Enzymatic screening of human uterine cervical biopsies in nonpregnant and pregnant women at parturition.

Twelve enzymatic activities, involved in the metabolism of proteins, collagen, glycosaminoglycans, or in the energy metabolism, were studied in 72 cervical biopsies obtained after delivery of the placenta and in 12 cervices obtained by hysterectomy in nonpregnant patients. Although these activities display high interindividual variations, they are greatly and significantly increased at parturition as compared to the nonpregnant state, with the exception of creatine kinase, which is maximum in cervices obtained from nulliparous nonpregnant women. The activities are low in the group of women who are 35 to 40 years old. The other studied factors (blood group, parity, pregnancy duration, labor length, treatment, state of the cervix at the 9-month examination) have no clear influence on the enzymatic levels. The results are discussed in relation to the well-known structural changes of the cervix at parturition.

Estimating meconium (fetal feces) concentration in human amniotic fluid by nuclear magnetic resonance.

Measurements are reported of NMR relaxation times (T2) on hydrogen in water of isotonic NaCl solutions and of normal human amniotic fluid in which known concentrations of meconium (fetal feces) were dissolved. Magnetic fields for resonance of 23.5 X 10(3) and 0.6 oersteds were used. From the measured T2 values, reliable estimates of meconium concentrations could be obtained that might be considered estimates of fetal distress. Observed minor variation of T2 values was probably due to the mucopolysaccharides comprising 80% of the meconium weight. Advantages of this technique for possible clinical use in obstetrics include small volume of sample required (0.1 ml), lack of necessity for sample filtration or centrifugation, and shortness of time required for analysis (less than 30 min).

[Acetylcholinesterase: an additional test for diagnosis of fetal malformations]. / Acetylcholinesterase: un test supplémentaire pour la detection des malformations foetales. A propos d'une suspicion in utero de myeloméningocèle.

From an observation of in utero suspected myelomeningocele, the authors underline interest of pattern of cholinesterases using acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The AChE isoenzyme band appears in some fetal malformations, particularly NTD. This biochemical test is considered as complementary of the AF alpha-fetoprotein assay.