Deceased co-twin as a cause of false positive amniotic fluid AFP and AChE

A pregnancy was terminated because of persistently elevated amniotic fluid AFP (+10 S.D.) and an AChE band of low intensity on gel electrophoresis. No fetal anomalies were detected by ultrasonographic examination. Autopsy revealed an apparently normal fetus of about 20 weeks gestation. Attached to the placenta was a small sac containing a fetus papyraceus co-twin of about 8–9 weeks gestation. The small deceased co-twin and its gestational sac were not detected prenatally despite multiple ultrasonographic examinations. The difficulty in the interpretation of apparently conflicting results is emphasized.     

Persistently elevated AFP and AChE in amniotic fluid from a normal fetus following demise of its twin

Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) in one of twins at 12 weeks of gestation was accompanied by markedly elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at 17 and 18 weeks. Amniotic fluid AFP from the healthy surviving twin's sac at 18·5 and 23 weeks was also greatly increased along with a positive acetylcholinesterase (AChE) band. Persistently elevated AFP and positive AChE so long after fetal demise–-6·5 and 11 weeks post IUFD–-has not, to our knowledge, been previously described. In similar cases, high level ultrasound and careful placental examination at birth should be utilized to search for fetal abnormalities or multiple pregnancy with IUFD.     

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and fetal outcome in early second-trimester oligohydramnios

Early second-trimester oligohydramnios was associated with normal maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels in nine out of 26 cases (35 per cent). Congenital malformations of the fetal urinary tract resulting in fetal anuria were present in nine cases; in seven of them, normal MSAFP levels were measured. In contrast, normal MSAFP levels were established in only 2 out of the 17 cases without fetal malformations. These data suggest that fetal urine is the major source of elevated AFP in the maternal compartment in early second-trimester oligohydramnios. This is further supported by the lack of any relationship between concentrations of MSAFP non-reactive with Concanavalin A, originating mainly from the yolk sacderived amniotic fluid AFP pool, and the presence of fetal diuresis. Three out of 26 women had experienced early second-trimester oligohydramnios in a previous pregnancy, suggesting the existence of a recurrence risk for this condition.     

手性农药丁氟螨酯对斑马鱼胚胎的选择性发育毒性

近年来丁氟螨酯（CYF）对非靶标生物的发育毒性已成为一个值得关注的问题,但其对水生生物的对映选择性效应尚不清晰.为评估丁氟螨酯对斑马鱼胚胎的对映选择性毒性,通过96 h的暴露试验,研究了梯度浓度的丁氟螨酯消旋体及对映体对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性.此外,试验还研究了丁氟螨酯对斑马鱼胚胎孵化率、卵黄囊水肿、心包囊水肿和身体弯曲的影响.根据急性毒性结果可知,毒性大小为S-CYF > Rac-CYF > R-CYF,其中S-CYF的毒性是R-CYF的2.3倍.72 hpf,500 mg·L^-1的S-CYF可显著诱导胚胎产生卵黄囊水肿（YSE）、体轴弯曲（CB）等畸形效应（p<0.05）,而Rac-CYF降低了斑马鱼胚胎的孵化成功率.在本研究中发育毒性效应结果与急性毒性结果一致,均为S-CYF > Rac-CYF > R-CYF,表明丁氟螨酯对斑马鱼胚胎存在显著的对映选择性发育毒性,研究结果为丁氟螨酯的环境风险评估提供了理论依据.     

两种金属和两种农药对草鱼不同发育阶段的毒性效应

进行了金属和农药对草鱼不同发育阶段影响的试验。结果表明,对草鱼胚胎孵化率的影响,96h的EC_(50)值分别为:Cd~(2+)0.078mg/L;Cu~(2+)0.17mg/L;丙体六六六1.0mg/L;对硫磷1.0mg/L。畸形症状呈现出草鱼胚胎卵黄囊水肿,心脏发育受阻而形成管状心脏、胚体弯曲(弯体)等。草鱼的不同发育阶段对金属的敏感性存在着差异:Cd~(2+)96h的LC_(50)值,胚胎为0.1—0.5mg/L;10日龄草鱼苗为0.34mg/L;120日龄草鱼种为8mg/L.Cu~(2+)96h的LC_(50)值,胚胎为0.3—0.5mg/L;10日龄草鱼苗为0.11mg/L;120日龄草鱼种为0.59mg/L.     

