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Nature Communications Nov 2023Fetal biometry and amniotic fluid volume assessments are two essential yet repetitive tasks in fetal ultrasound screening scans, aiding in the detection of potentially...
Fetal biometry and amniotic fluid volume assessments are two essential yet repetitive tasks in fetal ultrasound screening scans, aiding in the detection of potentially life-threatening conditions. However, these assessment methods can occasionally yield unreliable results. Advances in deep learning have opened up new avenues for automated measurements in fetal ultrasound, demonstrating human-level performance in various fetal ultrasound tasks. Nevertheless, the majority of these studies are retrospective in silico studies, with a limited number including African patients in their datasets. In this study we developed and prospectively assessed the performance of deep learning models for end-to-end automation of fetal biometry and amniotic fluid volume measurements. These models were trained using a newly constructed database of 172,293 de-identified Moroccan fetal ultrasound images, supplemented with publicly available datasets. the models were then tested on prospectively acquired video clips from 172 pregnant people forming a consecutive series gathered at four healthcare centers in Morocco. Our results demonstrate that the 95% limits of agreement between the models and practitioners for the studied measurements were narrower than the reported intra- and inter-observer variability among expert human sonographers for all the parameters under study. This means that these models could be deployed in clinical conditions, to alleviate time-consuming, repetitive tasks, and make fetal ultrasound more accessible in limited-resource environments.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Amniotic Fluid; Retrospective Studies; Deep Learning; Automation; Biometry
PubMed: 37923713
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42438-5 -
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology :... Apr 2023
Topics: Humans; Amniotic Fluid; Ectromelia; Kidney; Kidney Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities
PubMed: 36173397
DOI: 10.1002/uog.26076 -
Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences Mar 2023Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is a commonly observed phenomenon in day-to-day practice of obstetrics. The reported prevalence of MSAF was 7-22% of all term...
BACKGROUND
Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is a commonly observed phenomenon in day-to-day practice of obstetrics. The reported prevalence of MSAF was 7-22% of all term deliveries. Some of the factors that increases the risk of meconium stained amniotic fluid includes; advanced gestational age at delivery, prolonged rupture of membranes, intra-amniotic infection, pre-eclampsia, oligohydroamnios, and diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of meconium stained amniotic fluid and its associated factors among women who gave birth at term, from January 1 to July 30, 2020, at Adama Hospital Medical College.
METHODS
Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 314 laboring women who gave birth at term. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. Data entry and analysis were made by using Epi- info 7 and SPSS version 20, respectively.
RESULTS
The prevalence of meconium stained amniotic fluid was 23.9%. Late term pregnancy, Oligohydraminos, Antepartum hemorrhage, Premature rupture of membrane, and Non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern were significantly associated with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of MSAF was comparable with other studies. Late-term pregnancy, oligohydramnios, antepartum hemorrhage, non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern, and premature rupture of the membrane were factors associated with an increased risk of MSAF.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Young Adult; Amniotic Fluid; Pregnancy Complications; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Ethiopia; Obstetric Labor Complications
PubMed: 37484174
DOI: 10.4314/ejhs.v33i2.6 -
PloS One 2015We aimed to compare tissue-specific expression profiles and biological pathways of RNA from amniocytes and amniotic fluid supernatant (AFS) from second-trimester... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVES
We aimed to compare tissue-specific expression profiles and biological pathways of RNA from amniocytes and amniotic fluid supernatant (AFS) from second-trimester pregnancies by using transcriptome analysis. Additionally, we wanted to explore whether cell-free RNA from AFS exhibits a unique gene expression signature that more adequately reflects the fetal developmental process than amniocyte RNA.
METHODS
Amniotic fluid samples were prospectively collected in the second trimester of pregnancy from euploid fetuses. Total RNA was extracted from amniocytes and AFS and hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Human Arrays. Significantly differentially expressed transcripts between amniocytes and AFS were obtained by using Welch's t-test. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was used to visualize overall expression characteristics and differences in transcripts between AFS and amniocytes. The biological functions of selected genes were analyzed using various online Gene Ontology databases.
RESULTS
A total of 3,072 and 15,633 transcripts were detected in the second-trimester AFS and amniocytes, respectively. Hierarchical clustering revealed differential transcript expression between AFS and amniocytes. We found 353 genes that were specifically enriched in the AFS only, and tissue expression analysis showed enrichment of brain-specific genes in the AFS. Biological pathway analysis revealed that AFS-specific transcripts were mainly involved in embryonic development, cardiovascular development, and cellular morphology pathways.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated differential tissue-specific gene expression profiles and biological pathways between AFS and amniocytes. The results suggested that AFS is the preferred RNA source to investigate potential biomarkers of fetal neurodevelopment.
