Prenatal detection of fetal hemoglobin E gene from maternal plasma

In order to provide a noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of the hemoglobin E (Hb E) related disorder, we have evaluated the possibility of identifying the fetal β^E-globin gene in maternal plasma. The analysis was performed during 8 to 18 weeks of gestation using DNA extracted from 200 µL of plasma from pregnant women whose husbands carried Hb E. The β^E-globin mutation in maternal plasma was detected by a nested PCR amplification followed by the Mnl I restriction analysis. The result was compared with that of routine analysis of the CVS specimens. Among the five pregnant women examined, the fetal β^E-globin gene was identified in maternal plasma in three of them and the result was completely concordant with the conventional CVS analysis. This simple noninvasive prenatal detection of the fetal β^E-globin gene should prove useful in a prevention and control program of Hb E/β-thalassemia in countries where the β^E-globin gene is prevalent. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis: polemics around routine ultrasound screening for second trimester fetal malformations

Ultrasound for routine fetal malformation screening has been polemical from its early beginning because of the very broad range of diagnosis rates disclosed, i.e. from 13% to 82%, average 27.5%. A review of available studies is proposed to assess objectively the efficacy of ultrasound, considering also economical, ethical and methodological aspects as influential factors for choosing a routine screening policy. The utility of fetal malformation diagnosis before birth is brought forward, including second opinion, karyotyping, poly-disciplinary case discussion prior to management. Method and material of reviewed studies considerably vary and might influence the sensitivity results, as the choice of the population sample and selection of pregnant women, gestation age at screening, distribution of malformation among systems or tracts, exclusion of some fetal malformation and the routine practice of autopsy. Efficiency of screening studies is compared, and among them Radius and Eurofetus studies. Average sensitivity is finally considered as satisfactory in the daily practice when operated by trained personnel. The importance of additional factors for successful screening are emphasized such as education, equipment quality and fetal ultrasound examination at different gestation age for a better understanding of natural history of fetal morphology. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rare cell isolation using antibodies covalently linked to slides: application to fetal cells in maternal blood

We describe here a new type of method for isolation of rare cell populations in biological fluids. The method is based on the anthraquinone technology for covalent binding of molecules to a polymer surface. An anthraquinone molecule conjugated via a linker to an electrophilic group (AQ Immobilizer™ reagent, Exiqon A/S) is covalently bound to a polymer surface by UV irradiation. The electrophilic group of this AQ reagent can covalently bind a specific antibody directed against a specific cell marker. Applying a cell sample to the functional surface, the cells having the specific cell marker on the cell surface will bind to the antibody on the functional surface. Using this technique, even extremely small cell populations may be isolated. We succeeded in isolating fetal cells from maternal blood samples in the first trimester for chromosome defects genetic diagnosis. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Promotion of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide to the damage of Alexandrium sp. LC3 by cupric glutamate

The effect of hexadecyltrimethyleamine bromide （HDTMAB） on the removal of A lexandrium sp. LC3 under cupric glutamate stress was investigated. Toxic effect of cupric glutamate on A lexandrium sp. LC3 was significantly promoted in the presence of HDTMAB, especially at 3.0 cmc of HDTMAB. It was found that the sulfhydryl group content of the cell decreased, while the malonaldehyde content and membrane permeability increased when A lexandrium sp. LC3 was treated with HDTMAB and cupric glutamate complex, compared with cupric glutamate alone. The data suggest that HDTMAB might stimulate the damage of A lexandrium sp. LC3 by enhancing the membrane permeability.     

恶臭假单胞菌Pseudomonas putida 5-x细胞壁膜系统的Cu2+吸附性能

对1株从电镀废水中分离出的革兰氏阴性菌恶臭假单胞菌P.putida 5-x的细胞表面组分对Cu²⁺的吸附性能进行了分析研究.结果表明,分离的P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附容量是完整细胞的5倍之多.细胞表面组分如肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和细胞内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的Cu²⁺吸附过程中都发挥了作用.肽聚糖层、细胞外膜和内膜在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜中的含量依次为细胞内膜>外膜>肽聚糖层,而它们的Cu²⁺吸附容量的大小依次为肽聚糖层>外膜>内膜.在P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜对Cu²⁺的吸附过程中,肽聚糖层贡献了不到15%的吸附容量,而细胞外膜和内膜分别贡献了30%～35%和25%～30%.P.putida 5-x细胞外膜中的磷脂含量明显比其它报道的革兰氏阴性细菌的细胞外膜高,这可能是P.putida 5-x细胞外膜具有较高Cu²⁺吸附容量的主要原因,并由此导致P.putida 5-x细胞壁膜的高Cu2+吸附容量.