The « Individuelle Musterwert » is stated 1951 by Brodhage-Wendt. This cipher can easily be computed from the ten fingerprints of a person.

In 100 monozygotic and 100 dizygotic twins and in 348 couples of parents with 991 children is demonstrated, that this cipher is a qualified measure to indicate the heredity of fingerprints. Furthemore the applicability of the « Individuelle Musterwert » in twindiagnosis and paternity tests is shown.

Doppler arterial velocimetry waveforms was used as a method of antenatal surveillance for triplets. Six sets of triplet pregnancies were studied. Each fetus was identified by real-time-ultrasound scanning and the peak systolic/end diastolic (S/D) ratio was calculated. In one set of triplets two fetuses showed absent end diastolic flow. Both subsequently suffered from necrotising enterocolitis and had major bowel resection. The five other sets of triplets maintained a normal S/D ratio. Three had a normal outcome and two delivered prematurely.

In this paper an unselected series of 19 twins with migraine is reported. The findings in 13 pairs with ascertained twin diagnosis, 3 MZ and 10 DZ, are preliminarily summarized. With regard to typical migraine, only 1 MZ pair was concordant, a minor degree, of concordance was seen with all MZ and 3 DZ pairs. Regarding a distinct picture of vegetative dystonia, all MZ and 2 DZ pairs were concordant. On the basis of these results it can be assumed that various etiological factors are responsible for the manifestation of hemicrania. The hereditary basis seems to lie in a vegetative, diencephalic, dysregulation. Besides, the clinical manifestion is determinated by various preformative influences of an endogenous or exogenous nature.

Data from the young cohort of the Swedish Twin Registry are being used in an attempt to describe characteristics which distinguish among current, non- and ex- smokers prior to the development of a smoking habit versus those present after establishment of the habit (or lack of one). With twins as a sample of individuals, the psychosocial variables instability, extroversion, leisure activity, relative weight, alcohol, coffee and psycho-pharmaceutic drug use were examined jointly as predictors of current smoking status in multiple regression analyses. This phase was intended to replicate and expand upon earlier studies characterizing current, non- and ex-smokers. These analyses were then performed on MZ nonsmoking twin individuals who were classified on the basis of their cotwins' smoking status. Pattern of variation in the psychosocial variables across the groups of nonsmokers were similar to the pattern seen for current, ex- and nonsmokers. Characteristics in MZ nonsmokers which are predictive of their cotwins' smoking status may be interpreted as those present prior to development of a smoking habit. Selected results from these analyses will be presented.

Objective. The aim was to determine the chorionic and amniotic types in multifetal pregnancies with transvaginal ultrasonography at very early stage of gestation.

Study design. Twenty-one spontaneous multifetal pregnancies were scanned transvaginally before 8 weeks' gestation (four of them from 4th week). The chorionic and amniotic type was determined ultrasonographically. All twin gestations had postpartum pathologic evaluation of the placenta and histologic determination of the chorionic and amniotic type.

Results. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the 21 pregnancies demonstrated 20 twin and 1 triplet gestation. Four of the twin pregnancies were monochorionic-diamniotic. Triplet was monochorionic-triamniotic (spontaneously aborted in 8th week of gestation). In all 20 twin pregnancies, transvaginal ultrasonography correctly predicted the chorionic and amniotic type before 8 weeks of gestation.

Conclusion. Transvaginal ultrasonography allows a reliable, simple and rapid determination; the dichorionic twin pregnancy in 4 weeks, monochorionic in 5 weeks, and differentiation of mono-or diamniotic in 7 weeks of gestation.

A statistical analysis has been made on the clinico-anamnestic information concerning 432 mongol propositi, taking into particular consideration the age of parents, the order of birth and the reproductive features observed in the families of the propositi. The Authors furthermore examine the possibility of making an eugenical counseling concerning the probability of a new occurrence of the syndrome.

Report of a case of unilateral aplasia in mirror-image form of the kidney and the corresponding ureter in monozygotic male twins.

The stillbirth rates decreased to 2/3 for MZ male twins, 1/2 for MZ female twins, and under 1/2 for DZ twins for both sexes during the 19-year period from 1975 in Japan. The stillbirth rate was significantly higher in MZ males than MZ females in each year, whereas stillbirth rates of DZ twins for both sexes indicated similar values during that period. After 1986, stillbirth rates were more than 2 times higher in MZ twins than in singletons and in DZ twins. The higher stillbirth rate of MZ twins as opposed to DZ twins could be related to monochorionic twin pairs in MZ twins. The stillbirth rate decreased more drastically in twins for both zygosities than in singleton births during the 34-year period from 1960. However, declining rates of stillbirths may be attributed to medical care during twin pregnancies. Recommendation of an optimum day to give birth for twin pregnancy is 37-38 weeks for Japanese women.

Urinary mucopolysaccharides from three patients with acheiropodia were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed by agar gel electrophoresis coupled with enzymatic degradation. Although no abnormal pattern was characterized, eventual metabolic dysfunction detected only in bone/cartilage tissues could not be ruled out.

