Transabdominal chorionic villus sampling in the second trimester of pregnancy: Feto-maternal transfusions in relation to pregnancy outcome

Volumes of feto-maternal transfusions (FMTs) in transabdominal chorionic villus sampling (TACVS) in the second trimester of pregnancy were calculated from the difference between maternal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations before and 1 h after TACVS. In 50 pregnancies, there existed no correlation between FMT volume and the amount of villi collected or the number of TACVS attempts. The expected risk of fetal exsanguination due to very voluminous FMT could not be substantiated. In one case, immunization could have been the cause of hydrops fetalis, although only a volume of 0.15 ml could be calculated.     

Uterine cavity lavage: Adding fish to conventional cytogenetics for embryonic sexing and diagnosing common chromosomal aberrations

This study was undertaken to examine the efficacy for early prenatal diagnosis of uterine cavity lavage at the level of the internal os and to assess the rate of maternal contamination. In phase I, uterine cavity lavage was performed in 38 women scheduled for pregnancy termination between 6 and 12 weeks. In addition to short- and long-term cultures, one-colour FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) with Y and X probes was used for fetal sexing. Two-colour FISH was used in all known male fetuses for the assessment of maternal contamination. In phase II, lavage was performed on 16 women. Fetal sex was diagnosed with direct labelled X and Y probes and common numerical chromosomal aberration was attempted with 18 and 21 direct labelled probes. Fetal sexing was successful in all cases in phases I and II. Out of 34 patients in which tissue was obtained, only FISH was done in six. Long-term cell cultures were successful in the other 28 cases, but complete karyotyping in 19 (56 per cent). No chromosomal aberration was found with the direct labelled probes 18 and 21 in FISH. Maternal contamination was assessed to be 5–10 per cent. This simple and easy-to-master technique is very effective in obtaining fetal cells early in pregnancy for genetic diagnosis, especially by FISH. However, the safety of the procedure must be tested in ongoing pregnancies.     

Vegetation dynamics after compost amendment in a Mediterranean post-fire ecosystem

On Mediterranean calcareous soils, high fire frequency induces soil impoverishment and the development of stable Quercus coccifera garrigues. Organic amendment could increase soil fertility levels, and could alter the vegetation dynamics and the established dominance relationships. In this study, the plant cover evolution is monitored in an amended burnt shrub during two years. Three treatments are studied: control (D0), 50 t ha⁻¹ (D50) and 100 t ha⁻¹ (D100) of fresh co-composted sewage sludge and greenwastes.First, the spreading process leads to the squashing of the vegetation, whose intensity reaches a threshold on D100 and limits the woody species’ recovery after amendment. Consequently, the dominant herb Brachypodium retusum is favoured. On D50, woody species are favoured compared to herbs, probably due to the space colonization strategy of Q. coccifera after squashing. Thus, compost at both rates favours the two dominant resprouter species until they have colonized all the free space created by squashing.Secondly, compost has some fertilizing effects on Rosmarinus officinalis and Ulex parviflorus, that improves their cover on D50. However, compost also increases U. parviflorus’ sensitivity to drought.At the end of the experiment, a third compost effect appears, as seeder cover becomes greater than D0 on D50. After amendment, compost covers rocky stones, which creates a new territory where species with superficial rooting can establish (mulch effect).     

Trihalomethane formation in ozonated and chlorinated surface water

The relatively recent discovery of disinfection by-products has driven the main regulatory organisms to set maximum contaminant levels for certain substances in drinking water. Trihalomethanes can be deemed as the most important group of by-products in chlorinated surface waters. The present work has focused on trihalomethane formation in a full-scale water treatment plant. We studied the effect of several factors, including ozonation, on trihalomethane levels in chlorinated treated water. The treatment scheme also includes an ozonation step. Electronic Publication