171 results about "Pregnant female" patented technology

The invention relates to a detection method performed on a maternal serum or plasma sample from a pregnant female, which method comprises detecting the presence of a nucleic acid of foetal origin in the sample. The invention enables non-invasive prenatal diagnosis including for example sex determination, blood typing and other genotyping, and detection of pre-eclampsia in the mother.

Embodiments of this invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists from a biological sample obtained from a pregnant female. Nucleic acid molecules of the biological sample are sequenced, such that a fraction of the genome is sequenced. Respective amounts of a clinically-relevant chromosome and of background chromosomes are determined from results of the sequencing. A parameter derived from these amounts (e.g. a ratio) is compared to one or more cutoff values, thereby determining a classification of whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists.

The invention provides compositions and methods for simultaneously determining the presence or absence of fetal aneuploidy and the relative amount of fetal nucleic acids in a sample obtained form a pregnant female. The method encompasses the use of sequencing technologies and exploits the occurrence of polymorphisms to provide a streamlined noninvasive process applicable to the practice of prenatal diagnostics.

Embodiments of this invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists from a biological sample obtained from a pregnant female. Nucleic acid molecules of the biological sample are sequenced, such that a fraction of the genome is sequenced. Respective amounts of a clinically-relevant chromosome and of background chromosomes are determined from results of the sequencing. The determination of the relative amounts may count sequences of only certain length. A parameter derived from these amounts (e.g. a ratio) is compared to one or more cutoff values, thereby determining a classification of whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists. Prior to sequencing, the biological sample may be enriched for DNA fragments of a particular sizes.

The invention relates to a detection method performed on a maternal serum or plasma from a pregnant female, which method comprises the presence of a nucleic acid of fetal origin in the sample. The invention enables non-invasive prenatal diagnosis including, for example, sex determination, blood typing and other genotyping, and detection of pre-eclampsia in the mother.

The present invention provides a method, device and a computer program for haplotyping single cells, such that a sample taken from a pregnant female, without directly sampling the fetus, provides the ability to non-invasively determine the fetal genome. The method can be performed by determining the parental and inherited haplotypes, or can be performed merely on the basis of the mother's genetic information, obtained preferably in a blood or serum sample. The novel device allows for sequence analysis of single chromosomes from a single cell, preferably by partitioning single chromosomes from a metaphase cell into long, thin channels where a sequence analysis can be performed.

The invention relates to a kit for prenatal testing comprising a size-based separation module which enriches a first cell type from a maternal blood sample found in vivo in a pregnant female at a concentration of less than 1% of all blood cells, and a set of instructions for analyzing said one or more enriched cells to make a prenatal diagnosis. In some embodiments, the size-based separation module can comprise a plurality of obstacles to selectively direct the one or more cells of the first cell type in a first direction away from one or more cells of a second cell type.

The present invention relates to methods and kits for reducing the occurrence of preterm delivery and other pregnancy-related conditions in pregnant female subjects exhibiting one or more risk factors for preterm delivery and other pregnancy-related conditions. For example, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the occurrence of preterm delivery in a pregnant female subject having no history of preterm delivery and exhibiting one or more risk factors for preterm delivery (e.g., smoking during pregnancy). The methods and kits provide for the administration of a steroid hormone to the pregnant female subject.

Embodiments of this invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists from a biological sample obtained from a pregnant female. Nucleic acid molecules of the biological sample are sequenced, such that a fraction of the genome is sequenced. Respective amounts of a clinically-relevant chromosome and of background chromosomes are determined from results of the sequencing. The determination of the relative amounts may count sequences of only certain length. A parameter derived from these amounts (e.g. a ratio) is compared to one or more cutoff values, thereby determining a classification of whether a fetal chromosomal aneuploidy exists. Prior to sequencing, the biological sample may be enriched for DNA fragments of a particular sizes.

An apparatus for assessing cardiovascular status of a mammal comprises a system for locally applying a pressure to an artery capable of restricting blood flow through said artery, a wideband external pulse transducer having an output and situated to measure suprasystolic signals proximate to said artery, and a computing device receiving said output for calculating vascular compliance values. The method described is particularly useful for determining cardiac output, assessing whether a pregnant female has preeclampsia or a patient has cardiac insufficiency, or assessing cardiac arrhythmias.

