Abstract This report describes the photoacoustic and electron paramagnetic resonance investigations of Brazilian and Cuban zeolites. Photoacoustic optical absorption measurements indicate the presence of iron (Fe 3 +) ions with their respective transition bands for both zeolites. Two species of manganese (Mn 2 + and Mn 3 +) were identified in the Cuban sample and the electronic transitions assigned. Iron and manganese ions were confirmed through nonradiative relaxation ( τ) and characteristic diffusion ( τ β) times evaluation, whose values were found to be τ BRA = 5.40 ms, τ CUB = 4.60 ms, τ β BRA = 387 μs and τ β CUB = 305 μs. Crystal field (Dq- BRA/Dq- CUB = 1048 cm − 1/945 cm − 1) plus Racah (B- BRA/B- CUB = 457 cm − 1/813 cm − 1 and C- BRA/C- CUB = 3655 cm − 1/2496 cm − 1) parameters were assessed as well. Paramagnetic resonance corroborated Fe 3 + ions present in the Brazilian zeolite occupying sites showing axial and/or rhombic symmetry distortions. For the Cuban sample, results reveal the characteristic hyperfine sextet lines of Mn 2 + overlapping the Fe 3 + line. Values of Landé factor and isotropic hyperfine splitting constant were found to be 2.0 and 9.7 mT, respectively. This tells us that the Mn 2 + lies in octahedral symmetry probably replacing calcium ions and point towards an ionic bonding character of the Mn 2 + and its surroundings.

El objetivo de este trabajo es, en primer lugar, dar a conocer la sensibilidad y especificidad de los distintos métodos utilizados en el diagnóstico prenatal de las hendiduras labiopalatinas y, en segundo lugar, conocer las posibilidades diagnósticas de la fetoscopia en esta alteración. Las hendiduras labiopalatinas y los trastornos de la mandíbula constituyen una malformación congénita facial; incluyen falta de fusión de los botones maxilares y faciales. Estas anomalías están asociadas a cuadros malformativos complejos incluyendo trisomías. La ecografía, tanto bidimensional como tridimensional, es capaz de detectar estas anormalidades con alta sensibilidad y especificidad, en general la ecografía tridimensional permite reconocer la situación real del grado de fusión o no del labio y paladar. La hendidura labiopalatina fue la primera malformación facial identificada por ecografía. La fetoscopia, por su parte, consiste en la introducción de una óptica, a través de la pared abdominal materna con la cual se pueden observar todas las estructuras externas fetales incluyendo la cara. Permite, además, la toma de muestra de sangre así como el estudio del cariotipo fetal. En conclusión la fetoscopia puede llegar a conseguir diagnósticos precisos de los defectos de la cara fetal; sin embargo, su uso en los actuales momentos tiene indicaciones muy precisas, siendo principalmente de orden quirúrgico.

The purposes of this study are, on the one hand, to describe the sensibility and specificity of the different methods used in the diagnosis of cleft lip and palate; and on the other hand, to discuss the possibility that fetoscopy offers to achieve a precise description of cleft lip and palate, which is a wide clinical condition of face congenital malformation, produced by a defect in the face and maxillar buttons during the embryonic life. It was the first malformation diagnosticated by the ultrasound technique and it has been associated to major malformations and trisomies. Ultrasound techniques, two dimensions (2-D) or three dimensions (3-D), are capable of detecting this kind of malformation with high sensibility and specificity, specially 3-D ultrasound which allows an accurate and precise recognition of the real condition of the defect. Nowadays, fetoscopy is a new invasive procedure, that consists in the introduction of an optic instrument attached to a video camera through the abdominal wall of the pregnant women; therefore, it is capable of showing the real external anatomy of the fetus, including the face and the lips. In conclusion, 2D and 3D ultrasound are easy, non invasive methods for the objective evaluation of the fetus. It gives information not only of the external anatomy but also a precise description of internal structures such as the palate. Because of its invasive nature, fetoscopy should be reserved only for fetal surgery and not for diagnosis.