Intrauterine growth retardation associated with chromosomal aneuploidy confined to the placenta. Three observations: Triple trisomy 6,21,22; trisomy 16; and trisomy 18

Cytogenetic analysis in three pregnancies revealed chromosomal mosaicism confined to chorionic villi. They were ascertained in the third trimester by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in otherwise normal fetuses. In case of triple trisomy 6,21,22 and trisomy 16, it was obvious that these findings were most likely restricted to the placenta. These trisomies act as early lethal factors when they occur in the embryo itself. With trisomy 18, however, the interpretation of the cytogenetic finding remains ambiguous. The question arises as to whether an abnormal karyotype may be the cause of placenta insufficiency or is just coincidentally associated.     

Fetal behaviour in growth retardation: Its relationship to fetal blood flow

The fetal behaviour of asymmetrical growth retarded fetuses was compared with that of a control group of healthy fetuses. Fetuses underwent simultaneous cardiotocographic and echographic examinations for two consecutive hours at 36–38 weeks of gestation. The distribution of gross fetal body movements, fetal breathing movements and fetal eye movements was analysed during the different fetal heart rate patterns. Furthermore, the incidence and organization of fetal behavioural states was investigated. The degree of vascular peripheral resistance was also evaluated by means of pulsed doppler ultrasonic equipmznt. Growth retarded fetuses were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence or absence of end diastolic flow in the fetal thoracic descending aorta. Growth retarded fetuses showed a delay in the integration of behavioural patterns and a lower coincidence of behavioural states. These findings are particularly evident in the fetuses with a severe increase of peripheral vascular resistance (absence of end diastolic flow in descending aorta). Thus, we suggest that a delay in central nervous system development is present in asymmetrical growth retarded fetuses and that there is a possible relationship of this delay to the degree of peripheral vascular resistance.     

Confirmation of CVS mosaicism in term placentae and high frequency of intrauterine growth retardation association with confined placental mosaicism

About 2 per cent of specimens from chorionic villus sampling (CVS) analysed either on direct preparation of cytotrophoblast cells or afterculture of mesenchymal stroma reveal confined placental mosaicism (CPM), most commonly involving chromosomal trisomy. A significantly higher rate of prenatal loss (22 per cent) as well as the presence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has been reported among pregnancies with CPM. To evaluate more precisely the effect of these aneuploid cell lines confined to the placenta on intrauterine fetal growth and fetal survival, we have studied 34 term placentae from pregnancies with CPM diagnosed on CVS and confirmed identical mosaicism in 17 of these placentae. There was a direct correlation between a high number of aneuploid cells present at CVS and a high likelihood of their detection in term placenta. Also, the proportion of aneuploid cells in the mosaic term placentae correlated with that observed in CVS specimens. Among 17 gestations with confirmed CPM at delivery, there were six cases of IUGR identified, five in liveborns and one associated with intrauterine death.     

Confined placental mosaicism in term placentae: Analysis of 125 cases

In order to determine the incidence of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) in term placentae and to show the presence of specific sites and the effect on fetal development, 125 placentae from uneventful pregnancies were analysed by cytogenetic methods. The incidence was at least 4.8 per cent and there were no specific sites on the placenta. Although the number of cases is still too small, we found CPM to be associated with intrauterine growth retardation in six cases.     

不同剖面层次土壤磷素运移研究

以陕西杨凌地区塿土为研究对象,通过饱和稳定流土柱运移试验,测定磷酸盐(H_2PO_4~-)在不同层次土壤中的运移穿透曲线(BTC),应用CDE模型、CXTFIT软件程序对其实测穿透曲线(BTC)进行拟合求其运移参数,研究其运移规律。结果表明,磷酸盐在塿土中的运移受到土壤的强烈阻滞作用,随着CaCO_3含量增加,磷酸盐运移所受的阻滞作用增大。磷酸盐在塿土不同剖面层次中运移所受阻滞作用大小与CaCO_3含量呈极显著的正相关,r=0.9791;而与粘粒含量且成极显著的负相关、r=0.9318。磷酸盐在塿土不同土层运移所受阻滞作用大小顺序为:钙积层>堆垫表层>粘化层,其阻滞因子R值分别为:11.80～13.00,5.20～7.00,3.90～5.00。     

