Molekularzytogenetische Methoden und Array-Diagnostik in der Pr?natalmedizin

In addition to the widely used cytogenetic standard approaches, molecular methods are being increasingly used in prenatal diagnostics. While molecular cytogenetics, e.g., fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), has been used for many years in invasive prenatal diagnostics, array-based diagnostics are only now being implemented in this field. FISH is prenatally applied for determination of size of a mosaic cell clone, for exclusion of a microdeletion, or for further clarification of structural chromosomal aberrations. Array CGH (comparative genomic hybridization) is used more conservatively in prenatal diagnostics, mostly for further clarification in sonographically abnormal fetuses and to diagnose breakpoints in cases with proven chromosomal changes. In the future, array CGH will gain further importance, but already provides a valuable supplement to the diagnostic approaches of the cytogenetic and the molecular-based methods.     

Application of endoscopy in pediatric and adolescent gynecology

Early proper diagnostics and treatment of developmental age pathologies in most cases facilitate correct sex organ development, as well as reproductive functions formation. To make the foregoing possible, it is necessary to apply minimally invasive and safest methods like vaginoscopy, hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. The main application field of vaginoscopy and hysteroscopy in pediatric and adolescent gynecology is the diagnosis and treatment of vulvar and vaginal pathologies and developmental anomalies of sex organ. The laparoscopy is becoming a more and more popular method in the treatment of adnexal tumors in children, due to its little invasiveness, quick recovery and less severe pain complaints after the surgery. The application of these endoscopic procedures should always be preceded by the complex noninvasive diagnostics, such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. The endoscopic procedures facilitate wide-ranging diagnostics and simultaneously therapeutic management, ensuring minimal invasion and high safety of the surgery. They should be considered diagnostics and treatment of choice in the pathology of vulva, vagina, developmental anomalies of sex organ and adnexal tumors in patients of the developmental age.     

Women’s Experiences and Preferences for Service Delivery of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing for Aneuploidy in a Public Health Setting: A Mixed Methods Study

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for aneuploidy is currently only available in the UK through the private sector outside of the research arena. As part of an implementation study in the UK National Health Service we conducted a mixed methods study to assess women’s experience of being offered NIPT using validated measures of decisional conflict, decisional regret and anxiety. Clinical service preferences were also explored. Women with a Down syndrome screening risk >1:1000 were invited to take part in the study and offered NIPT, NIPT and invasive testing (for women with a risk above 1:150) or no further testing. A cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews were conducted at two time points; at the time of testing and one month following receipt of results (or equivalent for NIPT decliners). In total, 845 questionnaires and 81 interviews were analysed. The main motivation to accept NIPT was for reassurance (30.8%). Decisional conflict occurred in a minimal number of cases (3.8%), however, none of the participants experienced decisional regret. Around a third (29.9%) of women had elevated anxiety at the time of testing, including intermediate risk women who traditionally would not be offered further testing (54.4% high risk; 20.1% medium risk), a finding supported through the qualitative interviews where prolonged or additional anxiety was found to occur in some medium risk cases. Women were overwhelmingly positive about the opportunity to have a test that was procedurally safe, accurate, reduced the need for invasive testing and identified cases of Down syndrome that might otherwise have been missed. Reassurance was identified as the main motivator for accepting NIPT, particularly amongst medium risk women, with high risk women inclined to accept NIPT to inform decisions around invasive testing. The current turnaround time for test result was identified as a key limitation. All the women interviewed thought NIPT should be adopted as part of NHS clinical practice, with the majority favouring NIPT offered as a first-line test. Our study highlights the potential that NIPT has to positively impact women’s experience of prenatal testing for aneuploidy.     

Clinical utility of chromosomal microarray analysis in invasive prenatal diagnosis

Novel methodologies for detection of chromosomal abnormalities have been made available in the recent years but their clinical utility in prenatal settings is still unknown. We have conducted a comparative study of currently available methodologies for detection of chromosomal abnormalities after invasive prenatal sampling.A multicentric collection of a 1-year series of fetal samples with indication for prenatal invasive sampling was simultaneously evaluated using three screening methodologies: (1) karyotype and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR), (2) two panels of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and (3) chromosomal microarray-based analysis (CMA) with a targeted BAC microarray. A total of 900 pregnant women provided informed consent to participate (94% acceptance rate). Technical performance was excellent for karyotype, QF-PCR, and CMA (~1% failure rate), but relatively poor for MLPA (10% failure). Mean turn-around time (TAT) was 7 days for CMA or MLPA, 25 for karyotype, and two for QF-PCR, with similar combined costs for the different approaches. A total of 57 clinically significant chromosomal aberrations were found (6.3%), with CMA yielding the highest detection rate (32% above other methods). The identification of variants of uncertain clinical significance by CMA (17, 1.9%) tripled that of karyotype and MLPA, but most alterations could be classified as likely benign after proving they all were inherited. High acceptability, significantly higher detection rate and lower TAT, could justify the higher cost of CMA and favor targeted CMA as the best method for detection of chromosomal abnormalities in at-risk pregnancies after invasive prenatal sampling.     

