Amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels and prenatal diagnosis of autosomal trisomies

Pregnancies with fetal trisomy 21 have been associated with low amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein levels (AFAFP). This observation led to the suggestion that low AFAFP levels be used as a criterion for completion of a chromosomal analysis in patients who are not otherwise at increased risk for a fetal chromosome abnormality and in whom karyotyping might not have been completed for economic reasons. In order to assess the usefulness of such criteria, we reviewed the AFAFP levels of 90 cases of fetal trisomy 21, 23 cases of trisomy 18, and 10 cases of trisomy 13. These were compared with 2400 control samples with normal chromosome constitution. AFAFP levels were generally lower in pregnancies with trisomy 21, showing a median value of 0·72 MoM. However, 40 per cent of the trisomy 21 samples had AFAFP values greater than 0·8 MoM and 20 per cent were over 1·0 MoM. These data imply that over 50 per cent of Down syndrome cases might have been missed using a cut-off level of 0·70 MoM for completion of chromosome analysis. Using a higher cut-off level will leave only a small percentage of samples unkaryotyped. The distribution of AFP levels in trisomy 13 and 18 is no different from controls; we therefore believe that fetal karyotyping should be completed in every amniotic fluid sample obtained.     

2－硝基芴大鼠肝微粒体体外代谢研究

初步研究了在通风条件下，经Ａｒｏｃｌｏｒ１２５４诱导的大鼠肝微粒体酶对２－硝基芴的体外代谢。通过液相色谱、气相色谱、质谱、紫外光谱及红外光谱，首次分离和检测出单羟芴和二羟基芴等代谢产物，但未测得明显的硝基还原代谢产物。此外尚有一些谢产物未能定性。高致突变性羟基衍生物的检出，显示出硝基多环芳烃在哺乳动物体内可能存在多种代谢活化途径。为进一步的研究奠定了基础。     

Initial Homotypic Cell Pair Adhesion in Regenerating Hydra Facilitates Subsequent Adhesion of Homotypic Cells

 In Hydra vulgaris at the level of dissociated single cells endodermal cells adhere to each other more readily than to ectodermal cells at the initial adhesion. The time required for adhesion to occur between two adjacent cells is shorter for both endodermal and ectodermal homotypic cell adhesions once the initial adhesion of the first pair of cells has been established. It is confirmed that contact of an aggregated pair with additional homotypic cells facilitates the occurrence of homotypic adhesions; heterotypic adhesions are discouraged. This suggests that adhesion of homotypic cells contributes to an increased readiness for subsequent homotypic cells to adhere. Received: 25 August 1999 / Accepted in revised form: 11 January 2000     

试用平炉尘制备中温变换催化剂

利用钢铁厂平炉尘制备中温变换催化剂,制备成本低,工艺简单,活性达到部颁标准,具有明显的经济效益.     

深度平均的应力-通量代数全场模型及其验证

提出了深度平均的应力—通量代数全场模型，用来模拟热水侧向排入大水体的各向异性的输移扩散规律。应用有限体积法对控制方程进行离散，利用ＳＩＭＰＬＥ法进行数值模拟。通过该模式的模拟计算给出了速度场、温度场的分布。所得的回流区形状及温度场分布与深度平均的ｋ－ε模型及实验资料对比，本文的计算结果与实测值符合得较好     

Prenatal diagnosis in two cases of de novo complex balanced chromosomal rearrangements. Three-year follow-up in one case

We report two cases of apparently balanced complex de novo chromosomal rearrangements (BCCR) detected prenatally at 17 weeks and 10 weeks of gestation, respectively. Chromosomes were studied using GTG-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In one case four chromosomes and in the other case three chromosomes were involved in the rearrangements. One of the pregnancies was terminated and no external or internal abnormalities were detected at autopsy. The other pregnancy continued to term. Level III ultrasound examination showed no abnormalities. The child is now 3 years old and has neither congenital anomalies nor evidence of delayed psychomotor development.     

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.