The genetic contribution to temperament was assessed during the neonatal period in 172 newborn infants from 47 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 39 pairs of same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins. Zygosity was not related to the neonatal temperament variables. Examination of the scores for twin concordance indicated significant within-pair concordance in temperament ratings, but MZ twins were not more like each other than DZ twins. The results suggested that neonatal temperament was influenced by environmental factors. Further analyses indicated that neonatal temperament was influenced by perinatal variables such as birth weight, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and number of days spent in the hospital. It was concluded that there was no clear pattern of genetic influence on neonatal temperament, and that nonshared environmental factors were an important source of variance for temperament during this period.

The incidence of preterm delivery was 28.2% of all twin deliveries. Preterm delivery was common in monozygotic twins due to a high incidence of spontaneous rupture of the membranes. In addition, preterm delivery was associated more often with boy rather than girl infants.

The international literature on triplet births is surveyed. No definitive work on triplet gestations exists. The relatively few articles on this subject are divided into three categories: 1) national data; 2) local, regional or hospital series; 3) case reports. Clinical concerns, such as prematurity, low birth weight, bed rest, and tocolysis, are discussed with specific reference to literature citations.

The occurrence of different types of hemoglobin variants in India has been well-documented in urban populations and in certain tribal areas. Beta-thalassaemia and hemoglobins D, E, H, S, and rare variants like Hb Lepore, have been found in varying percentages. There is a higher incidence of Hb E in the Eastern region and of Hb D in certain Northern populations. The association of Hb E with beta thalassaemia G6PD deficiency has been established. The relationship with other environmental factors, like malaria, is not yet clear.

Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 519 pregnant women in the first trimester at three hospitals in Tokyo from August 1985 to March 1987. Among 519 women, two fetal heart movements (FHMs) were comfirmed in six cases. In two of these six cases, one of two FHMs disappeared two weeks later, and these were considered the “vanishing twin”. In eight cases among those with ultrasonographic image of echo-free-space (EFS) in the uterus, the observed EFS was considered to be a probable empty gestational sac (GS-like-EFS-image). Seven of eight GS-like-EFS-images were observed in October-December (p < 0.01) and two “vanishing twin” cases were also observed in the same season. Spontaneous abortion occurred in 11 cases and these were also more frequently observed in October-November (p < 0.05). Some abortive factor is supposed to have prevailed in October-December. All six women having twin fetuses (including the “vanishing twin” cases) were born in January-May (p < 0.05) and those having GS-like-EFS-images or terminating their pregnancy in spontaneous abortion were also born more frequently in the same season. Twin-prone and abortion-prone characteristics of the women born in this season are considered.

In three girls, aged 14, 15 and 16 years, the chromosome analysis revealed a morphologically abnormal, enlarged X-chromosome resembling in size and centromere position the chromosome no. 2. The translocation points were different in all three cases. The Barr-bodies were enlarged. In two girls a 45,X mosaicism (25% and 10%) was found in lymphocyte cultures.

The length at birth was 43, 47 and 48 cm, and none of the girls was born before term. The main clinical abnormalities in all three cases were a marked growth retardation, slight morphological dysplasias, lack of sexual development and social immaturity. GH and Cortisol secretion during an insulin tolerance test were normal. LH and FSH were elevated and showed an exaggerated reaction on LH-RH. Oestrogens were low normal and androgens within the normal range. At laparatomy the gonads were found to be streak gonads. For two girls cell cultures of gonadal tissue were set up? the chromosome findings of which corresponded to those of the lymphocyte cultures.

The abnormality of the gonosomes reported here seems to represent a special form of gonadal dysgenesis. Although the translocation points were different in the three patients and one had no mosaic, while the other two showed 45,X/46,XX mosaicism, the clinical and hormonal findings were nearly the same for all three girls.

The simultaneous occurrence of sarcoidosis in two 24yearold white men who where enzygotic twins is reported. Manifestations of the disease as well as its clinical course were identical in both twins.

The frequency of a hereditary abnormality of erythocytes characterised by a deficiency in glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione instability, has been investigated in various population groups in Israel. The highest frequencies of this abnormality have been detected among Jews from Kurdistan, Iraq and Persia. It is also relatively common in other oriental (sefardic) Jewish communities, as well as among Arabs, desert Bedouins and Druses.

Up to now only one case of this erythrocyte defect has been found among Jews of Ashkenazic origin. The same abnormality has also been found in a Sikh from Punjab.

The hereditary pattern of transmission and evidences of sex linkage are presented. The problem of expressivity of the abnormal gene in heterozygous females is discussed.

Birth dates of 1,536 twin-pairs in 1971-1984 were collected from the members of an association of twins' mothers. The seasonal variation of twinning changed every 2-4 years. Years when twinning rate was higher in the summer-fall season (1971-72, 1976-77, 1982-84) and those when a peak of the rate was not observed (1973-75, 1978-81) appeared alternately. In years with a summer-fall peak, the elevation of twinning in the summer-fall season was detected consistently in both like- and unlike-sexed and in both MZ and DZ twin groups. The twinning seasonality in these years, however, was not evident in twin births of mothers who were born in May-July. These results suggest the possibility that seasonal factors which influence the twinning rate be not multiple-ovulation-inducing but probably abortion-inducing factors and most likely seasonally epidemic microbes.

Continuous wave Doppler ultrasound was used to study the twin fetus in 76 multiple pregnancies. The technique is not difficult and allowed the identification of the small for gestional age twin in both intrauterine growth failure and twin to twin transfusion syndrome.