High levels of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophins leading to the diagnosis of combined neural tube defect and partial mole

A case of combined partial mole and neural tube defect is presented. The detection of high levels of both maternal serum (MS) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during the second trimester led to the ultrasonic demonstration of anencephaly, omphalocele, and partial mole. This is the first report of combined elevation of MSAFP and MShCG.     

Evaluation of routine prenatal diagnosis by a registry of congenital anomalies

Prenatal diagnosis performed by ultrasound scan is now a routine part of prenatal care in many countries. How many fetal anomalies are actually detected by these procedures? We have used our registry of congenital malformations to answer this question. In a previous study (Prenat. Diagn., 12 , 263–270, 1992), considering the period 1979–1988, we have shown that prenatal diagnosis was performed in 23.1 per cent of fetuses with a chromosomal aberration and in 20.1 per cent of fetuses with non-chromosomal anomalies. In 1991 and 1992, the percentatge of termination for Down syndrome was 44.4 and 41.9 per cent, respectively. From 1989 to 1992, the detection rate and the specificity of prenatal diagnosis by ultrasonographic examination were improved. The detection rate for isolated malformations (fetuses with only one anomaly) and for multiple malformed children was 26.2 and 66.0 per cent, respectively. The detection rate of congenital anomalies by ultrasonography was variable for the different categories of malformation. A high detection rate was observed for anencephaly (100 per cent) and urinary tract malformation. A low detection rate was seen for cleft lip (17.5 per cent) and limb reduction defects (18.2 per cent).     

First-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin screening for chromosome defects

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of combined maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) and maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (MShCG) screening in detecting chromosome defects in the first trimester of pregnancy. Sera of 492 women (previously assayed for MSAFP) were analysed for MShCG under code without knowledge of cytogenetic results. Overall, 48 of 492 patients (9·8 per cent) had either an MSAFP multiple of the median ⩽0·5 or an MShCG β/a z ratio multiple of the median ⩽ 0·25, eight of whom had a fetus with a serious chromosome defect. A third of fetuses with Down' s syndrome and 83 per cent with trisomy 18 were detected at a potential‘cost’ of providing chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis in 8·6 percent of women screened.     

含油污水的综合处理法及其应用

概述了竖向隔板分油法、蜂窝斜管分油法及磁性颗粒吸附过滤法 ,将这 3种方法结合处理某机修厂的含油污水 ,取得了满意效果。     

硫化氢气体快速检测方法研究

研究了快速监测硫化氢气体的新方法——硫化氢被动式检气管方法。该法是基于气体分子扩散(Fick)定律和化学吸收原理,将检气管内的海棉载体涂渍上对硫化氢有特效的显色剂(缓冲液G和醋酸铅)。测定时,硫化氢通过检气管端口扩散进入管内,在经过载体时,与载体上的显色剂发生反应,从而产生明显的颜色变化(浅黄色变成棕黑色)。检气管显色长度的平方与硫化氢质量浓度及采样时间的乘积在50~1500mg·m-3范围内成线性关系,从而快速监测环境中硫化氢的时间加权平均质量浓度。该检气管集采样与分析为一体,可快速测定硫化氢气体的质量浓度。与传统的采样分析方法比较,该检气管结构简单,操作方便,不受被测环境的空间大小、有无电源等影响;携带方便,利于外出测定和大面积布点测定。经过应用实验表明,该检气管具有较高的灵敏度,达到设计要求。     

A comparison of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase in the prenatal diagnosis of open neural tube defects and anterior abdominal wall defects