Methods and devices for isolating and diagnosing disease with a cell adhesion matrix system, mimicking a metastatic, cardiovascular or placental environment, are disclosed. The cell adhesion matrix facilitates the enrichment of target cells such as metastatic tumor cells, fetal cells and endothelial progenitor cells from a fluid sample such as blood for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in treating patients afflicted with disease, such as cancerous, cardiovascular and fetal diseases, as well as for research applications in molecular analysis of metastatic, and cardiovascular and fetal diseases. Blood test prototypes and methods for the cell enrichment and detection of circulating tumor and endothelial cells using multiplex molecular analysis are described herein. In addition, methods and compositions for determining host immunity to tumor in subjects with risk of cancer progression and methods for isolating an enriched fraction of fetal cells from pregnant females for prenatal diagnosis are also described herein.

An apparatus for assessing cardiovascular status of a mammal comprises a system for locally applying a pressure to an artery capable of restricting blood flow through said artery, a wideband external pulse transducer having an output and situated to measure suprasystolic signals proximate to said artery, and a computing device receiving said output for calculating vascular compliance values. The method described is particularly useful for determining cardiac output, assessing whether a pregnant female has preeclampsia or a patient has cardiac insufficiency, or assessing cardiac arrhythmia.

The invention discloses a method for establishing an immunodeficiency mouse model. The method comprises the following steps of: (1) constructing DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) which enables functions of an immune related gene in a mouse cell to be lost; (2) purifying mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid), and cryopreserving in a super-purified water of RNAase free; (4) feeding a pregnant female mouse and a pseudopregnant female mouse under an SPF (specific pathogen free) level feeding condition; (5) taking a fallopian tube from the abdominal cavity of the pregnant female mouse in the step (4), and collecting fertilized ovum; (6) injecting the mRNA obtained in the step (3) into the pronucleus of the fertilized ovum in the step (5) by using a microinjection method; (7) transplanting the fertilized ovum obtained in the step (6) into the body of the pseudopregnant female mouse obtained in the step (4), and enabling the pseudopregnant female mouse to culture the second generation; (8) establishing a stable deficient mouse strain. The method has the advantages that a mouse model which completely does not have immunological rejection to allotransplantation can be obtained for testing.

The invention discloses a snake breeding method. The method comprises the first step of selecting and building a breeding base, the second step of breeding snakes outside and conducting quarantine, wherein the healthy snakes are cleaned, made to have a medicated bath and placed into an open breeding place, the third step of feeding the snakes with food and bait, wherein the snakes are fed every 10-12 days, the fourth step of conducting overwintering and oversummering management, wherein cold water is sprayed onto the open breeding place and fresh water is injected into water troughs every day in summer, the food supply quantity to the snakes is increased before the hibernation period of the snakes comes, and during the hibernation period of the snakes, at least four 100-W incandescent lamps are arranged in an underground activity region, the fifth step of conducting sanitation and safety management, wherein gaps between cobblestones are filled with fermentation beds, and the sixth step of conducting breeding, wherein isolated snake rooms are arranged in the open breeding place and pregnant female snakes are individually placed in the snake rooms. By means of the method, the advantages of a traditional open breeding method and the advantages of a snake room breeding method are combined, the suitable temperature and good ventilation of the living environment of the snakes are both guaranteed, and excrement of the snakes does not need cleaning.

The present invention relates to methods of processing and / or enriching cells from a pregnant female. More particularly the invention provides methods for processing and / or enriching fetal cells from a pregnant female. The enriched fetal cells can be used in a variety of procedures including, detection of a trait of interest such as a disease trait, or a genetic predisposition thereto, gender typing and parentage testing.

An apparatus for assessing cardiovascular status of a mammal comprises a system for locally applying a pressure to an artery capable of restricting blood flow through said artery, a wideband external pulse transducer having an output and situated to measure suprasystolic signals proximate to said artery, and a computing device receiving said output for calculating vascular compliance values. The method described is particularly useful for determining cardiac output, assessing whether a pregnant female has preeclampsia or a patient has cardiac insufficiency, or assessing cardiac arrhythmia.

