Fetal toxoplasmosis and negative amniocentesis: necessity of an ultrasound follow-up

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis relies on the PCR test on amniotic fluid and ultrasound follow-up of the fetus. We report two cases of toxoplasma infection during the first trimester of gestation with a discrepant diagnosis of fetal infection. PCR performed more than four weeks after the estimated date of contamination was negative. Ultrasound follow-up was normal up to the third trimester when major hydrocephalus was detected, leading to pregnancy termination. In both cases, post-mortem examination revealed a diffuse infection with severe brain lesions. These observations confirm the necessity to continue a monthly ultrasound follow-up, even if amniocentesis is negative, in case of fetal toxoplasma infection in pregnancy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of Y chromosome-specific DNA in the plasma and urine of pregnant women using nested polymerase chain reaction

The present study was undertaken to evaluate a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Y chromosome-specific fetal DNA in maternal plasma and urine of pregnant women during different gestational stages. DNA isolated from plasma and urine samples of 80 pregnant women (between 7 and 40 weeks' gestation) underwent amplification for Y chromosome-specific 198 bp DNA by nested PCR. The postpartum analysis of fetal gender showed that 55 women carried male and 25 female fetuses. Among the 55 women bearing male fetuses, Y chromosome-specific signals were detected in 53 (96%) plasma and 21 (38%) urine samples. Moreover, out of 25 women bearing female fetuses, 3 (12%) and 1 (4%) women had Y chromosome-specific signal in plasma and urine, respectively. Analysis of results with respect to gestational age revealed that there was no significant difference in the detection of Y chromosome-specific DNA between different trimesters in maternal plasma of women bearing male fetuses. These results showed that fetus-specific DNA was detected with high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (88%) in the maternal plasma by nested PCR, and therefore the method could be useful as a non-invasive procedure for fetal sex determination and prenatal diagnosis. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a collaborative activity of clinical genetic departments and IVF centres

An Erratum has been published for this article in Prenatal Diagnosis 22 (5) 2002, 451. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) requires the combined efforts of geneticists and workers in the field of reproductive medicine. This was studied on the basis of a questionnaire, sent to 35 members of the PGD Consortium of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). A reply was obtained from 20 centres. They represent the majority of activities in the field of PGD in the world. It is obvious that many of the activities (in vitro fertilisation, embryo culture and biopsy) take place in IVF units while others (counselling and diagnosis) are the responsibility of genetic diagnostic centres. The distances between both units vary considerably. In all but one centre sex determination is offered. Aneuploidy screening is offered in 13 out of 20 centres. PGD of translocations and other structural chromosome abnormalities is offered in all but one centre. The number of monogenic diseases offered varies considerably. In comparison to prenatal diagnosis PGD is more expensive. The majority of these costs are due to the IVF or ICSI procedure. The charges for PGD vary between about € 600 and € 4000. In 16 out of 20 centres the parents to be must sign an informed consent form. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

农村污水膜生物反应器系统中微生物群落解析

农村污水的随意排放和未加限制的灌溉回用可能会导致水源地环境污染加剧,并且其中潜在的病原微生物对周边淡水资源安全和农村居民的身心健康造成潜在的威胁.为了解农村污水的微生物群落组成,为后续污水灌溉的病原微生物风险评价提供理论依据,采用末端限制性片段长度多态性(T-RFLP)和16S r DNA基因克隆文库技术研究农村污水膜生物反应器(MBR)系统中的微生物群落多样性,并结合实时荧光定量PCR方法监测处理前后典型病原菌——弓形菌(Arcobacter spp.)以及总细菌数量的变化.从未处理的农村污水中获取的73个阳性克隆测序结果表明,其主要细菌类群为变形菌门(91.8%)、厚壁菌门(2.70%)、拟杆菌门(1.40%),以及部分不可培养细菌(4.10%).其中弓形菌属是ε-变形菌门的优势菌,也是农村污水中的优势菌株,占克隆总数的68.5%.TRFLP的结果表明,不同处理工艺阶段的主要细菌类群及丰度明显不同,调节池的物种丰度(S)、Shannon-Wiener(H)和物种均匀度(E)最高,分别为43.0、3.56和0.95.定量PCR结果显示未处理的农村污水中弓形菌数量高达(1.09±0.064 0)×1011copies·L-1,该结果与克隆文库结果均表明弓形菌在污水中确实占较高比例.与未处理的农村污水相比,处理后的出水中所监测的弓形菌及细菌总拷贝数分别减少了2~3个数量级,说明MBR处理系统在一定程度上能够去除微生物.处理后的再生水理化指标及指示菌卫生指标均符合农田灌溉用水标准,但其中残留病原微生物引发的健康风险仍需进一步评价.     

洪泽湖有毒和无毒微囊藻丰度及其与环境因子之间的相关分析

为了解洪泽湖有毒和无毒微囊藻丰度及其空间分布,于2014年8月对洪泽湖30个采样点水体的营养盐浓度和Calson富营养化指数(trophic state index,TSI)进行研究,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR技术测定了有毒和无毒微囊藻丰度.结果表明,洪泽湖水体的总氮和总磷浓度平均值分别为1.63 mg·L-1和0.11 mg·L-1,富营养化指数在58.1~73.6之间,洪泽湖水质呈富营养化状态;有毒微囊藻在洪泽湖广泛分布,其丰度在1.13×104~3.51×106copies·m L-1之间,总微囊藻丰度在1.06×105~1.10×107copies·m L-1之间,有毒微囊藻占总微囊藻的比例在8.5%~38.5%之间,平均值为23.6%,有毒微囊藻丰度及其比例均呈现出明显的空间差异性;相关分析结果显示,总微囊藻、有毒微囊藻和有毒微囊藻所占比例三者之间呈极显著正相关性(P0.01),总微囊藻和有毒微囊藻丰度与叶绿素a浓度和TSI有极显著正相关性(P0.01),与透明度有极显著负相关性(P0.01),有毒微囊藻所占比例与叶绿素a、总氮、总磷和TSI有极显著正相关性(P0.01),与TN/TP和透明度有极显著负相关(P0.01).因此,削减洪泽湖总氮、总磷浓度一方面可以降低水体富营养化水平,另一方面有利于抑制有毒微囊藻对无毒微囊藻的竞争优势.