Growth characteristics of human lens epithelial cells in culture

The effect of different concentrations of fetal calf serum (FCS) on the proliferative capacity of human and bovine lens epithelial cells in culture was evaluated. The effect of donor age on the maximum number of passages achieved using thirty eight individual cultures was also studied. The donor ages ranged from 1–88 years. Fifteen percent FCS was found to be the optimum concentration for both human and bovine cells. The two cell types demonstrated very similar responses across the spectrum of concentrations used. Correlation analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation between donor age and maximum number of cell passages achieved.     

胎儿和少儿皮肤内碱性成纤维细胞生长因子及其受体的基因表达

目的　探讨不同胎龄的胎儿和少儿皮肤中碱性成纤维细胞生长因子 (bFGF)及其两种受体 (bek和flg)基因表达的变化。 方法　提取 18例不同胎龄 ( 13～ 3 2周 )的胎儿皮肤和 6例少儿皮肤的总RNA后 ,分离mRNA ,用逆转录 聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)方法检测这 3种基因在不同组织中的表达。结果　在早期妊娠胎儿的皮肤中 ,bFGF ,flg和bek基因表达较强 ,随着胎儿的生长和发育 ,皮肤组织内这 3种基因表达逐渐降低 ,在少儿皮肤中 3种基因的表达量分别为晚期妊娠胎儿皮肤的 62 .5 % ,5 9.5 %和 5 2 .9% ,基因表达显著降低 ( P <0 .0 5 )。结论　bFGF及其受体基因可能在皮肤的发生、结构功能的维持以及伤后修复中起重要作用。这 3种基因在胎儿皮肤中表达水平较高可能与胎儿皮肤细胞增殖较快 ,皮肤创面愈合迅速有关。     

Decreased density of synaptic formation in the frontal cortex of neonatal rats exposed to ethanol in utero

We examined the developing synaptic junctions in the rat frontal cortex in cases of fetal alcohol syndrome, the objective being to determine the synapse-mental retardation relationship. On day 21 of gestation, the ultrastructural synaptic junction revealed no obvious differences between the ethanol-exposed and control rats; however, the number of synapses in ethanol-exposed rats was one third that of the controls. The possible relationship between synaptic density in the frontal cortex and mental development has to be considered.     

Ultrasonography of the normal fetal brain

Summary Since the early 1960s it has been possible to identify the fetal head using A-mode ultrasound. The introduction of high-resolution, real-time, grayscale ultrasound in the mid-to-late 1970s first enabled the routine display of subtle internal anatomy. Using presently available equipment, the fetus can be imaged from 7 weeks after the last menstrual period until term and the internal anatomy of the fetal head can be detected after 11–12 weeks. The ultrasonic anatomy of the normal fetal head throughout the second and third trimesters is discussed, as are the normal changes taking place with growth.     

B型超声在产前诊断中的应用

对380例孕妇进行了B型超声检查,根据不同孕周分别测量了胎头双顶径(BPD)、妊娠囊(GS)、股骨长度(FL)、腹围(AC)等有关数值。作者认为B超对.诊断胎儿畸形、了解胎儿在宫内的生长情况、确定先兆流产时胚胎存活等情况都有一定的指导意义。     

Using Drink Size to Talk about Drinking during Pregnancy: Early Start Plus

Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects and other alcohol-related effects. Because costs associated with fetal complications are high, health care organizations are invested in finding ways to intervene with pregnant drinkers. We describe a computerized intervention tested at prenatal clinics that uses drink size as a way of creating dialogue about pregnancy drinking. The intervention helps pregnant women screened as at-risk for alcohol use recognize how much they actually drink, using calibrated glassware and beverage containers along with computer graphics designed to define true volume for specific alcoholic beverage types. The intervention promotes abstinence; however, if that is not an obtainable goal, women are taught ways to cut down as much as possible during the rest of their pregnancy. Clinician feedback has been very positive, and the few women who continued to drink did not drink frequently or engage in binge drinking. Further, their average daily volume was 1 drink per day.     

Ventricular dilatations

Introduction Ventricular dilatation is generally defined on ultrasounds (US) or MRI as an atrium larger than 10 to 12 mm on axial or coronal planes. After 22 weeks, this measure is independent of the term.Methods In the view of the prognostication, it is of utmost importance to not only calculate the width of the ventricles but also to estimate the progression of the ventriculomegaly, and to look for associated structural or genetic anomalies. In this respect, it is essential to study the shape, thickness, echogenicity or signal (on MRI) of the ependymal lining, to appreciate the echoic or radiological characteristics of the ventricular content, to search for brain malformations, to calculate the biparietal diameter, head circumference and width of the subarachnoid spaces, to know the karyotype and to search for fetal infection or extracranial malformation. Complete US evaluation, MRI, and amniocentesis must therefore be part of the routine check-up of these fetuses.Discussion The prognosis is still debated. It is usually considered to be poor in cases of associated malformations or brain insult, tri- or tetraventricular enlargement and karyotype anomalies. On the contrary, it is generally considered as good when ventriculomegalies are isolated, biventricular, stable, slowly evolving or regressive.Conclusion The relationship between the size of the ventricles and the uni- or bilateral character of the dilatation are still a matter of debate.     

Effects of Maternal Ethanol Consumption and Buspirone Treatment on Dopamine and Norepinephrine Reuptake Sites and D1 Receptors in Offspring

Previously, it was shown that in utero ethanol exposure results in decreased serotonin (5-HT) and altered concentrations of 5-HT reuptake sites and 5-HT_1A receptors in fetal and/or postnatal rats. Because fetal 5-HT is an essential trophic factor, this laboratory previously investigated the hypotheses that the early ethanol-associated 5-HT deficit contributed to subsequent development abnormalities in the serotonergic system and that the effects of the fetal 5-HT deficit could be prevented by maternal treatment with buspirone, a 5-HT_1A receptor agonist. The present report determined the effects of maternal treatment with buspirone on two other neurotransmitter systems in the developing offspring of ethanol-fed dams: dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine reuptake sites and D1 receptors in postnatal day 19 offspring of control and ethanol-fed dams, that received daily injections of saline or 4.5 mg/kg buspirone. These investigations found that in utero ethanol exposure significantly decreased norepinephrine reuptake sites in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and anteroventral thalamic nucleus. There was also an ethanol effect in the dorsal raphe. D1 receptors were moderately increased (5–10% increase) in the striaturn, and DA reuptake sites were unchanged in PN19 ethanol-exposed offspring. No other significant ethanol-related effects were noted. Maternal buspirone treatment did not adversely affect the concentration of DA reuptake sites or D1 receptors in control rats. Thus, whereas buspirone exerts protective effects on the developing 5-HT system of ethanol-exposed rats, it does not appear to damage the development of the DA system. Maternal buspirone produced only one significant abnormality in control offspring; it resulted in a significant reduction of norepinephrine reuptake sites in the DR.     

超声测量估计巨大胎儿体重多项公式的临床验证

目的 :探讨超声测量估计巨大胎儿体重的精确性较高的公式。方法 :应用超声对 36 1例胎儿腹围、双顶径、股骨长、肱骨皮下脂肪厚度进行测量 ,并与新生儿出生体重进行多元线性回归推导出一个预测体重的公式 ;然后 ,应用此公式对 75例巨大儿进行临床验证 ,并与其它两个预测巨大胎儿精确性较高的公式进行比较。结果 :新公式巨大儿的检出率为 6 4 % ,均较单参数公式和另一个多参数公式高 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :应用腹围、头围、股骨长、肱骨皮下脂肪厚度预测巨大胎儿准确率较高 ,有较好的临床应用价值。