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Objective The sensitivity and specificity for the noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus intrauterine infection were estimated by using isolating single fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood. Methods Micromanipulation techniques were employed to isolate single fetal nucleated erythroblasts from 273 maternal blood samples. SRY gene and HCMV-DNA in single fetal cells were detected by multiple primed in situ labeling (PRINS) from 76 HCMV-DNA positive samples of maternal peripheral blood. 273 samples of maternal peripheral blood were tested for SRY gene and HCMV-DNA in single fetal cells by primed extension preamplification (PEP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The detection rate of fetal cells from maternal blood was 100% with micromanipulation techniques. The sensitivity of PRINS for SRY gene detection was 97.56% and its specificity was 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of PEP and PCR for SRY gene detection were 97.39% and 99.17%, respectively. The sensitivity of PRINS for HCMV-DNA detection was 92.68% and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity and specificity of PEP and PCR for HCMV-DNA detection were 95.12%and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The technique for noninvasive prenatal detection of intrauterine infection of HCMV using single fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood by using PRINS and PEP and PCR is more reliable than the CMV-DNA detection in peripheral maternal blood, amniocentesis or percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of using single fetal nucleated erythroblasts (FNRBCs) and free DNA in maternal blood for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Methods: Single FNRBCs were isolated from 51 of 116 samples of maternal blood analyzed by micromanipulation after density gradient centrifugation. Furthermore, the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to amplify the SRY gene of single FNRBCs. Primer extension pre-amplification and nested PCR were used to amplify the SRY gene of the plasma DNA extracted from 65 samples of maternal blood. Results: The detection rate of single FNRBCs was 90.20% (46/51). The concordance rates between real fetal sex and sex determined by amplification of the SRY gene from single cells and from free DNA analysis were 82.61% (38/46) and 90.77% (59/65), respectively. Conclusions: Single nucleated erythroblasts and free DNA in maternal blood are of fetal origin and can be valuable fetal material sources for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.

Objective: To analyze the safety and possibility of terminating early pregnancy up to 49 days gestation after cesarean section with mifepristone and misoprostol. Methods: One-hundred and ninety-two early pregnant women were recruited, of which, 35 cases with uterine cicatrix and 157 cases were no-uterine cicatrix as control group. All of them took 25 mg of mifepristone, b.i.d. for 3 days and 600 μg of misoprostol on the 4th day. Results: Of the 35 cases with uterine cicatrix, 33 achieved complete abortion after medical abortion. The complete abortion rate was 94.29% (95% CI 81–99%) in the cicatrix group and 89.81% (95% CI 75–91%) in the control group. There were no obvious complications detected in the cicatrix group. Conclusion: For the termination of early pregnancy in scarred uterus, administration of mifepristone and misoprostol is safe and effective, and a further large series study needs be done to confirm its acceptability as a routine medication in such situations.