CONTEXT No molecular biological tests are available to monitor the ongoing development of human fetuses in vivo. OBJECTIVE To determine whether cell-free fetal messenger RNA (mRNA) in amniotic fluid can be detected using oligonucleotide microarrays to study large-scale gene expression in living human fetuses, with analysis of sex, gestational age, and fetal pathology as variables. DESIGN, S...

Allantoic and amniotic fluids were collected on Days 60 (n = 3), 100 (n = 4), and 140 (n = 3) of pregnancy. The presence of uterine milk proteins (UTM-proteins) in these samples was evaluated by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA). Eight of ten samples of allantoic fluid and three of ten samples of amniotic fluid produced one or two immunoprecipitin bands...

Portal hypertension induces a splanchnic and systemic low-grade inflammatory response that could induce the expression of three phenotypes, named ischemia-reperfusion, leukocytic, and angiogenic phenotypes.During the splanchnic expression of these phenotypes, interstitial edema, increased lymph flow, and lymphangiogenesis are produced in the gastrointestinal tract. Associated liver disease incr...

OBJECTIVE To report the use of preserved amniotic membrane and living related corneal limbal/conjunctival transplantation in total limbal stem cell and conjunctival deficiency secondary to severe Stevens-Johnson syndrome. DESIGN Prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ten eyes of 10 patients with total limbal stem cell and conjunctival deficiency second...

The first urine passed by a newborn infant who has inhaled meconium or meconium-stained amniotic fluid often contains a dark-coloured water-soluble substance, recognisable spectrophotometrically by an absorption band at about 405 nm. Spectrophotometric analysis of the first urine can in this way be used to diagnose preceding meconium aspiration.

Specific immunoglobulin G antibody for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus was detected in maternal blood, umbilical blood, and amniotic fluid from a pregnant SARS patient. Potential protection of fetus from infection was suggested.

An ultrasonic examination revealed a grossly distended fetal abdomen. Amniocentesis at 19 weeks' gestation showed raised amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein, a second band of specific acetylcholinesterase, and a fetal karyotype 47,XY,+18. The pregnancy was terminated and the necropsy examination showed absence of the urethra, grossly distended bladder, hydroureters, and congenital heart anomalies.

OBJECTIVE Prenatal androgen exposure has been suggested to play a role in polycystic ovary syndrome. Given the limited information on what maternal characteristics influence maternal testosterone levels, and the even less explored routes by which female fetus androgen exposure would occur, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of maternal age, BMI, weight gain, depressed mood and ...