Fetal cells in maternal blood: a comparison of methods for cell isolation and identification.

Objective: A variety of methods have been used to select and identify fetal cells from maternal blood. In this study, a commonly used 3-step selection method is compared with selection directly from whole blood. Identification of fetal origin by XY FISH of male cells was also evaluated.

Studies on the isolation and identification of fetal nucleated red blood cells in the circulation of pregnant women before and after chorion villus sampling.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of various molecular forms of hemoglobin as markers for fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs).

Methods: The presence of epsilon and gamma globin positive NRBCs was investigated in pure fetal blood and in blood from pregnant women before and after chorion biopsy. Maternal samples were enriched for NRBCs by various conventional methods, including limited enrichment by only positive CD71 selection or single density gradient.

[A retrospective analysis of the results of obstetric acupuncture at Frederiksberg Hospital].

Introduction: The use of obstetric acupuncture in Denmark is increasing but its use in routine clinical practice has not been evaluated.

Material And Methods: This retrospective uncontrolled study comprises 691 women who attended Frederiksberg Hospital during pregnancy and delivery. Their mean age was 30.

Morphology of spermatozoa used in IVF and ICSI from oligozoospermic men.

The purpose of this study was to determine morphology in human spermatozoa from men with oligozoospermia and correlate with the fertilization rate, embryo score and pregnancy rate after IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) respectively. The study group consisted of 125 couples where the male partner suffered from oligozoospermia. Fifty of these had IVF (group A).