Recurrence risk of neural tube defects following a miscarriage

Data from 280 sibships in three published series were used to see if the increased risk of neural tube defect (NTD) associated with having had a miscarriage in the immediately preceding pregnancy was also found in women with a previous affected pregnancy. A statistically significant relative risk of 4.0 (2-tail P=0.0111, Fisher exact test) was found among such women, and this could not be accounted for by the effect of parity or of a history of miscarriage in general. The finding may be useful when counselling patients.     

高浓度Cl-水样CODcr的测定

阐述了高浓度Cl-水样,以铬酸钾做指示剂,加入适量的硝酸银,形成AgCl沉淀,消除了Cl-的干扰,再用离心沉淀机充分沉淀,取上清液,用COD快速测定仪测定CODcr,有很高的准确度,符合测定要求.     

Wood materials used as a means to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs): An examination of wooden utility poles

There has been growing concern over the build-up of greenhouse gase(GHGs) in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), as acause of global warming. The IPCC Third Assessment Report (2001) suggests two ways in which the choice of materials could berelevant. First, some materials, particularly wood, have the advantage thatthey continue to hold carbon (C)in their cells even after being convertedto products. The implications of this feature are well researched. Second,an area that is not well researched relates to the different energyrequirements for producing similar products made with different materials. Using the findings of recent research, this paper compares the energyrequirements and C emissions of manufacturing a product using wood withthat of other materials. The case study of utility poles demonstrates thepositive C and global warming consequences of the lower energyrequirements of wood in the U.S., compared to other materials such assteel or concrete. It demonstrates that GHG emissions associated withutility poles are a small but significant percent of total US annual emissions. Wood utility poles are associated with GHG emission reductions of 163Terragrams (Tg) of CO₂ when compared with steel poles. This isabout 2.8 percent of US annual GHG emissions, which are estimated atabout 5.28 Petragrams (Pg) of CO₂ annually. Thus, the use ofwooden utility poles rather than steel results in a small but significantreduction in total US emissions.     

荷兰的生物质能政策

本文是根据荷兰经济事务部能源局局长Okko van Aardenne博士在2000年11月30日中荷垃圾填埋气研讨会上发言稿和会议资料翻译，整理的。文内小标题为译者所加。作者简明扼要地介绍了荷兰可再生能源尤其是生物质能源的利用情况，研发方向和政府的鼓励政策。     

Rapid fetal karyotype from cystic hygroma and pleural effusions

Fluid from pleural effusion (n=2) and cystic hygroma (n=7) was obtained from eight fetuses, between 13 and 32 weeks of pregnancy at the time when a conventional prenatal diagnosis procedure was carried out. As these fluids contain lymphocytes, they were processed like peripheral blood. A karyotype was obtained in 4 days in both cases of pleural effusion and in four out of seven samples of cystic hygroma. An abnormal karyotype was detected in three of the four samples of cystic hygroma: two trisomies 21 and a monosomy X. Different parameters were evaluated in order to predict the feasibility of obtaining a cytogenetic diagnosis. Our data showed that if the amount of fluid obtained was ⩾4 ml and the initial lymphocyte count (ILC) was >0.2 × 10⁶ cells/ml, a cytogenetic diagnosis was possible from an initial concentration of cultured lymphocytes )ICCL) of >0.06 × 10⁶ cells/ml.     

DNA-based carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1A)

We describe molecular prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1A) in two families. In one family, we carried out DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of OCA1A. In the other family, mutation analysis and carrier detection obviated the need for prenatal diagnosis. Molecular analysis is safer and probably more accurate than fetoscopy and fetal scalp biopsy, and should become the method of first choice for prenatal diagnosis of OCA1.     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy from uncultured amniotic fluid cells using five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization

In this paper we describe the use of five-colour fluorescence in situ hybridization for prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy using uncultured amniotic fluid cells. The analysis is based on ratio mixing of dual-labelled probes and digital imaging for the detection and visualization of five different probes specific for the five target chromosomes, 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. A retrospective blind analysis of 30 coded uncultured amniotic fluid samples correctly detected fetal sex and five trisomy 21 cases. Multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization used in this way allows rapid and simultaneous detection of the most frequent aneuploidies.