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She said: "Most people think one of these technologies will eventually be refined enough to be useful in clinical practice. "An accurate non-invasive test would mean a lot women with normal babies would not have to be put through a procedure like amniocentesis. " Professor Maj Hulten, of the University of Warwick, founded a pan-European research network to work on new prenatal tests. She said the study was very interesting, particularly as regards the formaldehyde fixation of the blood samples,... (BBC News -- Science)
Experimental Prenatal Test Helps Spot Birth Defects Feb 3, 2007
And invasive diagnostic tests, such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, can pose risks to the pregnancy, including miscarriage. "Even though the current invasive tests are quite safe, relatively speaking, they are invasive, and there are complications," Katz said. (Forbes)
Down's test 'removes risk of miscarriage' Feb 3, 2007
Currently foetuses are checked for the disease using amniocentesis or chorionic villus testing, both invasive procedures which involve a needle to extract cells from either the amniotic sac or the placenta. Both carry a one per cent risk of miscarriage. (Telegraph.co.uk)
Docs Oppose Gender Selection for Personal Reasons Feb 3, 2007
Postfertilization sex selection can be done using amniocentesis or ultrasound testing to determine the sex by genetics and visualization, respectively. This is then followed by elective abortion if the sex is not the one desired. (MEDLINEplus)
Stress in pregnancy 'can affect child's development' Jan 27, 2007
The researchers followed 125 women who were having amniocentesis - samples of amniotic fluid taken from the womb - for other medical reasons and used samples from the test to measure their cortisol levels. They conducted stress analysis of the women before and after birth, then tested their babies at 18 months. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
• Letter to the Editor - When knowingcan be harmful Jan 24, 2007
We are informed (Tribune, Dec. 31) that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is now recommending earlier and more frequent use of prenatal genetic screening for Down syndrome, because of new tests that are more suitable than amniocentesis for early use ... Our gift was born 20 years ago, and thankfully without the foreknowledge of amniocentesis. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Tough Pregnancy May Raise Wheeze Risk in Child Jan 23, 2007
Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, cesarean section, and weight gain during pregnancy were not significantly associated with childhood wheezing, the investigators report in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Although a maternal history of asthma and/or allergy was also associated with wheezing in childhood, this history did not modify the association between maternal complications or procedures in pregnancy and at birth and wheezing phenotypes, the report... (MEDLINEplus)
Stem Cell Debate Jan 19, 2007
However, a recent has reported the isolation of stem cells from amniotic fluid, obtained by amniocentesis. The beauty of this discovery lies in the fact that the acquisition of amniotic stem cells by this method is not directly associated with harm to the fetus. (Suite101.com)
Bush's moral stand buys time Jan 18, 2007
It is routinely drawn out by needle in amniocentesis. If this proves an endless supply, it will have turned out that Bush's unpopular policy held the line against the trampling of the human embryo just long enough for a morally neutral alternative to emerge. (Buffalo News -- Opinion)
Stem-Cell Research: Escaping a Moral Mess Jan 15, 2007
At the same time, the amniotic cells can be taken easily and harmlessly from the placenta or from pregnant women by amniocentesiswhich gives them the potential to nullify, or at least bridge, the divide in the stem-cell-research debate. What's more, the stem cells are also found in the placenta, which is thrown away after birthso doctors may obtain them from all infants, not just those subject to amniocentesis ... Using stem cells taken by amniocentesis from 19 pregnant women, Atala and... (Newsweek)
New screening advice for pregnant women Jan 11, 2007
Younger women were tested much less often because the risk of birth defects was low and invasive procedures like amniocentesis carried risks of their own ... The change was prompted in part by new, less invasive screening techniques, including an ultrasound exam that helps assess risk as early as 11 weeks into a pregnancy though not as accurately as the invasive procedures, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling ... The new guidelines erase any age distinction when it comes to offering... (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Pro-Life Dems Face Tough Ride on Embryonic Research Jan 11, 2007
