Amniocentesis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Amniocentesis, including details on pregnancy, prenatal screening, diagnosis, risks, down syndrome.

Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells from amniotic fluid originate neural precursors with functional voltage-gated sodium channels.

Mareschi K, Rustichelli D, Comunanza V, De Fazio R, Cravero C, Morterra G, Martinoglio B, Medico E, Carbone E, Benedetto C, Fagioli F

Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Unit, Pediatric Onco-Hematology Department, Regina Margherita Children's Hospital, Turin, Italy.

Background aims Amniotic fluid (AF) contains stem cells with high proliferative and differentiative potential that might be an attractive source of multipotent stem cells. We investigated whether human AF contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and evaluated their phenotypic characteristics and differentiation potential in vitro. Methods AF was harvested during routine pre-natal amniocentesis at 14-16 weeks of pregnancy. AF sample pellets were plated in alpha-minimum essential medium (MEM) with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). We evaluated cellular growth, immunophenotype, stemness markers and differentiative potential during in vitro expansion. Neural progenitor maintenance medium (NPMM), a medium normally used for the growth and maintenance of neural stem cells, containing hFGF, hEGF and NSF-1, was used for neural induction. Results Twenty-seven AF samples were collected and primary cells, obtained from samples containing more than 6 mL AF, had MSC characteristics. AF MSC showed high proliferative potential, were positive for CD90, CD105, CD29, CD44, CD73 and CD166, showed Oct-4 and Nanog molecular and protein expression, and differentiated into osteoblasts, adypocytes and chondrocytes. The NPMM-cultured cells expressed neural markers and increased Na(+) channel density and channel inactivation rate, making the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive channels more kinetically similar to native neuronal voltage-gated Na(+) channels. Conclusions These data suggest that AF is an important multipotent stem cell source with a high proliferative potential able to originate potential precursors of functional neurons.

Published 23 June 2009 in Cytotherapy.
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Articles on Amniocentesis published 22 June 2009:

Interstitial 11q deletion derived from a maternal ins(4;11)(p14;q24.2q25): A patient report and review.   Am J Med Genet A, 149(7): 1468-1475.

We present a family with multiple cytogenetic abnormalities, identified through a girl with several dysmorphic features and cardiac problems, suspected for Jacobsen syndrome. Cytogenetic analysis showed a 46,XX,del(11)(qter) karyotype, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Cytogenetic investigation of the parents showed a chromosome aberration in both: the father had a t(11;12)(p13;q22) translocation and the mother was carrier of an ins(4;11)(p14;q24q25). FISH ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

The frequency and clinical significance of intra-uterine infection and inflammation in patients with placenta previa and preterm labor and intact membranes.   Placenta, 30(7): 613-8.

OBJECTIVE: Histologic placental and/or intra-amniotic inflammation is frequently documented during ascending intra-uterine infections in patients with preterm labor and intact membranes. Placenta previa can be a clinical situation that shows the successive schema of histologic placental and intra-amniotic inflammation during the process of ascending intra-uterine infections. However, a paucity of information exists about the frequency and clinical significance of intra-uterine infections and ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 17 June 2009:

With new prenatal testing, will babies with Down syndrome slowly disappear?   Arch Dis Child.

An expansive menu of prenatal tests for Down syndrome (DS) is already available to pregnant women around the globe, but new tests are likely to become the most popular entrées. Presently, pregnant women can choose among the many prenatal screening tests-triple screen, quadruple screen, first-trimester combined screen, stepwise sequential screens, and fully integrative screens-to receive statistical chances that their fetuses have DS, to varying degrees of detection (Table 1).(1) For a ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 11 June 2009:

A case of 48,XXYY syndrome detected prenatally by QF-PCR.   J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.

We report on the prenatal diagnosis and genetic analysis of a 48,XXYY fetus. A 28-year-old woman was referred for amniocentesis at 18 weeks' gestation because of advanced paternal age. Quantitative-fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) with small tandem repeat (STR) markers rapidly detected the sex chromosome polysomy from amniotic fluid cells. This abnormality appeared to arise from successive non-disjunction during paternal meiosis I and meiosis II. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 10 June 2009:

Endothelial Differentiation of Amniotic Fluid-derived Stem Cells: Synergism of biochemical and shear force stimuli.   Stem Cells Dev.

Human amniotic fluid-derived stem (AFS) cells possess several advantages over embryonic and adult stem cells, as evidenced by expression of both types of stem cell markers and ability to differentiate into cells of all three germ layers. Herein, we examine endothelial differentiation of AFS in response to growth factors, shear force and hypoxia. We isolated human AFS from amniotic fluid samples (1-4cc/specimen) obtained from patients undergoing amniocentesis at 15-18 weeks of gestation (n=10). ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 8 June 2009:

Fetal loss rate after chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis: an 11-year national registry study.   Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the fetal loss rate following amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS). METHODS: This was a national registry-based cohort study, including all singleton pregnant women who had an amniocentesis (n = 32 852) or CVS (n = 31 355) in Denmark between 1996 and 2006. Personal registration numbers of women having had an amniocentesis or a CVS were retrieved from the Danish Central Cytogenetic Registry, and cross-linked with the National Registry of Patients to determine ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 3 June 2009:

Specific ultrasound findings associated with fetal chromosome abnormalities.   Congenit Anom (Kyoto), 49(2): 61-5.

Cytogenetic amniocentesis (CA) has been performed as a reliable prenatal diagnostic method for decades. The aims of the present study were to reveal the frequency of fetal chromosome abnormalities according to medical indications of CA, and to assess the risks of specific abnormal ultrasound findings. Data on chromosome karyotypes of fetuses from 5043 Japanese mothers were collected. Group I comprised 4626 fetuses whose mothers underwent CA due to a variety of parental reasons. Group II ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Amniocentesis published 2 June 2009:

Amniocentesis in the second trimester and congenital talipes equinovarus in the offspring: a population-based record linkage study in Scotland.   Prenat Diagn, 29(6): 613-9.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether amniocentesis in the second trimester is associated with congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) in the offspring. METHODS: Case-control study nested within a population-based cohort, developed through linkage of the Scottish Congenital Anomalies Linked Database with records of amniocentesis from cytogenetics laboratories, including 564,299 singleton births 1992-2001. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for CTEV in the offspring (isolated, non-isolated, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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