Down Syndrome Test 'Gattaca' Revisited? Sep 6, 2008
"I was grateful to have all those months to prepare," Palin, who underwent amniocentesis five months before the birth of her son, Trig, told People magazine. "I can't imagine the moms that are surprised at the end. I think they have it a lot harder.". (ABC News)
ASK THE EXPERTSWhat is muscular dystrophy? Sep 4, 2008
We can identify the mutation during amniocentesis [but] it's not typically screened for in families in which it doesn t exist. A third of the time it doesn t run in families and, also, a lot of people continue the pregnancy even after amniocentesis with abnormalities. (Scientific American)
McCain taps Alaska governor for VP Aug 30, 2008
In an interview Friday with People magazine, Palin said the Down syndrome condition was detected during an amniocentesis last December when she was 13 weeks pregnant and that "I was grateful to have all those months to prepare.". Asked whether she felt ready to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, Palin said, "Absolutely. Yup, yup. Especially with a good team around us.". (Anchorage Daily News)
Infections may trigger premature birth Aug 26, 2008
They used only fluid that had been collected through a syringe in the abdomen like routine amniocentesis tests are done before the women's water broke, to ensure the tests didn't detect post-labor germs ... Relman's team, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, now is studying 2,000 women who get routine amniocentesis in their second trimester, to try to answer that. (MSNBC -- Health)
Elizabeth is beating the odds Aug 16, 2008
Brad Fisher wrote on Aug 15, 2008 3:55 PM:" Dear Christen and Jeanna. We are so proud of how you care for Elizabeth. You have helped us so much in the care of our daughter Shira who also has SMA Type 1. I hope this article spreads the word about how prevalent this disorder really is and parents will get tested before having children. We had no idea we were carriers and we had a healthy son for our first child. We were tested using amniocentesis but only for the most common problems that children... (Pontiac Daily Leader, IL)
Delhi sex ratio: Boys still preferred Aug 5, 2008
Married to Kuldeep (name changed) in 2004 and pregnant with twins in 2005, her life, she says, turned nightmarish when her mother-in-law allegedly insisted upon sex determination performed by methods such as amniocentesis, chorion villus biopsy and the popular ultrasonography or ultrasound. While the techniques are useful in detecting genetic abnormalities in the foetus, their misuse is punishable under the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Regulations and Prevention of Misuse Act... (India Times, India)
Turner Syndrome Jun 27, 2008
Facts and Statistics. This disorder occurs in about 1 of 2500 live births and currently affects 60,000 women in the United States. (Suite101.com)
Late Congenital Cytomegalovirus Has No Effect on Fetal Outcome Jun 25, 2008
Lead investigator Dr. Liat Gindes, of Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, told Reuters Health that when infections occur in the third trimester of pregnancy, amniocentesis is probably not necessary and "the prognosis is usually good." ... They add that this study was small and observational design only, performing amniocentesis to diagnosis third trimester intrauterine CMV infection appears to be an unnecessary invasive procedure. (MEDLINEplus)
New Testing of Fetuses for Down's Could Pose Ethical Dilemmas Jun 22, 2008
It requires amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), which involve inserting a needle into the womb to remove amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus, or a small piece of the placenta. Miscarriages could be prevented by the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) test, which could eventually be part of standard antenatal screening. (Fox News -- Politics)
Screening for Down Syndrome Jun 8, 2008
If the screening results show the mother to be at increased risk of having a child with Down syndrome, then more invasive diagnostic tools such as chorionic villus sampling or an amniocentesis may be offered along with genetic counseling ... If the risk is high, the physician may recommend diagnostic testing such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis or percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS). (Suite101.com)
3rd Circuit: Woman Cannot Be Fired for Having Abortion Jun 3, 2008