"The fear the right would have about stem cells obtained from amniotic fluid is that woman might be encouraged to have amniocentesis just so that researchers can have access to more amniotic stem cells," Fry-Revere said. "Every amniocentesis carries a slight risk of inducing a miscarriage, i.e. an abortion.". (CNSnews.com)
Uncontroversial stem cells found Jan 10, 2007
AFS cells are available from samples taken for amniocentesis which involves testing the amniotic fluid for signs of genetic disorders and from the placenta. Around 1 per cent of cells in these samples have been found to be stem cells. (Hindu)
A Source of Stem Cells Without Controversy? Jan 9, 2007
In the new study, researchers wrote that they harvested cells using discarded samples from amniocentesis, a test of amniotic fluid that is used to check for birth defects in developing fetuses ... Key to this article is the simple distinction between multi and pluripotent strains; being frank about the current source of pluripotent strains in what would otherwise be discarded fetuses; and the interesting addition that these current discoveries are coming from amniocentesis samples a sort of... (New York Times)
Pregnant Women In The Dark On Prenatal Screening Jan 9, 2007
Soon-to-be mums admit they feel 'left in the dark' when it comes to being told about the possible implications of prenatal screening - tests which could lead them down a path where they have to make difficult decisions about their unborn child. A study by Queensland University of Technology has found while doctors, midwives, obstetricians and counsellors agreed prenatal patient eduction was important, many assumed that another practitioner had taken responsibility for delivering the information. (Science Daily)
• Stem cell breakthrough hyolds political promise Jan 9, 2007
Not only are the stem cells easy to harvest - they are taken from the fluid that helps cushion the fetus in the womb during routine amniocentesis checks given to pregnant women - but they also have not developed tumors when implanted in lab animals, which has been a drawback of embryonic stem cells. Best of all the amniotic stem cells could end the huge political fight over destruction of embryos for stell cell research and open the door to unimpeded state and federal support for this promising... (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Easy stem-cell source sparks interest Jan 8, 2007
Researchers from Wake Forest University and Harvard Medical School found that the stem cells -- easy to harvest from the fluid left over from amniocentesis tests given to pregnant women -- can be transformed into a greater range of cell types than previous studies have found ... The researchers studied 10 - milliliter samples of fluid extracted from pregnant women who had amniocentesis tests to screen their babies for genetic abnormalities. (Boston Globe)
Amniotic fluid stem cells raise hopes Jan 8, 2007
The stem cells--easy to harvest from the fluid from amniocentesis tests given to pregnant women--were able to transform into new bone, heart muscle, blood vessels, fat, nerve and liver tissues, the study said. "So far, we've been successful with every cell type we've attempted to produce from these stem cells," said Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. He is senior author of the report published... (FOX59, IN)
Stem cell breakthrough that could end the storm Jan 8, 2007
The amniotic fluid - which would otherwise have been discarded - was taken from pregnant women for amniocentesis, a test commonly used to detect Down's Syndrome and other genetic conditions in the unborn baby. In the future, the cells could be collected after amniocentesis tests or from the placenta when it is expelled after the birth of the baby. (This is London)
Scientists use amniotic fluid as a source of stem cells Jan 8, 2007 New Source of Stem Cells Discovered Jan 8, 2007 Amniotic fluid a promising stem cell source Jan 8, 2007 Scientists discover new, readily available source of stem cells Jan 8, 2007 Stem Cells Found in Womb Fluid Jan 8, 2007 Mothers' wombs could provide source of stem cells Jan 8, 2007 Early diagnosis Jan 5, 2007 Health Highlights: Jan. 2, 2007 Jan 3, 2007 Group recommends Down syndrome testing Jan 2, 2007 Down's syndrome test advice updated Jan 1, 2007 Docs: Broaden Down syndrome test Jan 1, 2007 Down syndrome test urged for all pregnant women Jan 1, 2007
The study notes that the cells were harvested from backup amniotic fluid samples obtained during amniocentesis, a prenatal test that examines cells in the fluid to diagnose certain genetic disorders. The researchers also have been able to isolate similar stem cells from "afterbirth" _ the placenta and other membranes that are expelled from the uterus after a baby is delivered. (Scripps Howard News Wire)
Amniotic-fluid stem cells show promise, study says Jan 8, 2007
The stem cells, which are easy to harvest from the fluid left over from amniocentesis tests given to pregnant women, were able to transform into new bone, heart muscle, blood vessels, fat, nerve and liver tissues, the study said ... The researchers, whose study was funded primarily by the Joshua Frase Foundation and the Crown Foundation of the March of Dimes, reported that they have found similar stem cells in samples of chorionic villus, a part of the placenta that is sometimes biopsied during... (AZCentral -- News)
