Glycine/serine ratio and the prenatal diagnosis of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia

We describe our experience of prenatal diagnosis of non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia in four at-risk pregnancies using the glycine/serine ratio in amniotic fluid obtained between 18 and 20 weeks of gestation. All glycine levels were in the normal range. Serine levels were normal in two patients and borderline in the others. Glycine/serine ratios were normal in two patients, moderately increased in one patient ( + 3 SD), and highly increased in one patient ( + 8 SD). All the children were perfectly normal at birth. Because of this false-positive prediction and the false-negative prediction recently reported, we suggest that this unreliable method should not be used.     

Synthetische Schmucksteine

The first industrially feasible process for the synthesis of rubies was developed by Verneuil around the turn of the century. Progress in crystal-growing technique led in time to a number of other processes, some of which can be applied to the production of gem stones, making it possible to synthesize the most important gem stones. Even crystals that do not occur in nature, but were originally of interest in other connections, have acquired importance for jewelry in recent years.