Topics: Adult; Amniocentesis; Amniotic Fluid; Cells, Cultured; Female; Fetus; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Multigene Family; Neurogenesis; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; RNA; Transcriptome
PubMed: 26181329
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132955 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Jul 2022The fetal membranes enclose the growing fetus and amniotic fluid. Preterm prelabor rupture of fetal membranes is a leading cause of preterm birth. Fetal membranes are... (Review)
Review
The fetal membranes enclose the growing fetus and amniotic fluid. Preterm prelabor rupture of fetal membranes is a leading cause of preterm birth. Fetal membranes are composed of many different cell types, both structural and immune. These cells must coordinate functions for tensile strength and membrane integrity to contain the growing fetus and amniotic fluid. They must also balance immune responses to pathogens with maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance. Perturbation of this equilibrium can lead to preterm premature rupture of membranes without labor. In this review, we describe the formation of the fetal membranes to orient the reader, discuss some of the common forms of communication between the cell types of the fetal membranes, and delve into the methods used to tease apart this paracrine signaling within the membranes, including emerging technologies such as organ-on-chip models of membrane immunobiology.
Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Bioengineering; Communication; Extraembryonic Membranes; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Premature Birth
PubMed: 32787482
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2020.1802716 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2008Circulating cell-free fetal deoxyribonucleic acids (cffDNAs) are promising biomarkers with various potential clinical applications. Second and third trimester amniotic...
Circulating cell-free fetal deoxyribonucleic acids (cffDNAs) are promising biomarkers with various potential clinical applications. Second and third trimester amniotic fluid (AF) is a rich source of cffDNAs. Further improvements to the original protocol for the extraction of cffDNAs from AF supernatant resulted in statistically significant higher yields of high-quality cffDNAs, allowing for a substantial majority of samples to be analyzed with subsequent molecular methods (e.g., comparative genomic hybridization microarrays) to further assess for genetic abnormalities. Several advantages have been realized with the optimized protocol. In addition to an improved yield from a greater proportion of samples compared with the original protocol, the current method, using large silico-membranes, allows for the extraction of cffDNAs from up to 10 samples in <3 h. The replacement of the original lysis buffer eliminates the need for a heating bath during the lysis step, and fewer overall steps are involved in the protocol (e.g., to reduce potential contamination). The improvements in the yield with the current protocol make it possible to augment current standard of care through the analysis of this previously unappreciated source of genetic material. Furthermore, the improvements allow for exploration of widely unknown genetic, pathophysiological, and kinetic issues of cell-free fetal DNA in AF.
Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Buffers; Cell-Free System; DNA; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genetic Testing; Humans; Membranes, Artificial; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis
PubMed: 18425491
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-066-9_24 -
Journal of Perinatal Medicine Jan 2023To determine whether amniotic fluid derived stem cells maintain their stem cell characteristics (a) after processing by a licensed cell therapy center and (b) after...
OBJECTIVES
To determine whether amniotic fluid derived stem cells maintain their stem cell characteristics (a) after processing by a licensed cell therapy center and (b) after the cells undergo simulated clinical application.
METHODS
Amniotic fluid was collected by laparotomy - a small uterine incision was made at proposed site for delivery and a sterile catheter inserted to collect fluid into a sterile bag. After flow stopped the catheter was withdrawn, the cesarean completed and the collected fluid delivered to the cell therapy center for processing and cryostorage. A clinical setting was simulated where amniotic fluid cells received from cell therapy center were thawed at room temperature for a maximum of 3 h and passed through a clinical cell delivery device to monitor cell viability. The cells were examined for viability, stability, growth, differentiation, and markers of stemness.
RESULTS
Amniotic fluid stem cells processed from a clinical cell therapy center behave similarly to amniotic fluid stem cells processed in a research laboratory with respects to viability, stability, growth, differentiation and maintain markers of stemness. There were differences due to heterogeneity of samples which were not methodological. Growth in cell culture and differentiation were satisfactory. Simulation of treating the cells in a clinical environment show a general stability in viability of amniotic fluid cells at room temperature for 3 h minimum and when passed through a clinically approved delivery device.
CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate human amniotic fluid processed in a clinical facility could be used therapeutically if proven to be safe.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Amniotic Fluid; Cells, Cultured; Stem Cells; Cell Differentiation
PubMed: 35985014
DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0309 -
European Review For Medical and... Dec 2021The amniotic fluid contains a large population of stem keratinocytes demonstrating minimal immunological rejection. Recent evidence suggests that stem cells from the...
