First-trimester fetal sex determination in maternal serum using real-time PCR

An Erratum has been published for this article in Prenatal Diagnosis 22(13) 2002, 1241. Fetal sex prediction can be achieved using PCR targeted at the SRY gene by analysing cell-free fetal DNA in maternal serum. Unfortunately, the results reported to date show a lack of sensitivity, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, determination of fetal sex by maternal serum analysis could not replace karyotype analysis following chorionic villus sampling. A new highly sensitive real-time PCR was developped to detect an SRY gene sequence in maternal serum. Analysis was performed on 121 pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy (mean gestational age: 11.8 weeks). Among them, 51 had at least one previous male-bearing pregnancy. Results were compared with fetal sex. SRY PCR analysis of maternal serum was in complete concordance with fetal sex. Among the 121 pregnant women, 61 were bearing a male fetus and 60 a female fetus. No false-negative results were observed. Furthermore, no false-positive results occurred, even though 27 women carrying a female fetus during the current pregnancy had at least one previous male-bearing pregnancy. This study demonstrates that a reliable, non-invasive sex determination can be achieved by PCR analysis of maternal serum during the first trimester of pregnancy. This non-invasive approach for fetal sex prediction should have great implications in the management of pregnant women who are carriers of an X-linked genetic disorder. Prenatal diagnosis might thus be performed for male fetuses only, avoiding invasive procedures and the risk of the loss of female fetuses. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

筛网处理装置治理厨房油雾烟气的方法与研究

筛网处理装置是沈阳环境科学研究所经过多年研制出的具有用途广泛、效果显著的一种新技术。它曾应用于锅炉除尘脱硫、喷漆尾气的净化等环境治理工程。本方法是利用筛网处理装置技术的拓宽研究     

高效菌活性污泥法处理分散染料废水实验研究

针对复合微生物的筛选和分离进行了研究 ,分离出处理分散染料废水起高效降解作用的 2株菌种。结果表明 ,2株高效菌对分散染料废水降解能力很强 ,与普通菌结果对比CODCr去除率提高 17% ,并且高效菌对废水浓度的耐受性也明显提高     

细水雾对障碍物遮挡火源抑制作用的数值研究

以大涡模拟、混合物分数模拟和欧拉-拉格朗日粒子运动描述法为基础,采用火灾动力学软件FDS研究了细水雾对障碍物不同程度遮挡火的抑制作用,通过改变雾滴粒径、喷头操作压力来分析细水雾对不同遮挡情况油池火的抑制灭火作用。结果表明:当火源被障碍物完全遮挡时,操作压力低于1MPa,细水雾很难达到抑制作用,当压力达到4MPa以上时,细水雾能够将温度控制在较低范围内;细水雾粒径小于50μm时,细水雾对障碍物遮挡火有较好的抑制作用;从整体来看,随着细水雾粒径的减小、压力的升高,细水雾对障碍物遮挡火的抑制作用逐渐增强。     

我市污水处理自动化控制系统展望——基于PLC控制与触摸屏的应用

介绍了由PLC和触摸屏组成的控制系统的特点和功能,以及PLC和上位机构成的控制系统可实现污水处理整个过程的实时监测和控制。