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.     

Comparison of two methods for detection of fecal indicator bacteria used in water quality monitoring of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Scientifically sound methods to rapidly measure fecal indicator bacteria are important to ensure safe water for drinking and recreational purposes.A total of 200 water samples obtained from the Three Gorges Reservoir during three successive one-year study periods(October 2009 to September 2012) were analyzed using multiple-tube fermentation(MTF)and most probable numbers combined with polymerase chain reaction(MPN–PCR).The MPN–PCR method was found to be significantly more sensitive than the MTF method for detecting Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp.,and of equal sensitivity for detecting total coliforms when all surface water samples were grouped together.The two analytical methods had a strong,significant relationship,but MPN–PCR took only 12–18 hr,compared with the 3–8 days needed using the MTF method.Bacterial concentrations varied per sampling site but were significantly lower in the mainstream of the Yangtze River than those in the backwater areas of tributaries.The water quality of 85.8% of water samples from the mainstream was suitable for use as a centralized potable water source,while the water quality of 52.5% of water samples from the backwater areas was unsuitable for recreational activities.Relationships between fecal indicator bacteria showed significant correlation(r = 0.636–0.909,p 0.01,n = 200),while a weak but significant correlation was found between fecal indicators and water turbidity,water temperature,daily inflow,and total dissolved solids(r = 0.237–0.532,p 0.05,n = 200).The study indicated that MPN–PCR is a rapid and easily performed deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)-based method for quantitative detection of viable total coliforms,E.coli,and Enterococcus spp.in surface water.     

基于Web的地压实时监测系统

针对矿井井下地压难以有效实时远程监测的现状,开展了井下地压远程监控研究。考虑到井下作业大范围、多参数的复杂性,设计了一个基于串口服务器的Winform与ASP.Net相结合的网络化地压监测系统。对系统结构功能、硬件设计、监测软件设计进行了介绍。现场运行结果验证了该系统的数据传输稳定性、实时性、操作灵活性和扩展性,实现了实时准确地对井下地压的远程监测。     

食蚊鱼(Gambusia afinis)cat、gapdh和gst基因的克隆及其在生态毒理学中的应用

根据Ensembl、Genbank登录的鱼类cat、gapdh和gst基因的CDS序列设计普通PCR扩增引物,寻找食蚊鱼的cat、gapdh和gst基因的c DNA片段,并根据定量引物设计要求设计出相应的SYBR Green I荧光定量RT-q PCR引物,建立了食蚊鱼cat、gapdh和gst基因的SYBR Green I荧光定量RT-q PCR方法。该方法在104~108数量级范围内有良好线性关系(R=0.999~1.000);熔解曲线显示扩增产物特异性良好,均为单一峰值;质粒标准品最高浓度与最低浓度的批内试验变异系数与批间试验变异系数均低于2%。利用该方法监测和评价环境污染物对水生生物的影响,选择了水体中常见典型药物污染物——双氯芬酸,研究其对食蚊鱼抗氧化基因表达的影响。结果表明,雌性食蚊鱼暴露在不同浓度双氯芬酸钠(0.005、0.05、0.5和5 mg·L-1)24 h后,其肝脏cat、gapdh和gst的mRNA呈现显著变化,相对于对照组,在低浓度0.005 mg·L-1时,cat与gst mRNA的表达量均有极显著上升(p0.01),而其它浓度均极显著下降(p0.01)。试验表明该方法具有快速、精确、灵敏度高的优点,可为利用该类小型鱼类的原位污染物的生物监测和生态毒理评价提供有力的技术支持。     

抗氧化酶基因作为多环麝香污染分子标志物研究

为研究土壤中低剂量合成麝香暴露的分子毒理效应,以蚯蚓超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)基因为供试基因,建立mRNA表达水平的Sybr GreenⅠ荧光定量PCR检测方法;并且采用自然土壤染毒实验,检测了吐纳麝香(AHTN)或佳乐麝香(HHCB)胁迫诱导SOD、CAT mRNA的表达水平变化.序列同源性比较与熔解曲线分析表明设计的引物适合供试基因mRNA的检测.SOD与CAT基因构建的荧光定量标准曲线的线性关系分别为0.997和0.994,且PCR扩增效率均接近于100%,故可实现两基因mRNA表达的相对定量分析.土壤染毒暴露28 d后,丙二醛(MDA)含量水平显著升高,表明自由基诱导的细胞氧化损伤是AHTN或HHCB毒性效应的主要途径方式.SOD、CAT mRNA总体表现为上调表达趋势,且表达量与MDA含量呈显著正相关,表明抗氧化酶基因的诱导表达与氧化应激水平有关联.而且,SOD、CAT mRNA表达水平与AHTN或HHCB浓度存在正相关剂量-效应关系.综上表明,SOD与CAT基因可成为潜在的分子生物标志物,用于表征合成麝香污染暴露水平及其毒理效应.