OBJECTIVE
The amniotic fluid contains a large population of stem keratinocytes demonstrating minimal immunological rejection. Recent evidence suggests that stem cells from the amniotic fluid can be employed in the field of tissue engineering. In this work we identified precursors of the epithelial cells and expanded them in vitro.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
After collecting samples of amniotic fluid and separating the cells via centrifugation, we seeded a portion of these cells in selection media to analyze the proliferation of epithelial cells. The stem cells precursors of keratinocytes were identified through specific markers. The expression of these markers was evaluated by immunofluorescence and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
RESULTS
The stem cells demonstrated 90% confluence, after undergoing proliferation in the selection medium for 15 days. Most of these cells tested positive for the keratinocyte-specific markers, but negative for stem cell specific markers. Of note, the identity of the keratinocytes was well established even after several subcultures.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that it is feasible to isolate and expand differentiated cell populations in the amniotic fluid from precursor cells. Furthermore, amniotic membranes can be utilized as scaffolds to grow keratinocytes, which can be potentially exploited in areas of skin ulcer transplantation and tissue engineering interventions.
Topics: Adult; Amnion; Amniotic Fluid; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Embryonic Stem Cells; Female; Humans; Keratinocytes; Pregnancy; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Skin Ulcer
PubMed: 34890034
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202112_27333 -
Journal of the Chinese Medical... Nov 2013Amniotic fluid (AF) is formed at the very early stages of pregnancy, and is present throughout embryonic development of amniotes. It is well-known that AF provides a... (Review)
Review
Amniotic fluid (AF) is formed at the very early stages of pregnancy, and is present throughout embryonic development of amniotes. It is well-known that AF provides a protective sac around the fetus that allows fetal movement and growth, and prevents mechanical and thermal shock. However, a growing body of evidence has shown that AF contains a number of proteins and peptides, including growth factors and cytokines, which potently affect cellular growth and proliferation. In addition, pluripotent stem cells have recently been identified in AF. Herein, this article reviews the biological properties of AF during embryonic development and speculates that AF may act as a transporting pathway for signaling molecules and stem cells during amniote embryonic development. Defining this novel function of AF is potentially significant for further understanding embryonic development and regenerative medicine, preventing genetic diseases, and developing therapeutic options for human malignancies.
Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Embryonic Development; Female; Fetal Development; Humans; Pregnancy; Signal Transduction; Stem Cells
PubMed: 23933344
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcma.2013.07.006 -
Poultry Science Dec 2023The study aimed to analyze the hatching egg and physiochemical features of eggshells, thick albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk during the incubation of Ross 308 chicken...
The study aimed to analyze the hatching egg and physiochemical features of eggshells, thick albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk during the incubation of Ross 308 chicken eggs. Eggs (n = 755) were incubated for 21 d. Quality analysis of fresh eggs was performed. Eggshells, albumen, and yolk were collected from fresh eggs and incubation d 1, 7, and 14. Eggshell thickness and strength, pH, vitelline membrane strength, fatty acid (FA) in the yolk, pH, viscosity, lysozyme activity, and crude protein content in thick albumen and amniotic fluid were analyzed. Hatching parameters were calculated. Egg weight loss was constant (8.04% overall). Lower egg surface temperature was found on d 7 compared to d 4, 14, and 18. A lower thickness of posthatch eggshells was found. The strength of the vitelline membrane significantly decreased within 24 h (by over 58%). During incubation, there was a decrease in thick albumen/amniotic fluid pH; an opposite trend was found in yolk pH. The vitelline membrane strength was negatively correlated with the albumen pH. Lysozyme activity was higher in fresh thick albumen and up to 2 wk of incubation. On d 7, the lowest activity was found in the amniotic fluid. On d 14, lysozyme activity increased in amniotic fluid. The higher viscosity of the thick albumen was demonstrated on d 7 and 14 of incubation. The lowest viscosity in amniotic fluid was found on the same days. Crude protein content was higher in thick albumen (d 7 and 14) and lowest in amniotic fluid on d 7. The FA content changed between d 0 and 14. The results indicate different use of FA, where PUFA decreased. Eggshell is used in the last week of incubation. The thick albumen is reduced, while the biological value of amniotic fluid is increasing. Lysozyme activity, viscosity, and crude protein content may be interdependent. It may indicate the flow of substances and the transfer of functions from the thick albumen to the amniotic fluid during chicken embryogenesis.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Egg Shell; Muramidase; Amniotic Fluid; Ovum; Albumins; Fatty Acids; Embryonic Development; Egg Yolk; Eggs
PubMed: 37832191
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103119