Enhanced twin pregnancy detection within an open neural tube defect and down syndrome screening protocol using free-beta hCG and AFP

We have applied our multimarker approach of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free-beta human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for Down syndrome screening to multiple gestations to assess its efficacy for improved detection of twin and triplet pregnancies. This study matched 225 cases of twin pregnancy and 39 cases of triplet pregnancy each with ten singleton pregnancies based on gestational week, race, time to receive sample, time of year of sample, and geographical area. The ratios of the MOM for each group at the tenth, 50th, and 90th percentiles were compared by the Wilcoxon test. Risks for twins were calculated using Bayes' rule, the age-related incidence of twins, and the levels of AFP and free-beta hCG. The tenth, 50th, and 90th percentiles of free-beta hCG MOMs in twin and triplet cases were 0.85, 1.99, and 4.51, and 1.38, 2.78, and 4.07, respectively. For AFP, the MOMs at these percentiles were 1.26, 1.91, and 2.99, and 2.02, 2.68, and 5.30, respectively. The twin and triplet distributions for each marker were statistically significantly different from the singleton distributions (P<0.0001) and from each other (P=0.0012). At a twin risk cut-off of 1 in 50, 77.4 per cent of all twin gestations can be detected in a second-trimester AFP and free-beta hCG screening protocol with 5.1 per cent of singleton pregnancies falsely identified as at risk for twins. Our dual marker protocol for mid-trimester pregnancy screening combining AFP and free-beta hCG can identify over 77 per cent of twin pregnancies in women less than 35 years of age. This benefit may contribute to an improved outcome of pregnancy by early detection of multiple gestation.     

The association between alpha-fetoprotein and βhcg levels prior to and following chorionic villus sampling in cases that spontaneously miscarried

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (βhCG) measurements taken prior to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in 21 patients who subsequently miscarried were compared with measurements in a control group of 113 patients with uneventful pregnancies. Patients with AFP levels of 10 iu/ml or more prior to the CVS had a 4·3 times greater risk of miscarriage (95 per cent confidence interval 1·3–13·6). AFP levels obtained 1 week after the CVS in the 13 patients with late miscarriages were higher than in the control group (P = 0·06). Patients miscarrying had a greater rise in AFP (P = 0·06) and a greater fall in βhCG levels (P = 0·04) following the CVS procedure, compared with the control subjects. Each 10-unit change in the difference between AFP or βhCG levels prior to and 1 week following the CVS was associated with a significantly increased risk for late miscarriage. Elevated maternal serum AFP levels early in pregnancy and changes in AFP and βhCG levels following CVS may predict an increased risk for subsequent miscarriage.     

Use of the chemical cleavage of mismatch method for prenatal deficiency diagnosis of alpha-1-antitrypsin

The most common mutation in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, conversion of a G to an A at base 9989 (PI-Z), was detected with the chemical cleavage of mismatch method, demonstrating the power of the method for prenatal diagnosis. Exon V of the gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and heteroduplexes were formed to test for the presence of the mutation. The predicted C mismatch was readily detectable with hydroxylamine, and by making the probe from the chorionic villus sample it was possible to determine that the fetus was heterozygous, not homozygous, for the mutation.     

假单胞菌的氯儿茶酚1,2-双加氧酶基因的克隆和表达

 从土壤中分离得到1株降解2,4-二氯酚(2,4-DCP)能力较强的细菌菌株GT241-1,克隆了该菌株的3,5-二氯儿茶酚1,2-双加氧酶基因(dcpB),采用的克隆策略为:用Southern杂交对dcpB进行定位后,构建重组质粒,再用斑点杂交从重组质粒中筛选目的转化子.经序列测定得知dcpB亚克隆片段全长4303bp,其中dcpB基因编码区765bp.核苷酸和推测的氨基酸序列分析表明,dcpB与已在GenBank登记的相关基因有一定的差异.dcpB基因能够在大肠杆菌转化子中成功地表达有生物活性的酶.     

Effects of bifenthrin on Daphnia magna during chronic toxicity test and the recovery test

IntroductionWiththedevelopmentandapplicationofnewpesticide ,insecticidehasgreatlyreducedtheharmofpesttocrops .Bifenthrinisaneffectivepyrethroidinsecticideandacaricideagainstawiderangeofinsectpests ,anditisverypoisonoustomammal,aquatic .Thisinsecticideiswi…     

兰州市交通要道颗粒物污染状况及其致突变活性的研究

采用现场监测，色－质联用分析以及小鼠骨髓微核试验方法，评价了兰州市交通要道颗粒物的污染状况，分析了颗粒提取物（PE）的有机组成及致突变活性。结果表明，兰州市总悬浮颗粒物（TSP）污染严重。颗粒提取物中含有近100种有机化合物，其中包括致癌性多环芳烃。微核试验显示PE具有致突变活性，对人群健康的影响不容忽视。     

SBR法运行控制工艺研究进展

SBR法是一种具有独特的优点的废水生物处理工艺，但至今还没有一套公认的运行控制工艺，本文从SBR法的启动，充水时间及反应时间的确定，模糊控制，目标控制操作等几方面对SBR工艺的运行控制做了评述，并对其今后的研究方向做了展望。     

煤炭燃烧排砷水平与控制技术研究

煤炭是我国目前的主要一次能源之一,燃煤中的重金属污染愈来愈受到重视,如何控制煤炭中砷向环境中扩散,减轻环境污染是近年来重要的研究课题.通过开展对铁法煤业集团内部高砷煤和低砷煤的动力配煤燃烧试验,分析动力配煤燃烧过程中的砷迁移水平,研究铁法煤业集团内部动力配煤燃烧过程中的砷迁移规律和动力配煤降砷的可行性,并为开展最佳动力配煤操作数据提供理论依据,为高砷煤燃烧控制砷的排放寻找治理途径,提高煤炭资源的最大利用效率.     

环境和质量管理体系一体化实质分析

阐述了过程方法在ISO14001（2004版）环境管理体系标准和ISO9001（2000版）质量管理体系标准中的运用。介绍了过程的概念、过程特性的概念、过程的输入和输出要求。分析了环境管理体系和质量管理体系一体化的实质及其意义。指出一体化管理体系不是将2个标准中要素的要求简单叠加。     

精对苯二甲酸残渣的处理现状及综合利用

综述了国内外精对苯二甲酸（PTA）生产企业的残渣处理概况和残渣中有价物质的回收方法：提出了PTA残渣的控制和综合利用思路，分析了PTA残渣综合利用的经济效益。