Analysis of cell-free fetal DNA in plasma and serum of pregnant women.

Sixty blood samples from pregnant women during gestational weeks 9-28 were investigated. Cell-free fetal DNA was extracted from maternal plasma or serum to be detected by nested PCR for determination of fetal gender. The SRY gene as a marker for fetal Y chromosome was detected in 34/36 women carrying a male fetus. In 3/24 women carrying female fetuses, the SRY sequence was also detected. Overall, fetal sex was correctly predicted in 91.7% of the cases. Therefore, the new, non-invasive method of prenatal diagnosis of fetal gender for women at risk of producing children with X-linked disorders is reliable, secure, and can substantially reduce invasive prenatal tests.     

Use of prenatal diagnostic procedures in pregnancies affected with birth defects, Hawaii, 1986-2002

BACKGROUND: Information on the utilization of prenatal ultrasound (US), amniocentesis (AC), and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in pregnancies affected by birth defects in the United States is limited. The intent of this study was to report on the utilization of these procedures in Hawaii. METHODS: Cases were all infants and fetuses of any pregnancy outcome with birth defects, included in a Hawaii birth defects registry, and delivered during 1986-2002. The rates of prenatal US, AC/CVS, and prenatal diagnosis were calculated. RESULTS: Prenatal US was performed in 76% of the cases and AC/CVS in 14% of the cases. Prenatal diagnosis of a birth defect was made in 16% of the cases. The prenatal US, AC/CVS, and prenatal diagnosis rates in 1998-2002 were 1.5, 1.5, and 1.7 times the rates in 1986-1991, respectively. Among all birth defects, the AC/CVS rate for women aged <35 years was 7% and for women aged > or =35 years was 48%. Among chromosomal abnormalities, the AC/CVS rate for women aged <35 years was 36% and for women aged > or =35 years was 66%. CONCLUSIONS: Only a fraction of the Hawaii birth defects cases was prenatally diagnosed. The rates for prenatal US, AC/CVS, and prenatal diagnosis among pregnancies affected by birth defects were higher in 1998-2002 than in 1986-1991. AC/CVS rates were lower for maternal age <35 years.     

Prenatal diagnosis using fetal cells from the maternal circulation.

All current methods of fetal karyotyping are invasive and carry a definite, albeit small, procedure-related risk. Because of this and testing costs, only women older than 35 years who have a greater risk for fetal aneuploidy are currently offered prenatal testing. But this detects only 20% to 25% of fetuses with Down syndrome. It would be a tremendous advance to find a noninvasive technique for prenatal diagnosis that carries no procedure-related risk and could be offered to all pregnant women. We describe a possible technique for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis that aims to identify fetal cells in the peripheral maternal circulation and successfully garner them for prenatal testing. Early attempts at fetal karyotyping were hampered by inaccurate diagnostic methods and cumbersome cell-counting techniques. Today, improved capabilities of identifying and enriching for fetal cells, coupled with sensitive methods of analysis such as the polymerase chain reaction, bring renewed enthusiasm to this task. Many technical issues, as well as serious questions regarding the test''s utility, still exist, however, and must be explored and answered before the capture of fetal cells in the maternal circulation translates into reality for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis.     

Evidence of compliance with and effectiveness of guidelines for noninvasive prenatal testing in China: a retrospective study of 189,809 cases

In China,the medical guidelines recommend performing noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) with caution for pregnant women aged 35 years or older.However,the Mother and Child Health Care Law suggests that all primiparous women whose age is older than 35 years undergo prenatal diagnosis.These two inconsistent suggestions/recommendations have made obstetricians confused about whether to offer NIPT to these older pregnant women.To face this issue and find out the solution we performed a retrospective study of 189,809 NIPT samples collected from 28 provincial-leveled administrative units in China.Of 1,564women with high-risk pregnancies who underwent NIPT,459 (29.3%) did not participate in follow-up.The compound sensitivity and specificity of NIPT for trisomies 21,18 and 13 detection was 99.1%(95%CI,98.0%-99.6%) and 99.9%(95%CI,98.8%-99.9%),respectively.In secundiparous women,NIPT showed high sensitivity and specificity similar to that in primiparous women.The observed risk for trisomies 21 and 18 significantly increased when the maternal age was 39 and older.After the publication of the current NIPT policy,the follow-up rate at our center was 97.9%;however,a large number of women are not in maternal and infant care networks nationwide,and that makes the follow-up rate outside our center relatively low.Our study shows that to balance the prevention of major aneuploidies and the limited resources for prenatal diagnosis,the cut-off age of 35for invasive prenatal diagnosis might be unnecessary.Although the NIPT guidelines are well written,how to practice it effectively,especially in less industrialized areas,is worth discussing.     

