The prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora and predictive factors for intrauterine infection in pregnant Korean women with preterm labor.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora (AVF) and predictive factors for intrauterine infection in pregnant Korean women with preterm labor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed the medical records of 106 pregnant Korean women with preterm labor admitted to Eulji Medical Center between January 2006 and August 2011. The results of vaginal discharge tests and maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level at admission, placental biopsy, and perinatal outcomes were searched. The prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora was calculated. The perinatal outcomes and predictive factors for intrauterine infections were analyzed based on placental pathology and early-onset neonatal sepsis. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal vaginal flora was 75.4%. Ureaplasma urealyticunz (UU), intermediate flora, Candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and aerobic bacterial colonization were detected in 40.6%, 38.7%, 17%, 14.2%, and 11.3% of the women, respectively. The frequency of early-onset neonatal sepsis was significantly different between women with aerobic bacterial colonization and those with normal flora (p = 0.008). An elevated maternal serum CRP level was an independent intrauterine infection predictor (odds ratio, 1.918; 95% confidence interval, 1.102-3.338; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Aerobic bacterial colonization may predict early-onset neonatal sepsis. An elevated maternal serum CRP level was an independent intrauterine infection predictor based on placental infections and early-onset neonatal sepsis.

Rapid DNA extraction from dried blood spots on filter paper: potential applications in biobanking.

OBJECTIVES: Dried blood spot (DBS) technology is a microsampling alternative to traditional plasma or serum sampling for pharmaco- or toxicokinetic evaluation. DBS technology has been applied to diagnostic screening in drug discovery, nonclinical, and clinical settings. We have developed an improved elution protocol involving boiling of blood spots dried on Whatman filter paper. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to compare the quality, purity, and quantity of DNA isolated from frozen blood samples and DBSs. We optimized a method for extraction and estimation of DNA from blood spots dried on filter paper (3-mm FTA card). A single DBS containing 40 µL blood was used. RESULTS: DNA was efficiently extracted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer by incubation at 37°C overnight. DNA was stable in DBSs that were stored at room temperature or frozen. The housekeeping genes GAPDH and beta-actin were used as positive standards for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) validation of general diagnostic screening. CONCLUSION: Our simple and convenient DBS storage and extraction methods are suitable for diagnostic screening by using very small volumes of blood collected on filter paper, and can be used in biobanks for blood sample storage.