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Objective: To observe histologic changes of human cytomegalovirus (hCMV)-infected explants of first trimester human placenta and expression of hCMV gene in the hCMV-infected explants, and investigate the mechanism of intrauterine transmission of hCMV from mother to fetus., Methods: The first trimester placenta explants cultures were carried out, and they were infected with hCMV for 10 days. The expression of hCMV immediate early protein (IEP) 72-IEP86 were determined using indirect-immuno fluorescent assay, and in situ hybridization method was used to examine the hCMV late gene (LG) mRNA. For histologic evaluation of morphological changes in villi, transmission electron microscope was used., Results: (1) Typical hCMV-induced lesions bearing hCMV IEP72-IEP86 were consistently localized in the trophoblast of covering placenta villi, interstitial cell and vascular endothelia cell 12 hours after infection, and were predominant in cytotrophoblast. (2) Replication of hCMV in placenta explants culture occurred from 12 hours to 24 hours and disappeared since 48 hours after infection with different concentrations of hCMV when examined by in situ hybridization. (3) Tissue integrity and viability of first trimester placenta explants were obtained in culture for 10 days and then explants were infected with different concentrations of hCMV [100 tissue culture infectious doses (TCID(50)), 200 TCID(50) and 300 TCID(50)], the progression of the infection was observed in the tissue that maintained its normal cellular organization under light microscope. But typical inflammation of cellular organization was observed under transmission electron microscope., Conclusions: (1) A flash replication of hCMV in placental explants culture occurs; IEP72-IEP86 may be in intrauterine infection of hCMV for a long time. (2) There are pathological ultrastructure changes in hCMV-infected explants.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Toxoplasma (Tox) infection during pregnancy to the development of fetus and infant., Methods: Enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to detect Tox-IgM in peripheral blood of 3,908 pregnant women. To Tox-IgM positive cases, the umbilical blood of their neonates were sampled to detect Tox-IgM and abortion tissues were sampled to detect Tox-DNA with polymerase chain reaction. Infection group included 95 cases whose Tox-IgM or DNA were positive, and control group consisted of 119 cases without infection. Different supervision methods were used to periodically observe the intelligence development of infants 3 and 12 months after birth in these two groups. After initial intervention, verbal intelligence quotients (VIQs), performance intelligence quotients (PIQs) and full scale intelligence quotients (FSIQs) were assessed when the infants were 1 and 4 years old of these two groups., Results: The incidences of abortion, stillbirth, pre-term delivery, FGR and malformation in infection group were 12 cases (12.6%), 5 cases (5.3%), 4 cases (4.2%), 4 cases (4.2%) and 3 cases (3.2%), while the incidences of these abnormalities in control group were 3 cases (2.7%), 1 cases (0.9%), 2 cases (1.8%), 2 cases (1.8%) and 1 cases (0.9%). Comparing with these two groups, there was significant difference (P < 0.01). Relative risk (RR) of these 5 abnormalities was 4.7, 5.9, 2.3, 2.3 and 3.6 respectively. Mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) of infants in infection group were 93 +/- 13 and 101 +/- 16. They were significantly lower than that of control group, which were 107 +/- 17 and 111 +/- 13. There was significant difference between these two groups (P < 0.05). After intervention in 1 and 4 years, their VIQs, PIQs and FSIQs were apparently improved (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Congenital Tox infection is closely correlated with abnormal pregnancy outcomes and infantile mental retardation. Early intervention can improve intelligence development.

411 cases of malformed babies in 1960-1985 were analyzed, giving an incidence of 6.8%. The clinical data and autopsy materials showed that the order of occurrence of malformation in various systems was: nervous system, face and neck, muscle, bone and digestive system. Autopsy rate was 37.4% in this series. The ratio of malformed male babies to female was 1.3 to 1. 46.5% of the mothers with malformed baby were at age of 25-29 years and 66.2% delivered at 37 to 41 weeks of gestation. 69.3% of mothers with malformed baby had gestational complications 11 times as high as those delivering normal neonate in the same period (P less than 0.01). Of them hydramnion, premature rupture of membranes, oligoamnios, neonatal asphyxia were obviously higher than those pregnancies with normal baby (P less than 0.01). There is mainly discussed the clinical value of autopsy and the preventive measures in decreasing birth of malformed babies.