A method for uterine activity monitoring may include: acquiring a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors during uterine activity; processing the plurality of signals to extract a plurality of uterine electrical activity characteristics; analyzing the plurality of uterine electrical activity characteristics; and classifying the uterine activity as one of: a preterm labor contraction, a labor contraction, a Braxton-Hicks contraction, and a state of no contraction. A method of assessing over time a pre-term birth risk of a pregnant female may include: calculating a baseline pre-term birth risk score based on a user input; acquiring, over time, a signal from a sensor; analyzing the signal to extract a parameter of interest, such that the parameter of interest comprises a physiological parameter; and calculating an instant pre-term birth risk score based, at least in part, on the parameter of interest and the user input.

One or a combination of known chemical cues that attract pregnant female mosquitoes to an egg-laying site are embedded in a biodegradable carrier that releases the compound at a generally constant rate for up to a year or longer. The compound is useful for attracting large numbers of mosquito vectors to a site where they and their progeny can be eliminated.

The presence of 3-chlorotyrosine in vaginal secretions in a predictor of the likelihood preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes, i.e., the chorioamnion and / or the occurrence of the risk of preterm labor. 3-chlorotyrosine is a marker for the excessive production of hypochlorous acid which causes focal areas of increased collagen destruction in the chorioamnion, preterm premature rupture of membranes, or increased production of postaglandin and preterm labor. The inventive method comprises determining the likelihood of the occurrence of preterm premature rupture of membranes or increased production of postaglandin and preterm labor in a pregnant female by obtaining a sample of the females vaginal secretions, and analyzing the secretions for the presence and amount of 3-chlorotyrosine in the sample. Various antibody-based tests can be used to measure 3-chlorotyrosine, and a number of neoantigens, useful in raising antibodies to 3-chlorotyrosine, are disclosed.

Preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction in a pregnant female mammal are prevented or decreased in severity by administering thereto a combination of a vitamin compound containing B1, Folic Acid (or active form 5-Methyl-Tetrahydrofolate i.e.; Metafolin®), B 6 (Pyridoxine or active form Pyridoxine 5-Phosphate P5P), B 12, Ascorbic Acid, Selenium, Zinc, Co-enzyme Q 10 and N-Acytyl Cysteine, Lycopene, optionally in further combination with Melatonin and / or Vitamin E or / and ASA 81 mg both of later, are cyclooxygenase inhibitors, a PGI.sub.2-mimetic, a thromboxane (TXA.sub.2) inhibitor, a compound possessing TXA.sub.2-agonistic and TXA.sub.2-inhibiting properties, a compound possessing TXA.sub.2-antagonistic and PGI.sub.2-mimetic activities, and a TXA.sub.2 antagonist.

The present invention provides assay systems and methods for determining the percent fetal contribution of cell-free DNA in a maternal sample from a pregnant female with an egg donor pregnancy. Further provided, are assay systems and methods for determining a statistical likelihood of the presence or absence of a fetal aneuploidy in a maternal sample using a determined percent fetal cell-free DNA in the sample.

The invention provides a yak farming method. The method includes supplementing feed for pregnant female yaks; after calving, feeding the calves in a manner of combining lactating and grazing, and feeding the calved female yaks in a manner of combining grazing and feed supplementing; after 25 to 35 days after calving, training the calves to intake feed; after three months of calving, weaning the calves; feeding the female yaks stopping lactating in a manner of prolonging grazing and supplementing feed, and allowing the female yaks to breed after oestrus. By the aid of the method, a female yak calves once a year, the survive rate of calves can be increased, and the breeding rate of the female yaks is further increased.

