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)
Hope for safe prenatal gene test Feb 3, 2007
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
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)
New Source of Stem Cells Discovered Jan 8, 2007
"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)
Amniotic fluid a promising stem cell source Jan 8, 2007
" 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)
Scientists discover new, readily available source of stem cells Jan 8, 2007
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!)