In early August, the suit says, Doe's doctors identified problems in her pregnancy and insisted on an amniocentesis test. Doe claims she notified the company of her need to be absent on several days for testing, and that when she learned of her baby's deformities and decided to terminate the pregnancy, her husband notified the company that she would be out for another week. (Law.com)
Foetal screening 'misses defects' Jun 2, 2008
One way to confirm the syndrome is via amniocentesis, in which a needle is used to take a sample of the fluid within the womb ... Dr Francesca Grati, from the TOMA Laboratory in Busto Arsizio, looked at well over 100,000 prenatal diagnoses which used invasive tests such as amniocentesis, and looked to see which chromosomal abnormalities had been missed in the samples ... She said it was "fundamental" that doctors should counsel their patients about the limitations of current screening methods,... (BBC News -- Health)
'I half-hoped that I might miscarry' Jun 2, 2008
The only way to find out for sure was by amniocentesis, which involves removing amniotic fluid from the womb ... Knowing the fear I had of disability, and how close I came to having amniocentesis, it makes my blood run cold to think that if I had had the test and miscarried, we might now be childless. (Guardian Unlimited -- Society)
Triplets Birth Complicated By Shared Placenta,... May 24, 2008
Alvarez said the following can be used as treatment options: intrauterine laser treatment, amniocentesis and ligation of the umbilical cord. "In mild cases, conservative treatment can achieve viable outcomes," Alvarez said. (Fox News)
A new analysis method allows to find out the sex of the baby from the second month of pregnancy May 14, 2008
In these cases, the possibility of determining the sex of the baby as soon as possible, would avoid the processes of invasive prenatal diagnosis such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy or cordcentesis, which involve a danger for the life of the foetus. Genetic research and molecular biology. (EurekAlert! -- Business News)
Inside ParcA rare tour of the innovative Silicon Valley lab May 2, 2008
" Parc is something of a shrine to innovation. Over the years it has given us ethernet, laser printing and pioneered the idea of ubiquitous computing. Today Xerox is hoping some of these innovations will have just as great an impact on our world and its bank balance. RARE CELL DETECTION Laser light is helping boost the chances of spotting cancerous cells In America 1500 women every year miscarry after undergoing amniocentesis - a test that tries to spot genetic abnormalities in a child while... (BBC News -- Science)
Baby Born With Organs Outside Body Slowly Recovering Apr 23, 2008
Although an amniocentesis showed that Bella had no chromosomal damage, cardiac anomalies or other genetic syndromes, the Craigs were told both they and their daughter would face a long road. The mortality rate for babies born with omphalocele is 70 to 80 percent, according to Dr. Donald Liu, Bella's pediatric surgeon and the chief of pediatric surgery at the University of Chicago, the Tribune reported. (Fox News)
Antenatal Tests Apr 23, 2008
Ultrasound scans, blood samples, amniocentesis, Doppler tests are essential to track foetal development and optimise the health of mother and baby during pregnancy ... There are less routine tests also like chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis and umbilical cord blood sampling. (Suite101.com)
Amniocentesis is less risky now than in past Apr 7, 2008
Should she get an amniocentesis or shouldn't she ... Last month, the top obstetrics journal, Obstetrics and Gynecology, published an article by Washington University at St. Louis researchers reporting that over 16 years, among more than 50,000 of their patients, amniocentesis appeared to cause a miscarriage in only 1 out of 769 procedures ... "I think most of us who do amniocentesis would agree that the risk has dropped pretty significantly over the last 10 years or so," he said. (Boston Globe)
UCLA researchers examine human embryonic stem cell genome Mar 28, 2008
Clinical specialists commonly generate a karyotype to examine the chromosomes of cancer cells or for amniocentesis in prenatal diagnosis, which has a much lower resolution than Array CGH, said Michael Teitell, a researcher with the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research and the senior author of the study. Small defects that could result in big problems later on could be missed using karyotyping for stem cells. (EurekAlert!)
