Biomedical subjects

Ritsuko K Pooh

Publications and source records attributed to Ritsuko K Pooh.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Fetal behavior analyzed by ultrasonic actocardiogram in cases with central nervous system lesions.

AIMS: This study examined whether analysis of fetal behavioral states by monitoring fetal heart rate and movement using an actocardiogram (ACG), could provide prognostic information related to fetal central nervous system (CNS) lesions. METHODS: The ACG simultaneously records fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal movement bursts composed of spikes of ultrasonic Doppler signals. Durations of FHR accelerations and fetal movement bursts were measured manually. Five actocardiographic indices were studied in 12 fetuses with CNS lesions and in 14 normal pregnancies of 28-38 weeks. RESULTS: Severity of the fetal CNS lesions was estimated from the acceleration/burst (A/B) duration ratio, which correlated with the rank of the sonographic fetal functional test in cases with CNS lesions. Severity of a fetal lesion may also be estimated by the regression equation of the A/B duration ratio and behavioral ranking. CONCLUSION: The severity of fetal CNS lesions may be estimated by quantitative analysis of ACG usings the measurement of A/B duration ratio to provide a prognosis. An ACG may demonstrate a loss of CNS control in cases with severe brain damage.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed2005

Structural and functional early human development assessed by three-dimensional and four-dimensional sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the role of three-dimensional and four-dimensional ultrasound in the assessment of early human development. DESIGN: Review of literature. SETTING: Ultrasound research center and obstetrics and gynecology department in a tertiary care facility. RESULT(S): The introduction of high-frequency transvaginal tranducers has resulted in remarkable progress in ultrasonographic visualization of early embryos and fetuses and the development of sonoembryology. Furthermore, recent introduction of three-dimensional and four-dimensional ultrasounds combined with the transvaginal approach has produced more objective and accurate information on embryonal and early fetal development. For the first time parallel analyses of structural and functional parameters in the first 12 weeks of gestation become possible. CONCLUSION(S): The anatomy and physiology of placental and embryonic development is a field where medicine exerts its greatest impact on early pregnancy at present time, and it opens fascinating aspects of embryonic differentiation. Clinical assessment of those stages of growth rely heavily on three-dimensional and four-dimensional sonography, one of the most promising forms of noninvasive diagnostics today and embryological phenomenon, once matters for textbooks are now routinely recorded with outstanding clarity.

Embryo, Mammalian↗

PubMed2005

B-flow and B-flow spatio-temporal image correlation in visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of two-dimensional B-flow imaging and four-dimensional (4D) B-flow spatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) as real-time three-dimensional technology in visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow. METHOD: We examined 65 normal singleton fetuses between 21 and 39 weeks of gestation, using VOLUSON 730 Expert ultrasound device with transabdominal 3D/4D transducer. After visualizing fetal cardiac blood flow by two dimensional B-flow mode, B-flow STIC images were acquired .The acquisition angle was 40 degrees and acquisition time 15 s. The cardiac vascular system was analyzed off-line on multiplanar and reconstructed 3D/4D rendered images. RESULTS: In 38 out of 65 cases, all extracardiac vessels of aortic arch, descending aorta, inferior vena cava, ductus venosus and hepatic vein could be detected on reconstructed 3D/4D images. In all 65 cases, two or more pulmonary veins were easily depicted. On a cardiac back-front view created by rotating 4D reconstructed image, two pulmonary veins among a total of four were depicted in 34 cases (52.3%), three veins in 28 cases (43.1%) and all four pulmonary veins in three cases (4.6%). CONCLUSION: B-flow and/or B-flow STIC allow visualization of fine small vessels with low velocity, such as pulmonary veins, and may have a great potential for detailed detection of an abnormality of small cardiac vessels, such as total anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed2002

The assessment of fetal brain morphology and circulation by transvaginal 3D sonography and power Doppler.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to describe the use of transvaginal 3D ultrasound in prenatal neuroimaging and to investigate its clinical usefulness. METHODS: Firstly, 18 fetuses with hydrocephalus, ventriculomegaly and/or space occupying lesion were examined by transvaginal 3D sonography, and fetal CNS abnormalities were evaluated. Multiplanar image analysis and volumetric assessment were performed off-line. Longitudinal volume changes of target structure were evaluated, and usefulness of transvaginal 3D ultrasound was evaluated. Secondly, in 56 normal cephalic fetuses of between 18 and 32 weeks, 3D Doppler volume acquisition and reconstruction of the intracranial vascular structure were performed. RESULTS: Longitudinal changing appearance in the same cutting section of the enlarged ventricle or cystic lesion could be demonstrated in all cases and volumetric assessment was also successful in all cases. Longitudinal objective data were useful in the brain assessment, consultation and counselling. 3D Doppler acquisition time was 5.6-26 seconds and symmetrical 3D reconstruction was successful in 51.8%. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal 3D imaging technology provides us with not only comprehensive intracranial images in exactly the right sections, but also with objective volume data. Prenatal information with objective data analyses is useful in consultation for both specialists and parents, and leads to proper management of CNS diseases.

Brain↗