Factors associated with multiple-pass procedures during chorionic villus sampling: A video analysis

Multiple placental passes during chorionic villus sampling (CVS) increase the risk of fetal loss; however, specific factors that predispose to repeat aspiration have not been delineated. To identify anatomic and technical variables associated with multiple-pass procedures, a detailed review of 205 videotaped CVS procedures (single pass = 163; multiple pass = 42) was performed, blinded to pregnancy outcome. The route of sampling did not influence the need for multiple aspiration attempts (transabdominal—30/ 135; transcervical—12/70), nor was placental location alone discriminatory. However, the combination of a posterior placenta and uterine retroversion was observed more frequently in the multiple-pass cohort (8/42 vs. 9/163; p<0.05). In transabdominal cases, suboptimal needle placement (e.g., perpendicular to the placental long axis) was more common in the initial aspiration of a multiple-pass procedure (21/30 vs. 38/105;p<0.01), while limited penetration of the catheter tip (e.g., just inside the placental edge) characterized a majority of multiple-pass cases in the transcervical subset (7/12 vs. 3/58; p<0.0001). A case-control cohort was constructed to evaluate the impact of these technical variables on sampling efficacy, independent of the influence of uterine position and placental site. In that analysis, suboptimal location and/or orientation of the sampling device remained characteristic of multiple-pass cases. We conclude that further reduction in the frequency of multiple-pass procedures might be achieved by consistent placement of the device tip in the central placental mass. Unlike amniocentesis, where any point of amnion entry will suffice, this technical nuance should be emphasized with CVS to maximize the single-pass success rate.     

关于Marpol 73／78附则VI的出台经过及对策

介绍国际海事组织海上环境保护委员会关于Ｍａｒｐｏｌ ７３／７８公约附则ＶＩ的有关焦点问题的讨论情况，该附则Ⅵ业已以议定书形式被外交大会通过。它所涉及的范围较广，技术设备难度大，为贯彻落实该规则尚须在管理上，船舶设备条件等方面下功夫，以满足公约防止船舶对大气污染的要求。     

Pollution survey of carbonyl compounds in train air

The train is an important vehicle in China, but its air quality has important impacts on passengers’ health. In this work, pollution from carbonyl compounds was measured in the air of six trains. The objectives of this work were to investigate carbonyl compound levels in selected air from trains, identify their emission sources, and assess the intake of carbonyl compounds for passengers. The methods for sampling and analyzing 10 carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetone, propionaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, butyraldehyde, benzaldehyde, cyclohexanone, and valeraldehyde in indoor air were proposed with the sampling efficiency, recovery, and detection limit being 92%–100%, 91%–104%, and 0.26–0.82 ng/m³, respectively. It was indicated that the total concentrations of carbonyl compounds were 0.159–0.2828 mg/m³ with the average concentration of 0.2330 mg/m³. The average concentrations of form aldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone were 0.0922, 0.0499, and 0.0580 mg/m³, accounting for 42.6%, 21.4%, and 24.9% of the total concentrations of carbonyl compounds, respectively. The carbonyl compounds probably came from woodwork and cigarette smoking. The intake of carbonyl compounds for the passengers was approximately 0.043–0.076 mg/h. The carbonyl compounds in train air could be harmful to human health. Translated from Environmental Science, 2006, 27(1) 91–94 [译自: 环境科学]     

Uncommon chromosomal mosaicism in chorionic villi

Three cases of unusual chromosomal mosaicism are reported for which the cytogenetic data show inconsistent findings between CVS and AC or fetal tissue, and which cannot be explained simply by non-disjunction. For case 1, in CVS the karyotype was 46,XY, whereas lymphocytes and fibroblasts revealed 69,XXY. DNA fingerprinting indicated one paternal and two maternal chromosome sets, the latter most probably due to omission of maternal meiosis II. For case 2, in CVS mos 46,XX/47,XX,+mar de novo was observed. Amniotic fluid cells had the karyotype 46,XX. The origin of the marker chromosome might be explained by at least two events of unknown order (a somatic chromosome/chromatid deletion and non-disjunction of the homologous chromosome). In case 3 (CVS: mos 46,XY/46,XY,19q+ de novo; amniotic fluid cells, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts: 46,XY), the surplus of chromosome material in 19q+ might be explained on the basis of a somatic translocation. The idea of a chimera is less convincing, as the mosaic finding is restricted to one tissue. Furthermore, there was no hint of a vanishing twin. Hitherto, no case of structural chromosome mosaicism in CVS has been reconfirmed in fetal tissues.     