When a baby is destined to die Mar 25, 2008
On the other end was a geneticist, confirming the results of her amniocentesis: the baby had Trisomy 18. The chromosomal abnormality, which causes heart, kidney and severe mental disabilities, is usually fatal. (MSNBC -- Terrorism)
'Just another child': Orangeburg mother says early intervention, support key to helping daughter with Down syndrome thrive Mar 18, 2008
She had refused to take an amniocentesis, which is generally performed between 12 and 20 weeks gestation as a diagnostic tool for Down syndrome. "I refused because of the risk, and if the child did have a problem, having that test would not correct the problem at all," Patricia said, noting that abortion was not an option for her. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
Early Warning Mar 18, 2008
"While NT screening results are normal in the majority of cases, if a problem is indicated, the patient and her physician can have an amniocentesis done at 16 weeks. NT screening is done at 11 to 14 weeks.". There appeared to be no genetic problems ahead for the baby that Angie Frizzell, 20, and boyfriend Jesse Reichenau are having. (Durango Herald)
Abortion remark angers students Feb 16, 2008
In his lecture notes, he wrote:"In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does. The brain is the last organ to become functional."Harris, who has taught at UNC-CH for 35 years, said he has said the same thing many times before. He says it to spark discussion. (News & Observer)
Lost in translationHow do you help pregnant women who cannot speak English? Dec 12, 2007
"It can be a challenge explaining to a 17-year-old English girl what an amniocentesis is, let alone to a teenager from abroad who doesn't speak the language," she says. Mrs Cozens is a midwife team leader who works for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King's Lynn NHS Trust in Norfolk. (BBC News -- UK)
Doctors Urged To Offer Down Syndrome Screening To Expectant Mothers Nov 28, 2007
From there, a mother may decide to have more invasive testing, like an amniocentesis ... "They have to put all of these things in the balance scale to figure out if the risk I would incur, with amniocentesis, which is small, but it's there, worth the information I would gain," Chyu explained ... She opted for an amniocentesis with both of her pregnancies. (KCRA 3, CA)
Little boy spirit Nov 22, 2007
Later, an amniocentesis revealed Benjamin had the disease as well. There was anxiety about the what-ifs while the family still dealt with the what-could-have-beens with Caleb, Judge Holly said. (Odessa American, TX)
Sexual Frustration Will Hurt Asia's Economies Nov 2, 2007
Improving ultrasound and amniocentesis technology is making it easier for parents to abort girls, and reports of female infanticide are becoming routine. The same is true of India; the wealthier the region, the wider the gender divide is likely to be. (Bloomberg -- Columnists)
Vietnam's desire for baby boys skews gender Nov 1, 2007
Gender imbalance among births has been rising in parts of Asia since the 1980s, after ultrasound and amniocentesis provided a way to determine a fetus' sex early in pregnancy. Despite laws in several countries banning doctors from revealing the baby's sex, many women still find out and choose to abort girls. (MSNBC -- International)
Gender imbalance a threat to stability Oct 31, 2007
It was made possible as ultrasound, amniocentesis and abortion became more widely available. If a woman has given birth to several girls, she is more likely to abort subsequent pregnancies until she conceives a boy, according to the research, which was commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund. (Sydney Morning Herald -- World)
Coping with pregnancy loss Sep 28, 2007
Amniocentesis established that the baby was fine, but Amy started to bleed and was placed on bed rest for one month under close observation. At 25 weeks, Amy received the shocking news that the amniotic fluid was completely gone and the pregnancy had to be terminated. (Cleveland Jewish News, OH)
Mother's Blood Could Offer Insights into Fetal Health Sep 25, 2007
It could also represent an important advance in the prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases and genetic monitoring of fetal development because it wouldn't require invasive procedures, such as amniocentesis. Another advantage of being able to detect fetal mRNA in the mother-to-be's bloodstream is that "it's dynamic," meaning that the biomarkers expected to be found would vary with time and stage of fetal development, Maron added. (MEDLINEplus)
Toward A Faster Prenatal Test For Down Syndrome Sep 22, 2007
It requires a two-week wait for anxious parents, while cells taken with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling are grown in laboratory culture and analyzed ... As a non-invasive test, it would be the safest approach to prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, since both amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling pose risks to the fetus. (Science Daily)
