Human parvovirus B19 infection and unbalanced translocation in a case of hydrops fetalis

In a case of hydrops fetalis, serological examination showed a recent maternal human parvovirus B19 infection. Amniocentesis revealed a unique unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 3 and 11 of the fetus. The mother proved to have a balanced reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 3 and 11. A grossly macerated hydropic male fetus was delivered with a flat nose and low implanted deformed ears. Histopathological examination revealed nuclear inclusion bodies in fetal erythroid cells, confirming human parvovirus B19 infection. Parvovirus B19 DNA was demonstrated by in situ hybridization in the nuclei of heart muscle cells. Our finding of two different disorders in one case illustrates the importance of a complete evaluation of every case of hydrops fetalis, especially concerning counselling on the outcome of future pregnancies. The human parvovirus B19 infection will not recur due to the acquired immunity of the mother, whereas the balanced reciprocal translocation will endanger future pregnancies.     

False-negative amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase in a case of meningo-encephalocele

We describe a patient with a significantly elevated serum alphafetoprotein (AFP) concentration at 17 weeks of gestation, who showed only a marginally increased amniotic fluid AFP and lacked the second rapidly migrating band of acetylcholinesterase electrophoresis. Ultrasound examination revealed an encephalocele and ventriculomegaly. Autopsy showed that the encephalocele was not covered by skin.     

S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in amniotic fluid as markers of abdominal wall and neural tube defects in the fetus

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is increased leakage of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein into amniotic fluid in pregnancies with neural tube defects, since both these proteins are produced by neural tissue, and to compare the value of these substances for detecting such defects with that of the more conventional techniques of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis. Amniotic samples from 25 mid-pregnancies (15–17 weeks' gestation) with neural tube defects (14 with open spina bifida and 11 with anencephaly) and from seven mid-pregnancies with abdominal wall defects were compared with a control material consisting of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 consecutive mid-pregnancy amniocenteses, with normal karyotypes and AFP concentrations. All of the above cases of abnormalities were primarily detected through increased AFP levels in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples from 13 pregnancies with fetuses with autosomal chromosomal abnormalities and seven amniotic fluid samples contaminated with blood were also included in the investigation. It is concluded from the results that the conventional AFP assay combined with AChE gel electrophoresis is the best method for screening amniotic fluid for neural tube defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Neither NSE nor S-100 assay alone proved to be superior for the detection of these cases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The S-100 assay, however, could give additional information in cases where AChE gel electrophoresis is not decisive; for example, in samples contaminated with blood.     

用镁合金促进兵器装备轻量化

概述了兵器装备轻量化的意义、镁合金的性能特点 ,介绍了镁合金在兵器上应用的实例 ,指出了镁合金在兵器上应用存在的问题 ,分析了镁合金在兵器上应用的前景 ,对镁合金在兵器上的应用工作提出了若干建议     

Atmospheric pollution in Beijing, China, as recorded in sediments of the Kunming Lake

The fluxes of heavy metals and magnetite, a fly-ash component, from coal burning, to sediments of the Kunming Lake in Beijing have increased measurably over the last fifty years. Ages were introduced to the sediment strata through Pb-210 geochronologies. Even with a doubling of coal usage by the year 2000, the anthropogenic metal fluxes will still be less than those recorded in metropolitan Tokyo and U.S. lakes.