Adult-onset GM2 gangliosidosis diagnosed in a fetus

Amniocentesis and subsequent tests are reported on a fetus conceived of a rare mating type: its mother has an intermediate level of β hexosaminidase A (HEX A), characteristic of carriers of Tay-Sachs disease (TSD), while the father suffers from an adult-onset GM₂ ganglio-sidosis (AOG) with severe HEX A deficiency. Activity of HEX A in the cultured fetal cells was very low when measured by the heat-inactivation method, thus showing the typical biochemical phenotype of TSD fetuses. However, upon separation of HEX isozymes by ion exchange chromatography, residual HEX A (17 per cent of total HEX) was demonstrated. Also in contrast to TSD fetuses, this fetus' fibroblasts were able to synthesize the precursor of a chains of HEX, and ultrastructural examination of its brain revealed few atypical lamellar bodies, unlike those found in TSD fetuses of the same gestational age. It is therefore concluded that the fetus was not affected with TSD, but rather with AOG.     

Prevalence and clinical significance of anticardiolipin antibodies in pregnancies complicated by parvovirus B19 infection

Anticardiolipin antibodies were measured in 60 pregnant women with acute parvovirus B19 infection. Test results for eight (13.3 per cent) women were positive for anticardiolipin antibody. Six of these eight women became negative later, yielding a prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies of 3.3 per cent (2/60) 6 months after acute parvovirus B19 infection. Anticardiolipin antibody positivity was not associated with an increased risk of abortion, fetal death, or maternal complications. This study suggests that there is an elevated frequency of anticardiolipin antibodies in pregnant women with acute parvovirus B19, probably representing an epiphenomenon. However, this is not associated with an adverse maternal or perinatal outcome.     

Maternal Serum CA 125 for aneuploidy detection in early pregnancy

Maternal serum CA 125 levels were determined at 9–11 menstrual weeks for 26 cases of trisomy 13 (n = 4), trisomy 18 (n = 7), trisomy 21 (n = 15), and appropriate controls. There were no statistically significant differences between groups.     

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.     

S-100 protein and neuron-specific enolase in amniotic fluid as markers of abdominal wall and neural tube defects in the fetus

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is increased leakage of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100 protein into amniotic fluid in pregnancies with neural tube defects, since both these proteins are produced by neural tissue, and to compare the value of these substances for detecting such defects with that of the more conventional techniques of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gel electrophoresis. Amniotic samples from 25 mid-pregnancies (15–17 weeks' gestation) with neural tube defects (14 with open spina bifida and 11 with anencephaly) and from seven mid-pregnancies with abdominal wall defects were compared with a control material consisting of 80 amniotic fluid samples from 80 consecutive mid-pregnancy amniocenteses, with normal karyotypes and AFP concentrations. All of the above cases of abnormalities were primarily detected through increased AFP levels in the amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid samples from 13 pregnancies with fetuses with autosomal chromosomal abnormalities and seven amniotic fluid samples contaminated with blood were also included in the investigation. It is concluded from the results that the conventional AFP assay combined with AChE gel electrophoresis is the best method for screening amniotic fluid for neural tube defects and defects of the abdominal wall. Neither NSE nor S-100 assay alone proved to be superior for the detection of these cases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid. The S-100 assay, however, could give additional information in cases where AChE gel electrophoresis is not decisive; for example, in samples contaminated with blood.     

Prenatal pleural effusion associated with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia

A pleural effusion associated with congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia was detected in a fetus in utero but was absent at the time of delivery. The pleural effusion was unilateral although the disease involved both lungs. In this case there was an association between polyhydramnios and congenital pulmonary lymphangiectasia.     

莫桑比克伊尼亚卡岛的珊瑚礁生长:珊瑚群落与1999/2000年南部非洲洪水对其造成的影响

引言 在过去几十年中进行的调查工作使我们对低纬度珊瑚礁的生长有了较清楚的认识.生长在这些环境(往往在温度、盐度和光照方面处于理想的条件下)中的珊瑚虫能够形成在空间上非常重要的珊瑚礁结构.在清澈的水体中,水下100m多的地方都有珊瑚生长[1,2],但据报道,在较浅的地方,碳酸盐净累积速度为0.83～0.91kg CaCO3/m2@a[3,4].     

中国、印度和世界的新秩序

中国和印度几乎同时出现在世界舞台表明国际事务的架构发生了史无前例的变化.这两个占世界人口40%的巨人,其人口相当于位居其后的20个人口最多国家的人口总和.在十九和二十世纪,这两个巨人长期在主宰国际事务的欧洲、日本和美国的阴影之下沉睡.