"These cells are easier to get, and from acceptable medical procedures [for example, amniocentesis] that are done on a routine basis," said study senior author Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine ... "Because the cells can be accessed either post-birth or through amniocentesis, it's possible that people could store those cells. If the cell lines that are created were available, then people could do some research on a... (Health-Finder)
" That's also one of the goals of California's Proposition 71 stem cell program, created largely to get around the federal financing restrictions on embryonic research. The program expects to issue a draft list of its first research grant awards in early February. Although embryonic stem cells are the main focus, Prop. 71 program leaders also recognize the value of finding alternative sources, tentatively targeting $12 million in initial grants for that purpose starting next year. Previous... (San Francisco Chronicle)
The report describes how the cells were harvested from backup amniotic fluid specimens obtained for amniocentesis, a procedure that examines cells in this fluid for prenatal diagnosis of certain genetic disorders. Similar stem cells were isolated from "afterbirth," the placenta and other membranes that are expelled after delivery. (EurekAlert!)
The stem cells - easy to harvest from the fluid leftover from amniocentesis tests given to pregnant women - were able to transform into new bone, heart muscle, blood vessels, fat, nerve and liver tissues, the study said ... The researchers studied 10milliliter samples of fluid extracted from pregnant women who had amniocentesis tests to screen their babies for genetic abnormalities. (The Ledger)
AFS cells are readily available from samples taken for amniocentesis - which involves testing the amniotic fluid for signs of genetic disorders - and from the placenta ... Amniocentesis involves inserting a needle to extract amniotic fluid, usually to test for genetic abnormalities in the baby. (Guardian Unlimited)
- She took the initial blood test that indicated there could be a problem with the baby and opted for amniocentesis, a highly conclusive test where a needle is used to draw fluid from the amniotic sac ... The main reason: Tests far less invasive than the long-used amniocentesis are now widely available, some that can tell in the first trimester the risk of a fetus having Down syndrome or other chromosomal defects ... "It's definitely a good thing that there are other options (besides... (Shoals TimesDaily)
Currently, doctors don't routinely order the test for women under 35, due to risks linked to invasive amniocentesis, the Associated Press reported. However, the advent of accurate, less invasive testing technologies means that younger women should now be screened for the birth defect, experts say. (Forbes)
The main reason: Tests far less invasive than the long-used amniocentesis are now widely available, some that can tell in the first trimester the risk of a fetus having Down syndrome or other chromosomal defects. It's a change that promises to decrease unnecessary amnios - giving mothers-to-be peace of mind without the ordeal - while also detecting Down syndrome in moms who otherwise would have gone unchecked. (Herald Online, SC -- Health)
For years, doctors have recommended genetic counseling and diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis for Down's syndrome only to women who are 35 or older ... All women also should be given the option for more invasive tests, including amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, which involve a needle inserted into the abdomen ... Doctors try to balance the risk to the fetus from invasive tests such as amniocentesis, which are the most accurate but can cause miscarriage, with the risk of Down's... (San Jose Mercury News)
Pregnancies identified as being at risk then can be offered further screening with invasive, and more dangerous, tests such as amniocentesis, according to the guidelines published in the January issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Invasive tests have been offered routinely to women older than 35, who are at the highest risk of bearing affected children. (Newsday -- Health)
Amniocentesis tests are highly accurate but were reserved for women 35 and older, who are at higher risk of an affected pregnancy, because they occasionally cause miscarriage ... Pregnancies identified as being at risk then can be offered further screening with invasive, and more dangerous, tests such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, according to the guidelines published in the January issue of the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. (Houston Chronicle)
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