Use of serum and urinary soluble sFlt-1 and PLGF in the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Objective: Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy marked by hypertension and proteinuria with no known treatment aside from pregnancy termination. The pathogenesis of PE is poorly understood, but is thought to originate in the placenta. We assessed the value of measuring serum and urinary soluble deformylase-like tyrosine kinase receptor 1 (sFlt-1), a known target of placental factors, and placental growth factor (PLGF), a key placental signaling molecule, in the diagnosis of PE.

[Synpolydactyly in a Chinese kindred: mutation detection, prenatal ultrasonographic and molecular diagnosis].

Objective: To identify potential mutation responsible for synpolydactyly (SPD) in a large Chinese kindred and to offer genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the members of the family.

Methods: All family members were examined clinically, and blood samples were obtained for linkage analysis and mutation screening. Ultrasound examinations were conducted at 16-21 weeks.