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Biomedical subjects

S C Finley

Publications and source records attributed to S C Finley.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Nutrient levels in amniotic fluid from women with normal and neural tube defect pregnancies.

We analyzed nutrient levels in amniotic fluid obtained during the second trimester of normal, uncomplicated pregnancies from 221 women who delivered apparently healthy infants and from 8 with neural tube defect (NTD) pregnancies. Folate was measured by microbiological assay, vitamin B12 by a radiobinding method, and zinc, copper and iron by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. We found that the mean amniotic fluid nutrient levels of normal pregnancies were 24.7 nmol/l for folate, 600 pmol/l for vitamin B12, and 1.7, 1.9, and 9.0 mumol/l for zinc, copper and iron, respectively. Amniotic fluid folate, zinc, copper and iron levels of NTD pregnancies were similar to those found during normal pregnancy, however, vitamin B12 levels were markedly lower than those of normal pregnancies.

Adolescent

Management of prenatally detected nonlethal fetal anomalies: is a karyotype of benefit?

The pregnancy outcomes of 155 women who underwent an amniocentesis for a prenatal karyotype after being diagnosed by ultrasound as having one or more nonlethal structural anomalies are presented. Thirty-three (21%) patients were found to have an abnormal karyotype. Knowledge of the prenatal karyotype was useful in the subsequent management of these pregnancies. A pregnancy with a fetal anomaly diagnosed prior to 24 weeks was more likely to be terminated if an abnormal karyotype was also present. In women who were diagnosed as having a fetal anomaly with an abnormal karyotype at 24 weeks or later, only 3 of 13 (23%) infants survived the neonatal period. Knowledge of the karyotype results influenced decisions regarding the place, timing, and route of delivery in these fetuses. In 32 women, (21%) a karyotype was beneficial by avoiding maternal transport, cesarean delivery, and neonatal expenses at a Level III perinatal center.

Abortion, Induced

The relationship between maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein in women undergoing early amniocentesis.

alpha-Fetoprotein levels were measured on 148 paired samples from the maternal serum and amniotic fluid in women greater than or equal to age 35, who were undergoing early amniocentesis (12 to 14 weeks) for chromosomal analysis. These 148 women were white, weighed less than 200 pounds, had no serious medical problems, and did not have a fetal abnormality detected by ultrasonography or karyotype analysis. There was a significant rise in the maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration from 12 to 14 weeks' gestation. Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein peaked at 13 weeks and then significantly declined by 14 weeks' gestation. Similar to reports from normal pregnancies at 16 and 17 weeks, we found no correlation between the maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels between 12 and 14 weeks. Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels cannot be predicted by levels in the maternal serum in pregnancies between 12 and 14 weeks' gestation.

Adult

Prenatal detection of the 47, XYY karyotype.

The ethical decisions involved before and after the prenatal diagnosis of a 47, XYY karyotype in the fetus of a 32-year-old woman are discussed. It was decided that the parents should be presented with all the known facts about XYY-associated abnormalities and allowed to choose whether pregnancy should continue; the physician's role would be to support them in their decision and help them carry it out.

Adult

Genetic counseling.

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Chromosome Aberrations

Participants' reaction to amniocentesis and prenatal genetic studies.

Little is known about the effect of amniocentesis and prenatal diagnosis of genetic disease on couples undergoing such studies. A questionnaire was composed to evaluate, among other things, the reason for referral, attitudes and concerns of the pregnant woman and her husband toward prenatal study, and suggestions for improving the experience. Of 315 women referred to this unit for this purpose, 196 have had time to complete their pregnancy and were mailed the questionnaire; 157 (80%) of the latter responded. The majority of the women found the experience reassuring, would recommend it to others, and would seek it again themselves with a subsequent pregnancy.

Amniocentesis

Karyology of primary human fetal cell cultures.

Cell cultures were established from the biopsies of lung, skin and kidney from each of nine human fetuses, and chromosome analyses were performed on material through the fifth subculture. Kidney cell cultures generally showed a higher level of polyploidy than lung or skin. The frequencies of hyperdiploid cells and those with structural abnormalities were consistent with the low levels found in cultures of human lymphocytes. The data provide a normal cytogenetic baseline for human fetal material which may be useful in a variety of studies.

Cells, Cultured

The diagnosis of genetic disorders before birth.

Genetic disorders account for a significant number of the health care problems in our society. Advances in therapy and educational opportunities for the handicapped have increased both the life span and quality of life for many of those affected by genetic disorders. Recent developments in clinical and laboratory genetics have made possible the better delineation of certain malformation and/or mental retardation syndromes, so that their mode of inheritance can be understood. This information enables the genetic counselor to predict the risk for occurrence of a large number of genetic disorders. Most genetic counseling is done, however, only after the birth of at least one affected individual has alerted the family to their predilection for having children with a genetic disorder. The carrier state of a certain number of genetic disorders can now be detected, so that even before the birth of their first child, a family can be forewarned that they are at increased risk. Previously this knowledge often influenced couples to decide against having any children. The advent of prenatal diagnosis of genetic disease, however, which was pioneered in the 1960s, allows specific diagnoses of inherited disorders in the fetus; parents no longer have only a mathematical risk figure for guidance. The technics which permit a preview of the genotype of the fetus with respect to a certain disorder constitute an exciting new field or medicine. They are not now available for use in routine pregnancies, but in high-risk situations the collaboration of the primary care physician and the medical geneticist can contribute significantly to the prevention of certain severely handicapping genetic disorders. The field is new and promises to offer much more in the future as more of the inherited disorders are biochemically characterized and become subject to prenatal detection.

Amniocentesis

Fetal loss and familial chromosome 1 translocations.

A structural abnormality of chromosome No. 1 was found in two families who had a history of repeated abortions. The propositus in Family H was a low birth weight, malformed infant who had a partial trisomy of 1g. His mother and a sibling were balanced carriers of a t(1;4) (q25;135). In family B, the 29-year-old phenotypically normal propositus and his mother were found to be balanced carriers of a t(1;12) (p12;q24). It is suggested that the fetal wastage in both families was related to the abnormal karyotypes of the parents. These two families also provide an opportunity to further understand the effect of an abnormality of chromosome number 1 on phenotype.

Abortion, Habitual