The chorionic villi in the placenta are responsible for the regulation of fetal oxygen and nutrient transport. Although the peripheral renin-angiotensin system is activated during normal pregnancy, the regulation of the local chorionic villi renin-angiotensin system remains unknown. Therefore, placental chorionic villous tissue was collected from nulliparous third-trimester normotensive or pree...

Reprint request: Dr. M.L. Kulkarni, Professor of Pediatrics, 2373, MCC A Block, Davangere 577 004. methods of obtaining fetal tissues for karyotype, DISFA studies and enzyme assay(4). The procedure is done at 8-11 weeks of gestation. The transcervical sampling involves insertion of various types of catheters transcervically under ultrasound guidance for aspiration of chorionic villi. Transabdom...

With the advent of molecular biology techniques prenatal diagnosis in haemophilia A is generally being performed by first trimester chorionic villus sampling followed by the DNA analysis using various polymorphic markers of factor VIII gene. Here we report antenatal diagnosis in a haemophilia A family performed in the second trimester by measuring both factor VIII:C and factor VIII:Ag in the fe...

Balanced and accurate information about Down's syndrome. The fact that screening does not give a definite diagnosis. An explanation of the risk score obtained following screening. The screening pathway and next steps for screen-positive and screen-negative results, including information about the decisions that need to be made at each step and their consequences. Information about amniocentesis...

Chromosomal anomalies remain the commonest cause of mental retardation and congenital malformation. Traditionally, the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal aberration relies on cytogenetic analysis of the cells obtained from amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). First, the amniotic fluid or chorionic villi samples need to be cultured for 14 days or more before adequate foetal cells can...

A pregnancy at risk for adenosine deaminase deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency disease was investigated using samples of chorionic villi obtained during the eighth week of pregnancy. Adenosine deaminase levels suggested that the fetus was a probable carrier and that a diagnosis of severe combined immunodeficiency disease could be excluded. Enzyme and chromosome results were availab...

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and outcome of transabdominal Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. DESIGN Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Pathology, PNS Shifa, Karachi, from January 2003 to December 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 143 couples with request for prenatal diagnosis of various genetic disorders were s...

We aimed to investigate the expression of suppressors cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygense (IDO) and to analyse the relationship of SOCS3 and TGF-β with IDO expression in early pregnancy chorionic villi and decidua in the maternal-fetal interface. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical method were used to detect the expression of ...

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the oxidation of heme to carbon monoxide (CO), biliverdin, and iron and is thought to play a role in protecting tissues from oxidative damage. There are three isoforms of HO: HO-1 (inducible), HO-2 (constitutive), and HO-3 (unknown function). Preeclampsia is characterized by an inadequately perfused placenta and areas of tissue damage. We hypothesized that damaged ...