Accuracy of amniotic fluid testing before 21 weeks' gestation in prenatal diagnosis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of intrauterine infection. Recent publications show amniocentesis to have an 81–100 per cent sensitivity in antenatal diagnosis after 21 weeks' gestation. Testing before 21 weeks' gestation is less well documented. We performed 36 amniocenteses between 14 and 20 weeks' gestation. The sensitivity was 45 per cent and the specificity 100 per cent. Implications and possible causes of this low sensitivity are discussed.     

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of marker chromosomes found at prenatal diagnosis

The nature and origin of two de novo small marker chromosomes found at prenatal diagnosis were determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization using chromosome centromere-specific probes and chromosome-specific plasmid libraries. One marker was found in a mosaic state and was shown to be an i(18p). The second marker was characterized as an inv dup(22). We conclude that molecular cytogenetic analysis contributes to the identification of marker chromosomes and therefore facilitates genetic counselling and decision-making for the parents.     

Attitudes of women of childbearing age towards prenatal diagnosis in Southeastern France

The objective of this study was to explore women's attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 and to examine some of the factors possibly responsible for these attitudes before implementing in real practice serological screening of pregnant women at risk for trisomy 21. We carried out a telephone survey on a representative sample of women who had recently had a normal livebirth delivery in the Marseille district in 1990. The participation rate was 80 per cent and the average age of the mothers was 28-9 years. Among the 514 women interviewed, 78 per cent stated that they would ask for an amniocentesis for a 1 per cent risk of trisomy 21 at their next pregnancy. When adjusting for confounding factors, the decision to have or not to have an amniocentesis was found to depend not only on the women's attitude towards induced abortion, but also on their understanding of the risk involved and on the social context (knowing a handicapped child, discussion with the father). It also depended on the women's age and on what they knew about amniocentesis from the medical point of view. The risk of miscarriage can influence a woman's choice but this objection was not found to affect the women's decisions significantly in our survey. The data showed the existence of a high potential demand for fetal karyotyping.     

Effects of atmospheric mercury pollution on terrestrial ecosystem in Chongqing, China

1　ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＭｅｒｃｕｒｙ(Ｈｇ)ａｓａｇｌｏｂａｌｐｏｌｌｕｔａｎｔｈａｓｃａｕｓｅｄｃｏｎｃｅｒｎｗｏｒｌｄｗｉｄｅｓｉｎｃｅｔｈｅｅｎｄｏｆ 1980ｓ.Ｉｔｉｓｅｍｉｔｔｅｄｔｏｔｈｅａｔｍｏｓｐｈｅｒｅｆｒｏｍｂｏｔｈａｎｔｈｒｏｐｏｇｅｎｉｃａｎｄｎａｔｕｒａｌｓｏｕｒｃｅｓ.Ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｓｏｕｒｃｅｏｆｔｈｅｆｏｒｍｅｒｉｓｔｈｅｄｉｓｃｈａｒｇｅｆｒｏｍ ｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎａｎｄｕｓｅｏｆＨｇａｓｗｅｌｌａｓｔｈｅｃｏｍｂｕｓｔｉｏｎｏｆｆｏｓｓｉｌｆｕｅｌｓ(Ｎｒｉ…     

澳大利亚自然保护区系统与管理

澳大利亚是全球生物多样性最丰富的12个国家之一。于1879年4月26日建立的澳第一个国家公园是世界上第二个国家公园，澳保护区系统类型齐全，名称不一。大多数保护区由各州自行管理。     

耐热粉末铝合金筒体热旋成形试验

介绍了喷射沉积耐热铝合金管坯经挤压变形 ,变薄旋压筒体的研制过程 ;重点论述了热旋成形筒体的工艺路线。试验探讨了耐热铝合金的旋压温度为 35 0～ 45 0℃ ,道次变薄率约为2 0 % ,累计变薄率约 5 0 % ,需中间退火 ,退火温度宜取 35 0℃。热旋结果认为 ,喷射沉积耐热粉末铝合金铸坯直接热旋成形困难 ,需经挤压比大于 4的变形致密 ,有助于热旋成形。耐热粉末铝合金挤压坯加热变薄旋压 ,应采用小压下量多道次的变形过程 ,逐渐细化晶粒组织 ,才能旋出综合性能良好的筒形件。     

上海市大气颗粒物高浓度区污染物的源解析

应用受体模式的化学质量平衡法支９个监测点的大气颗粒物进行污染源的源解析，得出这９个监测点的各类污染源平均贡献率为建筑尘占３２．１％，土壤尘占２７．５％，钢铁尘占２４．９％，燃煤尘占１４．８％，汽车尘和燃油尘分别占０．２％和０．４％。     

炼油污水气浮絮凝处理中试

气浮絮凝是炼油污水处理工艺中重要的一步 ,它是确保炼油污水生化处理顺利运行的关键 ,而开发和筛选优良的絮凝剂则又是提高气浮处理效果的保证。采用无机—有机复合絮凝剂进行炼油污水的中试试验 ,通过一系列条件试验 ,确定了复合絮凝剂投药剂量、投药间隔时间和投药方式 ,取得了令人满意的试验效果 ,CODCr的去除率 5 5 % ,石油类去除率 >75 % ,为后续的生化处理提供了合格的水质     

Analysis of the Henze precipitate from the blood cells of the ascidian<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Phallusia mammillata</Emphasis>

The Henze precipitate, a peculiar blue-green microparticulate obtained by lysis of the blood cells of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata (Protochordata), was investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis. The precipitate was collected from the Henze solution, an unstable red-brown product obtained by treating blood with distilled water, whose degradation yields a characteristic blue-green product. The microparticulates measured 50–100 µm in diameter and appeared irregular in shape. SEM examination showed smooth, roughly round boundaries. The microparticulate surface examined with AFM appeared as an irregular matrix formed by 70–320-nm-wide mammillate composites, including and embedding small (500–800 nm wide) crystal-like multilayered formations. X- ray analysis showed that the elements present in these same precipitates were mainly C, Si, Al and O. The microparticulate composition appeared close to those of natural waxes or lacquers, embedding amorphous silicates and/or other Si–Al components. The unusual occurrence of Si in ascidian blood and its role are discussed.