modifications of ultradian and orcadian rhythms of fetal heart rate after fetal-maternal adrenal gland suppression: A double blind study

In order to verify whether fetal and maternal adrenal gland suppression induces effects on fetal behaviour, triamcinolone was administered to five healthy pregnant women at 35 weeks of gestation. Five patients of the same gestational age were used as control. Fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal movements were recorded continuously over 2-h interval by means of cardiotocography. After 3 weeks (38 weeks of gestation) the recordings were repeated without drug administration. Cortisol, adrenocorticotropin hormone, 17 β-estradiol and unconjugated estriol were measured at the same time every 2 h in maternal peripheral plasma. At 35 weeks we found a loss of circadian rhythms of the hormones investigated and modifications of ultradian and circadian patterns of FHR in the treated group with respect to the control. No differences in hormonal and biophysical parameters were found between the two groups after the end of treatment (38 weeks). These data suggest that the inhibition of fetal and maternal adrenal glands could cause modifications of FHR patterns.     

大型回转窑托轮轴疲劳断裂分析与防治

回转窑由于其支承载荷分配不均 ,托轮轴疲劳断裂现象频繁 ,这就严重影响了生产的正常进行 ,造成重大的经济损失。笔者通过对回转窑的托轮轴进行力学分析 ,导出托轮轴等效对称循环应力幅的计算方法 ;对现场回转窑进行分析计算 ,得出该窑托轮轴危险截面等效应力幅与所受载荷的线性关系 ,从而得到托轮轴疲劳极限对应的载荷值和一些重要结论 ;提出通过轴线检测和调整来控制托轮所受载荷 ,使托轮轴处在疲劳极限下运行 ,从而减少托轮断轴事故带来的重大损失 ,有着较好的经济效益     

Measurement of cholinesterases in amniotic fluid using a naphthyl acetate as substrate: A possible initial test for prenatal diagnosis of open neural tube defects

A quantitative method for cholinesterases in amniotic fluid using the non-specific substrate α naphthyl acetate and the cholinesterase-specific inhibitor, eserine, is described. This assay was used to test 671 samples of amniotic fluid. The diagnoses for fetal ONTDs, based on the levels of AChE + ChE, were compared with those made for the same samples by the AFP method. Correct diagnoses were made by both methods with amniotic fluid from 35 women carrying fetuses with ONTDs and 631 carrying normal fetuses. There were five false-positive test results for normal fetuses by both methods when the cut-off points were 5 standard deviations above the mean for AFP and above the upper limit of the normal range (7. 5 milliunits) for cholinesterase (AChE + ChE). None of the false-positive samples from either method had the acetylcholinesterase band of activity characteristic of ONTDs after gel electrophoresis. In addition to the above 671 samples, 37 pregnancies with serious fetal abnormalities other than ONTDs were tested. Two were identified by both the AFP and AChE + ChE methods, two more by AFP assay and one other by the AChE + ChE assay.     

American energy and mineral industry involvement in housing

After a lapse of almost two decades, US energy and mining companies are once again involving themselves with worker housing. Reinvolvement began in the 1970s. It is in response to a recognition of the fiscal consequences of project delays and an industry responsibility to both workers and project area communities. It differs from the heavy reliance on company towns which were prevalent in the US during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Industry involvement now relies not only on supply, but on stimulation. A greater variety of housing initiatives is being utilised and a company must carefully select the housing initiative best suited to its circumstances. These initiatives need to be guided by the following set of decision guidelines: (1) housing function; (2) housing user; (3) housing type and quantity needs; (4) monetary expectations; (5) role of the industry; (6) housing unit location; (7) responsibilities after housing is completed; and (8) amenities and community sharing. Then, housing involvement must be reviewed in light of past and present industry experiences. Innovative ideas need to be evaluated with respect to proven initiatives, as well as their presumed goal and potential for success.Study performed under Contract No. DE-AC02-76CH00016 with the U.S. Department of Energy     

Unusual case of a fetus with congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung associated with trisomy 13

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung can be detected with antenatal ultrasound as hyperechogenic areas in the fetal chest. Associated extrapulmonary malformations as well as chromosomal aberrations are described as very rare. We present a case report of a fetus in the 23rd week of gestation who showed in the course of a routine ultrasound screening a large number of malformations: holoprosencephaly, arrhinencephaly, cleft palate, CCAM type III of the right inferior pulmonary lobe, ventricular septal defect and bilateral clubfeet. Chromosome analysis confirmed the suspicion of trisomy 13. The present case shows how important it is—even with malformations that are rarely accompanied by associated anomalies and which have a very good prognosis—to carry out a directed diagnosis including a fetal karyotyping. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sonographic features of ileal duplication cyst at 12 weeks

Enteric duplication cyst is a congenital abnormality that is believed to arise from abnormal recanalization of the bowel during embryogenesis. Previous reports suggest that the condition may be suspected prenatally by sonographic demonstration of an intra-abdominal cystic mass in the second and third trimesters. We present the sonographic features of a fetus with ileal duplication cyst at 12 weeks of gestation, which show that the condition may present in the first trimester of pregnancy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prenatal diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency

A fatal case of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency is described in a patient who presented with hypoglycaemia and a gross non-ketotic dicarboxylic aciduria. Cultured skin fibroblasts released ¹⁴CO₂ from [1–¹⁴C] octanoic acid at half the normal rate. Prenatal diagnosis was undertaken in a subsequent pregnancy in which cultured amniotic fluid cells revealed a marked reduction in octanoate oxidation indicative of an affected fetus. The pregnancy was terminated and the diagnosis was confirmed by enzyme analysis of skin fibroblasts taken from the fetus. The high residual octanoate oxidation by affected fibroblasts together with the absence of any characteristic abnormality of amniotic fluid organic acids are a potential limitation to the reliability of this type of prenatal diagnosis.     

Book reviews

The Impact of English Towns P. J. Corfield

Oxford Paperbacks. O.U.P. 1982, 206 pp, £3.95 Bibliography, Maps, Graphs and Tables

Change in the City Centre

D. Sim

Gower, Aldershot 1982, £11.50, 124 pp.     

Antenatal manifestation of congenital pancreatoblastoma in a fetus with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome

An Erratum has been published for this article in Prenatal Diagnosis 23(9) 2003, 771 Antenatal detection of an isolated abdominal cyst was found to be a pancreatoblastoma in a female fetus with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome. Prenatal and post-natal features and management of this very rare tumour are discussed. Molecular investigation disclosed a mosaic paternal 11p15 uniparental disomy in the tumoral cells. The prognosis of a congenital pancreatoblastoma is good if complete surgical excision is achieved. However, the association with Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome requires a prolonged follow-up because of the increased risk of developing malignant tumours. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.