妊娠合并血小板减少136 例临床研究

目的:探讨妊娠合并血小板减少的原因及围生期处理方法。方法:回顾性分析2005年10月--2011年4月产科分娩的136例妊娠合并血小板减少患者临床资料。结果:妊娠合并血小板减少的主要原因有妊娠相关性血小板减少症(PAT)79例(58.09%)、妊娠期高血压疾病(PIH)21例(15.44%)、特发性血小板减少性紫癜(ITP)18例(13.24%)、妊娠期肝内胆汁瘀积症(ICP)16例(11.76%);阴道分娩52例,剖宫产84例;产后出血16例,产褥感染1例。结论:多种原因可以导致妊娠妇女血小板减少,PAT是最常见类型。治疗采用针对病因治疗的基础上给予糖皮质激素、丙种球蛋白、输血小板等综合治疗。分娩方式视血小板多少及有无产科指征而定。     

Maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the offspring: A population-based study in Northern Italy

IntroductionThis population-based study aims to evaluate the association between maternal pregestational diabetes and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the offspring.MethodsAll 241,958 children born in three Northern Italy provinces 1998–2010 were followed from birth until first cancer diagnosis (National Childhood Cancer Register), age 15 years, or 31 December 2017. We computed hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI of ALL in relation to the presence of maternal diabetes through Cox proportional regression models.ResultsWe observed 145 cases of ALL, with a higher incidence in children born to women with pregestational diabetes compared to the others (12.4 vs 4.6). Adjusted hazard ratio of ALL was 2.6 (CI, 0.6–10.5) for maternal diabetes.DiscussionWe estimated higher risks of ALL in the offspring of women with pregestational diabetes. These results are consistent with previous findings and compatible with a role of prenatal glycaemic environment in childhood cancer aetiology.     

Prenatal diagnosis for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in 10 families by mutation and haplotype analysis in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1).

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of heritable diseases that manifest as blistering and erosions of the skin and mucous membranes. In the dystrophic forms of EB (DEB), the diagnostic hallmark is abnormalities in the anchoring fibrils, attachment structures beneath the cutaneous basement membrane zone. The major component of anchoring fibrils is type VII collagen, and DEB has been linked to the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1) at 3p21, with no evidence for locus heterogeneity. Due to life-threatening complications and significant long-term morbidity associated with the severe, mutilating form of recessive dystrophic EB (RDEB), there has been a demand for prenatal diagnosis from families with affected offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intragenic polymorphisms in COL7A1 and flanking microsatellite markers on chromosome 3p21, as well as detection of pathogenetic mutations in families, were used to perform PCR-based prenatal diagnosis from DNA obtained by chorionic villus sampling at 10-15 weeks or amniocentesis at 12-15 weeks gestation in 10 families at risk for recurrence of RDEB. RESULTS: In nine cases, the fetus was predicted to be normal or a clinically unaffected carrier of a mutation in one allele. These predictions have been validated in nine cases by the birth of a healthy child. In one case, an affected fetus was predicted, and the diagnosis was confirmed by fetal skin biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of RDEB offers an early, expedient method of testing which will largely replace the previously available invasive fetal skin biopsy at 18-20 weeks gestation.     

False-negative Papanicolaou smears from women with cancerous and precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix

The occurrence from 1980 to 1989 of false-negative Papanicolaou smears in women with cancerous and precancerous lesions of the uterine cervix was studied. The 4,781 cases of cancer (2,814 invasive carcinomas and 593 carcinomas in situ) and precancerous lesions (418 severe dysplasias, 748 moderate dysplasias and 208 mild dysplasias) included 70 cases (1.5%) with false-negative smears. These 70 cases included 43 invasive carcinomas (61.4%), 17 carcinomas in situ and adenocarcinomas in situ (24.2%), and 10 dysplasias (14.4%); all were diagnosed histologically. The mean age of women with false-negative smears was 44.1 +/- 13.7 years. Review of the original cytologic samples showed a screening error in 41 cases (58.5%), an interpretation error in 2 cases (2.9%) and a sampling error in 27 cases (38.6%). Methods for eliminating false-negative smears are discussed.     

