BACKGROUND Early placental and embryo development occur in a physiologically low oxygen environment, with a rise in oxygen tension within the placenta towards the end of the first trimester. Oxygen is implicated in the regulation of trophoblast differentiation and invasion. This study examined the effects of oxygen tension on extravillous trophoblast outgrowth and migration from normal pregnanc...

The chorionic villi of term placentas were examined for A and B blood group substance using the IF technique with heterologous and homologous antisera. No specific fluorescence was found in either the villous trophoblast or vessels of the chorionic villi. The implications of these findings in relation to the question of trophoblastic antigenicity are discussed.

In the past few years considerable attention has been given to a relatively new method of prenatal diagnosis known as chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Because CVS can be performed in the first trimester it is hailed by many as a significant advance over amniocentesis. What has not been as publicized, however, are the disadvantages of CVS and earlier prenatal diagnosis. The emotional costs of CV...

The role of the endogenous apelin system in pregnancy is not well understood. Apelin's actions in pregnancy are further complicated by the expression of multiple forms of the peptide. Using radioimmunoassay (RIA) alone, we established the expression of apelin content in the chorionic villi of preeclamptic (PRE) and normal pregnant women (NORM) at 36-38 wk of gestation. Total apelin content was ...

BACKGROUND Chorionic villous sampling is a first trimester invasive diagnosis procedure that was introduced in Nigeria < 2 decades ago. OBJECTIVE The objective of the following study is to review experience with chorionic villous sampling in relation to clinical and laboratory procedures, including general characteristics of women, indications and outcome, complications, laboratory analysis a...

A complete mole coexisting with dichorionic twins was diagnosed by the combined use of sonography and chorionic villus sampling at 10 weeks gestation. The pregnancy resulted in the death of one fetus at 31 weeks from presumed feto-maternal haemorrhage, while the other fetus survived in good condition. A summary of the available literature, combined with this report, reveals a total of seven pre...

DNA analysis for the diagnosis of beta-thalassaemia is a relatively new technique in Malaysia. This, combined with chorionic villus sampling, has enabled us to offer prenatal diagnosis in the first trimester for this common condition. To the best of our knowledge, this has not hitherto been reported in Malaysia.

Placental polyp is the retained fragment of placental tissue after the parturition or abortion for indefinite period which forms a polypoidal mass in the uterus. It is predominantly composed of necrotic and hyalinized chorionic villi (ghost chorionic villi). We report a case of 26-year-old G2P2 woman presenting with vaginal bleeding. Her last pregnancy had occurred five years ago. Laboratory in...