Risk of third-trimester amniocentesis: a case-control study.

Risks of third-trimester amniocentesis are considered minimal; however, only case series have been reported. We performed a case-control study in which women undergoing third-trimester amniocentesis were matched with controls undergoing antenatal testing for similar indications to determine adverse outcomes associated with the procedure. Cases undergoing amniocentesis at > 32 weeks for fetal lung maturity assessment followed by antepartum testing with nonstress test and amniotic fluid index determination were matched with controls undergoing only antepartum testing based on gestational age at testing and maternal age.

Role of lamellar body count for the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in non-diabetic pregnant women.

Objective: Lamellar body count is a new and fast technique to establish the presence of fetal lung maturity. We have assessed the predictive ability of lamellar body count for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a non-diabetic population.

Study Design: We accessed a cohort of amniocenteses in non-diabetic women from 1998 to 2002 (n=102).

Differential expression of c-fos in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Objective: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) results in stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, and mental retardation with injury attributed to oxidative stress. Our objective was to identify signal transduction pathways expressed in a model of FAS and to quantify expression of c-fos, a gene in the stress signal pathway.

Study Design: Timed, pregnant C57Bl6/J mice were injected on E8 with saline solution or alcohol.

Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and lamellar body count. What values predict the presence of phosphatidylglycerol?

Objective: To assess which values of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and lamellar body count (LBC) optimally correspond to the presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG).

Study Design: A database of clear amniotic fluid specimens obtained by amniocentesis was accessed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for both L/S ratio and LBC to identify the optimal thresholds for predicting the presence of PG.