Maternal Methyl-Group Donor Intake and Global DNA (Hydroxy)Methylation before and during Pregnancy.

It is still unclear to which extent methyl-group intake during pregnancy can affect maternal global DNA (hydroxyl)methylation. Pregnancy methylation profiling and its link with methyl-group intake in a healthy population could enhance our understanding of the development of pregnancy related disorders. One hundred forty-eight women were enrolled in the MANOE (MAternal Nutrition and Offspring's Epigenome) study.

Alpha-1-Fetoprotein (AFP): international proficiency study with different test systems.

Background: The present proficiency study aimed to elucidate the comparability and reliability of test systems for the determination of AFP concentrations.

Methods: 25 laboratories using 8 different commercial test systems used liquid BIOREF-AFP control serum in their routine internal quality control over a period of one year. For statistical analysis the results were collected centrally.

Predictors of oligoamenorrhea at 1-year follow-up in premenopausal women using a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

Objective: The study was conducted to identify predictors of oligoamenorrhea at 12 months in levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) users.

Design: A 12-month observational study.

Setting: Gynecologic outpatient clinic in a large regional hospital in Flanders, Belgium.

Sequential triage in the first trimester may enhance advanced ultrasound scanning in population screening for trisomy 21.

Objective: To design a trisomy 21 screening protocol for sequential triage in the first trimester, and to evaluate whether it reduces the need for advanced ultrasound scanning to such an extent that this could be dealt with by a limited number of well-trained sonographers only.

Methods: Screening results of 31 trisomy 21 affected pregnancies and 16 096 unaffected pregnancies from the first trimester screening program of Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium in Antwerp, Belgium, were used to define high-risk, intermediate-risk and low-risk groups. A serum screening result (age, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG)) of >or=1 : 30 and/or a nuchal translucency thickness (NT) measurement of >or= 3.

Nuchal translucency thickness measurements for fetal aneuploidy screening: Log NT-MoM or Delta-NT, performer-specific medians and ultrasound training.

Objectives: To evaluate in fetal aneuploidy screening the desirability of using Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) normal medians of nuchal translucency thickness (NT) measurements or performer-specific medians, and whether the NT measurements should be expressed as Delta-NT or Log NT-MoM values.

Settings: First trimester-combined screening programme in a low risk population in Flanders, Belgium (Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium, Antwerp).

Methods: Pregnancies unaffected by trisomy 21 (T21) were screened by FMF-trained or other ultrasonographers.

Population screening for fetal trisomy 21: easy access to screening should be balanced against a uniform ultrasound protocol.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of a first-trimester fetal aneuploidy screening program, with a documented underestimation of nuchal translucency thickness measurements (NT) compared to the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) reference range.

Methods: We analysed the data of Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium (AML) in Antwerp, Belgium, on combined screening with pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (FB-hCG) and NT. NT-multiples of the median (MoM), relative to the FMF reference range, were used for risk calculations.

Audit on nuchal translucency thickness measurements in Flanders, Belgium: a plea for methodological standardization.

Objectives: To audit nuchal translucency thickness (NT) measurements for fetal aneuploidy screening in Flanders, and to estimate the impact of small variations in NT measurement on the screening result of two first-trimester screening algorithms: maternal age + NT (Algorithm A), and maternal age + NT + pregnancy associated plasma protein-A + free beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (Algorithm B).

Methods: We used the database of first-trimester combined screening, as collected by the General Medical Laboratory AML in Antwerp, Belgium, between 1 January 2001 and 1 April 2004. Audit was performed by establishing a delta-NT distribution curve for one trainee of The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) and for a group of 263 other sonographers, in comparison with the FMF reference values.

Single-step maternal serum screening for trisomy 21 in the era of combined or integrated screening.

Single-step maternal serum screening (MSS) in the first (1MSS) or second (2MSS) trimester at maternal age > or =35 years was evaluated in the North Belgian region Flanders, where difficulties are encountered in the general introduction of combined or integrated screening algorithms. The fetal aneuploidy screening database of General Medical Laboratory AML in Antwerp was searched for 2MSS tests between 1992 and 1999 (alpha-fetoprotein, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) and unconjugated estriol, cut-off 1:300) and for 1MSS tests between 1999 and 2003 (free beta-HCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, cut-off 1:85). At > or =35 years, the detection rate for trisomy 21 (DR) was 93.

Screening for trisomy 21 in Flanders: a 10 years review of 40.490 pregnancies screened by maternal serum.

Objective: To evaluate maternal serum screening for trisomy 21 (MSS) in Flanders between 1992 and 2002.

Study Design: Data of a large database on the results of MSS, nuchal translucency (NT) and pregnancy outcome were analysed retrospectively.

Results: Despite an excellent performance of second trimester MSS at a maternal age > or = 35 years (94.

Second trimester maternal dimeric inhibin-A in the multiple-marker screening test for Down's syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the additional value of dimeric inhibin-A serum concentration in second trimester multiple-marker screening tests for pregnancies affected by Down's syndrome. We anticipated that second trimester maternal serum dimeric inhibin-A concentrations would be altered in pregnancies complicated by fetal Down's syndrome and that dimeric inhibin-A would perform better than one of the three substances analysed in the multiple-marker screening test currently in use. A total of 1156 serum samples were screened for dimeric inhibin-A in parallel with the routine classic triple test screening programme performed on a random obstetric population.

Dimeric inhibin serum values as markers of ovarian activity in pill-free intervals.

Levels of inhibin A and B as well as other hormones in serum samples obtained during the pill-free interval in women taking combined oral contraceptives (OC) were measured to asses the extent of ovarian activity during that period. Type of pill and day of pill-free interval were recorded during routine gynecologic check-ups, if patients were in the pill-free period and had taken their pills regularly in the previous cycle. In addition to inhibin A and B, serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone were also quantified.