产前超声在中孕期胎儿严重先天性心脏病筛查中的应用

目的:探究产前超声检查在中孕期胎儿严重先天性心脏病(CHD)筛查中的应用。方法:选择2012年1月至2014年1月在我院妇产科进行产前常规超声检查的孕妇12076例,年龄22-41岁,平均(28.6±8.3)岁,孕周20-36周,平均(25.2±6.7)周。将符合纳入排除标准的孕妇8953例作为研究对象,其中初产妇6023例,经产妇2930例。对纳入研究的孕妇行彩色多普勒超声检查,并对妊娠结局进行追踪,将确诊情况与筛查结果进行比较分析。结果:产前彩色多普勒超声诊断出胎儿CHD38例,经尸检或新生儿彩色多普勒超声检查均确诊为CHD,对胎儿期未筛查出CHD的孕妇进行新生儿彩色多普勒超声检查,确诊4例,产前超声检查胎儿CHD检出率为90.48%(38/42),检出准确率100%(38/38)。结论:彩色多普勒超声筛查孕中期胎儿CHD,灵敏度和特异性高,安全无创伤,操作简便快速,值得推广为产前筛查的首选方法。     

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)–Based Diagnostic Assays for Invasive Candidiasis

Candidemia and other types of invasive candidiasis are associated with mortality rates as high as 40% despite antifungal therapy. In part, the poor outcomes stem from the inadequacies of diagnostic tests for invasive candidiasis. The current gold standard is blood culture, which is negative in 50% of autopsy-proven cases. As such, development of novel diagnostics is a top priority. Assays for invasive candidiasis based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are potentially attractive because of their high sensitivity, rapid turnaround time, capacity for speciation, and ability to quantitate the candidal burden. Research has refined PCR methods and performance parameters to the point that diagnostic assays for invasive candidiasis are approaching the clinic. Overall, optimized PCR assays have sensitivities and specificities for candidemia and proven or probable invasive candidiasis that exceed 90%. Studies are now needed to determine the precise clinical roles of PCR diagnostic assays and their impact on patient outcomes.     

Zytogenetische Methoden in der Pr?nataldiagnostik

Cytogenetic analysis of amniotic fluid cells or chorionic villi are standard methods in invasive prenatal diagnosis. In certain cases, analyzing fetal blood cells or fetal cells of other origin represents an excellent supplementary investigation to disclose a fetal chromosomal aberration. At the microscopic level, chromosome analysis allows an examination of the complete genome. In the case of molecular analysis of monogenic disorders, native chorionic villi are the preferred tissue for targeted examination. Rapid advances in molecular non-invasive prenatal diagnosis will broaden parents?? options to exclude certain relevant genetic changes and will have an important impact on the field of invasive prenatal diagnosis.     

Detection and relocation of cord blood nucleated red blood cells by laser scanning cytometry

BACKGROUND: Fetal nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) present in the peripheral blood of pregnant women at low frequency are a potential target for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics. METHODS: CD71-enriched cells from male cord blood (CB) were stained for the gamma chain of HbF (Hb-gamma) and cytocentrifuged. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was done for the Y chromosome. Following staining of the nucleus with TO-PRO-3, laser scanning cytometry was performed. Artificial mixtures of small volumes of male CB and blood drawn from nonpregnant females were analyzed. RESULTS: In CB, 59% of events double positive for Hb-gamma and TO-PRO-3 were identified as CB-NRBC. In contamination studies, male fetal CB-NRBC were identified perfectly on the basis of morphologic characteristics and FISH reactivity following relocation and visual assessment. Mean recovery was 8.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Laser scanning cytometry of preenriched fetal NRBC may offer a promising way for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics. This is because it provides a virtual enrichment step and the position on the slides of cells visually confirmed to correspond to fetal NRBC is known. Further experimental procedures on well-defined and located target cells may be feasible.     

产前多媒体健康教育对剖宫产率、产程及分娩结局的影响

为了探讨产前多媒体健康教育对剖宫产率、产程及分娩结局的影响,本研究选取健康实施产前常规检查的妊娠妇女200例,其中100例接受常规产前指导(对照组)、100例妊娠妇女定期接受产前多媒体健康教育指导(研究组),随访至分娩结局,观察两组妊娠妇女的产程、分娩方式、分娩结局差异。研究结果表明,研究组有1例妇女出现流产、对照组有2例妇女出现自然流产;研究组的第一产程潜伏期、活跃期、第一产程、第二产程显著的低于对照组(p<0.05),研究组的第三产程时间与对照组差异不具有统计学意义(p>0.05);研究组的剖宫产率14.14%显著低于对照组的27.55%(p<0.05);研究组与对照组的新生儿1 min、5 min Apgar评分差异不具有统计学意义(p>0.05);研究组分娩相关并发症率3.03%低于对照组的11.22%(p<0.05)。本研究初步表明:产前多媒体健康教育有利于降低剖宫产率、缩短产程时间、减少分娩并发症。     

