Leber und Ovulationshemmer

Since introduction of oral contraceptive steroids a variety of physiologic-adaptive and toxic side effects have been reported. A review is given. The study reports also four cases of hepatic vein thrombosis (Budd-Chiari-Syndrome-Venoocclusive disease) and three cases of benign hepatic tumors (liver cell adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia) in young women following 2- to 5-year treatment with oral contraceptive steroids.     

HLA-A,B,C,DR typing and 17-OHP determination for second trimester prenatal diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficient CAH

In 18 families at risk for the HLA-linked, 21-hydroxylase deficient form of autosomal recessive congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), prenatal diagnosis (PD) was performed using two methods: (1) HLA-A,B,C typing and in the latter 11 cases also DR typing of cultured amniotic fluid cells (AFC) using the standard microcytotoxicity assay, and (2) measurement of second trimester amniotic fluid 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) concentration using gel chromatography and radioimmunoassay. The accuracy of the prenatal predictions was confirmed by postnatal HLA typing of umbilical cord blood lymphocytes and by clinical evaluation. In 16/18 families, both HLA typing of AFC and 17-OHP measurements proved informative for PD. The predictions of both methods were concordant in 14/16 families (88 per cent). In ten of these families, a normal fetus was predicted, and in four, an affected fetus; all pregnancies were carried to term and all predictions were confirmed postnatally. In 2/16 cases (12 per cent), however, the predictions were discordant: the prenatal HLA typing indicated an affected fetus, whereas the 17-OHP values predicted a normal fetus. Both pregnancies were continued and two healthy boys were delivered. The discordance proved to be due to a ‘missed’ HLA antigen in one case and to serologically cross-reactive HLA antigens in the second. Finally, in 2/18 cases, prenatal assessment of fetal genotype had to rely on HLA typing alone as 17-OHP measurement was not performed in one family and in the second family the 17-OHP values obtained were not informative due to inadvertent continuation of hormone therapy to the date of amniocentesis. In both cases, the HLA typing data accurately predicted a normal fetus. In conclusion, a combination of HLA typing of cultured AFC and 17-OHP measurements of amniotic fluid permits accurate prenatal diagnosis of CAH in most cases (88 per cent). In addition, the supplementary use of HLA-DR typing of AFC as presented here for the first time proved helpful in families with HLA-A.B homozygosity due to parental sharing of antigens and can be informative for identifying HLA-B/21-OH recombinant haplotypes.     

Subarachnoid cyst with hydrocephalus–a complication of mid-trimester amniocentesis

We report a child with a subarachnoid cyst with hydrocephalus following a mid-trimester amniocentesis. Although fetal trauma is a rare complication, it is important to stress the need to perform amniocentesis under ultrasound control. Children with neurological disease or convulsions of unknown origin in early infancy who are born to mothers who have had midtrimester amniocentesis should have a CT scan as part of the investigations to exclude this rare but nevertheless important complication.     

Biodegradation of ammonia by two stage biofiltration system

The biofiltration technique for the purification of polluted air from volatile compounds was studied. The process was realized in a modified solid-state fermentation system (SSF). The ammonia removal efficiency was investigated in one and two stage systems with inert packing material and hemoautotrofic microorganisms designed DN-1 (Pseudomonas sp.), DN-2 (Nitrisomonas sp.), DN-3 (Nitrobacter sp.) and DN-13 (Sarcina sp.). The investigations were made at different ammonia concentrations in inlet gas and packing loads. A one-stage biofiltration system with the ammonia load 0.41 g/m³h ensured the biological elimination capacity 0.33 g/m³h due to the nitrification processes. A two-stage system increased the total removal efficiency as well as the biodegradation efficiency as the result of the denitrification process.     

A unique strategy of host colony exploitation in a parasitic ant: workers of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Polyrhachis lama</Emphasis> rear their brood in neighbouring host nests

The formicine ant Polyrhachis lama is a social parasite, exploiting its ponerine host ant species Diacamma sp. In most social parasitic associations, the parasitic species are closely related to their host species group, evolving directly from independent ancestors of the host species. However, in the Polyrhachis lama–Diacamma sp. association, the associated species belong to different ant subfamilies. Based on preliminary field surveys, we had presumed that P. lama might have given up its reproductive division of labour, i.e. workers would be able to produce males as well as workers and females parthenogenetically. In this study, this hypothesis was disproved: Polyrhachis lama workers cannot be fertilized and are only able to produce males. In the host–parasite association originating from nests possessing a P. lama queen, workers penetrate surrounding Diacamma sp. nests, carrying brood for rearing within these satellite nests. In this peculiar way, a single P. lama colony is able to exploit several Diacamma sp. colonies simultaneously.