A comparative study of prenatal ultrasound findings and post-mortem examination in a tertiary referral centre

This retrospective study compares the findings of prenatal ultrasound, performed in a tertiary fetal medicine centre, with the results of post-mortem examination in pregnancies complicated by suspected fetal abnormality that results in fetal loss. The study was carried out over a year at a teaching hospital, Fetal Medicine Centre and Regional Centre for Perinatal Pathology. Results were directly compared and the level of agreement between the ultrasound and post-mortem findings described. These were classified as having complete agreement; major agreement or major disagreement. The group of cases with major agreement between findings was further divided into those with significant, or minor, additional findings at post-mortem examination. Over the 12-month period, 153 ultrasound cases were identified, of which 47 were also examined by autopsy and were thus suitable for comparison in this study (30.7%). Complete agreement between ultrasound and post-mortem findings was found in 22 cases (46.8%). In 24 cases (51.1%), major agreement between ultrasound and post-mortem findings was seen. Of these, 11 had minor additional findings at post-mortem examination and 13 were found to have significant additional findings at post-mortem (27.7%), adding to the eventual diagnosis. In 12.8% of cases, post-mortem examination provided a definitive diagnosis. Only in one case was there complete discordance in the findings of the ultrasound examination and the autopsy (2.1%). No major disagreement between ultrasound and post-mortem findings was seen in 98% of cases. This study confirms the accuracy of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis in specialist centres, whilst emphasising the continuing importance of post-mortem examination in cases of fetal malformation to refine and, in some cases, define the diagnosis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国自然资源研究的发展历程及展望

自20世纪50年代以来,在以服务国家战略需求为导向的大规模、长时期、持续的自然资源综合考察活动推动下,中国自然资源研究形成了跨部门、跨学科、跨地区的综合集成的发展特色,并且在"任务带学科"的发展过程中也逐步创建了较为系统的资源科学理论基础和实证方法论体系。面对自然资源部成立以来国家对自然资源综合管理体制深化改革的重大需求,推动建立并完善独立的资源科学学科体系,已成为当前我国自然资源研究领域的重要任务。本文系统梳理了20世纪50年代至21世纪初中国自然资源综合考察和研究的发展过程,着重论述了不同时期的重点发展方向及特点,完成了对不同时期历史机遇的总结与展望。可以发现:中国自然资源研究已经形成了国家需求导向并引领学科建设的发展趋势,未来应继续坚持以多学科整合为特色的综合研究范式,开拓中国特色的资源科学系统研究新视角;加快形成完整的学科体系,完善资源科学人才培养体系;加强资源科学的学科史研究,厘定资源科学与地理学、地质学、生态学、环境科学等相关学科的相互关系,积极引入大数据理论框架及技术优势,创新"自然资源大数据"或"资源利用大数据"等相关理论及技术,建立自然资源开发利用过程动态评价方法,为...     

Cystic hygroma and congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Early prenatal sonographic evaluation of Fryns' syndrome

We report a case of cystic hygroma and diffuse lymphangiectasia detected by sonogram at 12 weeks' gestation. Fetal karyotype was normal. At 20 weeks' gestation, herniation of the bowel into the chest was noted. At delivery, the infant was diagnosed as having Fryns' syndrome. This is the first reported case of Fryns' syndrome presenting with cystic hygroma.     

New insights into the evaluation of anaerobic properties of sludge: Biodegradability and stabilization

Evaluating anaerobic biodegradability of sludge and then identifying the stabilization of digestate is necessary in sludge treatment and disposal. 48 sludge samples from 24 typical waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in 11 provinces in China were selected to investigate the relationship between Biochemical Acidogenic Potential (BAP) test and Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) test. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) production obtained from BAP tests was found linearly related to the ultimate methane production from corresponding BMP tests. Satisfying results were obtained with Pearson correlation coefficient as 0.929 and R² value as 0.76. Furthermore, the physio-chemical characteristics (FCI, SUVA₂₅₄, E₄/E₆) of supernatant, which were associated with humic-like substances (HS), were investigated before and after BMP tests. Through which a new criterion (FCI>1.50, SUVA₂₅₄>1.10, E₄/E₆<4.0) was proposed to evaluate the stabilization level of anaerobic digested sludge.