Normal second-trimester amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase associated with fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma

Amniocentesis was performed at 19 weeks' gestation on a patient with two sequential serum alphafetoprotein values above 2 times median. Ultrasound examination suggested a possible sacrococcygeal teratoma. However, both amniotic fluid alphafetoprotein and acetylchol-inesterase were normal, and the patient elected to continue her pregnancy. At 24 weeks fetal demise was confirmed, and prostaglandin induction of labour produced a macerated female fetus with a large sacrococcygeal teratoma.     

First-trimester maternal serum biochemical indicators in Down syndrome

A set of 21 early maternal serum samples (19 first-trimester and two at 14 weeks) from pregnancies resulting in a child with Down syndrome was matched for gestation and length of storage with 63 samples from unaffected pregnancies. The concentrations of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), unconjugated oestriol (uE₃), human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), pregnancy-specific β₁–glycoprotein (SP₁), and placental alkaline phosphatase (PALP) were measured. The ratios of the medians for Down syndrome pregnancies compared with the medians for controls were AFP 0·71, uE₃ 0·67, hCG 1·43, SP₁ 0·79, and PALP 0·92. Although the differences between the medians for affected and unaffected pregnancies were not significant, the trends for AFP, uE₃, and hCG confirm earlier findings on first-trimester samples.     

Isolation and characterization of a marine bacteriophage

A bacteriophage active against a marine Aeromonas sp. was isolated from surface sediments of the North Pacific Ocean at 825 m depth. The sensitive Aeromonas sp. grew between 0° and 33°C but plaques were formed only between 0° and 23°C with a maximum zone of lysis at 5° to 12°C. The phage was rapidly inactivated at temperatures above 45°C. The characteristic plaque formation occurred only on media made with sea-water but some lysis was obtained in distilled water media supplemented with 0.085 M NaCl and 0.05 M MgCl₂. Phage replication occurred in cultures of Aeromonas sp. growing under applied hydrostatic pressures of up to 200 atmospheres. Electron microscopy revealed that the phage has an hexagonal head 530 Å in diameter, a thin tail 1200 Å in length and a terminal base plate 400 Å in diameter.     

Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis: Will it affect the uptake of prenatal carrier screening?

We report a study which examined whether the decision of 135 couples to accept prenatal cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier screening would be influenced by the advent of gene therapy. A majority (91 couples; 67 per cent) felt that gene therapy for CF would not influence their decision to be screened. Twenty-two couples (16 per cent) stated that they would decline to be screened and an equal number felt ambivalent. Even if the life expectancy of a CF sufferer were increased by gene therapy to normal, 78 per cent of couples would still wish to avail themselves of prenatal carrier screening. A majority of women who decline screening do so because they are opposed to termination of pregnancy. The availability of gene therapy could increase the proportion of couples who accept screening.     

Prenatal cystic fibrosis carrier screening: Factors in a woman's decision to decline testing

Among 2207 women eligible to be screened for cystic fibrosis (CF) carrier status during pregnancy, 325 (15 per cent) declined to be tested. Of these, 260 (80 per cent) answered a questionnaire soliciting their reasons for not participating. The main factor was opposition to termination of pregnancy, with 43 per cent being against termination for any reason and another 11 per cent against termination of a CF fetus. Other reasons given were partner's disapproval or non-participation (10 per cent), perceived risk of a CF child being low (7 per cent), the error rate of the test (6 per cent), and the generation of unacceptable levels of anxiety (5 per cent). Eleven women (4 per cent) said that they did not wish to be tested during pregnancy, but only six of these would have accepted screening at another time.