Morphological features of a case of retinoic acid embryopathy

A case of retinoic acid embryopathy which was retrospectively diagnosed after delivery is presented. The affected fetus was exposed to the drug during the first month of pregnancy and second-trimester sonographic examination showed hydrocephalus and cardiacmalformation. The diagnosis was made on the basis of autopsy findings and genetic enquiry.     

Physicochemical and biological characterisation of different dredged sediment deposit sites in France

The aim of this work is to determine sediment properties, metal contents and transfers of Cd and Zn from dredged sediments to plants. To this end 10 deposit sites with different contexts were visited in France. The main agronomic characteristics and metal contents for surface soil layers were measured, the plant species present at the sites, such as Brassicaceae and Fabaceae, were listed, and the distribution of their root systems described. Soil characteristics such as available P (Olsen) varied between sites, with values ranging from 0.01 to 0.49 g kg(-1). Total contents and enrichment factors were studied, highlighting metal contamination in most of the sites. Despite carrying out principal component analyses, it was not possible to group deposits by age or geographical localisation. However, deposits could be distinguished as a function of proximity of industrial facilities, sediment grain size and carbonate content. Associations between metals were also highlighted: (1) Cd, Pb and Zn, and (2) Al, Cr, Cu and Fe. Consequently, we propose classifying them as technogenic anthrosols.     

Development of synthetic criteria for the ecological evaluation of woodlots and woodlot units

Different criteria have been proposed for the rapid ecological evaluation of wooded areas. It is difficult, however, to determine the criteria most likely to yield results similar to those that would be obtained through detailed surveys and exhaustive evaluation. In order to identify such synthetic criteria, data from a detailed evaluation of Montreal Urban Community woodlots were studied with the help of multivariate analysis. This detailed evaluation was undertaken at two levels—woodlot unit and the woodlots themselves—using 16 different criteria.At the woodlot unit level, area and abundance indices of shade intolerant species in the tree layer could be used as synthetic criteria, while at the woodlot level the ecological value of the constituent units stand out as the first synthetic criterion. These results are compared with criteria proposed in the literature, and the use of multivariate analysis in ecological evaluation is briefly discussed.     

Campomelic acampomelic dysplasia presenting with increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester

This is the first report of a fetus affected with campomelic acampomelic dysplasia presenting with increased nuchal translucency. Ultrasonography at 13 weeks of amenorrhea showed a nuchal translucency 5.6 mm thick. The karyotype performed on amniotic fluid cells was normal (46,XY). Ultrasonography at 22 weeks revealed a normal femoral length and female genitalia. A second amniocentesis was performed to confirm the karyotype and for dosage of steroid hormones. Testosterone dosage was low, corresponding to a female fetus. Ultrasonography at 32 weeks showed growth retardation of the long bones (<3rd centile) that were not curved. A severe malformation syndrome was suspected and the pregnancy was terminated at 33 weeks. The fetus displayed macrocephaly, facial dysmorphism and female external genitalia. X ray showed straight and thickened long bones, hypoplastic scapulae and moderate platyspondyly. In view of the association of sex reversal, hypoplasia of the scapulae, and the presence of straight long bones, campomelic acampomelic dysplasia was suspected and confirmed by the finding of a SOX9 mutation. This case shows the importance of a careful echographic survey in a fetus with a nuchal translucency > 4 mm, especially if there is discordance between phenotypic and genotypic sex, since growth retardation may occur later during the pregnancy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of trace metal leaching from coals into seawater

The behaviour of three South African coals in water and, particularly in seawater, was examined. A sequential speciation procedure used to evaluate trace metal partitioning in coal has shown that trace metals will not be easily released from these coals into environmental ecosystems. Only a few trace elements are slightly leached from these coals into water or seawater at pH around 8. On the other hand, Mn is highly leached from these coals into water or seawater. It has been clearly shown that Mn concentrations are highly correlated to sulfate and calcium concentrations indicating that Mn is mainly solubilized into water simultaneously to gypsum; the leaching efficiency being severely reduced for coal having a high calcite content. The leaching percentage of Mn into seawater is enhanced by the presence of seawater salts that increases gypsum solubility. The leaching process of Mn from coal into water or seawater is governed by gypsum solubilization and is relatively rapid during the first thirty minutes, then very slow. In this study, it has been also shown that, depending on their physico-chemical properties, trace metals may be removed from seawater solutions in the presence of coal having a high calcite content. In this work, it has been also shown that some elements, particularly Fe, are greatly solubilized into seawater in the presence of a strong chelating agent like EDTA. Like for Mn, the leaching rate of metals from coal in the presence of EDTA is relatively rapid during the first 30 min then much slower, suggesting a solubilization process simultaneously to gypsum or/and calcite solubilization.     

Spatial variability of sediment ecotoxicity in a large storm water detention basin

Detention basins are valuable facilities for urban storm water management, from both the standpoint of flood control and the trapping of pollutants. Studies performed on storm water have shown that suspended solids often constitute the main vector of pollutants (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), etc.). In order to characterise the ecotoxicity of urban sediments from storm water detention basins, the sediments accumulated over a 6-year period were sampled at five different points through the surface of a large detention basin localised in the east of Lyon, France. A specific ecotoxicological test battery was implemented on the solid phase (raw sediment) and the liquid phase (interstitial water of sediments). The results of the study validated the method formulated for the ecotoxicological characterization of urban sediments. They show that the ecotoxicological effect of the sediments over the basin is heterogeneous and greater in areas often flooded. They also show the relationship between, on one hand, the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediments and, on the other hand, their ecotoxicity. Lastly, they contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of the pollution close to the bottom of detention basins, which can be useful for improving their design. The results of this research raise particularly the issue of using oil separators on the surface of detention basins.     

Prenatal diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type 1: sonographic and MRI findings

Prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a large oropharyngeal tumor, and cardiac and cranial abnormalities consistent with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in a third-trimester fetus, which were confirmed on postmortem examination. Sonographic features of NF1 are generally nonspecific; MR examination provided significant additional information, facilitating prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Is it time for routine prenatal serological screening for congenital cytomegalovirus?

Congenital CMV infection (cCMV) is the most prevalent congenital infection, main non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and major cause of neurological disability. Despite the burden of cCMV, no Public Health body recommends universal serology screening in pregnancy. This was explained by gaps in knowledge of epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis and the absence of any validated treatment. Over 10 years, progress has been made in our understanding of cCMV following primary maternal infection. Risk factors have been identified and quantified, notably it is now well recognized that among maternal primary infections only those occurring in the first trimester may lead to long-term sequelae. Algorithms combining IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity detection with serological assays adapted on high throughput platforms have demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose maternal primary infection. The prognostic value of prenatal imaging combining ultrasound and MRI has been validated by many studies. Finally, recent data from a randomized controlled study demonstrated the efficacy of early antiviral therapy to prevent vertical transmission. Whether CMV serology screening in the first trimester of pregnancy meets the WHO's criteria for a screening program will therefore be reviewed.