Y chromosome detection by Real Time PCR and pyrophosphorolysis-activated polymerisation using free fetal DNA isolated from maternal plasma

Objectives To validate the use of Real Time PCR, a widely used technique that can detect very low levels of Y chromosomal sequence, and to assess the use of a highly sensitive PCR technique, pyrophosphorolysis-activated polymerisation (PAP), for fetal sex determination using free fetal DNA (ffDNA). Methods The fetal sex was determined by Real Time PCR in 58 pregnancies using ffDNA isolated from maternal plasma. In parallel with the Real Time PCR experiments, the presence of Y chromosome sequence was also determined using PAP on 54 isolated ffDNA samples. Results Both techniques detected Y chromosome sequence at very low levels with 98% specificity and 100% sensitivity (Real Time n = 44, PAP n = 54). Furthermore, the PAP technique was shown to be more robust than the Real Time PCR as none of the samples tested failed to meet the acceptance criteria. Combining the two techniques for male fetal sex detection from maternal blood plasma increases the sensitivity and specificity to 100% in this series. Conclusions This study shows that both Real Time PCR and PAP can be used for Y chromosome detection on ffDNA. Furthermore, by using PAP in combination with Real Time PCR more reliable early prenatal sexing can be performed using ffDNA. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Between pregnancy biological variability of first trimester markers of Down syndrome: implications for screening in subsequent pregnancies

In a group of 149 women who had undergone routine first trimester screening using fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT) and maternal serum free β-hCG and pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in two consecutive pregnancies the within person between pregnancy biological variability of these markers has been assessed. For fetal NT there was no correlation between NT MoM in the first and second pregnancy (r=0.0800). For maternal serum free β-hCG MoM a significant correlation was observed (r=0.4174) as was also found for PAPP-A MoM (r=0.3270). The implications for such between pregnancy marker association is that women who have an increased risk of Down syndrome in their first pregnancy are 1.5–2 times more likely to repeat this event in their next pregnancy. This observation may be useful in counselling women in the first trimester screening of a subsequent pregnancy. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

超声波/零价铁协同体系作用机理探讨

在超声波/零价铁协同体系中,探讨了OH.的产生途径及其影响因素,并分析了Fe0表面形态变化。结果表明:在超声波/零价铁体系中,羟基自由基的产生途径主要有四种:声空化导致水分子热解、Fenton反应、超声波与类Fenton反应的复合效应、铁粉颗粒效应;pH值过低或过高都不利于羟基自由基产生;当铁粉投加量为2.0g/L时最有利于羟基自由基产生;超声波通过冲刷、碎裂、清洗、气蚀和熔合等多种效应,活化和增强铁粉的表面性能。     

光助芬顿反应催化降解气体中甲苯

以甲苯作为挥发性有机污染物(VOCs)的代表,利用连续进气动态实验装置,研究光助芬顿反应降解气体中甲苯的作用.考察了芬顿试剂溶液初始p H、H2O2浓度、Fe2+浓度以及甲苯初始浓度对降解甲苯的影响,并利用在线质谱和色谱对产物进行了定性、定量分析.结果表明,紫外光照加快了羟基自由基的生成,显著提高了气体中甲苯的去除率;p H=3.0、H2O2浓度为20 mmol·L-1、Fe2+浓度为0.3 mmol·L-1的条件下,甲苯去除率最高;当甲苯初始浓度为260 mg·m-3时,去除率能够达到98%;光助芬顿反应催化降解气体中甲苯实验未检测到CO2之外的中间产物,CO2产率分析表明去除的甲苯全部转化为CO2.     

紫外辐射H2O2与PMS氧化准好氧矿化垃圾床渗滤液尾水

采用紫外（UV）活化双氧水（H₂O₂）和过一硫酸盐（PMS）产生活性氧物种降解准好氧矿化垃圾床渗滤液尾水中有机污染物.结果表明,紫外辐射双氧水（UV-H₂O₂）和紫外辐射过一硫酸盐（UV-PMS）体系对有机污染物的降解相比于单独体系效果显著.初始pH值和氧化剂投加量能够显著影响2种体系的降解效能,增加氧化剂投加量能够一定程度提高2种体系对渗滤液尾水中有机物的去除;2种体系均在酸性条件下效果较好,初始pH值的升高对2种体系过程有机物降解有抑制作用并且对UV-H₂O₂体系的抑制尤为显著.在最优条件下（初始pH值为3,氧化剂投量为0.084mol/L）,UV-H₂O₂与UV-PMS体系处理后出水COD去除率分别达到了72.09%和56.22%.另外,UV-H₂O₂体系中主要活性氧物种是羟基自由基,而UV-PMS体系中主要是由羟基自由基和硫酸根自由基的共同作用.紫外-可见光谱与三维荧光光谱表明两体系中均能降解渗滤液尾水中难降解芳香类有机物质,并且UV-PMS较UV-H₂O₂体系对腐殖质的反应速率更快,但是两种体系对渗滤液尾水中腐殖质的降解途径存在显著差异.研究结果可为光化学氧化处理垃圾渗滤液中难降解有机物提供参考.     

生物炭中持久性自由基对秀丽隐杆线虫的毒性

为了评价生物炭的使用对生态系统,尤其是对土壤无脊椎动物的毒性影响,使用模式生物秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans,C.elegans）来评估生物炭的环境风险.观察了生物炭原样、生物炭颗粒物和生物炭浸提液对线虫神经行为学评价指标（身体摆动频率、相对运动长度、排泄间隔时间、碰触反应率和化学感知行为指数）的影响;并结合生物炭的理化性质、非金属元素组成和重金属元素含量以及环境持久性自由基（EPFRs）的强度,评估生物炭对线虫的生物毒性.结果显示,EPFRs信号强的生物炭和颗粒物对秀丽隐杆线虫有一定的毒物兴奋效应,EPFRs信号微弱的浸提液无显著性影响.因此,生物炭中的EPFRs对秀丽隐杆线虫有潜在的神经毒性作用.     

First trimester maternal serum placenta growth factor (PIGF)concentrations in pregnancies with fetal trisomy 21 or trisomy 18

Placenta growth factor (PIGF), an angiogenic factor belonging to the vascular endothelial growth factor family, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and free β-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) were measured in maternal serum from 45 pregnancies with trisomy 21, 45 with trisomy 18 and 493 normal controls at 10–13 completed weeks of gestation. In the normal pregnancies maternal serum PIGF levels increased exponentially with gestation. The median multiple of the median (MoM) PIGF concentration in the trisomy 21 group (1.26 MoM) was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than in the control group (1.00 MoM). In the trisomy 18 group the median PIGF was lower (0.889 MoM) but this did not quite reach significance (p=0.064). The corresponding median MoM values for PAPP-A were 1.00 MoM for the controls, 0.49 MoM for trisomy 21 and 0.16 MoM for trisomy 18. The median MoM values for free β-hCG were 1.00 MoM for the controls, 2.05 MoM for trisomy 21 and 0.38 MoM for trisomy 18. In the control group there was a small but significant correlation of PIGF with free β-hCG (r=+0.1024) and PAPP-A (r=+0.2288). In the trisomy 18 group there was a significant association between PIGF and free β-hCG (r=+0.2629) but not with PAPP-A (r=+0.0038). In the trisomy 21 group there was a small but significant association with PAPP-A (r=+0.1028) but not with free β-hCG (r=+0.0339). The separation of affected and unaffected pregnancies in maternal serum PIGF is small, and therefore it is unlikely that measurement of PIGF would improve screening for these abnormalities provided by the combination of fetal nuchal translucency and maternal serum PAPP-A and free β-hCG. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.