锌对酒精发育毒性的拮抗作用

孕期饮酒导致胚胎和胎儿出生前后一系列机体发育异常及功能缺陷，孕期饮酒还可导致微量元素锌大量丢失。该文应用已建立的体外酒精致畸模型，以全胚胎培养技术探讨了锌对酒精发育毒性的拮抗作用。结果表明，２μｇ／ｍｌ的锌，对２００ｍｇ／ｄｌ的酒精所致的胚胎生长发育指标无明显作用；５μｇ／ｍｌ锌，能显著改善胚胎的蛋白质、ＤＮＡ含量、ＶＹＳ直径等指标；１０μｇ／ｍｌ锌，对胚胎的生长发育和胚胎器官形态分化无明显改善作     

三氯生对斑马鱼发育和脂质代谢的影响

通过TCS(三氯生)亚致死剂量急性暴露斑马鱼胚胎至幼鱼,探究其对斑马鱼胚胎发育和脂质代谢的影响.结果表明,在体视显微镜下统计发现TCS在200μg/L浓度急性暴露延迟了 72hpf胚胎的孵化,孵化率下降13.24％,而畸形率提高80％以上.120hpf(受精后小时)幼鱼畸形表现为能量淤积、卵黄囊肿、吸收障碍而后延,游囊...     

双酚AF暴露对胚胎期和幼鱼期斑马鱼的毒性效应

为明确不同发育阶段的斑马鱼对BPAF(双酚AF)暴露的易感性,采用暴露试验法初步研究了BPAF对胚胎期和幼鱼期斑马鱼的发育毒性. 结果表明:①BPAF暴露可延缓胚胎期斑马鱼的发育和孵化,使其出现心包水肿、卵黄囊异常、心率下降、心脏搏动停止等症状. ②暴露96 h后,ρ(BPAF)为2.0、2.5、3.0 mg/L暴露组胚胎期斑马鱼的畸形率高达100%,暴露24 h致畸的EC₅₀(半数效应浓度)为2.00 mg/L,暴露96 h的LC₅₀(半数致死浓度)为1.84 mg/L. ③暴露72 h后,对照组幼鱼期斑马鱼鱼鳔发育缺陷率为0;除ρ(BPAF)为1.0 mg/L暴露组外,其余BPAF暴露组幼鱼期斑马鱼鱼鳔发育缺陷率为100%. ④随着暴露时间的延长以及中毒程度的加深,幼鱼期斑马鱼出现的中毒症状依次表现为心包水肿、卵黄囊水肿、背脊弯曲、心跳停止,暴露48和72 h时其心包水肿的EC₅₀分别为1.76、1.56 mg/L,暴露96 h的LC₅₀为1.77 mg/L. 胚胎期和幼鱼期斑马鱼对BPAF暴露响应的差异分析显示,幼鱼期斑马鱼对BPAF暴露的反应更为敏感,幼鱼期斑马鱼的心包水肿症状可作为BPAF毒性响应的最佳指标之一.      

氯霉素对斑马鱼早期发育的毒性效应

通过氯霉素对斑马鱼(Daniorerio)胚胎及仔鱼的毒性暴露实验,研究了氯霉素对斑马鱼早期发育的致死和亚致死毒性效应.结果表明,氯霉素对斑马鱼胚胎的自主运动、心跳和孵化能力均造成了明显的不利影响,并且胚胎和仔鱼在毒性暴露过程中均产生了明显的畸形特征.其中,低浓度的氯霉素对胚胎的自主运动产生抑制作用,而高浓度的氯霉素对其自主运动产生明显的刺激作用.高浓度的氯霉素抑制胚胎和仔鱼的心跳及孵化能力,且对胚胎和仔鱼造成致死效应,其96hLC50值分别为56.6mg·mL-1和116.8mg·mL-1,而低浓度的氯霉素对胚胎和仔鱼产生致畸效应,胚胎和仔鱼表现出的主要畸形特征有心包水肿、卵黄囊肿胀、凝血、脊柱弯曲和鳔缺失.     

Raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in the absence of fetal abnormality-placental findings. A quantitative morphometric study

Ten placentae from pregnancies proceeding to term from mothers who on routine screening at 16–18 weeks gestation were found to have a raised serum AFP but no increase in amniotic fluid AFP and no fetal abnormality, were studied using morphometric techniques. The results were compared with 20 placentae from normal term pregnancies where the maternal serum AFP level was not elevated. The mean total placental volume, volume of parenchyma and villous surface area were increased in the placentae associated with a raised maternal serum AFP. More of these placentae were infarcted and the fetal-placental weight ratio was significantly lower. The hypothesis that elevation of maternal serum AFP level is related to the increase in placental size is addressed.     

氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼的毒性效应

采用斑马鱼胚胎发育技术和传统毒理学方法, 研究了氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼胚胎、成鱼及仔鱼的毒性效应.结果发现,氟吡菌胺对3个阶段斑马鱼均具有致死能力,对仔鱼LC50(48h)值为0.204mg/L,成鱼LC50(96h)为0.286mg/L,幼鱼LC50(96h)为1.489mg/L.研究表明,0.0596mg/L以上浓度的氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼胚胎均有一定程度的致死效应,高浓度处理组胚胎出现心包囊肿、卵黄囊不吸收、黑色素沉积少及鱼体弯曲等症状;氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼成鱼进行14d暴露后,处理组成鱼体重下降,产卵量减少,有效卵量降低; 0.0298mg/L处理组144h子代仔鱼存活率虽然比较高,但存活鱼大部分出现心包囊肿、体弯曲等畸形.上述结果说明,水体中残留的氟吡菌胺对于斑马鱼各生命阶段的生长发育均具有潜在的危害.     

First-trimester biochemical screening for fetal chromosome abnormalities and neural tube defects

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (UE3), intact human chorionic gonado-trophin (intHCG), and the free β subunit of chorionic gonadotrophin (FβHCG) were investigated in a series of 21 chromosomally abnormal and 14 open neural tube defect pregnancies ascertained from a series of 14 000 prospectively collected maternal serum samples at 6–14 weeks' gestation. In 16 cases of Down's syndrome, significant reductions were found for AFP (0.65 multiples of the normal median) and UE3 (0.67 MOM). IntHCG levels were unaltered (0.97 MOM) but a significant increase was found for FβHCG (1.96 MOM). Significant correlations were found for AFP and UE3 in the controls and for int HCG and FβHCG in both the control and the Down's syndrome pregnancies. In a group of five trisomy 18 pregnancies, median MOMs were for AFP 0. 71 , for UE3 0. 34 , for intHCG 0. 27 , and for FβHCG 0.15. None of 13 pregnancies with open neural tube defects at 8-13 weeks gestation had elevated maternal serum AFP levels, whereas matched second-trimester samples from the same pregnancies at 16-18 weeks gestation all had significantly elevated AFP levels. Thus, biochemical screening for chromosome abnormalities may be practicable in the first trimester using free β human chorionic gonadotrophin in combination with AFP and maternal age. However, a separate screening protocol using AFP at 15-18 weeks gestation would still be required for effective detection of neural tube defects.     

Is maternal alpha-fetoprotein screening still of value in a low-risk area for neural tube defects?

Estimation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was used as a screening method for the detection of neural tube defects (NTDs) in 6344 women over three years. Of 88 (1.4 per cent) who had one or more serum AFP levels equal to, or greater than, 2.5 multiples of the median (MoM) for the relevant gestational age, 43 (0.68 per cent) underwent amniocentesis. There were eight NTDs. Four of these were screened by serum AFP, and all cases of spina bifida had serum AFP levels greater than 3.0 MoM, including one small open defect which was not seen on ultrasound. The other four cases of NTD, which were not screened, were identified by ultrasound. Of 64 singleton pregnancies 32 (50 per cent) had serum AFP levels between 2.5 and 3.0 MoM, and low birthweight (⪕2500 g) occurred in 29 per cent. Because of improvements in ultrasound techniques and the apparent falling incidence of NTD, the role of serum AFP as the primary screening procedure should be regularly reviewed. Effective screening is dependent on mothers booking early.     

Enantioselective separation and zebrafish embryo toxicity of insecticide beta-cypermethrin

Enantioselectivity of chiral pollutants is receiving growing concern due to the difference in toxicology and environment fate between enantiomers.In this study,enantiomers of insecticide beta-cypermethrin (beta-CP) were separated on selected chiral column by HPLC,and the toxicity of enantiomers was evaluated using the zebrafish embryo-larval assays.The enantiomers of beta-CP were baseline separated on Chiralcel OD and Chiralpak AD columns and detected by circular dichroism (CD) at 236 nm.Better separation could be achieved at lower temperature (e.g.,20°C) and with lower levels of polar modifiers.Pure enantiomers were obtained on Chiralcel OD.The CD spectra of enantiomers were recorded.By comparing the elution order with a previous similar study,the absolute configuration of beta-CP enantiomers was determined.The individual enantiomers were used in zebrafish embryo test,and the results showed that beta-CP enantioselectively induced yolk sac edema,pericardial edema and crooked body.The 1R-cis-αS and 1R-trans-αS enantiomers showed strong developmental toxicities at concentration of 0.1 mg/L,while the 1S-cis-αR and 1S-trans-αR induced no malformations at higher concentration (e.g.,0.3 mg/L).The results suggest that the enantioselective toxicological effects of beta-CP should be considered when evaluating its ecotoxicological effects.     

