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.     

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     

关于环境监理的回思

较系统地回顾环境监理产生的背景及发展历程，阐述环境监理的内涵及实质。     

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.     

固相微萃取-毛细管气相色谱法测定水中有机污染物

固相微萃取是一种快速、简便、集萃取浓缩于一体的样品前处理技术,具有分析快速、灵敏度高、无需有机溶剂的优点。用固相微萃取-毛细管气相色谱分析水中甲醇、丙酮、异丙醇、乙醇、乙腈、丙烯腈,检出限可达0.003～0.03mg/L。     

脱硫用煤基吸附剂的试验研究

进行了以煤为原料制备脱硫用吸附剂的实验研究，其中应用炭化与活化的方法，以对ＳＯ２吸附能力为衡量标准，系统地考察了样品在制备过程中不同温度，不同温升速率及时间对ＳＯ２吸附分离能力的影响，力求找出相应的最佳处理过程，并对机理进行探讨。     

气提式循环反应器生物膜与游离活性污泥的对比试验探讨

通过对气提式循环反应器处理污水中载体生物膜和游离活性污泥的对比试验，分析指出：活性污泥有利于有机物的去除和混合液的沉降性；生物膜的存在，增加了生物量，提高了处理效率，且是硝化的主要原因