The Link between Testosterone and Autism Sep 14, 2007
" As part of their study the scientists measured and recorded testosterone levels present in the amniotic fluid of 235 women who had undergone tests involving the extraction of fluid from the womb, known as amniocentesis. Since then these women have given birth and their children have been accorded a series of tests. On reaching eight, the mothers of these children completed questionnaires specially engineered to look for indications of autism such as a child's preference for company or solitude... (Earthtimes.org)
Scientists link autism with higher testosterone levels Sep 12, 2007
Professor Simon Baron Cohen of Cambridge University said 235 healthy children whose mothers had amniocentesis a womb test during pregnancy were closely monitored for eight years and tested for autistic-like behaviour at regular intervals during their development. The scientists found that high levels of testosterone in the amniotic fluid of the womb were significantly correlated with autistic-like behaviour, such as whether the child tends to be more unsociable or less empathetic than normal. (Independent)
Baby pictures: New technology helps assess early fetal development Sep 11, 2007
Mendenhall said that since procedures to obtain genetic material, such as amniocentesis or CVS, carry a slight risk of miscarriage, that the Early Screen can help practitioners determine when more specific testing is warranted. This is a good, no risk way to screen pregnant women, she said. (Montana Standard, MT)
To scan or notIt may be nice to see your baby, but is it really necessary? Aug 18, 2007
Those deemed to have a higher possibility are offered an amniocentesis, where a needle is inserted into the womb to give a much more accurate analysis. Every amniocentesis carries a small risk of miscarriage, so women who are not carrying a disabled foetus in the first place can end up losing a perfectly healthy baby ... Women are being referred on to amniocentesis on the basis of a very flimsy test and I think they need to understand just how inaccurate it can be. (BBC News -- Health)
A benefit for Bella Aug 16, 2007
The second option was to do an amniocentesis, which would have given the twins a 40 percent chance of surviving. The final option was simply wait and do nothing, which really left no chance of the girls surviving. (Chetek Alert, WI)
The parents with the hardest choice of all Jul 15, 2007
True to George's earlier determination, the couple quickly agree to an amniocentesis, a test that detects chromosome abnormalities but carries around a 1 in 150 risk of triggering a miscarriage ... The amniocentesis could bring about the abortion of a perfectly healthy baby. (Guardian Unlimited)
40 is the new 35 when it comes high-risk pregnancy Jul 11, 2007
It's one of the most serious decisions a pregnant woman makes: whether to have amniocentesis during her pregnancy to look for birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome ... Because the probability of abnormalities increases as women age, it has long been common practice for women older than 35 to undergo amniocentesis ... In an opinion paper published today in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Canada, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada... (Globe and Mail)
A Medical Hope for Infertile Women Jul 4, 2007
Additional surveillance, such as amniocentesis screenings to check the baby's development, probably would be necessary. . (Time.com)
Labs Mature Eggs From Girls With Cancer Jul 3, 2007
Additional surveillance, such as amniocentesis screenings to check the baby's development, would probably be necessary. In related work presented Monday at Lyon, doctors announced that the first baby to be created from an adult woman's egg that had been frozen, thawed and then fertilized, was born in Canada. (Forbes)
Stem cell research not dead in N.C. Jun 21, 2007
Pros: Easily obtained through amniocentesis. Cons: Adaptations of the cells are not known, but promising. (News & Observer)
Amnio Options Jun 20, 2007
(Liz Bonis) -- Many pregnant women often undergo amniocentesis (amnio)to determine the chromosomes or lung maturity of their baby. While the risks of the procedure have gone down, some women's health specialists say less invasive tests might provide the same information. (WOKR13 Rochester)
Noninvasive screening in early pregnancy reduces Down's births by 50 percent Jun 17, 2007
Women whose test results showed an elevated risk were offered an invasive procedure (chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis) to definitely confirm or exclude the diagnosis of Down syndrome by chromosome analysis. We found that making non-invasive screening available to all pregnant women meant that the numbers of invasive procedures decreased by 40% between 2004 and 2006, says Professor Brndum-Nielsen. (EurekAlert!)
