OBJECTIVE Amniotic band syndrome is an uncommon clinical entity with a spectrum of presentation including constriction rings, syndactyly, amputations, and spontaneous abortion. The bands themselves are not present at the time of birth. This has created controversy regarding the pathogenesis of the disorder. METHODS The unusual case of a neonate with a persistent band of fibrous amniotic mater...

Human amniotic epithelial cells were isolated from a piece of fresh amnion. Using immunocytochemical methods, we investigated the expression of neuronal phenotypes (microtubule-associated protein-2, glial fibrillary acidic protein and nestin) in human amniotic epithelial cells. The conditioned medium of human amniotic epithelial cells promoted the growth and proliferation of rat glial cells cul...

Amniotic band syndrome is a well described clinical entity presenting with deformities of the limbs, thorax, craniofacial skeleton, soft tissues and umbilical cord, but it still lacks a precise definition and a coherent hypothesis for its pathogenesis. We report on a case of first trimester diagnosis of amniotic band syndrome by sonography and fetoscopy. This revealed multiple abnormalities inc...

BACKGROUND Exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) may potentially disturb fetal Leydig cell hormone production and male genital development. OBJECTIVES We aimed to study the associations between levels of amniotic fluid PFOS, fetal steroid hormone, and insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and the prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias. METHODS Using the Danish National Patient Registry...

the purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of chicken amniotic fluid (af) on a cross section of rat sciatic nerves. thirty adult male sprague-dawley rats weighing 275 to 300 g, were randomized into three groups treated with (1) amniotic fluid or af (n=10), (2) normal saline or ns (n=10), and (3) sham surgery (n=10). the af was aspirated from the amniotic cavity of incubat...

BACKGROUND The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of current techniques for isolating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from amniotic fluid obtained by second-trimester amniocentesis as well as to determine their differentiation potential. METHODS We collected 50 samples of amniotic fluid by second-trimester amniocentesis. To obtain MSCs from amniotic fluid, the fluid was cultured u...

is widely accepted that for lung development to proceed normally, physical space in the fetal thorax must be adequate and amniotic fluid must be brought into the lung with fetal breathing movements. Thus, it follows that extrinsic compression of the fetal thorax causes hypoplasia, either by inhibiting respiratory movements or by forcing out fluid from the lungs. The latter hypothesis was suppor...

Swallowing of amniotic fluid and lung fluid inflow were eliminated in 10 chronically instrumented fetuses. The urachus was ligated, and fetal was urine drained to the outside. At the beginning and the end of 21 experiments of 66 +/- 5 (SE) h duration, all amniotic fluid was temporarily drained to the outside for volume measurement and sampling. Amniotic fluid osmolalities and oncotic pressures ...

Our objective was to measure maternal plasma and amniotic fluid amino acid concentrations in pregnant women diagnosed as having fetuses with gastroschisis in the second trimester of pregnancy. Twenty-one pregnant women who had fetuses with gastroschisis detected by ultrasonography (gastroschisis group) in the second trimester and 32 women who had abnormal triple screenings indicating an increas...

This study assessed whether the amniotic fluid index (AFI) or the single deepest pocket (SDP) is the best technique to estimate amniotic fluid volume. The AFI and SDP were compared to a dye-determined or directly measured amniotic fluid volume. A PUBMED search from 1990 to 2006 was conducted using the search terms "single deepest pocket" or "largest vertical pocket" or "maximum vertical pocket"...