Selenium metabolism in animals and humans

Ｓｅｌｅｎｉｕｍｍｅｔａｂｏｌｉｓｍｉｎａｎｉｍａｌｓａｎｄｈｕｍａｎｓ￥Ｐ．Ｄ．Ｗｈａｎｇｅｒ（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＡｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌＣｈｅｍｉｓｔｒｙ，ＯｒｅｇｏｎＵｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ，Ｏｒｅｇｏｎ９７３３１－７３０１，ＵＳＡ）Ａｂｓｔ...     

Exencephaly in autosomal dominant brachydactyly syndrome

Exencephaly was diagnosed at 17 weeks in a 27-year-old primigravida with abnormalities of the hands and a family history suggestive of autosomal dominant brachydactyly and clinodactyly. In this family there was also a history of ‘anencephaly’. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the association of exencephaly and autosomal dominant brachydactyly. As the relationship between hand and cranial anomalies is well established, we suggest that this association in our case could be due to a defect in the same gene.     

Triploid fetus: An important consideration in the evaluation of very high maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein

Two patients referred for evaluation of very high maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (10–20 multiples of the median) were carrying triploid fetuses with placentas showing features of partial hydatidiform mole. The diagnosis of fetal triploidy should be considered when there is a very high maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and no ultrasound evidence of open neural tube defect, ventral wall defect, or any other explanation. Therefore, chromosomal analysis of amniotic fluid cells in such cases is essential.     

Teleskope und Detektoren für die Infrarot-Astronomie

Infrared observations with ground-based and balloon-borne telescopes are hampered by thermal background radiation and absorption caused by the earth's atmosphere. A sensitivity gain of up to three orders of magnitude can be obtained under the low photon background conditions of a helium-cooled space telescope. Physical properties of photodetectors and bolometers as well as their application to the new infrared telescopes aboard satellites and Spacelab are discussed.