindromic rheumatism (PR) and to compare the imaging pattern observed to that seen in new-onset rheumatoid arthritis (NORA)., Methods: Ultrasound (US) assessment of synovitis, tenosynovitis and non-synovial extracapsular inflammation (ECI) was performed during and between flares in a prospective treatment-naive PR cohort. MRI of the flaring region was performed where possible. For comparison, the same US assessment was also performed in anticyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) positive individuals with musculoskeletal symptoms (CCP+ at risk) and patients with NORA., Results: Thirty-one of 79 patients with PR recruited were assessed during a flare. A high frequency of ECI was identified on US; 19/31 (61%) of patients had ECI including 12/19 (63%) in whom ECI was identified in the absence of synovitis. Only 7/31 (23%) patients with PR had synovitis (greyscale ≥1 and power Doppler ≥1) during flare. In the hands/wrists, ECI was more prevalent in PR compared with NORA and CCP+ at risk (65% vs 29 % vs 6%, p<0.05). Furthermore, ECI without synovitis was specific for PR (42% PR vs 4% NORA (p=0.003) and 6% CCP+ at risk (p=0.0012)). Eleven PR flares were captured by MRI, which was more sensitive than US for synovitis and ECI. 8/31 (26%) patients with PR developed RA and had a similar US phenotype to NORA at progression., Conclusion: PR has a distinct US pattern characterised by reversible ECI, often without synovitis. In patients presenting with new joint swelling, US may refine management by distinguishing relapsing from persistent arthritis., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: To define the correlation between joint ultrasonography and clinical examination in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and to assess whether synovitis detected by ultrasonography in clinically inactive patients predicts arthritis flares., Methods: 88 consecutive patients with JIA-46 (52%) with persistent oligoarthritis, 15 (17%) with extended oligoarthritis, 15 (17%) with rheumatoid factor-negative polyarthritis and 12 (14%) with other forms of JIA, all clinically inactive for a minimum of 3 months-underwent ultrasound (US) assessment of 44 joints. Joints were scanned at study entry for synovial hyperplasia, joint effusion and power Doppler (PD) signal. Patients were followed clinically for 4 years., Results: US was abnormal in 20/88 (22.7%) patients and in 38/3872 (0.98%) joints. Extended oligoarthritis and rheumatoid factor-negative polyarthritis were more frequent in US-positive than in US-negative patients (35.0% vs 11.8% and 30.0% vs 13.2%, respectively; P=0.005). During 4 years of follow-up, 41/88 (46.6%) patients displayed a flare; 26/68 (38.2%) were US-negative and 15/20 (75%) were US-positive at baseline. Abnormality on US examination, after correction for therapy modification, significantly increased the risk of flare (OR=3.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 11.5). The combination of grey scale and PD abnormalities displayed a much higher predictive value of relapse (65%, 13/20) than grey scale alone (33%, 6/18)., Conclusions: US abnormalities are a strong predictor of relapse at individual patient level. Irrespective of treatment, the risk of flare in US-positive versus US-negative patients was almost four times higher. In case of US abnormalities, patients should be carefully followed regardless of both the International League of Associations for Rheumatology and Wallace categories., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Introduction: Uterine artery (UtA) Doppler indices are one of the most commonly employed screening tests for pre-eclampsia worldwide. Abnormal indices appear to result from increased uterine vascular resistance, but anatomical complexity and lack of appropriate animal models mean that little is known about the relative contribution of each of the components of the uterine vasculature to the overall UtA Doppler waveform. Previous computational models suggested that trophoblast-mediated spiral artery remodeling has a dominant effect on the UtA Doppler waveform. However, these models did not incorporate the myometrial arterio-venous anastomoses, which have significant potential to affect utero-placental haemodynamics., Methods: We present a more anatomically complete computational model, explicitly incorporating a structural description of each component of the uterine vasculature, and crucially including myometrial arterio-venous anastomoses as parallel pathways for blood-flow away from the placental bed. Wave transmission theory was applied to the network to predict UtA waveforms., Results: Our model shows that high UtA resistance indices, combined with notching, reflect an abnormal remodeling of the entire uterine vasculature. Incomplete spiral artery remodeling alone is unlikely to cause abnormal UtA Doppler waveforms as increased resistance in these arteries can be 'buffered' by upstream anastomoses. Critically, our results indicate that the radial arteries, may have a more important effect on utero-placental flow dynamics, and the UtA Doppler waveform than previously thought., Conclusions: This model suggests that to appropriately interpret UtA Doppler waveforms they must be considered to be reflecting changes in the entire system, rather than just the spiral arteries., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)