Amniotic fluid samples received for routine prenatal diagnosis of open neural tube defects were used for a study to compare amniotic fluid acetylcholinesterase (AChE) determination using a monoclonal antibody (4F19) enzyme antigen immunoassay and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurement as diagnostic tests for open neural tube defects. The study was based on 9964 women with singleton pregnancies and known outcome (including 6 with anencephaly and 18 with open spina bifida) having an amniocentesis at 14–23 weeks of gestation. The AChE immunoassay yielded detection rates for anencephaly of 100 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 54·07–100 per cent), for open spina bifida of 100 per cent (95 per cent CI 81·47–100 per cent), for anterior abdominal wall defects of 20 per cent (95 per cent CI 0-51-71-64 per cent), and a false-positive rate of 0·22 percent (95 per cent CI 0·14–0·34 per cent) excluding anencephaly, open spina bifida, and anterior abdominal wall defects. For similar detection rates the false-positive rate of the AFP test was significantly higher, 0·74 per cent (95 per cent CI 0·58–0·94 per cent). On the basis of these findings, it is recommended that the technically simple AChE immunoassay should be used on all samples; the AFP test should only be used on the 0·5 per cent of the samples with concentrations of AChE activity ⩾ 8·5 nkat/1 for clear samples and blood-stained samples becoming clear after centrifugation, and ⩾ 25·0 nkat/1 for blood-stained samples that are discoloured after centrifugation; an AFP cut-off level of 2·0 MOM is recommended for this policy. Thereby, the detection rates for anencephaly, open spina bifida, and anterior abdominal wall defects would be 100, 100, and 20 per cent, respectively (95 per cent CIs 54·07–100, 81·47–100, and 0·51–71·64 per cent, respectively), and the false-positive rate would be 0·08 per cent (95 per cent CI 0·03–0·16 per cent) (excluding anencephaly, open spina bifida, and anterior abdominal wall defects).     

Neural tube defects in trisomy 18

Central nervous system anomalies in trisomy 18 are usually confined to structural abnormalities of brain development. Despite the recognized association of neural tube defects and trisomy 18, primary (true) anencephaly is uncommon in the classical trisomy 18 phenotype. A case of anencephaly with trisomy 18, diagnosed prenatally, is presented with a review of the literature of this association.     

薄壁管无芯推压缩径过程的应力应变分析

薄壁管无芯推压缩径成形过程比薄壁管拉拔成形过程复杂得多,迄今很少有这方面的文献报道。本文首次根据主应力法,比较详细地推导了薄壁管无芯推压过程的应力分布和壁厚变化的计算公式,并给出了计算实例。     

阴极射线管中低熔点玻璃的溶解规律研究

阴极射线管是电子显示系统的主要部件,含有大量铅,其废弃物的浸出毒性超过我国危险废物鉴别标准.废阴极射线管资源化的关键是锥-屏的分离,分离后的锥-屏玻璃可用于显像管的再制造、铅的提炼和玻璃的再生产等.采用超声波辅助酸-热冲击法对低熔点玻璃的溶解规律进行研究的结果表明,同乙酸相比硝酸溶解低熔点玻璃的速率更大,硝酸浓度对低熔点玻璃的溶解速率有影响;低熔点玻璃中存在的金属离子与硝酸反应后生成的物质,如硝酸铅、硝酸钡、硝酸锌及硼酸等的存在会使低熔点玻璃的溶解速率降低.     

Four years' experience of maternal alpha-fetoprotein screening and its effect on the pattern of antenatal care

Estimation of alpha-fetoprotein (A.F.P.) in maternal serum was used as a screening method for the detection of fetal neural tube defect (N.T.D.) in 7315 women over a four year period. Of these, 5668 pregnancies were tested between 15 and 21 weeks. Action was advised in 129 patients (2·3 per cent). In 74 patients, the only action required was reviewing the notes, including the report of any ultrasound examination, and repeating the blood A.F.P. Detailed ultrasound including scanning the fetal spine was requested in 47 patients and amniocentesis was advised in 19 of these (0·33 per cent). In practice the incidence of amniocentesis was 0·28 per cent as three patients declined our advice. The programme gave detection rates between 15 and 21 weeks of 100 per cent and 75 per cent respectively for anencephaly and open spina bifida. A high fetal mortality was associated with persistently elevated blood A.F.P. levels whether amniocentesis was performed or not.