Infanticide, Abortion Responsible for 60 Million Girls Missing in Asia Jun 14, 2007
In recent years, female infanticide has taken a back seat to sex-selective abortion or female feticide, due to the advent of amniocentesis and ultrasound technology as well as other prenatal sex selection techniques, many of which are now readily available in clinics and doctors offices. "We feel it's a serious problem that everybody should be concerned about and aware of," said Wanda Franz, president of the National Right to Life Committee. (Fox News -- Politics)
Burying the unborn May 27, 2007
But 18 weeks in, they learned their daughter had Down syndrome and a heart problem, and while they waited for the amniocentesis results, she died. We were absolutely completely devastated. (Globe and Mail)
Risks of prenatal testing May 22, 2007
Some of the tests gave a high percentage of false positives (AFP test) and others could potentially cause the women to miscarry (amniocentesis). Opponents of the recommendation worry that if parents do know and have the choice to abort, they will. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Fetal Sex Tests Tell 'Y' Or 'Y Not' May 16, 2007
" Parents willing to wait longer can get a head-to-toe ultrasound at 20 weeks that is almost 100 percent accurate. Invasive procedures like an amniocentesis can be done at about 11 weeks. Parents who order the Pink or Blue test receive a packet where the mother provides a spot of blood on a special card. That is sent back to the company's laboratories, and within four to six days, the gender of the fetus is revealed with up to 98 percent accuracy if instructions are properly followed, according... (Tampa Bay Online, FL -- News)
New test promises to reveal baby's sex at six weeks May 16, 2007
Invasive procedures like an amniocentesis which carry a small risk of miscarriage can be done at about 11 weeks. Parents who order the Pink or Blue test receive a packet where the mother provides a spot of blood on a special card. (USA Today)
Readers tell us about Mom May 13, 2007
Having had amniocentesis myself, I've told her the odds of having a Down syndrome baby at that age were one in 28. She said she's glad she didn't know to worry about that. (AZCentral -- News)
Doctors Should Test for Down Syndrome May 10, 2007
But the traditional screening tests -- amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling -- are both considered invasive and pose a small risk to the fetus ... If either of those tests suggests trouble, amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling may be offered. (MEDLINEplus)
1-pound 3-ounce 'miracle baby' May 8, 2007
And I started having a lot of complications from the beginning," she recalled. She had signs that she was going to have another miscarriage, so Amy was tested and closely monitored while pregnant. She was due Feb. 28. She had an amniocentesis to rule out spina bifida and Down syndrome. "That was all fine, but there was still something funky going on, so they kept watching me," she said. Then, about 24 weeks into her pregnancy, she developed severe preeclampsia, which, according to the... (Lake Country Reporter, WI)
MRS Shows Promise As Noninvasive Means To Determine Fetal Lung Maturity May 7, 2007
"Currently the standard for determining fetal lung maturity involves obtaining amniotic fluid and evaluating the fluid for the surfactant to albumin (SA) ratio. The amniotic fluid is obtained via amniocentesis, an invasive procedure with risks including infection and preterm labor," said Dr. Yong ... "If this work is successful, we could potentially use MRS as a non-invasive test for fetal lung maturity and spare pregnant women and their fetuses the risks of amniocentesis," she said. (Science Daily)
Abortion debate brought home May 6, 2007
Then, at about 12 weeks, we underwent a type of genetic testing (chorionic villus sampling, similar to amniocentesis), reasoning that if we had to abort two, it would be better to abort any fetuses with genetic abnormalities ... Amniocentesis testing which involves extracting fluid from the placenta is usually performed between 15 and 20 weeks. (Los Angeles Times)
New DNA Test Conjures Abortion Controversy May 5, 2007