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis in quintuplets: A practical approach using step-by-step embryo reduction

A multiple pregnancy of high rank may occur in a couple at risk for a Mendelian disorder. Prenatal diagnosis is hampered by the difficulty of (1) obtaining chorionic villi from each zygote arid (2) unequivocally relating each sample to the corresponding embryo. The calculation of the genetic risk according to the number of zygotes led us to propose a diagnostic strategy based on embryo reduction, a technique initially designed to improve the perinatal outcome of multiple pregnancies with normal embryos. We report a case in which this approach allowed rational use of first-trimester chorionic villus sampling in a quintuplet pregnancy at risk for non-ketotic hyperglycinaemia, resulting in the selective birth of unaffected twins.     

Prenatal diagnosis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome

We report the first prenatal diagnosis of an affected fetus with Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). Diagnosis was accomplished via fetal blood sampling at 17 menstrual weeks and was confirmed after birth. Retrospective measurement of the largest acid phosphatase-positive lysosomes in cultured amniotic fluid cells and chorionic villus cells showed that in CHS these lysosomes are significantly larger than those in normal cells. This method may be used for prenatal diagnosis of CHS by amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS).     

Transcervical CVS sample size: Correlation with placental location,cytogenetic findings,and pregnancy outcome

Data from 2907 transcervical CVS cases performed on singleton pregnancies were reviewed retrospectively and villus sample size was correlated with cytogenetic results, placental location, maternal age at the expected date of confinement (EDC), gestational age at the time of sampling, birth weight, gestational age at the time of delivery, and pregnancy outcome. No correlation was noted between villus sample size and maternal age, gestational age at sampling, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, or pregnancy outcome. An inverse correlation between villus sample size and percentage of abnormal cytogenetic findings was statistically significant (X² = 8·53, p <0·01). The percentage of small samples was greater when the placenta was anterior, lateral, or fundal than when the placenta was posterior.     

呼和浩特市不同粒径空气颗粒物中汞的分布规律

采用分级采样装置 ,于冬夏两季采集呼市三个不同功能区不同粒径空气颗粒物中的汞进行分析 ,结果表明 :呼市空气颗粒物中的汞含量冬季明显高于夏季 ;冬季空气颗粒物中的汞含量为居民区 >交通区 >对照区 ,夏季为交通区 >居民区 >对照区 ;空气中汞主要富集在可吸入粒子中。     

温泉宾馆室内PM_(10),PM_(2.5),CO_2和~(222)Rn的研究

对广东省 4座温泉宾馆室内外氡(222Rn)浓度和温泉水氡浓度进行研究,同时利用便携式探测器对室内外 PM10,PM2.5,CO2和CO 等污染物暴露水平进行直接测定.结果表明,温泉宾馆室内使用温泉水时氡浓度明显高于广东省室内平均氡浓度.除 CO 外,室内 PM10,PM2.5 和CO2 浓度都较高,其中 PM10 和 CO2 的超标率分别达到 67%和 89%.说明温泉宾馆室内不仅存在一般性污染物,而且存在高浓度的 Rn. 222     

Influence of new town development on the urban heat island - The case of the Bundang area

Five new towns have been developed around the Seoul metropolitan area since 1996. However, these new towns generate lots of traffic and related problems in the areas including those new towns and Seoul as a result of increases in population and a lack of ecological-self-sufficiency. Currently, construction of another new town is under deliberation, and what should be a major consider is the notion that the new town be located within a wide, green zone. Many studies have revealed that green space can play an important role in improving urban eco-meteorological capability and air quality. In order to analyze the urban heat island which will be created by the new urban development, and to investigate the local thermal environment and its negative effects caused by a change of land use type and urbanization, Landsat TM images were used for extraction of urban surface temperature according to changes of land use over the last 15 years. These data are analyzed together with digital land use and topographic information. As a study result, it was found the urban heat island of the study area from 198.5 to 1999 rapidly developed which showed a difference of mean temperature above 2.0. Before the Bundang new town construction the temperature of the residential area was the same as a forest, but during the new town construction in 1991 analysis revealed the creation of an urban heat island. The temperature of a forest whose size is over 50% of the investigation area was lowest, and thus the presence of a forest is believed to have a direct cooling effect on the urban environment and its surroundings. The mean temperature of the residential and commercial areas in the study was found to be 4.5 higher than the forest, and therefore this part of land use is believed to be the main factor causing the temperature increase of the urban heat island.