Amniocentesis in pregnancies at or beyond 24 weeks: an international multicenter study.

Background: Amniocentesis for genetic diagnosis is most commonly done between 15 and 22 weeks of gestation but can be performed at later gestational ages. The safety and genetic diagnostic accuracy of amniocentesis have been well-established through numerous large-scale multicenter studies for procedures before 24 weeks, but comprehensive data on late amniocentesis remain sparse.

Objective: To evaluate the indications, diagnostic yield, safety, and maternal and fetal outcomes associated with amniocentesis performed at or beyond 24 weeks of gestation.

Performance and oncologic safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Results from a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

Background: The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in initially node-positive patients is still controversial. We aim to evaluate the oncologic outcomes of SLNB after NACT and further compare the results between those who were initially node-negative and node-positive.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort that included patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and had surgical management between January 2010 and December 2016.

Cell-based Noninvasive Prenatal Testing (cbNIPT)-A Review on the Current Developments and Future Prospects.

Considering the diagnostic limitations of cfDNA-based noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), scientists have long been interested in isolating and analyzing rare intact fetal and trophoblast cells from maternal blood or endocervical samples to diagnose fetal genetic conditions. These cells may be scarce and difficult to isolate, but they are a direct source of pure fetal genetic material. In this review, we summarize the history of cell-based NIPT, present an updated review on its current developments, evaluate its genetic diagnostic potential, and discuss its future prospects for clinical use.

Lower fetal fraction in clinical cell-free DNA screening results is associated with increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate if fetal fraction (FF) reported on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening is a marker for adverse obstetric outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records from a cohort of women with singleton pregnancies who had cfDNA screening. We evaluated if reported FF could predict the following pregnancy complications: hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, or a composite maternal morbidity, defined as the presence of at least one of these outcomes.

Lack of consensus among healthcare professionals at a large academic medical center on the use of exome sequencing for prenatal diagnosis.

Prenatal exome sequencing (ES) is increasingly used for prenatal diagnosis because emerging data indicate it has incremental diagnostic benefit in pregnancies with fetal anomalies without identified genetic abnormalities by karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical community's attitude toward the clinical utility and use of exome sequencing for prenatal diagnosis and to address differences in attitudes and responses by type of practitioner, level of training, and years passed since last full-time training. We analyzed the answers of 109 trainees and professionals in the fields of genetic counseling, laboratory science, and medicine to an online survey addressing these topics.

Circulating trophoblast numbers as a potential marker for pregnancy complications.

Objective: To explore the potential of circulating trophoblasts (TBs) as a non-invasive tool to assess placental health and predict obstetric complications.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of 369 women who enrolled in our original cell-based NIPT (cbNIPT) study. The number of circulating TBs recovered from the maternal blood samples was recorded and expressed as fetal cell concentration (FCC).

Review of Non-Communicable Disease Research Activity in Kuwait: Where is the Evidence for the Best Practice?

Background: Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East, is now facing rapid development, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for the majority of deaths.

Objectives: In this study, we review trends in NCD research productivity in Kuwait and examine to what extent it is aligned with disease burden.

Methods: Systematic mapping of NCD papers produced between January 2000 and December 2013 yielded 893 publications.