We modify RSS to come up with new sampling method, namely, Multistage Median Ranked Set Sampling (MMRSS). The MMRSS was suggested for estimating the population median and to increase the efficiency of the estimator for specific value of the sample size. The MMRSS was compared to the Simple Random Sampling (SRS), Ranked Set Sampling (RSS) and Median Ranked Set Sampling (MRSS) methods. It is foun...

OBJECTIVES To derive models for estimating risk of miscarriage and stillbirth from maternal characteristics and findings of first-trimester screening for aneuploidies and to define the procedure-related risk of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) after adjusting for these factors. METHOD We examined 33 856 singleton pregnancies at 11(+0) to 13(+6) weeks, and in 2396 CVS was carried out. Logistic ...

OBJECTIVE To determine if combinations of maternal characteristics and measurements of parameters used in screening for aneuploidies at 11-13 weeks provide significant prediction of macrosomia. METHOD Maternal characteristics, fetal nuchal translucency (NT), free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) were recorded at 11(+0)-13(+6) weeks in ...

Inadequate blood samples or chorionic villus samples (CVS) are occasionally submitted for diagnostic DNA studies. Extraction of such samples by routine means yields small amounts of DNA, frequently not enough to perform all the tests required. We describe here two modifications of a simple method (1) which avoids having to extract DNA and can be performed in a few hours. A single strand (contai...

Recently, the expression of a human endogenous retrovirus HERV-FRD, able to encode a fusogenic envelope protein (syncytin 2), has been observed in human placenta. The aim of the present study was to localize the expression of syncytin 2 in first trimester placenta. In addition, we investigated the presence of HERV-FRD transcripts during the in vitro differentiation of isolated villous and extra...

Adenosine deaminase deficiency accounts for approximately 15-20% of severe combined immunodeficiency in humans. The gene for adenosine deaminase is located on chromosome 20q12-q13.11 and codes for an aminohydrolase that catalyzes the deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine to inosine and deoxyinosine, respectively. Absence of the enzyme causes a build-up of the substrates in addition to exc...