ObjectiveTo establish the Z-score reference ranges of fetal arterial ductus (DA) inner diameter of normal fetus at 20 to 40 weeks’ gestation.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 781 normal singleton pregnancies with 20-40 weeks of gestation who underwent fetal echocardiography in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from November 2018 to September 2019. The DA diameter, biparietal diameter (BPD), and femoral diaphysis length (FL) were measured and used to estimate gestational age (GA). With BPD, FL, and GA as independent variables and DA as dependent variables, linear regression analyses were conducted on the mean and standard deviation of each parameter to construct the best Z-score models.ResultsThe linear regression equations reflected strong positive correlations between the fetal biological growth parameter BPD, FL, GA, and fetal DA inner diameter. The heteroscedasticity of standard deviations was eliminated by the weighted regression of absolute stagger, and the best Z-score models were constructed. The linear regression equations of GA (week), BPD (mm), FL (mm), and DA inner diameter (mm) were as follows: Y=−2.661+0.217×GA, Y=−2.505+0.084×BPD, Y=−1.734+0.100×FL; the linear regression equations of GA (week), BPD (mm), FL (mm), and the standard deviation of DA inner diameter (mm) were as follows:Y=−0.273+0.025×GA, Y=−0.440+0.013×BPD, Y=−0.180+0.012×FL. According to the models, Z-score normal range reference values of fetal DA inner diameter were calculated.ConclusionsThere are good linear relationships between fetal DA inner diameter and GA, BPD and FL. The Z-score reference ranges of fetal DA diameter during mid- and late-pregnancy are constructed, which are helpful to quantitatively evaluate the normal development of fetal DA and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis of fetal DA abnormality.
Objective To observe the effect of assisted reproductive technology (ART) on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. MethodsA retrospective clinical study. From January 2016 to January 2020, 639 preterm infants who were hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and underwent fundus screening at a gestational age ≤32 weeks were included in the study. There were 366 males and 273 females. Gestational age at birth were (28.3±1.4) weeks; birth weight were (1 153.8±228.8) g. Severe ROP was detected in 60 cases (9.4%, 60/639); 120 were ART recipients, and 519 were naturally conceived, and were divided into the ART group and the control group accordingly. The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (χ2=21.675), pulmonary surfactant application (χ2=13.558), and twin births (yes) (χ2=145.568) in mothers of the children examined in both groups were significantly higher than that of the control group, and the difference were statistically significant in all cases (P＜0.001). Comparison of quantitative data between groups was performed by t-test, and comparison of count data was performed by χ2 test; logistic regression was used to analyze the effect of ART on the incidence of ROP. ResultsOf the 60 cases of severe ROP, 18 (15.0%, 18/120) and 42 (8.1%, 42/519) cases were in the ART group and control group, respectively. The incidence of severe ROP was significantly higher in the ART group than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.680, P=0.024). Compared with the control group, the incidence of severe ROP was significantly higher in the ART group for gestational age at birth ＜28 weeks and birth weight ＜1 000 g, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=10.116, 3.785; P=0.002, 0.037). Logistic regression analysis showed that ART was a non-independent risk factor for the occurrence of ROP (P＞0.05). ConclusionAssisted reproductive technology may have a certain influence on the occurrence of ROP, which is not an independent factor.