Patients and specimens
Biopsies of peripheral and central portions were collected from 496
placentas between March 2011 and March 2014, immediately after each
woman delivered the newborn, and subsequently separated on fetal and
maternal interfaces. The collection of placental tissue was performed
using different sterile surgical materials for each face of the placenta
and the collected fragments were placed into microtubes containing 300μL
of TE buffer (10 mmol/L Tris-HCL pH 8,0; 1mmol/L EDTA).
The collection of umbilical cord blood for molecular assays was
performed after cord clamping. Blood from the umbilical cord was
collected using a syringe (27/5 needle) by puncturing 3ml of blood.