abstract
This work describes a mid-infrared (MIR) metabolic profiling study of 2nd trimester amniotic fluid in relation to selected prenatal disorders, with results focusing on fetal malformations (FM), preterm delivery (PTD) and premature rupture of membranes (PROM), the latter two conditions occurring later in pregnancy. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models were obtained for FM and pre-PTD subject groups, supported by Monte Carlo Cross Validation (MCCV), and identified specific MIR profile changes. For pre-PROM subjects, minor changes were noted. MIR interpretation was assisted by intra(MIR/MIR) and inter- (MIR/NMR) domain statistical correlation analysis, the results unveiling possible biomarker MIR signatures for FM and pre-PTD subjects. Biofluid MIR metabolic profiling holds enticing possibilities as a low cost, easy to use, rapid method and the results presented have shown its sensitivity to clinically diagnosed conditions such as FM, and to the pre-clinical stages of PTD. Specific improvement needs are discussed, namely regarding sample numbers and experimental reproducibility. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
keywords
FETAL LUNG MATURITY; INFRARED-SPECTRA; RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY; FTIR SPECTROSCOPY; CROSS-VALIDATION; EARLY-PREGNANCY; MATERNAL URINE; DATA SETS; PREECLAMPSIA; PREDICTION
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Graca, G; Moreira, AS; Correia, AJV; Goodfellow, BJ; Barros, AS; Duarte, IF; Carreira, IM; Galhano, E; Pita, C; Almeida, MD; Gil, AM
our authors
Ana Maria Pissarra Coelho Gil
Associate Professor with Aggregation
António de Sousa Barros
Post-doc Fellowship
Brian James Goodfellow
Assistant Professor
Iola Melissa Fernandes Duarte
Principal Researcheracknowledgements
Funding is acknowledged from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the Competitive Factors Thematic Operational Programme (COMPETE), as well as from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portugal (PTDC/QUI/66523/2006, SFRH/BD/41869/2007). The Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported with FCT funds, is also acknowledged and we thank M. Spraul, Bruker BioSpin, Germany, for access to spectral databases.