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.     

用UDS试验检测黄浦江水质致遗传毒性

本文运用UDS试验来检测黄浦江水质致遗传毒性,结果表明,试验条件是可行的。UDS试验从DNA修复合成的角度来反映受试物的致遗传毒性作用,可作为水质评价的方法之一。     

长江江豚监测现状及展望

长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)是唯一淡水生活的鼠海豚类,近年来种群数量严重下降,2013年被世界自然保护联盟红色名录列为“极度濒危”,2021年升级为我国国家一级重点保护野生动物,2022年种群有所恢复。长江江豚是长江生态系统健康的指示物种,我国科学家自20世纪50年代开始监测至今,监测方法不断更新完善,对长江江豚现状的了解也越来越充分。该文回顾了截线抽样法、水下被动声学及自动实时监测系统、无人机、环境DNA等监测方法的应用及取得的成效,分析监测方法存在的不足,预测技术发展趋势,提出改进建议,为长江江豚的监测及保护提供基本参考。     

Characterization of microbial communities from coastal waters using microarrays

Molecular methods, including DNA probes, were used to identify and enumerate pathogenic Vibrio species in the Chesapeake Bay; our data indicated that Vibrio vulnificus exhibits seasonal fluctuations in number. Our work included a characterization of total microbial communities from the Bay; development of microarrays that identify and quantify the diversity of those communities; and observation of temporal changes in those communities. To identify members of the microbial community, we amplified the 16S rDNA gene from community DNA isolated from a biofilm sample collected from the Chesapeake Bay in February, 2000. The resultant 75 sequences were 95% or more similar to 7 species including two recently described Shewanella species, baltica and frigidimarina, that have not been previously isolated from the Chesapeake. When the genera of bacteria from biofilm after culturing are compared to those detected by subcloning amplified 16S fragments from community DNA, the cultured sample exhibited a strong bias. In oysters collected in February, the most common bacteria were previously unknown. Based on our 16S findings, we are developing microarrays to detect these and other microbial species in these estuarine communities. The microarrays will detect each species using four distinct loci, with the multiple loci serving as an internal control. The accuracy of the microarray will be measured using sentinel species such as Aeromonas species, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio vulnificus. Using microarrays, it should be possible to determine the annual fluctuations of bacterial species (culturable and non-culturable, pathogenic and non-pathogenic). The data may be applied to understanding patterns of environmental change; assessing the health of the Bay; and evaluating the risk of human illness associated with exposure to and ingestion of water and shellfish.     

DNA链断裂作为醛类污染物接触标志物的研究

应用单细胞凝胶电泳技术 ,通过对小鼠脾淋巴细胞染毒试验 ,测定了甲醛、乙醛、丙稀醛单独及联合作用下对细胞DNA分子链断裂损伤。结果表明 ,3种醛均能引起DNA分子发生链断裂 ,对于乙醛和丙稀醛存在明确的剂量 -反应关系 ,3种化合物还还存在着一定的协同作用。上述结果提示醛类污染物潜在致癌性的一个可能机制以及DNA断裂作为醛类化合物接触标志物的可能性。     

First-trimester prenatal diagnosis of severe alpha-thalassemia

By means of chorion biopsy together with restriction endonuclease analysis of fetal DNA, first trimester diagnoses were successfully made in 33 fetuses at risk for Bart's hydrops fetalis. Seven pregnancies with Hb H or hydrops fetalis were therapeutically terminated before 4 months of gestation. Of the 26 pregnancies intended to continue, 18 have come to term with normal deliveries; one with threatened abortion was terminated at the end of the first trimester and, seven are progresssing normally.     

气态甲醛致雌性小鼠生殖细胞DNA-蛋白质交联的研究

为了研究气态甲醛对雌性小鼠生殖细胞的影响,以昆明雌性小鼠卵巢为实验材料,采取动态吸入式染毒方式,应用KCl-SDS沉淀法检测了气态甲醛染毒后所引起的小鼠卵巢生殖细胞DNA-蛋白质交联(DPC)效应.结果表明,较低浓度的甲醛(0.5mg·m-3),即可导致明显的DPC效应(与对照相比,p<0.05),并且随着染毒浓度的升高(0.5、1.0、3.0mg·m-3),DPC系数也逐渐升高.上述结果表明在实验所设浓度范围内,甲醛对小鼠卵巢生殖细胞的DNA损伤可以引起DNA-蛋白质的交联,并且DPC系数随着染毒浓度的增大而增大.DNA-蛋白质交联是DNA分子的一种严重损伤,气态甲醛对雌性小鼠生殖细胞具有一定的影响.     

Extraction of DNA from amniotic fluid cells for the early prenatal diagnosis of genetic disease

Ten-ml samples of amniotic fluid were taken from pregnancies being terminated at 8–14 weeks' gestation. DNA was extracted from the amniotic cells by sequential centrifugation and analysed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fifteen samples were analysed for evidence of maternal contamination using Mfd5 oligo-nucleotide primers for repeat polymorphisms. Ten amniotic fluid samples were tested for the Delta-F₅₀₈ deletion characteristic of cystic fibrosis to demonstrate a diagnostic application for the technique. In each case, DNA extracted from fetal tissue from the same pregnancy was included in the controls. In 14 of the 15 cases tested with the Mfd5 primers, both the amniotic fluid DNA and the fetal DNA showed no evidence of contaminating DNA. In one case, neither the amniotic fluid cells nor the fetal cells yielded results. In nine of the ten cases tested with the Delta-F₅₀₈ primers, the amniotic fluid cell DNA provided accurate information about the genetic status of the fetus; in the tenth, the fetal DNA failed to amplify. The results indicate that adequate DNA can be extracted from amniotic fluid from 8 weeks' gestation onward and these samples are suitable for prenatal diagnosis using PCR.     

Trophoblast-like cells sorted from peripheral maternal blood using flow cytometry: A multiparametric study involving transmission electron microscopy and fetal dna amplification

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against trophoblast (GB17, GB21, and GB25) and flow cytometry were used to sort trophoblast-like cells (TLCs) from peripheral blood of pregnant women. Sorted TLCs were processed for electron microscopy and fetal DNA amplification of the Y-specific sequences from mothers carrying male fetuses. At the ultra-structural level, most of the nucleated cells had the morphology of leucocytes, suggesting maternal contaminants, and we did not find the characteristic features of the free inter-villous trophoblast cells. Nevertheless, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed an amplification of Y-specific sequences in two out of three samples of sorted TLCs. These results suggest that besides the maternal leucocytes, sufficient trophoblast nucleated fetal cells can be obtained using cell enrichment by sorting. This sensitive method holds promise for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal sex and if sufficient Y(positive) nuclei are found, for the diagnosis of selected numerical chromosome abnormalities.     

Prenatal diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase deficiency by rflp analysis of the 21-hydroxylase,complement C4, and HLA class II genes

In 19 pregnancies at risk for 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) in 18 families with at lea one affected child, prenatal diagnosis was performed by RFLP analysis using the enzymi Taq I and EcoRI and the DNA probes specific for the 21 OH genes, the closely linke complement C4 genes and the highly polymorphic HLA class II genes DRB, DQB, and DPI For fetal DNA analysis either chorionic villi or cultivated amniotic cells were used. In all 1 cases, a clear prenatal diagnosis was possible either with the 21OH probe alone or in mo cases, by combining the results of the different closely linked loci.