Methods for isolating and purifying fetal trophoblasts from a mucus sample obtained from the uterine cavity of a pregnant female. The mucus sample is transported from a clinical collection facility to a laboratory in a transportation medium so the cells remain viable. The mucus sample is then subjected to precise processing steps, including treatment with mucolytic agents or mucinases, sugar hydrolysis enzymes, nucleases, and proteases to provide fetal cells, the outer surfaces of which are so essentially completely devoid of attached mucosal biological material that they are then isolated in greater numbers than previously had been possible. The isolated cells are in appropriate condition to immediately be effectively subjected to FISH or to other molecular diagnostics.

The invention discloses probiotic powder capable of resisting anaphylaxis in the technical field of foods or health-care foods. The probiotic powder capable of resisting anaphylaxis consists of the components of 300-1000 parts of galactooligosaccharide, 300-800 parts of isomaltooligosacharide, 400-900 parts of yeast beta-glucan, 100-300 parts of lactobacillus paracasei, 100-300 parts of lactobacillus rhamnosus, 100-300 parts of lactobacillus reuteri, 100-300 parts of lactobacillus acidophilus, 100-300 parts of bifidobacterium longum, an excipient and a diluent. According to the probiotic powder capable of resisting anaphylaxis disclosed by the invention, an allergy immunity adjusting and controlling treatment method is adopted, the immune system of a human body is strengthened through a natural immunity adjusting and controlling element, and the probiotic powder is suitable for people of any age level and is more suitable for pregnant female parents to use; and the generation probability of allergy constitutions of newborn can be reduced by the probiotic powder, wherein five kinds of bacteria of the lactobacillus paracasei, the lactobacillus rhamnosus, the lactobacillus reuteri, the lactobacillus acidophilus and the bifidobacterium longum are powerfully combined, so that the allergy constitutions can be effectively improved, bacterial colonies which are officially safe are adopted, and the probiotic powder is free from any side effects.

The invention discloses a feeding and management method for a female yak and a yak calf for producing traceable white yak calf meat. The steps include that a pregnant female yak is fed and managed in a mode of pasturing, a warm shed and supplementary feeding within three months before calving; after calving, healthy male yak calves with the birth weight larger than 12.5 kg are selected; the calves must suck beestings within 0.5-1 hour after birth and obtain maternal antibody as soon as possible, in the first 0-7 days, the beestings is mainly fed, in the day 7, paratyphoid immunization is conducted on the calves, and from the day 8 before the calves leave the shed, a feeding and management mode of full-breast-feeding and pasturing along with the female yak is practiced; simultaneously the female yak after giving birth to the calves is fed and managed in a mode of pasturing and supplementary feeding, after the calves are fed for 24-26 weeks, healthy bull calves with weight larger than 80 kilograms leave the shed and are butchered to produce the traceable white yak calf meat. The yak calves fed in a standard mode is tender in meat texture, and the meat is rich in amino acid, vitamin and the like required by human bodies and easy to digest and has Tibet plateau characteristics.

Methods are provided for diagnosing pregnancy-associated disorders, determining allelic ratios, determining maternal or fetal contributions to circulating transcripts, and / or identifying maternal or fetal markers using a sample from a pregnant female subject. Also provided is use of a gene for diagnosing a pregnancy-associated disorder in a pregnant female subject.

The present invention discloses a live attenuated strain of Zika virus (ZIKV) having a deletion in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the viral genome, which may affect viral RNA synthesis and sensitivity to type I interferon inhibition, but may not affect viral RNA translation. The present invention also discloses the use of these live attenuated ZIKV strains in the preparation of ZIKV vaccines and for providing immunoprotection against ZIKV infection and congenital ZIKV syndrome, particularly in pregnant females.

A method for uterine activity monitoring may include: acquiring a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors during uterine activity; processing the plurality of signals to extract a plurality of uterine electrical activity characteristics; analyzing the plurality of uterine electrical activity characteristics; and classifying the uterine activity as one of: a preterm labor contraction, a labor contraction, a Braxton-Hicks contraction, and a state of no contraction. A method of assessing over time a pre-term birth risk of a pregnant female may include: calculating a baseline pre-term birth risk score based on a user input; acquiring, over time, a signal from a sensor; analyzing the signal to extract a parameter of interest, such that the parameter of interest comprises a physiological parameter; and calculating an instant pre-term birth risk score based, at least in part, on the parameter of interest and the user input.