Trisomy 18 in neonates: prenatal diagnosis, clinical features, therapeutic dilemmas and outcome

The study aimed to analyse the clinical courses of aggressively treated neonates with cytogenetically confirmed trisomy 18, with special attention focused on the efficiency of prenatal diagnostics, associated malformations, therapeutic dilemmas and outcomes. We investigated retrospectively the data concerning 20 neonates with trisomy 18, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Katowice between January 2000 and February 2005. Their birth weights ranged from 650 g to 2400 g, mean 1812 g; gestational age ranged from 27 to 42 weeks, median 38 weeks. Intrauterine growth retardation was noticed in 90% of neonates. Trisomy 18 was suspected prenatally in 40% of cases. Most (80%) of newborns were delivered by caesarean section (92% of neonates with prenatally unrecognized chromosomal defects, 62% of neonates with trisomy 18 suspicion) and 70% of infants needed respiratory support immediately after birth. Cardiac defects were present in 95%, central nervous system malformations in 65%, severe anomalies of digestive system or abdominal wall in 25% of patients. Nine surgical operations were performed during hospitalization (4 were palliative cardiac surgeries). Six patients (30%) survived the neonatal period and were discharged from the NICU. The median survival of the neonates who died was 20 days. In 4 cases cardiac problems implicated their death; in others, deaths were attributed to multiorgan failure, prematurity and/or infection. Further improvement of efficiency of prenatal ultrasound screening for diagnosis of trisomy 18 in the fetus is necessary. A lack of prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 18 in the fetus results in a high rate of unnecessary caesarean sections in these pregnancies. Despite the aggressive treatment most neonates with trisomy 18 died during the neonatal period. The majority of deaths were attributed to cardiorespiratory and multiorgan failure. Concerning the poor prognosis, prompt karyotyping (using FISH) of clinically suspected trisomy 18 is very important, because many invasive procedures and surgeries may then be avoided.     

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CIN III) and invasive cervical carcinoma: the yawning gap revisited and the treatment of risk

In a 3-year study of the population of Southampton and south-west Hampshire there were 10 times as many cases of CIN III compared with invasive squamous carcinoma (700 compared with 70). The peak incidence of CIN III per 1000 screened women years was in those aged 25-29 years, which was 20 years earlier than the peak incidence of invasive cervical cancer per 1000 women years at risk. Ninety percent of CIN III was diagnosed in women under 50 years. There were 14 cases of cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia grade III (CGIN III), three coexisting with CIN III, all in women aged under 50 years: the gap between intraepithelial and invasive lesions was not seen for glandular neoplasia. Although referral was for at least moderate dyskaryosis in 86.8% of women with CIN III or CGIN III, most had been screened previously, either having had mild abnormalities requiring repeat cytology (39.8%) or negative cytology (34.5%). Only 12 women aged > or = 50 years had previous negative cytology: 21.4% compared with 35.6% of women aged < 50 years (P = 0.034). The results of this study suggest that the best opportunity for preventing invasive squamous cell carcinoma lies in screening women aged 20-39 years when the incidence of CIN III in the screened population is highest and before the peak incidence of invasive disease. The results also indicate the importance of repeated screening and follow up of minor cytological abnormalities in the detection of CIN III. The benefit of screening must be regarded as a treatment of risk, since it is almost certain that a high proportion of CIN III regresses or persists unchanged.     

Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Candidal Infections

Candidemia and invasive candidiasis are associated with significant mortality, in part because of inadequate diagnostic tests. The current gold standard is blood culture, which is negative in 50% of cases. As such, development of novel diagnostics is a top priority. In Europe, studies of combined mannan antigen and anti-mannan antibody detection assays have demonstrated sensitivity of 71–100% and specificity of 86–93%. In the United States, there is more experience with (1 → 3)-β-D-glucan detection as a broad-spectrum assay for fungal pathogens. Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing invasive candidiasis have ranged widely in studies (47–95% and 76–100%, respectively). Nucleic acid detection assays such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are potentially powerful tools that are now approaching the clinic. Overall, optimized PCR assays have sensitivities and specificities for candidemia and proven or probable invasive candidiasis that exceed 90%. Studies to determine the precise clinical roles of non–culture-based diagnostics are in progress.