Non-invasive prenatal assessment of trisomy 21 by multiplexed maternal plasma DNA sequencing: large scale validity study.

To validate the clinical efficacy and practical feasibility of massively parallel maternal plasma DNA sequencing to screen for fetal trisomy 21 among high risk pregnancies clinically indicated for amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Diagnostic accuracy validated against full karyotyping, using prospectively collected or archived maternal plasma samples. Prenatal diagnostic units in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. 753 pregnant women at high risk for fetal trisomy 21 who underwent definitive diagnosis by full karyotyping, of whom 86 had a fetus with trisomy 21. Intervention Multiplexed massively parallel sequencing of DNA molecules in maternal plasma according to two protocols with different levels of sample throughput: 2-plex and 8-plex sequencing. Proportion of DNA molecules that originated from chromosome 21. A trisomy 21 fetus was diagnosed when the z score for the proportion of chromosome 21 DNA molecules was >3. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for trisomy 21 detection. Results were available from 753 pregnancies with the 8-plex sequencing protocol and from 314 pregnancies with the 2-plex protocol. The performance of the 2-plex protocol was superior to that of the 8-plex protocol. With the 2-plex protocol, trisomy 21 fetuses were detected at 100% sensitivity and 97.9% specificity, which resulted in a positive predictive value of 96.6% and negative predictive value of 100%. The 8-plex protocol detected 79.1% of the trisomy 21 fetuses and 98.9% specificity, giving a positive predictive value of 91.9% and negative predictive value of 96.9%. Multiplexed maternal plasma DNA sequencing analysis could be used to rule out fetal trisomy 21 among high risk pregnancies. If referrals for amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling were based on the sequencing test results, about 98% of the invasive diagnostic procedures could be avoided.published_or_final_versio

Linking Employee Stakeholders to Environmental Performance: The Role of Proactive Environmental Strategies and Shared Vision

Drawing on the natural-resource-based view (NRBV), we propose that employee stakeholder integration is linked to environmental performance through firms’ proactive environmental strategies, and that this link is contingent on shared vision. We tested our model with a cross-country and multi-industry sample. In support of our theory, results revealed that firms’ proactive environmental strategies translated employee stakeholder integration into environmental performance. This relationship was pronounced for high levels of shared vision. Our findings demonstrate that shared vision represents a key condition for advancing the corporate greening agenda through proactive environmental strategies. We discuss implications for the CSR and the environmental management literatures, with a particular focus on the NRBV and stakeholder integration debates

Track A Basic Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138319/1/jia218438.pd

Meconium peritonitis: Prenatal diagnosis, postnatal management and outcome

Objectives: Prenatal ultrasonography (USS) is a routine screening test for fetal abnormalities. Its accuracy for detecting meconium peritonitis (MP), which may carry high mortality, is important for prenatal counseling. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of prenatal USS for diagnosing MP and predicting patient outcomes. Methods: The prenatal and postnatal medical records of all patients referred to our institutions with confirmed MP were reviewed, with emphasis on prenatal USS findings, results of postnatal investigations, operative findings, outcomes, and possible causes of MP. Results: From January 2000 to November 2004, seven fetuses were confirmed to have MP at birth. Three MP patients (3/7, 43%) were diagnosed prenatally because of USS showing ascites and calcification/dilated or hyperechoic bowel loops. One (1/7, 14.3%) suspected cystic MP was confirmed by prenatal MRI. In the other three cases, USS showed only ascites. All patients had postnatal contrast CT scans. Two patients' CT scans showed persistent intestinal perforation not visible with prenatal USS, and required emergency operations. All patients survived and prospered, and were sweat test negative. Conclusions: Prenatal USS allows suspected MP babies to be transferred to a tertiary centre for delivery and appropriate management. In this way, the chances of survival of these babies can be excellent if they are not associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Prenatal MRI can improve the low diagnostic yield of prenatal USS for MP. Postnatal contrast CT scan is required to define persistent intestinal perforation invisible with prenatal USS. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A human-computer interactive approach based on activity-section analysis for BPR

In any business process reengineering (BPR) project, a thorough understanding of various tasks and activities of the organization is required. Very often this idea is captured using a simple flow chart or static representation diagram. The weakness here is that the process design complexity is not adequately represented by the use of flow charts, and this allows for limited human-computer interaction during the process design and analysis. In this paper, we propose an enhanced flow chart approach; the concept of activity-section flow chart to support BPR, which is a combination of the existing activity flow chart and section flow chart. Using this approach, a human-computer interactive model for BPR is devoped. This model can identify the unreasonable activity loops and excessive business rounds between sections by the adjacent and reachable matrices. Via the human-computer interaction, the process can be revised by human experience. This approach provides an efficient tool for BPR of large-scale systems. It has been applied to the material supply management system of an iron and steel works, and satisfactory results have been achieved.Department of Industrial and Systems Engineerin

獨活藥材顯微鑑定的一個新的顯著特徵

Objective: In order for effective authentication of Radix Angelicae Pubescentis and to establish a basis of the herb standardization,the detailed morphological and microscopic characteristics were investigated.Methods: Samples were collected from the representative producing areas of China;the conventional pharmacognostic techniques were adopted for trait description and microscopic identification,which were finally compared with those reported.Results: A distinct and previously neglected new feature for the identification of the powdered crude drug,which was the spindle-shaped parenchymatous cells with crisscross striation,was identified and shown as an important microscopic characteristic for herb authentication.In addition,other microscopic features were also described in details and their similarities and differences with those reported were discussed.Conclusion: These results would be the important scientific basis for further consideration in the herb authentication of Radix Angelicae Pubescentis. 目的:為了更有效地鑑定中藥獨活並作為該藥材標準化的基礎,我們對其詳細的形態和顯微特徵進行了深入的研究.方法:從獨活的道地產區收集藥材樣本,並採用傳統的生藥學鑑定手段對其形態和顯微特徵進行研究並與文獻進行了比較.結果:發現了一種明顯的但一直被忽視的粉末新特徵,即具有交錯紋理的紡錘形薄壁細胞,可作為一個重要的鑑定獨活藥材的顯微特徵.此外,本文對其形態及其它顯微及文獻的異同分別進行了描述和探討.結論:這些結果為完善獨活的藥材鑑定提供了重要的科學依據

Up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 by hemin improves endothelial function in the spontaneously hypertensive rat

Oral Presentation - Session 1: Healthy Aging: no. 1.09The 16th Research Postgraduate Symposium (RPS 2011), Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 7-8 December 2011