Normal obstetric ultrasound reduces the risk of Down syndrome in fetuses of older mothers

The objective of this study is to determine whether a normal fetal morphology ultrasound scan in women older than 35 years reduces the risk of aneuploidy. We reviewed the results of amniocentesis and second trimester sonogram in all women older than 35 years from 1991 to 1995. None had prior screening. We excluded fetuses with structural anomalies. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of minor markers in detecting Down syndrome and also determined the reduction in risk of a normal sonogram. Among the 2060 women older than 35 years giving birth during the study period, 16 (0.78%) delivered an infant with Down syndrome. Of the 16 fetuses, two had no prenatal testing or ultrasound, two had invasive testing but no second trimester sonogram, five had a normal sonogram and seven had one or more sonographic markers of Down syndrome. At least 17% of women older than 35 years did not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound. Ultrasound detected Down syndrome with a sensitivity of 59% (95% confidence interval: 45–72%), a false‐positive rate of 10.6% (9.4–11.8%) and a positive predictor value of 1 in 9. The likelihood of having normal karyotype if the sonogram was normal was 0.46 (0.31–0.61). In women older than 35 years, a normal second trimester sonogram reduces the risk of Down syndrome by more than 50%. At least 17% of women older than 35 years do not participate in prenatal testing or ultrasound.     

Bone Mineral Density Determinations by Dual-Energy x-ray Absorptiometry in the Management of Patients with Marfan Syndrome—Some Factors Which Affect the Measurement

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD) was sporadically reported in patients with Marfan syndrome. This may or may not place the Marfan patient at increased risk for bone fracture. In comparing the BMDs of our patients with those reported in the literature, it seemed that agreement between values, and hence the degree of osteoporosis or osteopenia reported, was dependent on the instrumentation used. The objective of this study was to statistically assess this impression. Bone mineral density measurements from our previously published study of 30 adults with Marfan syndrome performed on a Lunar DPXL machine were compared with studies published between 1993–2000 measured using either Lunar or Hologic bone densitometry instruments. The differences of our measurements compared with those made on other Lunar machines were not statistically significant, but did differ significantly with published results from Hologic machines (P < 0.001). Before progress can be made in the assessment of BMD and fracture risk in Marfan patients and in the evidence-based orthopedic management of these patients, standardization of instrumental bone density determinations will be required along with considerations of height, obesity, age, and sex.     

Neuroimaging and Neurologic Complications after Organ Transplantation

Neurologic complications are common after transplantation and affect 30-60% of transplant recipients. The etiology of most of the posttransplant neurologic disorders is related to the opportunistic infections, both systemic and involving central nervous system (CNS), toxicity of immunosuppressive medications, and the metabolic insult created by the underlying primary disease and the transplant procedure. Neuroimaging studies are one of the key tools in the evaluation and enable early diagnosis of neurologic complications in transplant patients, especially posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome, central pontine myelinolysis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and fungal and bacterial abscesses. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred technique, but each of the available neuroimaging techniques offers a unique insight into the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying neurologic complications of transplantation. The role of neuroimaging in this population includes early detection of calcineurin inhibitor neurotoxicity, opportunistic infections, neoplasia, metabolic disorders, or cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, we can monitor longitudinal progression of disease and treatment response.     

Intravenous cyclophosphamide is the drug of choice for steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Steroid dependency is a major problem seen after therapy for idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in childhood. Although there is consensus about the usage of cyclophosphamide (CYC) in frequent relapsers, there is still a controversy concerning its usage in steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). METHODS: In the present study, nineteen children with SDNS were treated with CYC: ten via the intravenous (i.v.) route, and nine via the oral route. Remission was then maintained with prednisolone. Oral CYC therapy consisted of CYC at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day for 12 weeks. Intravenous (i.v.) CYC therapy consisted of CYC 500 mg/m2 per month (with intravenous 3500 cc/m2 per 24 h one-third saline hydration) for 6 months. RESULTS: The cumulative dose of CYC was 168 mg/kg in the oral group and 132 mg/kg in the IV group. Daily oral CYC dose was 1.96~0.31 mg/kg, whereas i.v. CYC dose was 0.73~0.03 mg/kg. Long-term complications and side-effects such as alopecia, infection and hemorrhagic cystitis were not observed in the i.v. CYC treated group. In the long term, the dosage of prednisolone that held remission after CYC, the annualized relapse rates and the subsequent relapse time were significantly better in the i.v. CYC group, and the number of patients in remission for 2 years was significantly higher in the i.v. treated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In SDNS, i.v. CYC has a long lasting effect with lower annualized relapse rates and longer subsequent relapse time with a lower steroid dosage required to maintain remission than oral CYC. The results of the present study showed the safety of the i.v. route, and it is the preferable treatment in noncompliant patients for its long lasting remission and simple and inexpensive follow up.     

