Prenatal diagnosis of partial monosomy 18p(18p11.2→pter) and trisomy 21q(21q22.3→qter) with alobar holoprosencephaly and premaxillary agenesis

A prenatal diagnosis of partial monosomy 18p(18p11.2→pter) and trisomy 21q(21q22.3→qter) in a fetus with alobar holoprosencephaly (HPE) and premaxillary agenesis (PMA) but without the classical Down syndrome phenotype is reported. A 27-year-old primigravida woman was referred for genetic counselling at 21 weeks' gestation due to sonographic findings of craniofacial abnormalities. Level II ultrasonograms manifested alobar HPE and median orofacial cleft. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on cells obtained from amniocentesis revealed partial monosomy 18p and a cryptic duplication of 21q,46,XY,der(18)t(18;21)(p11.2;q22.3), resulting from a maternal t(18;21) reciprocal translocation. The breakpoints were ascertained by molecular genetic analysis. The pregnancy was terminated. Autopsy showed alobar HPE with PMA, pituitary dysplasia, clinodactyly and classical 18p deletion phenotype but without the presence of major typical phenotypic features of Down syndrome. The phenotype of this antenatally diagnosed case is compared with those observed in six previously reported cases with monosomy 18p due to 18;21 translocation. The present study is the first report of concomitant deletion of HPE critical region of chromosome 18p11.3 and cryptic duplication of a small segment of distal chromosome 21q22.3 outside Down syndrome critical region. The present study shows that cytogenetic analyses are important in detecting chromosomal aberrations in pregnancies with prenatally detected craniofacial abnormalities, and adjunctive molecular investigations are useful in elucidating the genetic pathogenesis of dysmorphism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Split-hand/split-foot malformation with paternal mutation in the p63 gene

We report the prenatal diagnosis at 16 weeks' gestation of bilateral split-hand/split-foot malformation (SHSFM) with severe lobster claw deformity of hands and feet in a male fetus without associated malformations. A minor manifestation of SHSFM was present in the father with only mild bilateral foot involvement (syndactyly I–II; cleft II–III; left cutaneous syndactyly III–IV). Mutation analysis of the p63 gene on chromosome 3q27 showed a missense mutation 577A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K193E) in the father. This mutation has not been reported so far in SHSFM but resembles the previously reported 580A→G (predicting amino acid substitution K194E) in a family with SHSFM. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dandy – Walker syndrome and corpus callosum agenesis in 5p deletion

5p deletion syndrome commonly known as cri du chat is well described in affected neonates with catlike cry and hypotonia. Karyotyping will usually show a deletion of the short arm of one chromosome 5 with variable breakpoints. Only a few cases have been reported prenatally, and the fetal form of the syndrome has not been clearly individualised. We report a new case of 5p deletion syndrome diagnosed prenatally in association with Dandy–Walker syndrome and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Other brain anomalies have been reported previously, but this unusual association suggests the use of a specific probe in the investigation of these malformations. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Renatal diagnosis of mosaic tetrasomy 12p/trisomy 12p by fluorescent in situ hybridization in amniotic fluid cells: A case report of pallister–killian syndrome

A prenatally detected case of a rare mosaic tetrasomy 12p/trisomy 12p is reported, presenting as the well-known accessory isochromosome 12p and a supernumerary single 12p marker in 17/24 and 6/24 clones of cultured amniotic fluid cells, respectively. The chromosomal nature of both marker chromosomes was investigated in cultured amniotic fluid cells by fluorescent in situ hybridization with various probes: the 12-centromeric probes pa12H8 and D12Z3, a whole chromosome 12 paint, and the chromosome 12p-specific paint M28. DNA analysis revealed a maternal origin of the extra 12p material. After counselling, the parents requested termination of pregnancy. Inspection and autopsy of the fetus revealed many of the dysmorphisms and internal structural abnormalities of the Pallister–Killian syndrome.     

Prenatal diagnosis of a partial 8p

The index patient is a female fetus in which prenatal diagnosis of 8p trisomy was established after amniocentesis at 16 weeks of gestation. This fetus was the unbalanced product of a maternal translocation of 5q/8p (karyotype: 46,XX,t(5;8)(q35;pl 1). Internal malformations include an anomalous lobature of the right lung, a little and high atrio-ventricular communication, and an anomaly in the number and shape of the aortic semilunar valves. The possible relationship between the phenotype and the chromosomal abnormality is briefly discussed.     

Prenatal diagnosis of mosaic 4p – in a fetus with trisomy 21

Mosaicism for the Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, del(4)(p16), is extremely rare and has not been reported in association with a numerical chromosome abnormality. We report the prenatal diagnosis of mosaic del(4)(p16) and non-mosaic trisomy 21 in a 16-week female fetus. The pregnancy ended in spontaneous abortion at 34 weeks secondary to fetal demise. The fetus had features of both 4p – and trisomy 21.     

混合培养微生物好氧降解对硝基苯胺的特性研究

通过富集培养 ,获得了降解对硝基苯胺的混合培养微生物。结果表明 ,对硝基苯胺降解速度和混合培养微生物生长对外加碳源有较强的依赖性。在培养液中添加 1 0g L葡萄糖和 1 0g L酵母粉 ,36h内对硝基苯胺去除率可达97%以上 ,对硝基苯胺降解速率可达 4 1mg L·h ;当对硝基苯胺作为培养液生长的唯一碳源、氮源和能源时 ,96h内对硝基苯胺去除率为 34 8% ,降解速率为 0 15mg L·h。     

Prenatal diagnosis of a de novo unbalanced translocation (4p + ) following in vitro fertilization

We report herein a de novo unbalanced chromosome translocation in a fetus resulting from in vitro fertilization technology. Prenatal diagnostic analysis of an amniotic fluid revealed a 46,XX,4p+ karyotype. The origin of the extra material on the short arm of chromosome 4 could not be identified by a variety of banding techniques. However, examination of fetal parts did reveal some dysmorphic features.     

铅对小鼠肝脏超微结构及凋亡相关蛋白p53、Bax、Bcl-2表达的影响

为探讨铅对小鼠肝脏超微结构及凋亡相关蛋白p53、Bax、Bcl-2表达的影响,取刚断奶的ICR雄性小鼠25只,随机分为5组,以10、50、100、500 mg·kg-1的醋酸铅隔天灌胃,连续28天,对照组灌高纯水.用westernblot法检测肝组织中p53、Bax及Bcl-2表达量,并用肝做病理组织切片.病理切片可见在高浓度组(100、500 mg·kg-1)肝细胞结构损伤比较严重、细胞核体积缩小、染色质浓缩、线粒体肿胀、基质变淡、不均匀、嵴消失,并出现空泡及线粒体的崩解;50 mg·kg-1组可看到内质网的增生和扩张.在最低浓度组(10 mg·kg-1),p53和Bax的表达量明显升高,与对照组相比差异有显著性(p＜0.05);随着染毒浓度的升高,二者的表达量又逐渐下降,到最高浓度组(500 mg·kg-1)时,p53和Bax的表达量又明显低于对照组,差异有显著性(p＜0.05).10、50、100 mg·kg-1Bcl-2表达量没有明显的变化,最高浓度组时明显低于对照组(p＜0.05).结果显示,铅在高浓度时可严重损害肝细胞结构,在低浓度时可诱导小鼠肝组织中p53和bax基因表达上调,这可能与铅诱导细胞凋亡作用有关.