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TThe length-weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for five freshwater fish species collected from Liangzi Lake, the Xi River and Longxi River in China, including Megalobrama amblycephala, Megalobrama skolkovii, Megalobrama pellegrini and Megalobrama terminalis belonging to the genus Megalobrama, as well as white Amur bream (Parabramis pekinensis) of the genus Parabramis. Three of these five species had no previous LWR estimates in the FishBase. The LWRs of hybrids from Megalobrama amblycephala ♀ × Parabramis pekinensis ♂ and Megalobrama amblycephala ♀ × Megalobrama terminalis ♂ were also reported for the first time.

Objectives: To explore the inter‐ and intra‐observer reliability of Sonography‐based Volume Computer Aided Diagnosis (SonoVCAD) in the display of 8 diagnostic planes of fetal echocardiography and to evaluate its efficiency. Methods: Three‐dimensional volume data sets of the 56 normal singleton fetuses were acquired from a 4‐chamber view by using a volume probe. After processing the data sets by using SonoVCAD, 8 cardiac diagnostic planes were displayed automatically. Three doctors with different experiences of performing fetal echocardiography evaluated each diagnostic plane and the success rates of 8 diagnostic planes were calculated. Inter‐observer and intra‐observer reliabilities were estimated by Cohen's kappa statistics. Results: A total of 276 volume data sets acquired from the 56 normal fetuses were used for SonoVCAD analysis and display. The success rate of each diagnostic section was more than 90%, ranging from 90.6% to 99.6%. Among 276 volumes, 81.5% (225/276) of volumes were able to generate all 8 diagnostic views successfully. Moderate to substantial agreement (kappa, 0.509–0.794) was found between 2 less experienced operators. Moderate to near‐perfect agreement (kappa, 0.439–0.933) was found between an expert and 2 less experienced sonographers. Intra‐observer reliability was substantial to near‐perfect (kappa, 0.602–0.903). The efficiency of SonoVCAD was assessed. The expert spent less time than 2 less experienced examiners (P < 0.001) but no significant difference was found between 2 less experienced examiners (P = 0.176). Besides, SonoVCAD consumed significantly less time than 2‐dimensional ultrasound (P < 0.001). Conclusions: SonoVCAD can significantly improve the success rates of 8 diagnostic planes in fetal echocardiography with low operator dependency, good reproducibility and high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine Z-score equations and reference ranges for mitral valve-tricuspid valve distance (MTD) and the MTD index in the fetal heart.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed in 899 normal singleton fetuses from 14 to 40 weeks' gestation. The MTD and interventricular septum length (IVSL) were measured offline after electronic cardiac spatiotemporal image correlation volume acquisition. The MTD index was determined as the ratio of MTD to IVSL. Z-score reference ranges of these measurements were determined against gestational age (GA) and estimated fetal weight (EFW), using regression analysis of the mean and standard deviation (SD).Results: Strong positive correlations were found between the MTD and the independent variables. A simple linear regression model was the best description of the mean and SD of MTD based on GA, while a cubic regression best fitted the mean MTD against EFW. In contrast, the MTD index decreased progressively with the independent variables. Fractional polynomials best fitted the MTD index in terms of GA and EFW.Conclusion: Normal reference values and Z-scores of fetal MTD and MTD index were provided against GA and EFW, which may be useful tools for quantitative assessment of some cardiac and extracardiac diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish Z-score models for early diastolic blood flow widths of mitral and tricuspid valves in normal fetuses and compare Z-scores and other blood flow dynamic parameters between normal fetuses and fetuses with dilated coronary sinus (CS). This study seeks to assess whether dilated CS affects cardiac structure or hemodynamics.Methods: One hundred twenty-nine normal fetuses (Group I) and 15 fetuses with dilated CS connected to persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) (Group II) were included in this study. Noncardiac biometrical parameters, including gestation age (GA), biparietal diameter (BPD), femoral length (FL), and heart area (HA), were obtained. Hemodynamic parameters, such as the early diastolic blood flow widths of mitral and tricuspid valves (MV-CDFI-Width, TV-CDFI-Width), velocity and time integral of blood flow (VTI), peak early and late diastolic velocity of mitral and tricuspid valves [peak early diastolic velocity of the mitral valve (MVE), peak late diastolic velocity of the mitral valve (MVA), peak early diastolic velocity of the tricuspid valve (TVE), peak late diastolic velocity of the tricuspid valve (TVA)], were measured.Results: Z-score models for MV-CDFI-Width and TV-CDFI-Width against noncardiac biometrical parameters were best described by linear regression analysis. The mean equations of MV-CDFI-Width against noncardiac biometrical parameters were 0.066 + (0.025 × GA), 0.169 + (0.084 × BPD), 0.213 + (0.106 × FL) and 0.533 + (0.028 × HA). The SD for MV-CDFI-Width against FL was estimated based on values from the following equation: -0.006 + (0.02 × FL). Other SDs were constants estimated as the standard deviations of the unscaled residuals. Z-scores and other blood flow dynamic parameters exhibited no statistically significant differences between Group I and Group II.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that dilated CS did not affect fetal hemodynamics of the mitral or tricuspid valves or cardiac structures. We also suggested that the causes of diminutive left heart or coarctation of the aorta might not be associated with dilated CS in fetuses with PLSVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography (FINE) applied to spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) volumes in generating 3 specific abnormal cardiac views (left ventricular outflow tract, right ventricular outflow tract, and 3‐vessel and trachea) used to screen for d‐transposition of the great arteries (d‐TGA). Methods: In this prospective study, 1 or more STIC volumes were obtained from the 4‐chamber view in 34 second‐ and third‐trimester fetuses with d‐TGA. Each appropriate STIC volume was evaluated by STICLoop (Samsung Medison, Seoul, Korea) before applying the FINE method. One optimal volume per fetus was selected by observers. The visualization rates of the 3 specific abnormal cardiac views of d‐TGA and their diagnostic elements were calculated, and the reliability between 2 observers was verified by the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Fetal intelligent navigation echocardiography applied to STIC volume data sets of fetuses with d‐TGA successfully generated the 3 specific abnormal cardiac views in the following manner for 2 observers: 75.0% (n = 21) for the left ventricular outflow tract, 89.2% (n = 25) for the right ventricular outflow tract, and 85.7% (n = 24) for the 3‐vessel and trachea view. Twenty‐four (85.7%) of the STIC volume data sets showed 2 or 3 of the abnormal cardiac views. The interobserver intraclass correlation coefficients between the 2 observers ranged from 0.842 to 1.000 (95% confidence interval), indicating almost perfect reliability for the 2 observers. Conclusions: In cases of d‐TGA, the FINE method has a high success rate in generating 3 specific abnormal cardiac views and therefore can be performed to screen for this congenital defect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]