h a l f b a k e r yThis ain't rocket surgery.
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First I have to say what a pleasure it was to discover that
wetnaps (moist towlettes) could be had online at less
than
2¢ each. (link)
A young woman at the developing world is pregnant.
She
wonders about many things. Is her baby well? She gets a
2¢ moist towlette(wetnap) pees on it
then learns that
her
fetus is well, absent birth defects.
There is a patent (6420182) on a urine gender test that
uses pH ndicator chemicals reacting with fetal
polypeptides
to predict gender (link) The patent states 100 pt
accuracy
at 3 months n=103. The same product appears to be the
intellligender gender test that has 89 pt accuracy at 10
weeks.
Here we modify that protein colorimetry to screen out a
variety of birth defects
With the preexisting intelligender test the proteins made
at the Y chromosome attach to a color indicator like
bromthymol blue which shifts a buffer system to change
color. The ingredients at the patent cost less than 1¢
per
application along with 10ml of nonwater polar solvent as
well
The entire test could be reconfigured as a 1 or 2¢ moist
wetnap that a person pees on at the developing world.
Being able to tell the volumetric as well as qualitative
difference from one chromosome difference is
demonstrated. Now lets apply that same protein
specificity to test trisomy produced proteins to screen out
downs syndrome.
There is also a notable list of enzymes produced only at
the
fetus that wetnap chemistry could differentiate from
maternal proteins. Comparing that list to actual birth
outcomes produces new indicators of fetal well being.
One technological difference here is the test vehicle of
the wetnap or moist napkinette. Going from 29.99 to 2
or 3¢ makes a difference. Think of the effect
prepackaged beverages or containerized
shipping have had. Moving a fetal wellness test from the
first world to a 2¢ wetnap could benefit billions.
Amniotic fluid modified fetal proteins predict birth
defects
Lets venture to tests beyond entire chromosome tests.
Here are ways to screen out the gooey drippy
otolaryngeal
birth defects. A gooey drippy fetus or a fetus with a CNS
defect releases a much larger amount of salivary or CSF
fluids to the amniotic fluid. Most people have noticed
that if you put protein at a water or normal saline for a
half a month the protein changes mildly. Use
colorimetric
protein testing to find these amniotically modified
proteins. Amniotically modified they differ from
maternal
proteins thus should be distinguishable. Also, the
patented
colorimetric protein test is accurate on a 1 or 2 gram
fetus, it is possible that the larger accumulation of
cumulative amniotic proteins is more massive than the
20
milligrams of hypothetical fetus variation that is
currently
detectable.(1/46 of 1 gram chromosomal protein
difference)
Detecting a wide range of amniotic modified chemicals
that differ from the maternal chemicals then comparing
them to normal fetus chemicals provides an apparently
new way to screen for an arbitrarily large number of
fetal
defects.
Protein colorimetric prenatal test
http://www.google.c...v=onepage&q&f=false
100 pt effective at 3 months n=103 [beanangel, Jun 08 2011]
Intelligender 89 pt effective at 10 weeks
http://www.intellig...endent-studies.html
apparently similar chemistry (same colors) as the patent [beanangel, Jun 08 2011]
The 1.8¢ moist towlette
http://www.instawar...te.rpprf1mb.0.7.htm
This little system has a nonpolar nonwater solvent plus some other chemicals Just changing the chemicals creates a new way of creating cheap distributable medical tests [beanangel, Jun 08 2011]
[link]
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1) The devil is in the detail. You're saying
"implement protein-specific tests in a cheap
format", and the challenge is not really the format
but making the tests work. Not to say that they
won't, just that it's not a trivial issue. |
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2) Regarding Down's, I don't know the protein-level
changes. However, if you are looking for a
proportionate change (ie, a 1.5-fold increase) in
certain proteins, it's going to be very difficult to
detect reliably, even if you use lots of internal
controls. But, there may well be some proteins
whose levels change more than a simpleminded
1.5-fold. (They also have to be foetus-specific
proteins.) |
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3) I'm not sure which tests you're proposing for
pee, and which for amniotic fluid. I think safe
amniocentesis is not straightforward, making the
cheapness of the test a little less central. For
pee, I have no idea which foetal markers appear in
significant quantities in maternal pee. (Are you
sure the Intelligender test works on foetal
proteins in maternal pee? Foetal hormones
maybe, but I'm impressed if it picks up foetal
proteins in maternal pee.) |
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4) If the woman has bought a 2-cent test and
discovers an abnormality, what then? |
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5) Which company is going to make and sell these
tests for 2 cents? |
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I appreciate the annotation |
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The patent says that bromthymol blue attaches to
"polypeptides" It does not say fetal polypeptides
though, However it only reacts to Y chromosome
produced proteins, the girl result is that the test
fluid remains the start color. Thus the test is
reacting to fetal Y chromosome produced
polypeptides or maternal immunreactive
peptides. |
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If it were measuring immunoreaction there might
be color shift of some kind with a girl fetus thus
its looking like it measures fetal proteins. |
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One approach to finding more fetus specific
proteins is that even though both maternal as well
as fetal proteins are sometimes identical, some
fetal protein gets modified sitting around at the
amniotic fluid for half a month. Also wikipedia has
a category called "fetoproteins" which pretty
much just suggests research. I think Ive read a
publication noting there are a wide number of
genes active only during gestation which goes
with the production of unique researchable fetal
proteins as well |
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the .5b would say I was being megaderivative if I
said Do more research thus I kept it at detect an
entire chromome difference, as well as the new
amniomodified proteins are distinguishable effect |
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I have a "cunning plan" about the mathematics of
retesting if the 2 or 3¢ test detects an
abnormality. One is to hyperconcentrate the pee
with a gel like polymethylmethacrylate that
absorbs just water. perhaps 20 times more
concentrated protein provides a more accurate
result |
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Another potentially pleasant way to concentrate a
testable fetal proteins would be to have a baby
beneficial mini feast where the woman eats a
bunch of socioculturally normal protein. The
circulating protein saturates (uses) her protein
modifying enzymes permitting 2 to 10 times as
much fetal protein to accumulate at pee. |
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If fortunate the 20 times concentrated pee along
with the 2 to 10 times higher amounts of fetal
protein creates greater test efficacy. I think I
should describe those as well |
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Have a bun in the oven, beanie. |
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I'm still not clear on whether you're testing amniotic
fluid or pee. |
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Test 'em both, [MaxB] --- You're only out four cents! Bun! [+] |
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1) The idea makes most sense if it's the fetus'
urine (in the amniotic fluid), not the
mother's that is tested. |
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2) [B'angel] may have alpha-fetoprotein in mind as
the protein elevated concentration of which (for
gestational age) in amniotic fluid is a marker for
CNS (strictly: neural tube) defects (such as spina
bifida, and others worse than that). |
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3) Alpha fetoprotein does cross the placenta in
sufficient quantity to be detectable in maternal
blood. But there shouldn't be much of that, or
any protein, in the mothers urine. If mom's got
protein in her urine, she's probably got either a
urinary tract infection or preeclampsia. |
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