Journal club MCQ May 2019

Premature placental aging in term small-for-gestational-age and growth-restricted fetuses

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be better able to:

·         Review the differences in definition between SGA and FGR .

·         Outline the molecular changes associated with placental aging.

·         Argue against the accepted concept of two distinct forms of fetal smallness.

Question Title

* 1. Small-for-gestational age fetuses included had:

a. Birth weight between the 3rd and 9th percentiles and normal fetoplacental Doppler.

b. Birth weight below the 10th percentiles.

c. Birth weight < 3rd percentile and/or cerebroplacental ratio < 5th centile and/or mean uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) > 95th.

d. Birth weight < 1st percentile.

Question Title

* 2. The most common etiology of small fetal size is:

a. Multifetal pregnancy.

b. Uterine anomaly.

c. Placental dysfunction.

d. Abnormal karyotype.

Question Title

* 3. Which of the following measures is associated with placental aging:

a. Longer telomere.

b. Reduced SIRT1 RNA expression.

c. Higher telomerase activity.

d. Decreased p53 expression.

Question Title

* 4. When compared with normally grown fetuses:

a. FGR cases presented signs of boosted placental senescence while SGA cases resembled normally grown fetuses.

b. Both SGA and FGR cases presented signs of boosted placental senescence.

c. SGA cases presented signs of boosted placental senescence while FGR cases presented boosted placental senescence in addition to increased signs of apoptosis.

d. Neither SGA nor FGR presented signs of boosted placental senescence.

Question Title

* 5. Based on the findings of the presented study:

a. SGA fetuses represent a true, lighter form, of growth restriction.

b. SGA fetuses are, as previously believed, constitutionally small.

c. SGA fetuses who show macroscopic placental morphological abnormalities suffer from fetal restriction.

d. Neither SGA nor FGR had signs of accelerated placental aging.