Fetal cells in the uterine cervix: a source for early non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

Various non-invasive techniques for prenatal diagnosis have been under investigation. We evaluated the success of fetal sexing using a non-invasive technique for obtaining fetal cells, uterine cervix brushing, in combination with FISH. Thirty pregnant women who completed between 6 and 10 weeks of gestation and who were scheduled to undergo pregnancy termination were included in the study. A Pap smear cytobrush was inserted through the external os to a maximum depth of 2 cm and removed while rotating it a full turn. The material that was caught on the brush was spread on four microscope slides. Two-color FISH was used for fetal sexing. Following pregnancy termination, a placental sample was used for full karyotyping. In 29/30 cases FISH diagnosis was confirmed by chromosomal analysis. The only male case in which a Y chromosome was not seen was from a pregnancy of 6 weeks 6 days gestational age. One case was mosaic of 46,XY/47,XXY (25%). In most cases (7/13) the Y chromosome was already identified in the first analyzed slide. With the use of a cytobrush fetal cells can be easily obtained for the purpose of prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal disorders. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of a small supernumerary marker chromosome,r(2)(p10q11.2), and the problem of determining prognosis

The identification of small supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs) and the elucidation of their clinical significance remain two of the problems in classical human cytogenetics. We observed a small supernumerary ring in amniotic fluid cell cultures and identified its origin as r(2)(p10q11.2) and its extent by means of fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). Uniparental disomy (UPD) was excluded by microsatellite analysis using polymorphic markers localised in the same region. On the basis of normal ultrasonographic checks, the patient decided to continue the pregnancy. A normal female was delivered at term and subsequent neonatal follow-ups confirmed the normal phenotype and development. In the present case, genetic counselling was not helpful because of the absence of reference cases. Detailed characterisation made it possible to correlate the normal baby phenotype with the trisomic 2p10-2q11.2 genomic region. Further molecular cytogenetic investigations of SMCs classified by DNA content and pregnancy outcome data should improve genetic counselling and risk evaluation. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

生物除磷系统中聚磷菌检测常用技术

作为生物除磷系统中的主要功能菌,对聚磷菌菌群进行定性、定量分析是深入理解生物除磷系统、提高除磷效率的必然趋势。目前常用于检测聚磷菌的方法主要有生物化学法和分子生物学法,文章主要阐述了荧光原位杂交技术、聚合酶链反应技术、变性梯度凝胶电泳技术以及多技术结合使用的特点及应用情况,并在此基础上提出了改进措施以及聚磷菌检测技术的发展方向。     

微丝菌(Microthrix parvicella)原位荧光杂交(FISH)定量过程的条件优化

微丝菌(Microthrix parvicella)是世界范围内诱发活性污泥膨胀现象的主要丝状菌之一,它在活性污泥中准确的原位定量解析对污泥膨胀现象及控制策略研究具有非常重要的意义.由于微丝菌自身的特殊生理生化性质(如表面高疏水性及较厚细胞壁)易导致常规荧光原位杂交(FISH)过程中定量结果偏低.本研究针对FISH过程中存在的探针渗透率低、荧光信号偏弱等现象,从活性污泥样品前处理、杂交过程条件等方面对Microthrix parvicella的FISH定量过程进行了优化.结果表明,在前处理使用溶菌酶(浓度为36 000 U·m L~(-1)),探针浓度为4.5 ng·μL~(-1),杂交时间延长至4 h的条件下,Microthrix parvicella的FISH定量结果可从1.12%提高至96.70%,并与定量PCR(q-PCR)结果和EikelboomJenkins法(镜检观察)定量结果更为趋近一致.     

反硝化聚磷菌快速富集、培养及其荧光原位杂交技术鉴别

以污水处理厂A2/O厌氧段污泥为种泥,采用膜生物反应器(membrane bio-reactor,MBR)对反硝化聚磷菌(denitrifyingphosphate-removal bacteria,DPB)进行快速富集及培养,并提供一种鉴别方法.试验中以乙酸钠为碳源,并在缺氧段投加一定浓度的硝酸盐,结果表明,在膜组件的高效截留作用下,经过厌氧-好氧和厌氧-缺氧2个阶段的富集培养,35 d内反硝化聚磷菌占全部聚磷菌(phosphate-accumulating organisms)的比例从24%上升到93%.此时系统的脱氮、除磷效率均可保持在90%以上.通过荧光原位杂交技术(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)并结合常规测定手段对活性污泥进行鉴别,确定Pseudomonas sp.和Rhodocyclus sp.为主要的优势菌.     

A further case with a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 1—evidence for high variability in mosaicism in different tissues of sSMC carriers

A prenatally ascertained case with a de novo small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 1 is reported. Due to a fetal heart defect the parents decided in favour of an induced abortion. Postmortem, a molecular cytogenetic study on eleven formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of the fetus was performed, to further characterize the levels of mosaicism of the sSMC(1). sSMC presence varied between 13 and 62% within different tissues of sSMC carriers. This finding is something common in sSMC carriers and could explain why up to the present no clinical correlations for sSMC mosaicism and clinical outcome in the corresponding carriers could be established. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.