We report a method for rapid prenatal detection of methylmalonic acidemia, consisting of measuring methylmalonly-CoA mutase (EC 5.4.99.2) activity in non-cultured amniotic cells and measuring the concentration of methylmalonate in the amniotic fluid. Immediate stabilization of the mutase activity in the non-cultured amniotic cell by its coenzyme adenosycobalamin, and use of methylmalonyl-CoA wi...

Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare, yet catastrophic event. In the United States it occurs in 1 per 20,000 to 30,000 births. With an 86% maternal mortality rate, amniotic fluid embolism is responsible for 10-15% of all maternal deaths. This article presents a case study of a CNM's experience with a maternal and fetal death resulting from an amniotic fluid embolism. Pathogenesis and appropriate m...

Amniotic fluid represents rich sources of stem cells that can be used in treatments for a wide range of diseases. Amniotic fluid- stem cells have properties intermediate between embryonic and adult mesenchymal stem cells which make them particularly attractive for cellular regeneration and tissue engineering. Furthermore, scientists are interested in these cells because they come from the amnio...

is widely accepted that for lung development to proceed normally, physical space in the fetal thorax must be adequate and amniotic fluid must be brought into the lung with fetal breathing movements. Thus, it follows that extrinsic compression of the fetal thorax causes hypoplasia, either by inhibiting respiratory movements or by forcing out fluid from the lungs. The latter hypothesis was suppor...

TLRs are pattern recognition transmembrane receptors that play key roles in innate immunity. A recently discovered soluble truncated form of TLR2 (sTLR2) acts as a decoy receptor, down-regulating the host inflammatory response to bacteria. To identify the presence and functional role of sTLR2 in modulating the intraamniotic inflammatory response to infection, we studied 109 amniotic fluid sampl...

Experiments were performed to determine the effect of amniotic fluid dilution on the rate of intramembranous absorption. Seven fetal sheep at 118 days gestation were instrumented with a shunt between the trachea and esophagus and arterial and venous vascular catheters. In addition, the urachus of the fetal bladder was ligated, and a catheter was placed in the bladder. Ligation of the urachus do...

Premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is a common obstetric complication frequently occurring with concomitant chorioamnionitis. The present study aimed to evaluate levels of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in serum and amniotic fluid in pregnant women with PROM and to compare sTREM-1 with the commonly used labor...

A 35-year-old pregnant woman visited our department and had been treated with 100 µg of daily oral levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. An ultrasonography screening was performed at 25 weeks gestation and revealed a fetal goiter and an increased amniotic fluid volume. Fetal hypothyroidism was confirmed by cordocentesis and amniotic hormone levels at 26 weeks gestation. We treated the mother with 2...

Six fetal sheep were operated on at 118 to 121 days of gestation. The pulmonary end of the trachea was connected to the gastric end of the esophagus with a section of tubing. This left urine as the only source of amniotic fluid and intramembranous absorption as sole exit. Multiple indwelling fetal vascular, intra-amniotic, allantoic, and a fetal bladder catheter were placed. Beginning 5 days af...