Maternal age-specific risks for trisomies at 9—14 weeks' gestation

This study provides data on the incidence of fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13 at 9–14 weeks' gestation in women aged 35–45 years and estimates of maternal age-specific risks in women aged 20–45 years. Our data from 5814 singleton pregnancies undergoing first-trimester karyotyping for the sole indication of maternal age ⩾ 35 years were combined with those from two previous reports and the incidence of the trisomies was calculated from a total of 15 793 pregnancies. Comparison of incidences at 9–14 weeks' gestation with published data at 15–20 weeks' gestation and in livebirths demonstrated that at birth the maternal age-specific incidence of trisomy 21 is 33 per cent lower than at 15–20 weeks' gestation and 54 per cent lower than at 9–14 weeks' gestation. Furthermore, the relative frequency of trisomies 18 and 13 decreases from 30 per cent at 9–14 weeks to 22 per cent at 15–20 weeks and 14 per cent at birth.     

MSAFP levels and oesophageal atresia

This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels and oesophageal atresia (OA). OA occurred in 16 fetuses of mothers who had an MSAFP test in the study interval. The multiple of the median (MOM) value for MSAFP averaged 1·54 ± 0·65 (range 0·5–2·9 MOM), which was significantly higher than the value seen in controls. The median MOM was 1·35. Using a cut-off of 2·5 MOM, the sensitivity of MSAFP for detecting OA was 19 per cent. Although OA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an elevated MSAFP level, MSAFP cannot be considered an appropriate screening test for OA given the low sensitivity.     

Serum PAPP-A levels are depressed in women with fetal Down syndrome in early pregnancy

The value of maternal serum pregnancy-associated plasma protein (PAPP)-A in screening for Down syndrome in early pregnancy was assessed using stored samples. Seventeen cases of Down syndrome and 66 unaffected control pregnancies were studied. The median PAPP-A level in the cases was 0.42 multiples of the expected value in controls (p <0.0001). Eleven cases (65 per cent) had levels less than half the expected value compared with only six controls (9 per cent). A commercial assay kit is now needed so that prospective screening with this marker can begin.     

Expanding multiple marker screening for Down's syndrome to include Edward'S syndrome

Information on maternal age and maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein, unconjugated oestriol (uE₃), and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels was used to investigate retrospectively the effect of estimating Edward's syndrome risk in women having multi-marker screening for Down's syndrome. The screened population comprised 15 pregnancies affected by Edward's syndrome, 15 with Down's syndrome and 5472 unaffected pregnancies. The use of all three markers to estimate Edward's syndrome risk would have led to the detection of 10–12 (67–80 per cent) cases with a false-positive rate of 0.3–0.6 per cent depending on the risk cut-off. A further case would have been detected as a result of screening for Down's syndrome alone. Similar results were obtained when the Edward's syndrome risk was based on uE₃ and hCG only. These data suggest that extending Down's syndrome screening to include Edward's syndrome risk will yield a high detection rate with only a small increase in the false-positive rate.     

Decomposition of CF3CI by corona discharge

In this paper pulsed corona discharge is shown to be effective for the decomposition of CF₃Cl(Freon-13).The pressure of CF₃Cl was 2.67×10³Pa,after discharged for 2 min,39.5% of CF₃Cl was decomposed.The products were mainly CF₄,Cl₂ and CF₂Cl₂.The yield increased by adding O₂ or air.Under the same conditions,more than 94% decomposition yield was obtained if 5.32×10³Pa O₂ or air was added.The composition of products became CF₂O,Cl₂ and CF₄.While the partial pressure of O₂ or air reached 1 arm,the decomposition yield decreased to 54.5% and 48. 5% respectively.     

功能区排放负荷污染系数百分比分配法研究

在考虑了总量控制区风频、风速和各功能区位置及污染源“影响范围”等影响因素的条件下，提出了“平均下风距离”的概念，从而建立了一种更为科学、合理的总量控制区内功能区排放负荷分配新方法。通过与 总量控制A值法所提出的面积分配方法相比较，验证了新方法的合理性和有效性。     

物化—生化组合工艺在鱼油工业废水处理中的应用

针对鱼油工业废水排放特点及处理技术难点，结合实例，采用混凝、破乳进行物化预处理；采用A／O生化处理技术，提出合适的工艺流程。     

多级A/O工艺在国内的应用现状

多级A/O工艺目前在国内市政和部分工业污水处理领域应用较多,具有预处理和污泥处理系统简单,污泥负荷低、处理效果好且稳定,投资低,曝气系统效率高、运行成本较低,维护管理简便等特点,但是在实际运行中也发现存在一些问题,如土池结构不适合地下水位高的地区的局限性,沉淀池效果较差、稳定池多余占地且污泥淤积难以清除,关键设备国产质量有待提高,工业污水处理少数水质指标偏高,需要设计人员选择适合其条件的场合应用,并进一步总结、改进和完善.     

Fetal urinary insulin-like growth factor I and binding protein 3 in bilateral obstructive uropathies

Fetal urinary concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (UIGF-I) and binding protein 3 (UIGFBP-3) were determined in patients with prenatal diagnosis of bilateral obstructive uropathy. Patients were retrospectively assigned to three groups, on the basis of outcome: group 1, termination of pregnancies (n = 11) with sonographic evidence of severe oligohydramnios or renal dysplasia, confirmed at histological examination; group 2, patients (n = 10) with postnatal plasma creatinine > 50 μmol/1 at the age of 1 year (1 yr-pCreat); and group 3, patients (n = 16) with 1 yr-pCreat ≤ μmol/1. The results show a significant increase in UIGF-I and UIGFBP-3 in groups 1 (18 159 ± 9083 pg/ml; 2657 ± 669 ng/ml) and 2 (1574 ± 847 pg/ml; 176 ± 50 ng/ml) in comparison with group 3 (35 ± 6 pg/ml; 21 ± 2 ng/ml). UIGF-I and UIGFBP-3 were significantly correlated with postnatal plasma creatinine, and were both sensitive (90 per cent; 80 per cent) and specific (88 per cent; 88 per cent) for prediction of elevated 1 yr-pCreat (>50 μmol/1). Fetal urinary IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are increased in severe fetal bilateral obstructive uropathy, possibly reflecting tubular dysfunction or/and increased synthesis consequent upon fetal kidney injury. Their predictive value for postnatal renal function needs further assessment.     

难降解有机废水处理新技术

介绍了光氧化法、超临界氧化和低温等离子体化学三种废水处理新技术的原理,国内外研究的现状和未来的发展前景,分析了这些新技术在优化污染物废水处理方面得到工业应用所必须解决的主要技术问题.