27/05/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | MAY 27, 2025

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A screening test is carried out for a large group of low risk patients to find out if they are at high risk for a particular disease. It is not meant for those who have already been placed in the high risk category based on the existing factors such as age or racial risk group. In obstetrics, the most common screening test for chromosomal abnormalities, especially Down’s Syndrome, is the Non Invasive Pregnancy Test. It is carried out after 10 weeks of pregnancy and offered by many companies and labs. Initially, it was an exclusive club of opportunity as the test used to be very expensive. But, as more samples are being sent to the lab, the cost is now more affordable. However, it is not a test for those in high risk groups. A first trimester ultrasound screening test for soft markers between 11 to 14 weeks is also a screening test for chromosomal abnormalities. This is a diagnostic test for large structural abnormalities at this gestation period. A diagnostic test is one that confirms if you have a disease or an issue. Examples in obstetrics for the diagnosis of structural abnormalities is a detail anomaly scan of the foetus between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy by an expert usually a maternal fetal medicine specialist. During this test, the structure of the foetus is looked carefully – from the head, brain, face, chest, heart, limbs, abdomen, kidneys, bladder, spine, cord and placenta are looked

GYNAE SAYS

Determining risk factors

o Difference between screening, diagnostic tests into for structural abnormalities. There will be some structures that will only show abnormalities later in the pregnancy. There are also some structures that function differently while the foetus is in the womb and will only change at birth, or shortly after that. When your doctor completes the examination, they would give you a report on the findings. Another one is chromosomal abnormalities. The most common of these are Down’s Syndrome as these babies live until adulthood. Other common abnormalities include Potter’s Syndrome, Edward’s Syndrome and Turner’s Syndrome. The two common diagnostic tests for these problems are Chorionic Villous Sampling (CVS) and amniocenthesis. CVS is usually carried out at 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, where the doctor will obtain a sample of the placental

tissue through the abdomen or the vaginal route. However, this test is rarely carried out due to technical problems and higher risk to the pregnancy. The most common test for chromosomal abnormalities is amniocenthesis. It is advised for all high risk cases without doing any screening tests. It is a test carried out after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The simple test includes inserting a long but thin amniotic needle under the guidance of a continuous ultrasound examination. A small amount of amniotic fluid is taken out and sent to the lab. The whole procedure is carried out in the clinic within minutes and with minimal risk to the pregnancy. The sample is then sent to the lab. The most common analysis is karyotyping, where 23 sets of chromosome is examined. Any part of the chromosome that is less or more than 450–700 bph (depending on the lab) will be picked up. Microarray has many thousands of probes. It will pick up an excess or lack of these components suggesting chromosomal abnormalities, including micro deletions of the

The patients make the choice on how far they want to go to ensure their baby is normal.

1. Important health problem 2. Accepted treatment for recognised disease 3. Facilities for diagnosis and treatment 4. Suitable latent and symptomatic stage 5. Suitable test or examination 6. Test acceptable to population 7. Natural history of condition understood 8. Agreed on policy on whom to treat 9. Cost of finding economically balanced with overall health 10. Case finding should be continuous process WHO screening criteria

genetic material. The ultimate test is called the exome sequencing test to look for the protein coding regions of the gene. This will not only pick up chromosomal abnormalities, but also genetic diseases associated with an abnormal protein production that leads to abnormal functions in the body. However, with each added test, the cost will be much higher and not many can afford it. The choice is made on how far the patients want to go to ensure their baby is normal. This article is contributed by consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist, maternal fetal medicine Datuk Dr H. Krishna Kumar.

Shared hobbies build bonds HOW often have we seen this scenario? A family enters a restaurant and the moment they are seated, each and every one fishes out their mobile gadget and stays glued to it even when the meal is served. Not a word is spoken as parents and children are each lost in their own corner of cyberspace. Ű BY R.BALA

It is a tragic scene that is all too familiar as family members have virtually nothing to say to each other. They effectively become strangers within same household. One way for parents to build bonds with their kids is to have shared interest or hobbies. Here are a few suggestions: Supporting same football teams It is a journey that can last a lifetime – following the fortunes of a particular football team. From shared highs of

Shared viewing habits can provide countless hours of conversations. victories to crushing disappointment of defeats, football fandom can be a glue between parent and children like no other. The highly-charged emotions

of supporting a football team is often highly illogical and out-of-proportion, but who better to share these crazed moments than with your kids. Parent-child supporting the same team certainly gives a certain football club’s anthem of not “walking alone” a certain credence and a much deeper meaning. Enjoying video games together Why not? Rather than berating your children for spending too much time playing video games, why not join them? After all, most Gen Y and Z parents themselves have grown up being addicted to Playstations and Nintendo gadgets. Playing video games together will certainly lessen the generational gap as parents will not seem like they hail from the dinosaur age. It will also provide parents with a subtle way to control the number of hours that their offspring spend playing these games.

Supporting the same football team can be the basis of an unbreakable bond. – ALL PICS FROM PEXELS

Enjoy outdoors together A popular past time for families is to enjoy the great outdoors together. Make it a fixed part of the weekly routine, be it with hikes at picturesque sites or mountain biking. Not only is this a healthy past time, but will also allow parents and children to take pleasure in being outside as opposed to staring at a mobile gadget indoors. Hot, sweaty activities that lead to aching muscles is an excellent way to build lasting bonds, so long as the parents’ limbs can manage it! Celluloid appreciation Watching films or TV series together is

a simple enough way to build familial bonds. Rather than each having their peculiar taste leading to solo viewing times. Find productions that are age appropriate and the anticipation of new episodes can provide the family with endless hours of conversations. There are many more ways in which lasting bonds can be built but these are among the easiest to implement. Do not let your children become strangers simply because you have nothing to say to each other. A family means shared experiences and these are some of the fun ways to do things together.

Shared outdoor activities is infinitely preferable to being lost in cyberspace.