不同组成有机质对土壤中砷迁移行为的影响

本研究选择腐植酸(HA)、黄腐酸(FA)和鸡粪提取的可溶性有机质(DOM)三种天然有机质,加入供试土壤,以溴离子作为示踪剂,通过四组模拟土柱实验,获得不同有机质组成的土壤中As (V)的穿透曲线,并用CXTFIT 2.1软件拟合,计算阻滞系数R_d值,同时测定流出液中As (V)的形态变化。结果表明:HA抑制了As (V)的迁移,而加入FA和DOM后As (V)在土壤中的移动性显著增强。四种处理(CK、土壤+HA、土壤+FA、土壤+DOM)中As (V)的阻滞系数R_d值分别为17.82、19.53、10.13和12.2,土柱中残留的As分别占As总量的27.4%、31.7%、19.2%和18.2%。腐植酸以芳香族含量为主,分子量较大,吸附固定As的能力较强;黄腐酸和提取的可溶性有机质主要结构为烷基碳和氧烷基碳,H/C和O/C值较高,与As存在竞争吸附,促进As的迁移。     

Intrauterine growth retardation and fetal transverse cerebellar diameter

In 103 small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses, the transverse cerebellar diameter (TCD), abdominal circumference (AC), head circumference (HC), and femur length (FL) were measured and their ratios calculated. In addition, umbilical venous blood samples were obtained by cordocentesis for measurements of fetal blood pH and erythroblast count. Compared with the AC, HC, and FL, the TCD was relatively mildly reduced. However, in the 28 fetuses with TCD >2 SDs (standard deviations) below the normal mean, the degrees of growth retardation, acidaemia, and erythroblastosis were more severe, and the incidence of perinatal death was higher than in the group with a normal sized TCD. Although in the group with TCD >2 SDs below the normal mean the TCD/AC ratio was increased, in the most severely growth-retarded fetuses this ratio was usually within the normal range. Thus, in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), cerebellar size is reduced in proportion to the severity of the disease and therefore the TCD cannot be used to obtain reliable information on the gestational age of small fetuses and the TCD/AC ratio does not provide reliable information as to whether or not fetuses are growth-retarded.     

Human maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 16 and fetal development

Two severely growth-retarded fetuses found to have maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) for chromosome 16 and trisomy 16 placental mosaicism both had an unfavourable outcome. Antenatally, the first case was complicated by an unexplained raised maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration, preterm premature rupture of the membranes, and growth retardation detectable at 21 weeks' gestation, whilst the other had an unexplained raised maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin level, a two-vessel cord on ultrasound, and cessation of growth at 25 weeks. At post-mortem, both babies had an imperforate anus. Fetal maternal UPD may explain the poor outcome that occurs in some cases of confined placental mosaicism for chromosome 16 and is also associated with specific fetal abnormalities.     

Uniparental isodisomy for chromosome 16 in a growth-retarded infant with congenital heart disease

We report a growth-retarded infant with congenital heart disease and maternal isodisomy for chromosome 16. Non-mosaic trisomy 16 was detected at mid-trimester chorionic villus sampling, performed because biochemical screening indicated an increased Down's syndrome risk. Further karyotyping analysis of the placenta, after delivery, showed a 50 per cent mosaic trisomy 16. The infant had an atrioventricular (A-V) canal defect, scoliosis, and several minor dysmorphic features. Although uniparental disomy for chromosome 16 has been reported previously, to our knowledge this is the first case of uniparental isodisomy for chromosome 16 which has been investigated with multiple DNA probes.