The association between alpha-fetoprotein and βhcg levels prior to and following chorionic villus sampling in cases that spontaneously miscarried

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) measurements taken prior to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in 21 patients who subsequently miscarried were compared with measurements in a control group of 113 patients with uneventful pregnancies. Patients with AFP levels of 10 iu/ml or more prior to the CVS had a 4·3 times greater risk of miscarriage (95 per cent confidence interval 1·3–13·6). AFP levels obtained 1 week after the CVS in the 13 patients with late miscarriages were higher than in the control group (P = 0·06). Patients miscarrying had a greater rise in AFP (P = 0·06) and a greater fall in βhCG levels (P = 0·04) following the CVS procedure, compared with the control subjects. Each 10-unit change in the difference between AFP or βhCG levels prior to and 1 week following the CVS was associated with a significantly increased risk for late miscarriage. Elevated maternal serum AFP levels early in pregnancy and changes in AFP and βhCG levels following CVS may predict an increased risk for subsequent miscarriage.     

Offspring sex in a TSD gecko correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones

We incubated eggs of the Japanese gecko Gekko japonicus at three temperatures, and measured yolk testosterone (T) and 17??-estradiol (E2) levels at three time points in embryonic development (oviposition, 1/3 of incubation, and 2/3 of incubation), to examine whether maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant in the species. Eggs incubated at 24?°C and 32?°C produced mostly females, and eggs incubated at 28?°C almost a 50:50 sex ratio of hatchlings. Female-producing eggs were larger than male-producing eggs. Clutches in which eggs were incubated at the same temperature produced mostly same-sex siblings. Yolk T level at laying was negatively related to eggs mass, and yolk E2/T ratio was positively related to egg mass. Results of two-way ANOVA with incubation temperature and stage as the factors show that: yolk E2 level was higher at 32?°C than at 24?°C; yolk T level was higher, whereas yolk E2/T ratio was smaller, at 28?°C than at 24?°C; yolk E2 and T levels were higher at 2/3 than at 1/3 of incubation. Our data in G. japonucus show that: (1) maternal influence on offspring sex via yolk steroid hormone deposition is significant; (2) incubation temperature affects the dynamics of developmental changes in yolk steroid hormones; (3) influences of yolk steroid hormones on offspring sex are secondary relative to incubation temperature effects; and (4) offspring sex correlates with an interaction between incubation temperature and yolk steroid hormones.     

Alpha-fetoprotein in fetal serum,amniotic fluid,and maternal serum

In order to gain more insight into the association between alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and fetal chromosomal disorders, especially Down's syndrome, we measured AFP in fetal serum, amniotic fluid, and maternal serum at cordocentesis. We compared the concentration and gradient of AFP in these three compartments. Our data confirm earlier findings on second-trimester fetal serum AFP concentration. The results indicate that low maternal serum AFP in pregnancies with fetal chromosomal disorders could result from an impaired fetal kidney function as well as from impaired membrane or placental passage of AFP, rather than from reduced fetal AFP production.     

A comparison of total and free β-HCG assays in Down syndrome screening

Free β-HCG is a new analyte that has been suggested to be superior to total HCG when used in combination with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for Down syndrome risk screening in early pregnancy. We have evaluated this claim on 21 samples collected from Down syndrome pregnancies and 180 samples from unaffected pregnancies. The detection rates for the combination of AFP with free β-HCG or the combination of AFP with total HCG were identical (71 per cent) but the initial screen positive rate (equivalent to the false-positive rate) was 7·5 per cent for AFP+free β-HCG screening compared with 3·5 per cent for AFP+ total HCG screening. We conclude that the case for free β-HCG is unproven and suggest that further data be collected before free β-HCG becomes acceptable.     

AFP transport across the fetal membranes in the human

In this investigation the original observation of a correlation between the concentration of amniotic fluid albumin and maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), as a proof for amniotic fluid-derived AFP in the maternal compartment is confirmed at 15 and 16 weeks of gestation. In contrast to the earlier reported highly significant relation in this study the correlation is only weak, especially at 15 weeks. This might be in agreement with a more frequent absence of raised maternal serum AFP levels in cases of raised amniotic fluid AFP levels prior to 16 weeks of gestation. Transamniotic AFP transport contributes a minor part of the AFP present in the maternal compartment, as also indicated by the lack of correlation between AFP concentrations in amniotic fluid and maternal serum.