Early amniocentesis at 11–14 weeks' gestation for the diagnosis of fetal chromosomal abnormality—a clinical evaluation

Early arnniocentesis between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation was offered to 110 women at risk of a chromosomally abnormal fetus due to maternal age. Four were found to be unsuitable for the procedure, and 106 early amniocenteses were performed. In 102 cases, clear amniotic fluid was obtained with a single tap. There were two dry taps and two bloodstained tapis; sampling was repeated in three of these cases before 15 weeks. In the fourth case, placental biopsy was performed at 16 weeks. Thus, we were able to obtain a satisfactory sample in all but three cases(2.8 percent). Karyotyping of cells harvested from the early amniotic fluid samples was successful in all the 105 cases. Cell culture from the initial samples revealed a normal karyotype in 99 cases, two balanced translocations, two tetraploid karyotypes, and two cases of pseudomosaicism. Of the 105 pregnancies successfully sampled, there have been two losses to date (1–8 per cent). Two further patients presented with premature rupture of membranes, both pregnancies having successful outcomes. Sixty-two babies have delivered to date, with four congenital anomalies. There were no respiratory problems. Twenty-nine pregnancies are continuing without known complications, and details are not yet available on the remaining 12. The results indicate that early arnniocentesis may replace the traditional test at 15–17 weeks.     

Estimating the risk of a fetal autosomal trisomy at mid-trimester using maternal serum alpha fetoprotein and age: A retrospective study of 142 pregnancies

Risks appropriate for mid-trimester prenatal screening for autosomal trisomies have been estimated from a combination of maternal age and maternal serum (MS) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels at 16–20 weeks gestation. Published data on the frequency of Down's syndrome births relative to maternal age were modified to include the additional age-related frequency of trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 cases to provide an overall risk for an autosomal trisomy at midtrimester. MSAFP results from a retrospective study of 142 affected (114 trisomy 21, 19 trisomy 18, and 9 trisomy 13)and 113 000 unaffected pregnancies were converted to multiples of the appropriate gestational median (MOM). The AFP levels in the autosomal trisomy pregnancies were found to be significantly reduced at 0.72 MOM of the unaffected pregnancies. Risks (likelihood ratios) were derived from the overlapping log Gaussian distributions for affected and unaffected pregnancies and combined with maternal age risks to give the overall odds of an affected pregnancy. A mid-trimester cut-off risk of 1:280 gave an estimated 37 per cent detection rate for autosomal trisomies in the west of Scotland population for a follow-up (false-positive) rate of 6.6 per cent. These figures compare with a 30 per cent detection and 6.7 per cent false-positive rate if age 35 years and over is used as the sole criterion for selection of at-risk pregnancies.     

Chance-constrained programming (CCP)abatement of SO_2 emission for acid deposition control in Liuzhou City

A deterministic linear programming model which optimizes the abatement of each SO2 emission source, is extended into a CCP form by introducing equations of probabilistic constrained through the incorporation of uncertainty in the source-receptor-specific transfer coefficients. Based on the calculation of SO2 and sulfate average residence time for Liuzhou City, a sulfur deposition model has been developed and the distribution of transfer coefficients have been found to be approximately log-normal. Sulfur removal minimization of the model shows that the abatement of emission sources in the city is more effective, while control cost optimization provides the lowest cost programmes for source abatement at each allowable deposition limit under varied environmental risk levels. Finally a practicable programme is recommended.     

床板珊瑚形珊瑚的数值分类研究

本文系统地论述了床板珊瑚形珊瑚的数值分类研究。实际工作是在传统“属”一级分类的基础上,对种一级的代表性化石标本进行的。作者根据数值分类的要求,在深入研究前人对各种的化石标本所作大量文字描述的基础上,提取有效的鉴定特征作为分类性状,然后对这些性状进行编码和标度,采用加权明氏距离估计任意两化石标本之间的相似性,最后根据每个属各种的化石标本间的相似性,利用系统聚类法实现对种的重新厘定。     

几种不同浓缩技术回收水中病毒的效果

实验表明,即使病毒剂量低到一个感染性病毒也可使人感染,并可在人群间造成传播。因此,水环境的病毒污染深为人们关切。 水中的致病性病毒主要来自人和动物的排泄物及医院废水。目前已从各种水体中检测出120多种危及人类健康的肠道病毒和其它病毒。 世界卫生组织要求,用最灵敏的方法试验,在100—1000L饮用水中应不含病毒。因此,病毒的浓缩技术是监测水中病毒的前提。 现在国内外使用的浓缩技术方法很多,但都不甚理想。我们用几种不同的方法回收自来水和污水厂出水中实验性污染的病毒,以便选择具有快速、简便、适用性广泛、浓缩水样体积大和回收病毒效率高的技术。     

Iniencephaly is not uniformly fatal

Iniencephaly is an uncommon, but not rare, lesion involving a fusion between the posterior occipital bone and the cervical spine. Many cases are associated with other cranio-cervical abnormalities and anencephaly, and most are associated with other structural abnormalities. The prognosis is thought to be dismal. We describe a male infant, one of twins, who was diagnosed prenatally as having iniencephaly. The child was born without complication and has grown and thrived. This is the fourth patient with long-term survival with iniencephaly. We recommend that non-directive counselling be applied when presenting the findings of iniencephaly to parents.     

关于黄土高原空间范围的讨论

长期以来,黄土高原的空间范围缺乏明确的定论。争论的焦点反映出不同学者对自然地理现象空间分布过渡性的认识和处理的差异。本文从黄土、黄土分布区、黄土高原及其毗邻的黄土分布区、黄土高原、典型黄土地貌区等几个不同层次的概念出发,探讨了划分黄土高原的客观标准,并根据野外考察和航卫片判读确定了黄土高原的空间范围。     

珠江口伶仃洋的海涂土壤资源

伶仃洋是珠江口东北部浅海湾,汇集珠江东四口门的来水,在潮间带及紧邻的潮下带(-5米以浅)形成大片海涂。土壤质地较粘重,有机质含量在1.5—2.2％之间,含盐量为0.2—1.5％,pH 为6.5—8.0,自然肥力较高,有很高的开发利用价值。因潮位带和生态条件不同,可分为 1.宜农围垦带,集中于西部浅滩,土壤含盐量较低,有机质和磷钾养分丰富,宜种水稻、甘蔗、香蕉等作物;2.水产养殖带,包括不宜围垦的潮间带和向海侧的潮下带,宜养鲻鱼、对虾、牡蛎等;3.城市、港口和工业填海造陆岸段,集中于东部浅滩。     

Prenatal diagnosis of campomelic dysplasia by ultrasonography

Consanguineous partners had a boy with campomelic dysplasia who died of increasing respiratory distress soon after birth. The next pregnancy was monitored frequently by ultrasonography and a healthy male infant was born at term. During a further pregnancy, ultrasonography suggested campomelic dysplasia in the 16th week of gestation. This was confirmed in the 18th week. The pregnancy was terminated and the fetus showed the typical radiological, anatomical and histological findings.     

Sonographic diagnosis of cystic adenomatoid malformation in-utero

Routine ultrasound examination at 30 weeks gestation revealed an intrapulmonary cystic mass in an otherwise normal fetus. Following delivery at term, the diagnosis of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the right lung was confirmed, and an elective right middle lobectomy successfully performed at nine days of age.