Turcot syndrome confirmed with molecular analysis

Turcot syndrome is clinically characterized by the occurrence of primary brain tumor and colorectal tumor and has, in previous reports, been shown associated with germline mutations in the genes APC , MLH1 , MHS6 , and PMS2 . To date, only few families have been documented by molecular analysis. We report two new families with Turcot syndrome to illustrate and review its characteristics and facilitate diagnosis. Molecular analysis revealed two germline mutations, one in the MLH1 gene and one in MSH2 . The latter has never been describe in the literature. Personal and familial relevant anamnestic data from patients with glioma might aid in the diagnosis of genetic disorders. The subsequent molecular characterization may contribute to the appropriate care of affected patients and asymptomatic gene carriers.     

风疹易感人群婚前风疹疫苗接种预防先天性风疹综合征

目的探讨婚前风疹易感人群风疹疫苗接种在提高孕妇对风疹的免疫力,预防先天性风疹综合征中的作用.方法对10 913例婚前风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者给予国产风疹减毒活疫苗注射.3个月随防671例,比较风疹疫苗接种前后该地区孕妇近期风疹感染的发病率.结果818例风疹病毒抗体IgG阴性者接种后抗体转阳率为99.8%.风疹疫苗接种前后3年孕妇近期风疹感染率分别为0.37%及0.08%,有明显下降,有非常显著差异(P＜0.001).结论应用国产风疹减毒活疫苗对婚前易感人群作预防接种可提高育龄妇女对风疹的免疫力,降低孕期风疹感染的发生率,是预防先天性风疹综合征及风疹致畸的有效、安全措施.     

SARS患者白细胞形态学观察

目的：观察不同病程的严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)患者白细胞形态的变化。方法：对不同病程SARS患者的血涂片进行形态观察和分析。结果：SARS患者发病期间，其粒细胞比例明显升高，淋巴细胞明显减少，而且出现核仁及多核仁现象，随病程进展，粒细胞、淋巴细胞的比例逐渐恢复至正常范围，有核仁的淋巴细胞也随之减少至消失，均为正常成熟的淋巴细胞。结论：SARS患者发病期间，外周血涂片白细胞分类中，中性粒细胞(分叶核)比例升高，淋巴细胞比例明显减少，随病程进展出现的核仁淋巴细胞减少，血细胞比例、形态恢复正常。     

妊高征与眼底视网膜病变的临床探讨

目的 :探讨妊高征患者临床特征与视网膜病变的关系。方法 :观察 2 2 0例妊高征患者的眼底情况。结果 :视网膜病变与水肿关系不密切 ,与平均动脉压、蛋白尿的严重程度、病程及红细胞压积有密切关系 ;有眼底改变者 118例 ,占 5 0 .3%。结论 :眼底镜检查是临床上借以了解视网膜血管的常用方法 ,并可反映妊高征病情的程度 ,为产程处理提供依据     

95例SARS患者T细胞及其亚群动态变化的观察

对 95例SARS患者的T淋巴细胞亚群动态变化进行分析。其中 85例痊愈 ,1 0例死亡。 85例痊愈患者 ,病程第 7天平均CD4 + ( 3 2 5± 1 90 )个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 3 1 9± 3 1 5 )个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .2 5± 0 .71 ,与我国正常人相比〔平均CD4 + ( 72 7± 2 5 5 )个 /μL、CD8+ ( 5 3 9± 1 3 4)个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .49〕 ,T淋巴细胞亚群明显下降 (P =0 .0 0 1 )。病程第1 4天左右免疫功能逐渐恢复 ,平均CD4 + ( 5 61± 5 2 2 )个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 3 70± 2 71 )个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .68± 1 .1 1。 2 1d后免疫功能基本恢复正常 ,平均CD4 + ( 675± 448)个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 4 67± 2 41 )个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .48± 0 .68。 1 0例死亡患者的T细胞亚群在入院后逐渐出现下降趋势 ,病程第 7天CD4 + ( 2 48± 82 )个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 2 3 3± 1 1 5 )个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .2 1± 0 .40 ,第 1 4天T淋巴细胞继续下降 ,平均CD4 + ( 1 81± 1 2 8)个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 1 73± 1 0 9)个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .1 7± 0 .45 ,2 1d后CD4 + 细胞继续下降 ,平均CD4 + ( 1 2 5± 46)个 /μL ,CD8+ ( 94± 3 8)个 /μL ,CD4 + /CD8+ 1 .44±0 .5 9。结果提示 :SARS患者早期可能存在异常的免疫反应 ,这种异常免疫反应可能是导?