Some expectant parents just want to know if their bundle of joy will be a girl or a boy, and Dr Ken Gelman said that many turn to amniocentesis to tell them for sure. "For a woman to determine the sex of her baby, what's currently available is amniocentesis, which is generally done with in the first trimester," said Gelman. (WFOR.com, FL)
35 minutes to live, feel love May 4, 2007
Amniocentesis confirmed a non-hereditary birth defect: full trisomy 13. Weatherford decided the best gift she could give to her unborn son was to love him until his death, even if the only fullness of his life would be in the soft cushion of her womb. (FOX59, IN)
Pregnancy timeline Apr 27, 2007
On the basis of the blood test results the woman may opt for a Chorionic Villus sample or an amniocentesis which would diagnose or other chromosomal abnormalities. However these diagnostic tests have a small risk of subsequent miscarriage. (BBC News -- Health)
India's secret shame Feb 28, 2007
Clinics spring up daily offering amniocentesis and ultrasound, scientific advances that are capable of predicting the sex of a foetus. The trickle down of cash means that even lower middle-class families can afford a few thousands rupees on the technology. (Guardian Unlimited)
Local Anesthesia Ineffective for Amniocentesis Feb 23, 2007
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The pain experienced by pregnant women who undergo amniocentesis is not relieved by injections of lidocaine into the abdominal area, a new study confirms. Many women assume that a local anesthetic will be given before amniocentesis, Dr. Michael C. Gordon and colleagues point out in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ... Although usually not the primary reason, fear or concern over the pain associated with amniocentesis is a factor in women's decisions... (MEDLINEplus)
Prematurity More Accurately Predicted By Advances In Proteomic Technology Feb 14, 2007
"Our data suggest that at the time of amniocentesis and prior to delivery of the fetus, clinicians can be reassured by the absence of inflammation in a patient with an MR score of '0.' Or they can initiate aggressive therapy immediately following delivery when there is an MR score of 3 or 4," said first author on the abstracts Irina Buhimschi, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine. Buhimschi said that neonates... (Science Daily)
New data supports a non-invasive approach to routine prenatal genetic testing Feb 11, 2007
Fetal Nucleic Acid Technology offers potential alternative to amniocentesis ... This future diagnostic technology, currently under development at Sequenom, Inc. (Nasdaq: SQNM), shows promise that a universal alternative to such invasive genetic screening procedures as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, may be available in the future ... Previous guidelines recommended testing women 35 years and older using amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, both considered invasive procedures... (EurekAlert!)
Superior Stem Cells Shunned By Media Feb 9, 2007
Indeed, they are routinely recovered with a hypodermic needle during amniocentesis. While it's widely believed that this procedure slightly increases the chance of miscarriage, a last November of 35,000 women who underwent mid-trimester testing found "no significant difference in loss rates between those undergoing amniocentesis and those not undergoing amniocentesis." ... About 700,000 amniocentesis procedures are performed in the United States and Western Europe each year. (CBS News)
Study: Down's Syndrome Testing Good For Moms Of All Ages Feb 7, 2007
Down's syndrome testing was once a procedure saved for women over 35, largely because younger women were considered at low risk, and invasive procedures, such as amniocentesis, carried a risk of miscarriage. The study showed that a new first-trimester screening performed between 11 and 13 weeks is minimally invasive. (7 KETV Omaha)
Blood test for Down's likely in three years Feb 4, 2007
The test could replace the process of invasive amniocentesis tests, which carry a risk of miscarriage and is worrying for expectant parents, within three years ... "He added that there would be an economic argument about whether the test was cost-effective as it would initially prove more expensive than amniocentesis. "It's a no-brainer when it comes to tests for Down's syndrome. (Guardian Unlimited)
