Objective: Preterm labor has recently been reported to be associated with an increased release of cell free fetal deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into the maternal circulation. We have previously observed increases in both fetal cell traffic and cell free fetal DNA in preeclamptic pregnancies. In this study, we investigated whether fetal cell traffic is also disturbed in pregnancies with preterm labor.
Methods: In a case-control study, we examined 47 pregnancies complicated by preterm contractions that occurred between 20 and 34 weeks' gestation and an equal number of matched controls. Erythroblasts were enriched for by magnetic cell sorting and enumerated. These values were then correlated with subsequent pregnancy outcome.
Results: In the study group 16 patients delivered prematurely (subgroup A). The other 31 (subgroup B) delivered at term, as did all those in the control group. No significant difference was noted in erythroblast numbers between either one of the subgroups and the controls.
Conclusion: Contrary to the reported increased levels of free fetal DNA in maternal serum, erythroblasts in maternal blood are not elevated significantly in pregnancies with threatened premature labor or in those that deliver preterm.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02325-6 | DOI Listing |
Early Hum Dev
January 2025
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
Purpose: To evaluate the use of anogenital distance (AGD) and genital tubercle length (GTL) between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks of gestation for fetal sex determination and to assess the impact of maternal androgen levels on these measurements.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to June 2017 with patients undergoing first trimester Down syndrome screening. Inclusion criteria were: (1) female age 18-49, (2) gestational age between 11 and 13 + 6 weeks, (3) optimal visualization of AGD and GTL, and (4) nonsmoking status.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Molecular Genetics Thalassaemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus.
Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been widely adopted for the screening of chromosomal abnormalities; however, its adoption for monogenic disorders, such as β-thalassaemia, has proven challenging. Haemoglobinopathies are the most common monogenic disorders globally, with β-thalassaemia being particularly prevalent in Cyprus. This study introduces a non-invasive prenatal haplotyping (NIPH) assay for β-thalassaemia, utilizing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from maternal plasma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibiotics (Basel)
January 2025
Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, C/Camino de Vera S/N, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
: The use of antibiotics in livestock contributes to antimicrobial resistance, highlighting the need for alternative solutions. Among these, chelating agents, like ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Chitosan, have shown potential in reducing bacterial contamination in seminal doses used in artificial insemination (AI), while preserving sperm quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential use of EDTA and Chitosan as alternatives to antibiotics for the liquid storage of rabbit seminal AI doses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancers (Basel)
January 2025
Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z5, Canada.
The incidence of melanoma among young adults has risen, yet mortality has declined annually since the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). The utilization of peri-operative ICI has significantly altered the treatment landscape in melanoma, with PD-1 inhibitors showing promising efficacy in improving relapse-free survival rates in high-risk stage II-III disease. With the increasing use of ICI, secondary concerns have emerged regarding the impact of cancer drugs on fertility and reproductive health among women of childbearing potential, especially in early-stage cancer settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Gynaecol Obstet
January 2025
Effective Care Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand and Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa.
Objective: To compare low-cost "Suction Tube Uterine Tamponade" (STUT) treatment for refractory postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) with uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) using a randomized feasibility study.
Methods: After verbal assent, we allocated participants with refractory PPH by randomly ordered envelopes to STUT or routine UBT at 10 hospitals in South Africa and one tertiary referral center in Colombia between January 10, 2020, and May 3, 2024. In the STUT group, we inserted a 24 FG Levin stomach tube into the uterine cavity and applied suction.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!