In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells obtained from chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis

In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells have been investigated after chorionic villus sampling at the first trimester and amniocentesis at the second trimester of pregnancy. Light microscopy revealed heterogeneous morphology of cell types in both the chorionic villus culture and the amniotic fluid cultures. Based on the experiments performed, chorionic villus cells are more sensitive to pronase, trypsin, and versene during subculture and have a higher DNA content per single cell and release more [¹²⁵I]-Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin into culture medium than those found in amniotic fluid cells. The practical applications of this study are discussed.     

Prenatal diagnosis of β thalassaemia by reverse phase HPLC

Reverse phase HPLC of radioactive globin chains has been compared to classical carboxy methyl cellulose chromatography for the prenatal diagnosis of β thalassaemia. The two methods correlated highly (r = 0.97 p < 0.0005) and provided an identical diagnosis for 40 fetal blood samples of fetuses homozygous or heterozygous for β thalassaemia. The HPLC procedure was much faster and required fewer biochemical steps (no globin preparation). It was at least as accurate and more sensitive than the classical chromatography. A single column can be used for 150 analyses and is always ready to be used. Last but not least it is much less expensive than CMC chromatography.     

Verification of carrier status for Becker muscular dystrophy from analysis of a blighted ovum

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used on material from a blighted ovum to confirm indirectly the carrier status of a woman with a family history of Becker muscular dystrophy. Conventional testing including creatine kinase levels, muscle biopsy, and EMG had been inconclusive, and on the basis of one elevated creatine kinase level, the woman had been designated a possible carrier. Ultrasound examination at 10 weeks of pregnancy indicated a blighted ovum, from which DNA was subsequently extracted and subjected to PCR testing for determination of sex and genotypic status with respect to the known familial deletion of the dystrophin gene. The blighted ovum was found to have a Y chromosome and also to be deleted for at least exon 6 of the dystrophin gene, indirectly indicating that the mother most likely carried the family mutation for Becker muscular dystrophy.     

Prenatal sonographic assessment of early,rapidly growing fetal cervical teratoma

Although malignant transformation of fetal cervical teratoma is extremely rare, perinatal morbidity is high and usually related to the size of the tumour, which may compromise fetal swallowing and subsequently lead to upper airway obstruction. We present a case in which mid-trimester serial sonography demonstrated markedly rapid early growth of a lesion of this type between 17 and 19 weeks' gestation indicating the aggressive nature of this tumour, assisting parental decision to terminate the pregnancy. Histopathology confirmed grade 3 immaturity of the lesion.     

Effect of long-term fertilization on soil nitrate distribution

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厦门西港海水质量对鱼卵胚胎发育畸形率的影响

以养殖场培育的花尾胡椒鲷受精卵为实验材料测试了厦门西域5个站位的表层水水样对花尾胡椒鲷受精卵的胚胎发育毒性，并运用GC－MS手段分析了水样中的美国EPA优控的16PAHs组分的含量。结果表明：3号站位（厦门市工业和生活污水主要排放口的外侧）和4号站位（厦门西港的港区）的水样对鱼卵的胚胎发育的毒性最强。8号站位（位于主航道并濒临嵩屿电厂）的水样对鱼卵胚胎发良的毒性次之，1号站位（湾口）和5号站位（内港）的水样对鱼卵的胚胎发育的毒性较小。水样中的PAHs含量分析结果表明，仅用水样中的PAHs含量不能全面地反映水样对鱼卵胚胎发育的毒性。最后，对本实验方法应用于海洋环境生物监测的有效性进行了探讨。     

Fluoride distibution and the effect of some ions along Alexandria coastal Mediterranean seawater of Egypt

The coastal seawater of Mediterranean of Alexandria receives large amount of discharged waters containing industrial wastes, sewage, and agricultural and domestic drainage. Fluoride and some parameters were(chemical and physical) determined. The data gave indication that the content and the amount of the discharged water largely affect the chemical composition of the coastal water. Stepwise regression analysis was highly significant and the model was very fruitful, where the observed and calculated values were mostly concordant. This may indicated that there was a relation between fluoride content in coastal seawater and its content in the discharged water.     

Pitfalls in the prenatal diagnosis of peroxisomal β-oxidation defects by chorionic villus sampling

Variability in the level of expression of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) is documented in cultured chorionic villus (CV) cells derived from two fetuses, one at risk for an unusual peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation defect, and the other at risk for the X-linked form of adrenoleucodystrophy (ALD). Cells from early subcultures of chorionic cells from both cases gave normal values for VLCFA ratios. The results for the fetus at risk for the β-oxidation defect were interpreted to indicate that the fetus was not affected; however, at birth, the infant was clinically and biochemically affected. In the case of the fetus at risk for X-linked ALD, although VLCFAs were normal in subculture 1, the levels of these fatty acids increased dramatically in subculture 3, suggesting an abnormal fetus. Termination of the pregnancy and subsequent biochemical and morphological follow-up confirmed that the fetus was indeed affected by ALD.