When a pregnant patient is not the mother: Language use in studies on gestational surrogacy—A reply to “fetal mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid in maternal plasma in surrogate pregnancies: Detection and topology”

ABSTRACT Objectives Early identification of fetal gender is important in management of X-linked and other metabolic disorders. Since ultrasound may not predict gender accurately during the first trimester, noninvasive fetal gender determination using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification has been proposed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of noninvasive prenatal gender determination by examining cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from maternal plasma. Materials and methods Blood samples were collected from 49 pregnant women of gestational ages ranging from 12 to 41 weeks. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from maternal plasma using a QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the male specific DNA marker sex-determining region Y (SRY). Results From a total of 49 subjects, fetal gender was correctly determined in 13 out of 14 male fetuses and 32 out of 35 female fetuses, giving an overall accuracy of 92%. The sensitivity and specificity of the test to detect male fetuses was 93 and 91% respectively. There were three false-positive cases and one false-negative case. Conclusion Identification of fetal gender from maternal plasma using real-time PCR technique is feasible in a developing country, like Pakistan, and appears to be a promising tool for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. How to cite this article Mohammed N, Nuruddin R, Hoodbhoy Z. Gender Determination by Isolation of Cell-free Fetal DNA from the Maternal Circulation. J South Asian Feder Obst Gynae 2016;8(1):29-32.

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Effects of Steroids on Fetal Rat Liver

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100063664 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 350-351

Author(s):

F. G. Zaki

Keyword(s):

Liver Injury ◽

Rat Liver ◽

Fetal Liver ◽

Dosage Level ◽

Maternal Plasma ◽

Methyl Prednisolone ◽

Fetal Rat ◽

Toxic Agents ◽

Fetal Rat Liver ◽

Neonatal Liver

Fetal and neonatal liver injury induced by agents circulating in maternal plasma, even though well recognized, its morphological manifestations are not yet established. As part of our studies of fetal and neonatal liver injury induced by maternal nutritional disorders, metabolic impairment and toxic agents, the effects of two anti-inflammatory steroids have been recently inves tigated.Triamcinolone and methyl prednisolone were injected each in a group of rats during pregnancy at a-dosage level of 2 mgm three times a week. Fetal liver was studied at 18 days of gestation. Litter size and weight markedly decreased than those of control rats. Stillbirths and resorption were of higher incidence in the triamcinolone group than in those given the prednisolone.

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Linguistic Competence in Aphasia

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac17.3.87 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 87-92

Author(s):

Leonard L. LaPointe

Keyword(s):

Language Use ◽

Linguistic Competence ◽

Careful Study ◽

Feral Children ◽

Performance Factors ◽

Performance Loss ◽

Linguistic Rules ◽

Communication Goals ◽

Aphasia Treatment ◽

And Performance

Abstract Loss of implicit linguistic competence assumes a loss of linguistic rules, necessary linguistic computations, or representations. In aphasia, the inherent neurological damage is frequently assumed by some to be a loss of implicit linguistic competence that has damaged or wiped out neural centers or pathways that are necessary for maintenance of the language rules and representations needed to communicate. Not everyone agrees with this view of language use in aphasia. The measurement of implicit language competence, although apparently necessary and satisfying for theoretic linguistics, is complexly interwoven with performance factors. Transience, stimulability, and variability in aphasia language use provide evidence for an access deficit model that supports performance loss. Advances in understanding linguistic competence and performance may be informed by careful study of bilingual language acquisition and loss, the language of savants, the language of feral children, and advances in neuroimaging. Social models of aphasia treatment, coupled with an access deficit view of aphasia, can salve our restless minds and allow pursuit of maximum interactive communication goals even without a comfortable explanation of implicit linguistic competence in aphasia.

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